Virtually Visiting Washington's Ocean Shores Has Me Freshly Perplexed By Fort Worth's Incoming Giant Cement Ditch

No, that is not an artist's rendering of the Fort Worth Trinity River Vision Boondoggle you are looking at in the picture. What you are looking at is a postcard my favorite aunt sent me a couple days ago from Ocean Shores.

Ocean Shores is a beach town in Washington that started as a private real estate development, with big dreams, back in the late 1950s.

You can read more about Ocean Shores on my Washington blog, where you will see pictures of my brother, ex-sister-in-law, sister and Big Ed, climbing on a shipwreck.

Ocean Shores got me thinking about the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. And Fort Worth Boondoggles in general.

Ocean Shores has 23 miles of interconnected freshwater lakes and canals. And a new multi-million dollar convention center. All built without federal earmark money. Or abusing eminent domain.

Ocean Shores attracts millions of tourists annually. Real tourists, not shoppers at a sporting goods store.

Ocean Shores has a population of around 5,000 year round residents. Fort Worth has a population approaching 800,000. Little Ocean Shores has 23 miles of lakes and canals. Built without having to give a corrupt congresswoman's son a job.

The canals of Ocean Shores and the canals of Arlington's Interlochen got me thinking anew regarding how brain dead dumb the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle is.

I also got freshly wondering why the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle has yet to become a national laughing stock, along the line of Alaska's Bridge to Nowhere.

Over a half a century ago a really bad flood caused the Army Corps of Engineers to build levees that have kept Fort Worth's inner core flood free ever since.

The idiotic Trinity River Vision Boondoggle originally saw a very small lake around 30 acres big. With canals. The very small lake soon shrank to become a very small pond of around 12 acres. I don't know what the current estimated size is. It may have shrunk to puddle size.

To make this puddle pond and canals work it was deemed, by the dimbulbs who did the deeming, that the existing levees had to be removed.

If the levees were to be removed a flood diversion channel was needed. That diversion channel then became part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Diverting the flood waters was needed so that the water level in the little puddle pond and the canals could be kept level.

No one considered the idea, I guess, of simply pumping water from the Trinity River into a new pond and some canals, separated from the levees. This would seem to be a much more cost effective idea. Which has worked in other locations on this particular planet.

And then there is that bizarre flood diversion channel. I assume this channel will be lined with cement.

Which will make it a big cement-lined ditch. It is across this ditch the former signature bridges are supposed to span.

Now, consider this. What other large city in the world, can you think of, has a humongous cement-lined ditch near its downtown core?

Will this humongous cement-lined ditch be so monstrous that it will be visible to the naked eye from the moon? Like the Great Wall of China?

When this cement-lined ditch is not filled with flood water, has anyone given any thought to how aesthetically stupid this thing is going to look?

I suspect, if common sense does not intervene, and the cement-lined ditch actually gets built, that it will be a world class eyesore that will give Fort Worth, for the first time, something the town has long lacked, that being an iconic structure the rest of the world recognizes as being Fort Worth.

I have learned from watching how things happen in this forsaken town, that results often do not match what the town's entrenched propagandists propagandize.

Santa Fe Rail Market, Mercado, Radio Shack Corporate Headquarters, Cabela's, Pier One Imports.

Barnett Shale Natural Gas Revenue.

And others I'm not remembering. Or don't know about.

The cement lined ditch must be in place before the levees come down. Before the first flood hits the cement lined ditch, the flood dispersal installations downriver must be in place. Like J.D. Granger's 80,000 Magic Trees that are designed to slow down the water that rushes through the cement lined ditch.

I am going to make a prediction right now. If this cement lined ditch is built and if the existing levees come down, the first flood that hits is going to bring with it at least one unexpected result.

And I am not talking about the total wipeout of the world's premiere urban wakeboard lake. I am predicting something much worse.

Walking Down The Tandy Trail Past The Elsie Hotpepper Obstacle

In the picture you are on top of Mount Tandy, looking at the old Tandy Trail heading towards the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, a few miles to the west.

