Playing With Long Necked Fosdic Lake Birds Thinking About Foregoing Wells Fargo Bank

In the center of the picture is a long necked bird standing in the shallows of Fosdic Lake, in Oakland Lake Park, surrounded by sticks.

The long necked bird seemed not to care at all that I was near. Usually the long necked birds are a bit on the skittish side and are quick to take flight.

Fosdic Lake was seeming a bit on the full side today. I have no idea if Fosdic Lake is having its water elevation raised by any of Fort Worth's multiple water and sanitary sewer line leaks.

I started off today feeling quite the ball of energy.

Then, before I went to visit the birds who float on Fosdic Lake, I went to Wells Fargo Bank. Suffice to say, Wells Fargo Bank aggravated me. I believe Well Fargo Bank is in some sort of hot water due to bad deeds done in the whole home foreclosure mess. Wells Fargo Bank seems to be a not too competently run bank.

But, the tellers are friendly.

My other bank, First Convenience, which I took to calling First Inconvenience, a year ago, when first opening an account, has turned out to be a perfectly fine and convenient bank.

I think Wells Fargo will become Wells Forgo, soon.

And on the temperature news front. It is only 57 degrees in the outer world at my location, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device. But, I was feeling overheated in my interior space, so I've opened windows.

I fear I may be in the first throes of Male Menopause and may be having Hot Flashes.

It is almost always something. And usually it is aggravating.

Spencer Jack Enjoying Waterfront Not Brought About By Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger's Corrupt Earmarking

Spencer Jack Climbing On Larrabee Rocks

My nephew of late has been sending me pictures of my great nephew Spencer Jack in danger.

If I remember right I blogged about my Nephews in Danger last week.

My nephew's photos of Spencer Jack exploring some of my favorite places has the effect of making me a bit homesick.

The picture you see here is Spencer Jack exploring the rocky beach at Larrabee State Park.

Larrabee State Park was established in 1915 as Washington's first state park.

The water you see in the picture is saltwater. I'm not quite sure of my geography. This saltwater is either at the northern reaches of Puget Sound or the eastern reaches of the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

What I do know, for certain, is this big body of water was the not result of any demented River Vision Boondoggle created to give Western Washington some waterfront property and a local congresswoman's son a job.

Speaking of which, just minutes ago I heard from Beale that the Washington Post has an article today titled "Congressional earmarks sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers' properties", in which mention is made of the nefarious earmark dealings of Fort Worth's controversial congresswoman, the mother of J.D., Kay.Granger.

Congresswoman Kay's earmarks send money to the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle to help fund Fort Worth's important public works project that will give the town a little lake, some canals and an un-needed flood diversion channel, with some nondescript bridges across the un-needed flood diversion channel.

Oh, and to give her son, J.D., a job.

For which he has zero qualifications.

Nepotism was banned years ago from Fort Worth dictionaries.

Meanwhile, up in Washington, my great nephew, Spencer Jack, is enjoying countless miles of waterfront hiking, courtesy of Mother Nature, not Mother Kay.

The First Tuesday Pre-Dawn Of February In Texas Is Glowing Golden

I am up well before the sun on this first Tuesday of the second month of 2012, looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at a pool of water glowing golden and turquoise.

This year's February has 29 days. Which would seem to indicate almost 25% of February has already passed into history.

And that a lot of people will be having their first birthday party in 4 years this coming February 29. I am not certain, but I think those born on February 29 are called Leap Year Babies.

Before the arrival of the golden orb in the sky to begin its daily heating duty we are already warmed to 47 degrees in the outer world at my location, heading to a high of 59 today, if those who predict such things are correct in their prediction.

The time of the year is rapidly approaching where I will be able to say, every morning, I am going swimming now. I look forward to that day.

I think my aerobic stimulation today will once again come from running up the hills of Tandy. I will need such a break after multiple hours of re-tooling webpages.

