The First Saturday Of February Dawns Steamy In Texas

The view from my primary viewing portal on the outer world appears to be a bit steamy on this first Saturday of the second month of 2012.

I don't know why I'm looking at a steamy view. It is not freezing. The temperature is currently 12 degrees above freezing.

I did not remember, until it was too late, that last night was the Grand Opening of the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo. No one reminded me. I need reminders. Or I don't remember.

In a couple hours there will be throngs of Brush Bashers bashing brush on the Tandy Hills. I am not a big fan of communal brush bashing, so I suspect I will likely not be doing any brush bashing today.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. One of my favorite holidays of the year. I probably should go to the bother of finding out who is playing in the Super Bowl this year, prior to the event taking place. I do know America's Former Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Seattle Seahawks, are not in this year's Super Bowl.

Yesterday's predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms did not materialize at my location. All that fell from the sky was the usual pollution, a short period of light rain and some drizzle.

I also know I am not going swimming now, though I wish I was.

Pondering Me & Gar The Texan's Historical Ignorance About Riverboats & Charlie Chaplin

Earlier today I read a blogging written by Gar the Texan in which he claimed I had apparently commented on his lack of historical knowledge.

I do not recollect making such a comment, but I can see where such a comment may have been made, due to the fact I remember when it came as a surprise  to Gar the Texan, when he stood at the location, in the now defunct Heritage Park, of Camp Worth, later named Fort Worth, where he marveled at the idea that Fort Worth had once actually been a fort.

Another time, Gar the Texan made it apparent he did not realize when he was in Shreveport, in casinos, that those casinos were riverboats floating on the Red River. Gar the Texan did not know that Shreveport was a port. Let alone the fact that the town had a famous river running through it.

The worst case of Gar the Texan's historical ignorance came when he went to a Beatles tribute concert type thing at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. Gar the Texan opined, on his blog, as if the Beatles were a revelation, about which he previously was not aware.

I was appalled. Methinks the vast majority of Americans are aware of the effect the Beatles had on American and World pop culture. The effects of which continue to this day. Things like Coldplay and Maroon Five come to mind.

Now, let us leave Gar the Texan's ignorance and focus on mine.

A decade or two ago, when I was in college, I took a class in Cinema History. During that class we had to watch several Charlie Chaplin movies from the silent era.

Like Gold Rush.

At that point in time I did not get why anyone found Charlie Chaplin amusing. Or a genius.

And now, decades later, I found myself watching Chaplin's City Lights, with the final scene thought by many to be the finest acting ever recorded on film.

And the last silent film ever made. Chaplin's 1936 film, Modern Times.

I now totally get the fact that Charlie Chaplin was an absolute genius. And incredibly funny.

Modern Times, while supposedly silent, well after talkies began, actually is not silent. It is such a good movie, if it did not already exist, if someone filmed the same exact movie today, it would be up for an Academy Award, I have no doubt.

Which brings me to the Great Dictator. Charlie Chaplin's 1940 movie that took on the absurdity that was Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Watch the YouTube clip below of the final scene from the Great Dictator and you will experience the brilliance of Charlie Chaplin and you may make note of the fact that what he says is totally applicable to 2012....

The First Friday Of February Is Jalapeno HOT In Texas In More Ways Than One

Currently, coming up on 4 in the afternoon, the sun is shining through thinning clouds. It is humid. 71 degree. I have my windows open.

This time last year I was fighting frostbite.

In the noon time frame I took off, heading to the Village Creek Natural Historical Area, to get my daily endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation. And then on to ALDI to get Super Bowl Party supplies.

By the time I reached Village Creek precipitation was precipitating. So, I bailed on getting any endorphins and continued on to ALDI.

When I returned to my abode I made lunch and then after lunch I made what currently appears to have been a mistake.

I am making a HUGE batch of chili for my Super Bowl Party. 15 pounds of ground beef product, currently slow cooking in the oven.