As you can see the Tandy Trail has turned green, with a sprinkling of wildflowers adding some much needed color.

Some storminess is predicted to be hitting this part of the planet within the upcoming 24 hour time frame.

Today, when I was getting in some salubrious endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, at a temperature below 80, I became drenched due to the humidity, I could not help but wonder how it is I manage to do this type thing when the temperature goes north of the century mark.  I think I've puzzled about this conundrum previously.

I heard from Elsie Hotpepper today asking me if she was an "obstacle" and then in a followup email Miss Hotpepper asked if I was not speaking to her.

I have no idea why Elsie Hotpepper is asking me these probing questions.

I don't see how Elsie Hotpepper can be an obstacle to anything. She is just a tiny, dainty, little thing. Yes, in the past few months, the Elsie Hotpepper bodonkadonk has grown noticeably more bootilicious, but this still does not present much of an obstacle.

I have no answer to Miss Hotpepper's question asking if I was not speaking to her.

The Second Day Of April Dawns Cloudy In Texas

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell on the second day of April the only thing that appears to be illuminated is the hot tub shaped like a beehive.

That illumination shortage has since abated with the daily scheduled arrival of the celestial light bulb.

There appears to be a layer of clouds between my terrestrial location and that aforementioned celestial light bulb.

Even with those clouds preventing direct solar contact the sun has still managed to heat the outer world to 68 degrees at my location, heading to a predicted high, today, of 82.

Tomorrow the weather predictors are predicting a drop in temperature, along with some potential rain and electrical activity.

Changing the subject from my favorite to my second favorite.

Have I mentioned that despite 10 days of doing a lot more eating than my norm, including things like candy, which normally I never eat, a lot of peanuts, multiple hamburgers, fishburgers, potato chips, french fries, t-bone steaks, various pies, cinnamon rolls and non-diet Cokes, I somehow managed to lose weight when I was in Arizona?

I think the only thing that can explain the unexplained Arizona weight loss is the strenuous driving multiple miles over strenuous roads and the strenuous hiking over strenuous trails that my sister subjected me to. And maybe the strenuous swimming with the well-seasoned ladies of Sun Lakes.

I am thinking I would like to move to Arizona. There are a few obstacles in the way of making that happen, but I've hurdled obstacles in the past to make something happen when I wanted something to happen.

But, before I move to Arizona, I think I will go swimming before it gets any hotter.

My Regular Sunday Walk With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts Was Uneventful

Today is Sunday, which usually means I go for a walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

The Village Creek Blue Bayou was looking like a serene watercolor painting today.

Upon my arrival at the Bayou a large critter made a big splash. I was unable to ascertain if it was an alligator. Or turtle.

Walking with the Indian Ghosts today reminded me that I intend to blog about Quanah Parker's mom, Cynthia Ann and his sister, Prairie Flower's visit to Fort Worth and its environs, after they were kidnapped from their Comanche tribe.

I was reminded of this this morning when the Fort Worth Library kindly emailed me to remind me I have 4 books due on April 4, including Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History.

The Village Creek Natural Historical Area's parking lot was half full today. There seems to be an increase in the number of people who have discovered this is a nice place to walk under the shade of big oak trees.

At my location, away from air-conditioned comfort, it is currently 82 degrees, with the humidity making it feel like 90. I think I will go get 100% wet again via the cool pool water.

It Is A Happy April Fool's Day Morning In Texas With Noisy Birds

As you can sort of see, via looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world, the first day of April is a sunny Sunday at my currently location in Texas.

Since it is April Fool's Day I was going to say I won the lottery last night and wanted to buy a new car for anyone who wanted one.

But then I decided that was just plain dumb.

The past couple years, on April Fool's Day, I have said that I am finally exiting the Great State of Texas, moving to greener pastures elsewhere.

