Blue & Max Take David, Theo & Ruby Sledding At My Future Home Zone Of Tacoma

This was so darn cute I just had to share.

I have been getting reports from Western Washington, all day today, that the predicted snow actually arrived, as predicted.

Those who have never lived in Washington don't know that it is fairly rare for Western Washington to get snow all over the Puget Sound lowlands. Up in the mountains, yes, lots of snow, but not so much the closer you get to the saltwater.

I learned on the Blue & Max Adventure Poodle Blog, this evening, that the snow covering Western Washington reached all the way to the south Puget Sound zone, to my living quarters in 2020, in Tacoma.

In the sled, that is my nephew David in the rear, with nephew Theo in the middle, which would make niece Ruby Jean in front.

I'd Go To Haltom City To See The Sara Lee State Fair Corn Dog Water Tower

The Haltom City Sara Lee Corn Dog Water Tower

This morning, or was it yester morning, I learned of an important contest in Haltom City to design a new look for the town water tower.

Currently the Haltom City Water Tower has the name of the town on it and what appears to be Snoopy the Dog smoking.

Some have suggested that water flowing should be painted on the tower, since Haltom City is well known for its floods.

Others have suggested the naming rights be sold, with many suggesting selling the naming rights to Haltom City's biggest employer and polluter, Sara Lee, which makes world famous State Park Corn Dogs in Haltom City.

Additional others have suggested selling naming rights to Chesapeake Energy, because Chesapeake Energy already owns so much in Haltom City. The Chesapeake Energy logo could go on the tower, with a catchy phrase, something like "Your Water Is Our Water."

The Haltom City Water Tower In Its Current Condition

Those who decide what is best for Haltom City could not decide on how to solve the water tower problem, hence the contest.

On the right you see how the Haltom City Water Tower currently looks. This is not the view with Snoopy smoking.

I think it'd be real cool if the top part were made to look like a flying saucer, with the ribbed support tower underneath the flying saucer painted to look like exhaust from the flying saucer.

I bet people would come from as far away as Richland Hills and Watauga just to see the Haltom City Flying Saucer Water Tower.

A Windy Xeriscaped Walk In Veterans Park Wondering Why Betty Jo Bouvier Chose To Be Happy

I had to be in Pantego today in the noon time frame, so, since I was in the neighborhood I dropped in for a visit with the soldier who stands guard at the memorial in Veterans Park in Arlington.

As you might guess from the 3 flags waving, a strong wind was blowing in Arlington today.

I saw several groups disc golfing. A strong, gusty wind would not seem to be ideal for disc golfing.

Speaking of disc golfing. There are signs in Veterans Park advising that you be on the lookout for flying discs. Methinks disc golf parks should have their own designated park. It does not seem right to be required to dodge flying discs in a multi-use park.

I walked on the trails that meander through the Veterans Park Xeriscape display garden that shows people native Texas plants they can plant which require little water.

This had me wondering if Veterans Park were located in Fort Worth if the city would issue a citation to Veterans Park for having tall native grass growing that does not match the other yards in the neighborhood, like Fort Worth did to the Young couple who live across the street from the Tandy Hills, hills which are covered by native grass and other plants that grow naturally in Texas?

Changing the subject from the City of Fort Worth's bad behavior to happiness.

Betty Jo Bouvier has been on a trek to find the meaning of life. Just minutes ago I saw on Facebook what Betty Jo has discovered so far, that being that "Happiness is a Choice."

I did not know this.

I know happiness is discussed in the American Declaration of Independence, something about the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. If happiness is a choice, like Betty Jo Bouvier believes, then why would you need to pursue it, I can't help but wonder? In Betty Jo's America you don't pursue happiness, you simply choose happiness.

I wonder if Thomas Jefferson had the benefit of Betty Jo Bouvier's more enlightened view would he have changed his wording to "Life, Liberty and the Choice of Happiness?"

Doesn't quite have the same poetic ring that Thomas Jefferson's wording has.

The 3rd Sunday Of 2012 Dawns With No Snow In Texas

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world you might correctly guess that I am up well after the sun on this 3rd Sunday of the New Year of 2012.

Already almost half the first month of the New Year is history.

It is not freezing in the outer world this morning. It is currently 38 degrees at my location.