I chopped up 9 jalapenos and 2 poblano peppers to add to the chili beef product while it slow cooked.

I was careful to rigorously scrub my hands with soap and water after chopping up the jalapenos. Usually this removes the Capsicum, which causes the burning.

But not today.

My right hand, the one that holds the jalapenos while my left hand cuts them up, is burning. A momentary lapse had me touching my right eye zone with my right hand, causing more burning.

I need not detail all the locations that are currently on fire. Suffice to say, I must find another means to chop up multiple jalapenos in the future.

I understand there is a product called a kitchen glove that might be useful.

Spencer Jack Is a Great Nephew In Danger

Spencer Jack & Whatcom Falls

That is my great nephew, Spencer Jack, standing on the bridge in front of Whatcom Falls in Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham, Washington.

Spencer Jack's dad, my nephew Jason, has been taking Spencer Jack to the various places I used to take my nephews when they were little kids.

My nephew calls me FUD, the initials mean "Favorite Uncle D."

Regarding me taking my nephews to various locales my nephew had this to say, which made me feel good, "Time limits us to a local adventure each week, but as I learned from FUD, there is much to do.  You proved that to me and brother Joe years ago. We always looked forward to our Uncle outtings that freed us from our parents."

I used to enjoy the nephew adventures too. My nephews would be appalled to see what passes for a scenic hiking location for me these days.

Years ago, after the Statute of Limitations had passed, I made a bunch of webpages along the theme of "Nephews in Danger."

There is a park in Anacortes called Washington Park. There is a very scenic drive through Washington Park. At the final scenic viewpoint you are quite high above the saltwater below. I had explored all over these cliffs and bluffs. There are miles of trail. From the scenic overlook I hiked with my nephews down to the water. My nephews took their mom and dad to Washington Park and when they reached the scenic overlook they told their parental units that they hiked all the way to the water with FUD.

My brother, and his then wife, had never bothered to get out of their car to see that it is totally doable, and safe, to hike to the water.

I got a phone call from my brother scolding me about putting my "Nephews in Danger."

From that point forward my adventures with my nephews were called "Nephews in Danger."

Spencer Jack Is Looking Concerned

This is why the subject line of the email containing the Whatcom Falls pictures said "Great Nephews in Danger."

So, like I said, years ago, over a decade ago, actually, I webpaged " Nephews in Danger."

I Googled "Nephews in Danger" last night to see if I still had those webpages online. I was surprised to see that I had previously blogged about "Nephews in Danger."

I don't think the Nephews in Danger webpages are indexed by Google, but they are still online amongst my appallingly large number of web files.

I was surprised when I saw that the decade plus old Nephews in Danger webpages no longer worked right.

A long long time ago there was this now long ago outdated webpage making method called Frames. I did not realize, til last night, that modern day browsers no longer, apparently, support framed webpages. So, if you go to Nephews in Danger and click on a link, rather than open in the main frame, the page opens in its own tab or window.

Anyway.

Looking at the old pictures of Nephews in Danger made me both nostalgic and homesick. Those Nephews in Danger episodes seem so recent, in my memory, but they all took place in the last decade of the previous century.

The Dark Drought Free Dawn Of The 3rd Morning Of February In Texas

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell, this third dark morning of February, you might guess, due to the grayish look to the sky above the pool, that we are under a cloud cover at my location on the planet.

You would be guessing correctly.

I was surprised when I stepped outside this morning to find myself being moisturized by a fine mist.

A couple downpours hit the ground before midnight last night.

With those downpours last night and the deluge from last week, apparently, this was enough water for something called the U.S. Drought Monitor to claim that the Great Texas Drought is over for the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

According to these drought monitors a section of North Texas making up under 5 percent of the state is  now at drought free status.. This leaves almost 60 percent of Texas still too dry, with an extreme drought, and 27 percent of Texas parched at the highest level of drought.

