In The Unlikely Location Of Texas Thinking About Great-Grandma Tillie & A Wiener Dog

Me, My Brother, Great-Grandma Tillie & My Sister

In the picture you are looking at me on the left, my little brother next to me, my Great-Grandma Tillie and my little sister, who was emailing me snow photos yesterday.

My Great-Grandma Tillie was on the boat that brought my Dutch relatives to America, way back in the 1890s. Great-Grandma Tillie was married to my Great-Grandpa John, with Tillie and John being the mom and dad of my dad's dad.

My dad's dad and my dad's dad's dad died before I was born.

It was Great-Grandpa John who made the trek to Washington, a few years after the family landed in America, to the upper northwest part of the state, where he found land that reminded him of Holland.

My Great Grandpa returned to his mom and dad and sister and wife, with tales of giant trees, berries growing wild, and lush land ready for farming. The move was made to Washington, which eventually is how I came to be born there. Well, actually, I was born in Eugene, Oregon. Let's just say this was how I came to be born on the West Coast of America.

Tillie The Wiener Dog

Great-Grandma Tillie was the first human knitting machine I ever knew. I remember getting caps, mittens, sweaters.

Great-Grandma Tillie still had a thick Dutch accent by the time I came around. I learned a few Dutch words. Like "brookies'' means underwear.

Why am I sticking one of yesterday's snow photos, from my sister, in this blogging about my Great-Grandma Tillie?

Well.

That is my ex-wife, all bundled up in winter wear, holding a little wiener dog on a sled. That wiener dog's name is Tillie. Yes, my sister named her new baby after Great-Grandma Tillie.

I am almost 100% certain that Tillie the Wiener Dog is not wearing a dog sweater knitted by her namesake.

I don't know what Great-Grandma Tillie would have thought about knowing a wiener dog would be named after her in the next century. But, I suspect she would be pleased.

Elsie Hotpepper Has Invited Me To Chesapeake Energy's Party In Fort Worth

Just seconds ago I hit the publish button on a blogging about going to tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening of Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo and now I've been invited to another Big Fort Worth Event.

Elsie Hotpepper has invited me to go to the "The Party In Fort Worth."

Tickets are only $200 a person. For your $200 you get to join Chesapeake Energy 'in a treasure trove of opportunity to help make the 2012 Party in Fort Worth the most successful to date.'

Chesapeake Energy is inviting Elsie Hotpepper and me to join them in 'celebrating this wonderful City of Fort Worth and the Buried Treasure beneath our feet - the Barnett Shale.'

Apparently, each year (since 2004) Chesapeake Energy's Party in Fort Worth has raised funds to support the Fort Worth Promotion and Development Fund. This fund promotes Fort Worth as a great business environment, working to attract conventions to Fort Worth's seldom used Convention Center, tourism, and also seeks opportunities for spotlighting in national media Fort Worth's success story as a diverse city with a robust economy, cultural excellence, and an exceptional home for growing families which has left the rest of the World Green with Envy.

The Party in Fort Worth takes place in Fort Worth's seldom used Convention Center on Saturday, February 25, 2012, with auctions, dinner and dancing.

I do not know what is being auctioned. A dance with Betsy Price? Dinner with Aubrey McClendon?

I also do not know what is on the dinner menu at the Party in Fort Worth. I do know that Elsie Hotpepper is real good at dancing. I also assume adult libations will be available at this party, because, I am sure J.D. Granger will be there.

J.D. Granger's mom, Kay, may be at the Party in Fort Worth, too. Perhaps a dance with the Congresswoman will be auctioned.

Tomorrow I Am Going To The Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo Practice Grand Opening & Hope To Figure Out How To Bingo

Tomorrow, Friday, January 20, Paradise Center is having their Practice Grand Opening of Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo.

Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo is located at 8105 Camp Bowie Boulevard West.

Tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening opens at 7pm.

Following tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening, the Official Grand Opening is Friday, February 3.

After the Official Grand Opening, Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo regular operating hours will be Thursday and Friday, 10:30am-2:30pm and Saturdays 12:00-4:00.

You can follow Paradise Center and find Camp Bowie Bingo info on the Paradise Center Facebook page.

Playing Bingo is very stressful for me, what with my Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (AADD), but, I will be there tomorrow and hope someone is there to help me play bingo.

The last time I played bingo my Grandma helped me. That was way back in the last century.

The Shadow Of The HOT Tandy Hills Thin Man Looking North At The Haltom City Water Tower & Not Seeing A Corn Dog

The Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man

It was back to the Tandy Hills today for my daily dose of endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

The temperature was approaching 70 when I left my abode and headed to the hills.