Looking At The Dry Tandy Raw Sewage River Wondering If Fort Worth Is The Leakiest City In America

Tandy Raw Sewage Semi-Dried Riverbed

It was not all that many degrees above freezing when I hit the Hills of Tandy today to run at high speed up 7 hills, both to warm myself up and to finally get rid of feeling bloated from yesterday's Super Bowl overindulgence.

As I was nearing the end of today's endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, a convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks was making its way down the Tandy Highway towards the site of the recent massive raw sewage spill.

A convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks makes quite a loud racket, with a lot of beeping and revving engines, disrupting the peace and quiet of the Tandy Hills Natural Sanatorium Area.

As you see in the picture above, the river of raw sewage has ceased flowing down the Tandy Highway.

What remains is a riverbed of raw sewage muck.

Perhaps the convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks was heading towards doing some environmental cleanup.

I suspect, though, that that was not the case.

I really don't think very many people in this part of the planet are all that concerned about raw sewage flowing into creeks and rivers.

Though there was a matter of fact mention in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram of the chronic problem of Fort Worth's water pipes and sanitary sewer pipes, breaking and spilling.

But, as we all know, we have more important things to worry about spending money on in Fort Worth than the water/sewer infrastructure. Or sidewalks.

The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle and its billion dollar price tag, that's the priority project for this town.

A town in dire need of having a little lake, some canals and an un-needed flood diversion channel to replace flood control levees which have worked fine for longer than half a century.

With all of Fort Worth's water main and sanitary sewer breaks I wonder if the town can lay claim to being the leakiest town in America?

Yet one more thing about Fort Worth that has towns far and wide Green with Envy.

The Monday Morning Post Super Bowl Bad Commercials Muted Madonna Blues

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world on this first Monday of the second month of 2012, the view is frosty this morning, with this morning's frostiness caused by the outer world, at my location, being chilled to a freezing temperature of 32 degrees.

I was up real late on Super Bowl Sunday, causing me to be up late on post Super Bowl Monday.

I actually watched the entire Super Bowl. I think I have only done that once before, that being the one and only time the Seattle Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl.

I think it is time to retire the myth that Super Bowl commercials are all that special. This year, once again, for the most part, the commercials were not very memorable. Or just downright embarrassing.

Methinks whoever signed off on that Audi commercial with vampires needs to lose his or her job.

I don't think the Coca-Cola Polar Bears are cute. And being able to interact with them via a smart phone ap is just silly.

I did not like seeing Grandma launch a baby with a sling shot to grab a bag of Doritos from the baby's big brother. That seemed like baby endangerment to me. That and baby's should not be eating Doritos.

The commercial for a new Chevy car called Sonic was really bad and really made no sense to me. I kept thinking it was the burger chain being advertised until the end of the ad.

Most of the beer commercials were not at all good. And certainly did not motivate me to want to try Platinum Beer.

The exception to the bad beer commercials was one for Budweiser with an End of Prohibition theme.

Another commercial that I liked was the dog going on a diet. But, sadly, this commercial did not imprint on me what it was an advertisement for.

And then there was the Madonna Halftime Show. This was a suitably slick over production. But, on my TV, Madonna's vocals were way too muted.

I spent way too much of the Super Bowl feeling bloated after having over eaten.

I'm still feeling bloated this morning. I wish a swim was in my future today. I know some hill hiking is. That and spending way to many hours upgrading a way too technical website.

A Super Bowl Sunday Walk With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts While Chili Simmers

Village Creek Unpaved Trail

Around noon I felt the need to leave my giant simmering pot of Super Bowl Chili to go walk with the Native American Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington.

I don't know if the Indian Ghosts were as cold as I was today.

Soon upon hitting the ground I found myself jogging to try and warm up.

It was barely 40 degrees when I communed with nature. Only 43, right now, about 2 and a half hours before the Super Bowl starts bowling.

I forgot to previously mention that last night I went to Wal-Mart to stock up on Super Bowl supplies. Saturday night is always, reliably, the most entertaining time to visit Wal-Mart.