This morning, rather than being the same temperature, like it has been the past two mornings, my old home zone is freezing, with white flakes falling.

Nothing is falling from the sky at my current location. Except, maybe some pollution. Something is annoying my eyes this morning, causing leakage in near copious amounts. Is it that black smoke that spews from my neighborhood Fort Chesapeake's gas fracking operation that is irritating my eyes?

I must cease typing now. I tire of looking at a computer screen through eyes clouded by leakage.

I wish I could say I am going swimming now.

Visiting A Pipeline Construction Project On Fort Worth's Trinity Trails Without Elsie Hotpepper

Looking Across Trinity Falls At A Guard

For several weeks now, driving over the Trinity River, via Beach Street, I've noticed some heavy duty heavy equipment activity.

Lots of bulldozers and other pieces of machinery. Plus several white pickups.

White pickups always make me nervous.

Plus, what appeared to be a guard standing near the paved Trinity Trail.

As I drove away from my abode today, to head to Gateway Park to see up close what all that heavy equipment is doing, I flipped open my phone to see that Elsie Hotpepper had called me.

So, on my way to Gateway I called the Hotpepper to see if she wanted to go walking in Gateway Park with me. I got the Elsie Hotpepper is indisposed message.

Heavy Equipment On The Trinity Trail Making Dust Storm

In the first photo above you see the man standing guard at the entry to the area being worked on by heavy equipment. I suspect he is stationed there to prevent any collisions between heavy equipment and bike riders, of which, today, there were many.

While I was still on the south side of the Trinity River I saw the piece of equipment you see in the second photo, going back and forth on the Trinity Trail, under the Beach Street Bridge, then to where a new road has been made for the heavy equipment, then back again, stirring up a lot of dust in the process.

Trail Guard Sign With Trail Guard

As I walked across the dam bridge that causes Trinity Falls, I saw a regular looking car drive up to the trail guard. By the time I was on the levee on the south side of the river I saw that the heavy equipment operator, the trail guard and a man in what looked to be policeman type uniform, heatedly seeming to discuss something.

When I got to the Trail Guard I asked, "What are you constructing here?"

"No." was the Trail Guard's reply.

I don't think he spoke English.

Why Are Tires Appearing All Over Fort Worth Parks?

I then asked if they were putting in a pipeline.

"Si." the Trail Guard said.

A natural gas pipeline I then asked.

"Si." he said again.

Is this the pipeline carrying non-odorized natural gas from the controversial Scott Avenue Chesapeake Energy drill site? Chesapeake backed off from endangering Carter Avenue with this pipeline.

Closeup Look At The Muddy Pipeline Road

But all this pipeline activity is on the opposite side of the freeway from Carter Avenue and the Scott Avenue source of the non-odorized gas that was going to run under Carter Avenue.

The last two photos are giving you a closer look at the "road" that has been punched through on top of the Trinity River levee's south side.

There were a lot of eyes and white pickups in the vicinity of my camera, which made me a bit nervous about my picture taking.

In the last picture a big piece of heavy equipment is heading towards me. I snapped the above photo, then put my camera away. The big piece of heavy equipment heading towards me was carrying a long piece of what looked, to me, to be narrow pipe.

Visiting this gas-related activity up close really did not make it any clearer to me what is being done there. I don't believe I'd seen a wood plank road over mud before. So, I guess seeing that made the walk worthwhile.

I also learned today that, apparently, the paved Trinity River hiking, biking trails are engineered to be able to support heavy equipment without cracking up.

The 2nd Saturday Of The New Year Dawns Blue In Texas

I stepped outside to look at the outer world through the bars of my patio prison cell about the same time the sun began its daily illumination duty.

As you can see, it is a clear, blue sky morning this second Saturday of the New Year.

What you can not see is the sun has already heated this Saturday morning to a relatively balmy 40 degrees. That is relatively balmy compared to yesterday's morning sub-freezing temperature.

Yesterday when I did my world-wide temperature checking I found my old home zone in Washington was the same temperature as my current home zone.

This morning it has happened again. What are the odds that two days in a row my old home zone and current one would be heated to the same temperature?

One major difference, today, between the weather in my old zone and my current one, is snow is in the forecast up in Western Washington. No precipitation, of any sort, is currently in the forecast for North Texas.