Last night was warm to an almost borderline summer heat level of HOT. I do not recollect sleeping cover free at this time of year before. Last year at this time the furnace was running around the clock to combat the frigid freeze.

Even though it is 62 degrees this morning, I don't think I will be going swimming.

A Smoky Return To The Tandy Hills Where The Raw Sewage Still Flows

The Smoky Skyline View Of
 Beautiful Downtown Fort Worth

I enjoyed the Tandy Hills so much yesterday, even with the shocking massive raw sewage spill, that I returned today.

The shocking massive raw sewage spill is still spilling.

But, I just got a message from Don Young telling me that the city is now aware they have a problem.

Doesn't the EPA issue fines for this type of thing?

The raw sewage was still flowing today.

If the raw sewage ever stops flowing it is going to be awhile before I'll be wanting to walk on that sewage tainted ground.

I wonder if this spill will qualify as a Superfund Cleanup Site?

Continuing with the pollution theme. Looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth today, the view was through a thick smoky haze.

Last night I was impressed with how much smoke the Woodshed Smokehouse was spewing. The Woodshed Smokehouse smoke made for a hazy view across the Trinity River last night as the sun was setting.

I am almost 100% today's smoky haze has been caused by Fort Worth's newest restaurant.

We are currently scheduled for some stormy weather during the coming 48 hours. I hope this stormy weather does some good air cleaning.

The Very Dark Morning Of The 2nd Day Of February With A Barbecue Hangover

Looking out my primary viewing portal on this second morning of February it is dark, very very dark.

My eyes are burning bad this morning. As bad as if someone was blowing smoke in my eyes.

I do not think my burning eyes are a residual effect from visiting the smoke, last night, that spews from the Woodshed Smokehouse.

I do think that last night's nightmares, that featured Granny Grassroots, were a residual effect from visiting the Woodshed Smokehouse.

I think I may have consumed too many barbecue products last night, which may have been what helped cause the disturbing nightmares.

Changing the subject from smoke, Granny Grassroots and nightmares to my favorite subject.

The sun has now arrived, turning the formerly dark view from my primary viewing portal to a bright view. I can see that, currently, the sky is free of clouds at my location on the planet.

Currently, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device it is 49 degrees. I think a return to the raw sewage of the Tandy Hills is in my future today.

And no swimming.

The Occupy The Woodshed Smokehouse Event Had A Good Menu & Music & Tim Love BBQing In Cowboy Boots

Flush The Shed Down The River

Since this Occupy thing started happening all over the world I have not been to any Occupy thing.

Until tonight.

I found myself part of an Occupy Woodshed group.

I did not know what to expect.

Upon arrival I was given my Occupy Uniform in the form of a black t-shirt that Xed out Trinity Uptown on the front and said Save a River Save a Billion on the back.

I did not put on my Occupy Uniform because I already was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt. This made sense at the time I decided not to put on the Occupy Uniform.

A Group Of Woodshed Occupiers In Uniform

Occupy Woodshed seemed to be a very festive affair. Sort of like a party. A band provided music. We had our own Woodshed picnic table, to occupy, and a very pleasant Woodshed Smokehouse waitress brought drinks and vittles. For some reason I thought these Occupy things were more of a roughing it experience. I did not realize at Occupy Events there are menus and waitresses.

I now understand why the Occupy Movement is so popular.

A Couple Of  Woodshed Occupiers Enjoying Some Woodshed Grub

The Woodshed Smokehouse spews out an awful lot of smoke. Between all that wood smoke and all the humans smoking tobacco based products, some of which were home grown and organic, I believe I breathed in an awful lot of carcinogens tonight. I had to take a shower as soon as I got back to my abode to wash out the smoke smell.

Skinny Blonde Woodshed Occupier

I saw Tim Love several times tonight. He was wearing a cowboy hat, way too tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. The Occupiers tried to get the waitress to get Tim Love to come by for a group picture. But, that did not happen.