Every once in awhile Betty Jo Bouvier emails me a collection of photos titled "People of Wal-Mart."

Last night, for the first time ever, I saw someone worthy of being in Betty Jo's "People of Wal-Mart" collection.

It was a plus-sized woman, walking with a man in army camouflage attire. The woman was wearing ultra-short shorts that left the lower third of her buttocks exposed. Almost all exposed flesh had tattoos, including the exposed part of the buttocks. A large area of her breast zone was also exposed. And tattooed.

When I described this appalling spectacle to someone later, I said if I were a cop I would have arrested her for indecent exposure.

This woman was walking out of Wal-Mart as I walked in. The looks on the faces of my fellow shoppers told me I was not the only person appalled at the spectacle.

Now, I must cease thinking about last night's spectacle at Wal-Mart and finish setting up the buffet table for my Super Bowl Party.

Super Bowl Sunday Dawns Bright In Texas With A Big Bowl Of Chili & Chicken Wings

The first Sunday of the second month of 2012 has dawned chilly enough to require the turning on of my furnace.

As you can see, via the view through the bars of my patio prison cell, the biggest holiday of the year, Super Bowl Sunday, is looking serene and peaceful at my location on this troubled planet.

I now know who is playing in the Super Bowl.

It is the New York Giants against America's Team, the New England Patriots.

Apparently the New England Patriots have won the Super Bowl 4 times. It seems appropriate, to me, that a team named "Patriots" would be America's Team rather than a team of "Cowboys".

Over 111 million football fans are going to be joining me watching Super Bowl XLVI.

Why does the Super Bowl persist in using the pretentious Roman Numeral counting method? I'm guessing around 99% of football fans could not count using Roman Numerals if their life depended on it. I know I can't. I think VI may be 6. Is XL 60? With X being 50 and L being 10? Making this Super Bowl 66? Or is XL 50 minus 10? Making it Super Bowl 46?

The only part of it I am remotely looking forward to is my Super Bowl Party and the Madonna halftime show.

For my Super Bowl Party I've made the biggest pot of chili I've ever made. Along with pico de gallo, guacamole, dozens of chicken wings, 3 pumpkin pies and fixin's for multiple platters of nachos.

I think I will go running the Tandy Hills around noon to help increase my calorie deficit in preparation for my Super Bowl Party.

Checking On The Tandy Hills Brush Bashers & The No Longer Flowing Tandy Raw Sewage River

Tandy Brush Bashers In Action

Today, Saturday, was the day scheduled for those who feel the need to bash brush, to do so on the Tandy Hills.

Personally, I have no particular aversion to non-native vegetation wreaking havoc with the natural state of the Tandy Hills Natural Prairie.

So, I don't bash brush.

Now, if there was a Tandy Hills Wrecked Vehicles Bash, that I might participate in.

I probably would not participate in a Tandy Hills Creek Litter Bash, due to the fact that it seems so futile. You bash the litter, and then it quickly returns.

I might sign on to a Tandy Hills Sanitary Sewer Line Bash, due to the fact that the sewer lines which run through the Tandy Hills seem to regularly add an unwanted natural element to the hills.

Sanitary Sewer Workers Plugging A Raw Sewage Leak

Today I was pleased to see that the raging river of raw sewage that had turned the Tandy Highway into the Tandy Raw Sewage River, has been stopped.

As you can see in the picture, Fort Worth Sanitary Sewer work trucks were on the job today.

I walked up to one of the Sanitary Sewer workers. He asked if I was lost. I said I was not lost, I was hiking.

He then told me I did not want to go that way, pointing towards the former river of raw sewage, telling me that it was too muddy to walk on.

I told him I knew about the sewer break. I asked if it was fixed. He said that it was. He then shook his head and said it was really bad.

The Sanitary Sewer Worker then told me to "take care". Since English was not his first language I don't think he realized that this trite cliche was a bit out of place.

It is going to be awhile before I walk on the ground where so much raw sewage flowed. All that fertilizer should sprout some interesting vegetation in a couple months.

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....