I got a strange auto-call yesterday, supposedly from U.S. Airways, telling me I had won a no-strings attached 7 day cruise out of some port in Florida. I had 24 hours to call and claim my prize.

I did not make that call.

Being stuck on a cruise ship is one of my visions of a living hell.

The picture of a cruise ship tipped over, this morning, in the Mediterranean Sea, was a bit disturbing. It will be interesting to learn what the explanation is for this currently unsolved mystery.

I wish I could say I am going swimming now. Well, actually I could say I am going swimming now. But it would not be true.

Looking Forward To Taking A Break From My Texas Exile To Spend A Year In Washington

In the picture you are looking at my house in Washington. Construction started during the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, moved in in late spring of 1985. Moved from this house, to Texas, in December of 1998.

Today, after lengthy negotiations, I agreed to move back to Washington.

But not to my former house in Mount Vernon. It was sold in 2003. A sale which cut my last physical connection to Washington.

I will be moving to a house in Tacoma.

I like Tacoma.

There may be a person, or two, in Tacoma, who I don't like, but I like the town.

I am agreeing to move back to Washington for a year. So, Texas is not totally rid of me. At least I think that is the case. And even if Texas was rid of me, it is easy to keep an Eye on Texas from afar, what with our modern communication devices.

I like the idea of spending a year in Washington, after all this time away. Elsie Hotpepper can fly in for a visit. Elsie Hotpepper has never been to the Pacific Northwest. It would be amusing to cause Elsie Hotpepper some culture shock. Elsie does not like it when the earth moves unexpectedly.

Shooting Egrets On Fosdic Lake While Worrying About Mob Hits & Elsie Hotpepper On Friday The 13th

Going to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdic Lake was my endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation location for today.

Yesterday I was underdressed for my aerobic stimulation. Today I was overdressed. It makes it a lot easier when it is real HOT and this type problem is not an issue.

Today there were a lot of birds on Fosdic Lake. Mostly ducks, paddling together in tight circled groups. I assume to keep warm.

I believe that is an Egret on a limb above Fosdic Lake you are looking at in the picture. Usually these type birds are easily spooked and fly away. This guy or gal let me get fairly close before its fight or flight response kicked in.

I believe I have taken a picture of this type bird before and that someone, I think it was CatsPaw, identified it.  Due to my AADD (Adult Attention Deficit Disorder) I often forget what I'm told. Like the name of specific bird.

Speaking of specific birds. I am a little worried about Elsie Hotpepper. She sent me an email message from her phone that said, "the mob is going to kill me."

I'm thinking this "mob" hit was a predictive text error that Elsie Hotpepper did not notice before she hit the send button.

A predictive text error happened once with my mom and dad when they texted me "be good at noon." Noon was only about 15 minutes away when I got the message from mom and dad telling me to be good at noon. I later learned what they'd meant to tell me was "be home at noon."

Then again, now that you are making me think about it, it really is not all that far fetched to think that the "mob" might have a hit out on Elsie Hotpepper. Elsie is a bit of a feather ruffler. Something I avoid being, hence no "mob" hits out on me.

I hope everyone is having themselves a mighty fine Friday the 13th.

Friday The 13th Thinking About Not Voting Al Smith For President Because He Is Catholic

It is appropriately very very dark this Friday the 13th, looking out my primary viewing portal on the world, past the bars that surround my secondary viewing portal patio prison cell, at a swimming pool that is currently too cold to swim in.

It is currently 29 degrees in the outer world at my location.

This is the first time, that I remember, since I began obsessively monitoring the temperature around the world, that the temperature at my current location and my old location, in Washington, are the same.

Changing the subject to Mitt Romney. I knew he was a Mormon. I should have guessed, since he is a Mormon, that Mitt Romney has reproduced himself a lot of times.

But I had no idea, til this morning, that there are so many Mitt Romney reproductions. And that they look like clones. I saw a group picture of Mitt Romney and a large percentage of his clones, I mean, sons. Mitt Romney looks like their big brother, not old enough to be the maker of all these reproductions.

I don't know if I got the info on all the sons, but the bios of the ones I read had them all married and busy making reproductions. I saw no photos of the secondary reproductions, so I don't know if they are all Mitt Romney clones too.