A couple days ago I was totally under dressed whilst out walking in near freezing weather. Today I was properly dressed for the balmy temperature and, by the time I took a picture of the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man, the thin man was shirtless, just like a HOT summer day.

That is one of the many things I like about Texas. The schizophrenic weather. One day it will be bone-chilling cold, as cold as any winter day ever was in Washington. And then two days later it is like being back in summer, with temperatures that would pass for a HOT summer day in Washington.

Now that you're making me think about it, with the "it" being the warm temperature, I think I will open my computer room windows and enjoy a balmy breeze.

Okay, I'm back from doing some window opening. Now that feels refreshing.

The Haltom City Water Tower Currently Corn Dog-Free

At one point, when I was on the Tandy Hills today, I was looking north, across the I-30 freeway, and realized the white mushroom tower I saw in the distance must be the infamous Haltom City Water Tower.

I mentioned the infamous Haltom City Water Tower a few days ago in regards to the desire, by some, to sell naming rights to the tower to Sara Lee, which is Haltom City's biggest employer and polluter, to turn the tower into the Haltom City Sara Lee State Fair Corn Dog Tower.

Due to all the controversy over what to do with the Haltom City Water Tower the city is holding a design contest. I don't know what the prize for winning is. Maybe a case of Sara Lee's State Fair Corn Dogs.

Near as I could tell, from a far distance away, the Haltom City Water Tower has not yet been turned into a giant corn dog.

The 19th Day Of 2012 Dawns With Yet One More Nice Day In Texas

We  are looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world as the sun begins its daily lighting and heating duty on the 19th day of 2012.

The sky appears to be clear this morning over the spot in North Texas were I am located.

The outer world is already heated to 43 degrees in my current home zone. My old home zone is below freezing this morning with an icy mess of slipperiness on the ground.

Last night I was emailed some more snow photos from Washington.

I suspect the next photos I'll be being emailed from Washington will be flood pictures.

Pictures Of Today's Washington Snow Day With Things Texans Say When It Snows

In the first picture you are looking at what I believe is the north shore of Big Lake. Big Lake is a big lake in the Skagit Valley of Washington, located about 2 miles to the east of the location of my former abode in Mount Vernon.

Before my brother moved to Arizona he lived in a house on a hill that overlooked Big Lake. Currently the only person I know who lives at Big Lake is my brother's first ex-wife, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, Spencer Jack's Grandma.

My Sister's Front Yard In Kent

For Texans topographically used to flatness, that white covered object in the background, in the Big Lake picture, is what is known as a foothill.

This particular foothill is a foothill of the Cascade Mountains.

If the view turned just a bit to the left you would see yourself some Cascade Mountains, including the Mount Baker volcano, if the sky was cleared of clouds.

The non-Big Lake snow day pictures are from my sister, playing out in the snow, whilst snowbound, in the south King County suburb of Seattle called Kent.

The #1 Vehicle In Washington Today Is A Sled

From my sister's location, above Lake Meridian, there is no direction she can go without having to deal with a hill. So, til the slipperiness subsides, my sister is driving nowhere, even though she has a 4 wheel drive Honda SUV.

I can not tell if that is my sister or my ex-wife sledding solo down a steep hill.

I thought I was going to get some pictures of Tilly the Dachshund on a sled. Apparently Tilly has specially made winter outerwear. I do not know if Tilly's older siblings, Rosie the Rat Dog and Bean have winter outerwear.

I suspect Rosie likely stays away from the snow. Rosie the Rat Dog is something like 40 years old, wrinkled, with failing eyes. Still cute though.

The only text in the email that contained my sister's snow photos said, "I should know better than to walk a mile in snow, get on a sled, go down a hill and expect for it to turn out okay!"

My Sister & Ex-Wife Caught Possibly Illegally Sledding

I do not know what did not turn out okay. However, there was one photo of a firetruck, at least I think it was a firetruck.

In the last photo it appears that my sister, on the left, and my ex-wife, on the right, have their hands in the air, as if a law enforcement officer has ordered them assume that position.

I have no idea why my ex-wife has been cut-off at the knees. I'm guessing what ever the story is, it is not a tragedy.

Meanwhile, over on Facebook, I think it was MLK who posted an amusing video of a guy in Seattle saying various things the locals say about the snow when a rare occurrence, like today's Snow Day, happens. Methinks Texans might be heard saying similar things during a rare Texas Snow Day, except for any mountain or public transit references (View Part 2 of Seattle People Snow Taking at the end of the video. It is funnier and mentions Sedro Woolley. Twice) ....