The skinny blonde in the sunglasses, who looks like a movie star, was the only one of the Occupy Woodshed people I saw who were occupying any space outside of the Woodshed Smokehouse.

After the sun exited for the day, J.D. Granger showed up. But not with a beautiful, buxom blonde. J.D. Granger had a kid with him. I suspect one of his offspring.

I expected Elsie Hotpepper to be at the Woodshed tonight. Elsie had told me she would be there for certain. But, Elsie was a no show. Elsie Hotpepper is so unreliable.

Today I Was Shocked To Find The Tandy Highway Has Turned Into The Tandy Sewer River

Tandy Trojan Horse On Roof Of House

Today was the first day I have been back on the Tandy Hills since our recent deluge.

I parked on top of Mount Tandy, under the Fort Worth Space Needle. The trail down Mount Tandy, leading to the trail junction, where the choices are to go north or south, was a bit damp.

At the trail junction I saw that the Tandy Trojan Horse had moved on top of the house that arrived a couple weeks ago.

As you can see looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, it is partially cloudy today. What you can't see is that it is quite warm. Currently 70.

At the trail junction I chose to take the north option, planning to cross Tandy Falls. I was soon shocked to find that doing so is currently not possible.

Tandy River Sewer Flood

Last week Stenotrophomonas told me that after the rain the Tandy Highway had turned into the Tandy River.

Today when I got to the bottom of Mount Tandy and saw the Tandy Highway I was very surprised to see that it is still being the Tandy River, more than a week after we got around 4 inches of rain.

There have been plenty of times more than 4 inches of rain has fallen on the Tandy Hills, without turning the Tandy Highway into a river.

I was very perplexed.

Due to being blocked by the river I could not make it to the Tandy Falls crossing. So, I backtracked back up Mount Tandy, to go down the south trail option to the Tandy Highway.

When I reached the Tandy Highway from the south trail I expected to see it covered with running water. But, it was dry.

Now I was even more perplexed.

Perplexed due to the fact that there are no creek crossings, or water sources, that I knew of, that would explain the flood.

Tandy Sanitary Sewer Fountain

So, I headed north on the dry Tandy Highway. After awhile I began to hear the sound of water gurgling.

And then I saw the source of the flood.

Water shooting out of a Fort Worth Sanitary Sewer manhole.

That explained the malodorousness.

Apparently this manhole has been spewing sewer water for over a week, flowing into Tandy Creek, and then the Trinity River.

Now, it is well known that untreated sewer water flowing into the Trinity River is no big deal in this part of the planet. Come summer, many of the locals think nothing of going inner tubing in the Trinity River's untreated sewer water.

A Closer Look At The Tandy Sewer Fountains

What is causing this outpouring, I can not help but wonder? Is the sewer line plugged further down the line, causing the backflow to flood out of the manhole?

The city has been doing a lot of work on the sewer lines in the Tandy Hills.

Is the city aware that one of their Sanitary Sewer Manholes has turned into the Tandy Sewer Fountain?

Like I already said, this is all very perplexing.

The Dawn Of The First Day Of February Thinking About Occupying A Woodshed

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell you can see that the arrival of the sun on the first day of the second month of the new year of 2012 is shining through a clear blue sky.

It is currently 52 degrees in the outer world at my location. This means the 24 hour temperature average has been over 50.

Before I re-calculated my swimming temperature requirements I would have consider this a sufficient temperature average to warrant getting in the water of that turquoise colored swimming pool that daily taunts me.

Late this afternoon an untold number of aggravated citizens will be occupying Tim Love's Woodshed Smokehouse to protest the sweetheart deal given to him by J.D. Granger and the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Because there is no open transparency in the dealings of J.D. Granger and the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, the "story" of how it was that Tim Love got this sweetheart deal and who, exactly, gave it to him, has been as shifty as any other Tall Texas Tale.

I do not know, right now, if I will be among the Woodshed Occupiers. I do know I am not going to go swimming in a few minutes.