I'm not understanding why there is not more of an issue made of Mitt Romney being a Mormon. Has America really gotten totally tolerant? It does not seem all that long ago that a Catholic had a hard time running for President.

I remember when the governor of New York, Al Smith, became the first Catholic nominated for President, in 1928. He lost to Herbert Hoover. I don't remember who I voted for in that election. It was likely Al Smith, because I seldom vote for the winner.

A much bigger fuss was made in 1928, over Al Smith being a Catholic, than the almost zero fuss made over Mitt Romney being  Mormon in 2012.

I have nothing against Mormons, or any religion. I just think it's goofy to believe that Jesus got resurrected in Jerusalem and then made his way over to North America where he preached to the Native Americans, before taking off for wherever it is His heavenly paradise is located.

I wish I could say I am going swimming now.

Taken For A Ride On Fort Worth's New Futuristic Super Bowl Buses

A Futuristic Fort Worth Bus

I read that bus, you are looking at in the picture, described in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, as being futuristic.

Futuristic.

I had no awareness of the existence of the futuristic Fort Worth buses until I was informed of their existence by Miss Gail Galtex.

I do not understand how I missed this.

Way back last year, in February, the futuristic Fort Worth buses made their debut during the February 6 Super Bowl, an event that is now known as the Dallas Cowboy Stadium Super Bowl Boondoggle Fiasco.

The new buses arrived in time for their drivers to be trained to operate them in time to transport Super Bowlers from the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) Centrepoint Station to the Dallas Cowboy Stadium.

I can find no information as to how many people actually used the futuristic buses to get to the Super Bowl. There is a bus from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that goes to the Centrepoint Station.

That must have really impressed people incoming from World Class Cities to get off the plane to hop a bus to get to another bus stop to hop another (futuristic) bus to take them to the futuristic Dallas Cowboy Stadium to watch the Super Bowl.

Fort Worth spent $6.4 million on their fleet of eight 80 passenger futuristic buses. This $6.4 million came from people all over America, courtesy of the Federal Recovery Act.

I assume this is part of what is known as The Stimulus.

This fleet of eight futuristic buses are now being used for the T's (Fort Worth Transportation) Rapid Transit Lines on East Lancaster Avenue. The Fort Worth Transportation Propagandists say the futuristic buses are a hybrid between a bus and light rail and will give passengers the feel of a light rail car.

Well.

I have ridden in a light rail car. And I have ridden in a futuristic articulated bus, those being futuristic articulated buses that I believe are quite a bit bigger than Fort Worth's futuristic articulated buses. I would not compare being on a futuristic articulated bus to being on something with the feel of a light rail car.

I guess you could say, if you were a practicing propagandist, that riding in a car has the feel of a light rail car. I mean, you are moving in a motorized vehicle that is connected to the ground by wheels.

So, I guess it makes sense for Fort Worth Transportation's propagandists to propagandize that these new futuristic Fort Worth buses give passengers that really special light rail experience that is denied the people of Fort Worth, but can be easily had by a trip to Dallas.

Changing the subject from propaganda back to the Super Bowl Boondoggle Fiasco.

Has there been any sort of investigation by anyone into how much money was wasted by Fort Worth in that particular Boondoggle? Some of the disaster was weather related, courtesy of ice storms and snow. But some of it was hubris related.

Like, how much money was wasted making ESPN happy? Fort Worth officials did such an embarrassing happy dance when ESPN indicated they wanted to broadcast from a parking lot in downtown Fort Worth. ESPN was not the Super Bowl broadcaster. They could not broadcast from a venue near the Super Bowl. Dallas likely turned down ESPN's request to broadcast from a place like the plaza in front of the American Airlines Arena.

And so Fort Worth got the prize of having ESPN on one of its parking lots. Fort Worth city officials were expecting HUMONGOUS crowds to come downtown to watch ESPN do its broadcast, indicating, at least to me, that Fort Worth city officials really think the locals are hard up for something to do.

Anyway, how much did the City of Fort Worth spend on its various Super Bowl related expenses, like clearing out the Shanty Towns and buying futuristic buses?

The small buses that have been serving Lancaster Avenue are never full. This is the only bus line I've actually ridden. It must feel like being in a ghost town to be riding those new, futuristic light rail-like buses, with a couple of poor, homeless people.

I am done now.