But, that always brought way too many glad to see you go messages, which sort of hurt my delicate feelers. A couple people, if memory serves, got that me saying I'm leaving Texas was April Fool's foolery.

The bird symphony this morning is lacking its usual melodic coherency and is instead sounding like bad jazz, with discordant notes and an erratic syncopation. If the birds don't get their music act together I may need to shut my windows to shut them up.

Or go swimming and let the noise of the fountain waterfall drown out the avian squawking.

At this very moment, just as I was complaining about them, the birds have all shut up. Spooky.

I Almost Made It All The Way To Pluto Tonight At The Prairie Fest

Prairie Fest 2012 Vendor Free

The entry to the Prairie Fest re-boot looks way different than the past few Prairie Fests, with no vendors on either side of the sidewalk. And beyond.

I did not realize, til I got there, that part of today's Prairie Fest Experience was a tour of the planets.

Near the entry to the planetary tour I ran into Olive the Prairie Dog and the young lady Olive keeps on a leash, Debra Young, who told me I should listen to the Planetary Guide's planetary spiel.

But, I knew my Adult Attention Deficit Disorder was in high gear and that listening to anything that took over 20 seconds was not a good idea.

Olive's leashee told me that the trail all the way to the freeway was strewn with planets, with Pluto being the final sun orbiter on display.

A Pair Of Tandy Hills Stroller Pushers

And so I took off on a tour of the planets.

Imagine my disappointment when I got to where I thought Pluto should be, to find Neptune. With no Pluto to be seen.

I was later told Pluto had lost its planet status.

I am a bit uncertain why the Tandy Hills is embroiled in this Pluto planetary brouhaha.

I don't think I've ever seen so many people out walking on the Tandy Hills' trails as I saw tonight. I know I've never seen moms pushing babies in strollers before.

I overheard 3 different people remarking about their surprise at the views they were seeing. I actually heard one guy remark that the skyline looks beautiful from here.

This said at the location I regularly snap a picture of downtown Fort Worth and use verbiage something like "looking west at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth."

Fort Worth's Finest On The Tandy Trails

If I remember right, I'm being a bit sarcastic and a tad ironic when I use the "stunning skyline" verbiage. This guy tonight truly thought the view showed a beautiful skyline.

I must admit, the lighting was good. I should have taken a picture, but bemusement overtook me.

Last year I was sort of appalled at the number of Fort Worth police at the Prairie Fest. It seemed very excessive for such a peaceful event.

This year I only saw two Fort Worth police officers. A pair of lady cops. And this pair was not just leaning on their cop car dipping donuts into coffee, they were out patrolling the Tandy Trails looking for evildoers.

All in all, methinks this re-thought Prairie Fest was well thought out.

Next month maybe misters need to be a cooling option. And, for sure, by the HOT time of the May Prairie Fest.

The Tandy Hills Are All Greened Up & Ready For Prairie Fest 2012 Part One

In the picture you are looking at the vast prairie atop Mount Tandy on the eastern edge of the Tandy Hills Natural Area, where, in a couple hours Prairie Fest 2012 Part One will begin.

I expect to arrive, with my picnic basket, some time between 4 and 5.

On my way to the top of Mount Tandy, today, I saw Prairie Fest signage installed, pointing the way to the Tandy Hills.

I have not heard from Elsie Hotpepper regarding if she is going to be at the Prairie Fest today. I will have a jar of peanuts with me in case Elsie is there and is in need of a feeding, which is usually the case at these type events attended by Elsie Hotpepper.

So far it is not too HOT. Only 73 degrees. I suspect it will be in the 80s by the time the Prairie Fest bands begin making noise. Maybe I should bring a bumbershoot with me to provide shade.

I learned last night that Fort Worth native, MKB, currently exiled in Tacoma, is returning to D/FW for a visit in July. July is much too late for MKB to be attending any of 2012's Prairie Fests.

But, MKB will be in Fort Worth just in time to have fun in the Trinity River at one of the Rockin' the River Inner Tube Happy Hours.