A Walk Around Fosdic Lake With My Snowbound Sister While Gar The Texan Risks Being Sent To Guantanamo

In the picture you are looking at the vast inland sea, located in Fort Worth, known as Fosdic Lake, with Fosdic Lake being the centerpiece of Oakland Lake Park.

I have looked for years and have recently given up the search for Oakland Lake. I have been over every square inch of Oakland Lake Park, with the only lake I've found being Fosdic Lake.

I am usually relentless persistent when I am on a quest, but this time I am giving up.

My sister who lives in the south King County suburb of Seattle called Kent walked with me today. And talked.

My sister told me that today's conditions in Washington are worse than anything during her 25 years of working for UPS. Olympia and points south of Olympia have up to a couple feet of snow piled up. I suspect it is currently impossible to drive I-5 to Portland.

My sister was about to go out to play in the snow when I called. She said she'd send me pictures. And so she did. I'll make them into a separate blogging.

Prior to leaving my abode to go walk around Fosdic Lake I'd blogged about the Wikipedia blackout. Gar the Texan then kindly pointed out yet one more of my embarrassing typo embarrassments.

And then later Gar the Texan made another comment, telling me how to work around the Wikipedia blackout. With the passing of Steve Jobs, Gar the Texan is likely the world's top computer guru.....

Gar has left a new comment on your post "The Wikipedia Blackout Puts A Stop To My World Of Free Knowledge": 

When you get to a wiki page, you may notice it "flashes" to the blackout page. This is because it's loading a JavaScript to display the World Without Free Knowledge page. If you hit ESC before it loads the JavaScript, you can still read your Wiki pages. Alternatively, you could just turn JavaScript off for the next 20 hours or so :). Just don't tell the feds.

The Wikipedia Blackout Puts A Stop To My World Of Free Knowledge

I have now experienced the pain of the Wikipedia blackout.

I read in one of my online news sources that workers working on widening the Panama Canal are striking, due to being way underpaid.

I did not know the Panama Canal was being widened and was curious as to what level of involvement America still has in the Panama Canal.

So, as I often do when I seek info, I Googled and clicked on the Wikipedia link. The Panama Canal article popped up, quickly followed by the message you see above. asking us to "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge."

Okay, I tried, but I can't imagine what I'm being asked to imagine.

I can easily imagine a world without stupid people. That would be a nice world.

Near as I can tell, this Wikipedia blackout is being caused by too many stupid people sending too many stupid people to Washington, D.C. to represent them, where they've stupidly come up with some stupid legislation that, like I said, near as I can tell, is an American world wide assault on Freedom of Speech.

That really sounds terribly un-American to me.

We Are Freezing In Texas With No Snow Unlike Snowbound Western Washington

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world, on this 18th day of the New Year, you might guess, due to the frosty window pane, that it is freezing this morning in Texas.

Your guess would be correct. My computer-based temperature monitoring device indicates it is currently 27 degrees.

Once again the morning temperature at my current home location is the same as my old home location in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Up in my old home location, this morning, it is not only cold. it is covered deeply in snow.

Pretty much every school in the Puget Sound zone of Western Washington is closed today. The only one I saw open was Anacortes, starting two hours late, subject to change. Seattle is shut down. Flights in and out of Sea-Tac have been cancelled.

I suspect when the sun arrives over the West Coast this morning, in less than two hours, my old neighborhood will be a Winter Wonderland of sleds sliding and skis skiing.

I wish I was there.

Spencer Jack & His Dad Drove By My Old Snowy Home In Washington Today

Snowy Pawnee Lane In Mount Vernon Washington

Spencer Jack's dad has been driving Spencer all over the Skagit Valley today, checking out the snow.

Including a drive by of where I lived before moving to Texas.

I am not understanding how the Douglas Fir that is to the left of the carport has grown so big. It was nowhere near this tall when I moved.

I actually don't even remember a Douglas Fir tree being in that location. Had you asked me I would have said it was several Alder trees.

A month prior to the move a bad windstorm knocked down several trees, including a pair of Alder by where that tall Douglas Fir stands.

Having your house sit under really tall trees and having a lot of windows makes for an interesting scene when the wind gets blowing hard.

Or when there is an earthquake.

Tall trees sway very strangely in an earthquake.

I can see some remodeling has taken place. A different entry door on the second level. The open carport now has a garage door. The stairs from the second floor have been rebuilt with what looks like a landing halfway down. It looks like the windows have been replaced.

I miss this house. Everything about it worked well. It required no air-conditioning, not that many homes in Western Washington have air-conditioning, but this house was designed to passively stay cool.

I like a house that is designed to passively stay cool, since that matches my own personal design. I always stay passively cool.

I wonder what snow pictures my nephew and Spencer Jack will be sending me tomorrow?