I forgot to mention, today I was back in light as a feather mode zipping up the Tandy Hills, which would seem to indicate that that which had been ailing me has completely abated. I am pleased about that.

Prairie Fest X3 Part 1 Today At 4 On The Tandy Hills

Come celebrate your connection to the natural world!

EVENT  HOURS: 4 PM - Dusk

STAGE  SCHEDULE
4pm  Matthew Broyles
5pm  Barbara Taylor
6pm  Trinity Dogs
7pm  Ginny Mac

SOLAR-POWERED  BY: The Solar Shuttle, North Texas Renewable Energy and that big ball o' fire in the sky.

DISCOVERY  HIKES  FOR KIDS  &  FAMILIES: 4 - 6 PM.

Led by the amazing Earth teacher, Heather Foote, of Prairie Keepers. This one will fill up fast so arrive early.

Discovery Hikes sponsored exclusively by Whole Foods Market.

PRAIRIE-WILDFLOWER  HIKES: 4 - 6 PM

Walking tours organized by the Google of Wildflowers, Suzanne Tuttle, of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and led by Master Naturalist volunteers.

FOOD  &  DRINK:
Chadra Mezza & Grill will offer samplings from the Mediterranean-style menu made famous at their venerable restaurant.

Good Karma Kitchen will be serving vegetarian and vegan options out of their famous food truck named, Lucy.

New Belgium Brewing and Rahr & Sons Brewing beers/ales will be available at the Chadra tent.

IMPROMPTU  PRAIRIE:
The big open space that used to have vendors is now your personal playground for kite-flying, frisbee throwing, dog-chasing and picnicking.

The Final Day Of March Dawns With Birds Chirping & 100% Humidity With Prairie Fest 2012 Part One Later Today

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell on this final day of the 3rd month of 2012 all I can see in the pre-dawn darkness is a swimming pool looking unnaturally blue.

We are still at 100% humidity at this opposite of a desert part of the planet. Chilled, this morning, to 64 degrees.

The predicted high for today has been dropped a degree, to 89.

That chillier temperature should make for a more pleasant Prairie Fest Part One, starting at 4 this afternoon on the Tandy Hills, which will be rocking to the sound of music.

I have my windows open this morning and I must say I am enjoying a rather complex symphony courtesy of a variety of birds who are sounding very happy. The birds must like high humidity.

I think I will go swimming now to try and cool off before it gets any hotter.

On The Tandy Hills Looking For Wildflowers While Feeling Like A Bloated Pig

That Is Not Wild Asparagus Growing On The Tandy Hills

Today, on the Tandy Hills, it became clear to me that whatever I brought back with me from Arizona, that gave me a really bad headache and other aches for a couple days, then slowly abated, is still with me.

As in, usually I go up the Tandy Hills light as a feather blowing in the wind. Today I plodded up the Tandy Hills feeling like a bloated pig being led to slaughter.

Not that I really know what a bloated pig feels like. It's just a guess on my part.

My mom called me Wednesday night and informed me that my sister got sick after I left Arizona, and my favorite brother-in-law relapsed, requiring a doctor's visit, where meds were prescribed. My mom and dad, with their superior immune systems, did not catch this particular ailment.

It is already a week since my now ailing sister and I hiked to the top of Piestewa Peak. On that hike I was still in light as a feather blowing in the wind mode. I could not have done that hike, last Friday, feeling like I do this Friday.

If I'm still feeling like I'm in ailing mode tomorrow, I will need to re-think my plan to go to the Prairie Fest. I would not want to start an epidemic.

I've been getting messages about tomorrow's Prairie Fest on the Tandy Hills.

Methinks someone forgot to send the Tandy Hills the message that tomorrow is the Prairie Fest, because the Tandy Hills is being unusually sparse with its wildflower display. Although, the top of Mount Tandy was quite a bit more colorful today than a couple days ago. But there was nary a bloom on Lost Sunglasses Ridge.