David Does The Puyallup On His Birthday At The Western Washington State Fair

David Driving at The Puyallup

My nephew, David, Did the Puyallup on his birthday, yesterday, 9/11. I learned David Did the Puyallup, on his birthday, when I called my mom yesterday afternoon. David Doing the Puyallup was confirmed this morning when I saw photo documentation on the Blue and Max Adventure Poodle Blog in a blogging titled David Does The Puyallup.

If you are in Texas reading this, or some other part of the world, or America, you might be wondering what it means to Do the Puyallup.

Well, to Do the Puyallup means one is going to the Western Washington State Fair.

In the town of Puyallup.

Puyallup, the town, is a few miles east and south of Tacoma. The Puyallup, the People, are a Washington Tribe of Indians, as in the Puyallup Tribe.

I do not know why, when one says one is going to Do The Dallas, it does not mean one is going to the State Fair of Texas. Very perplexing.

I don't enjoy the State Fair of Texas as much as I always enjoyed Doing the Puyallup. One thing is the food is better at The Puyallup. And you don't have to buy coupons to buy food. American currency is accepted.

The Midway of the State Fair of Texas is bigger and wilder than The Puyallup's. I'm not a big Carnival ride fan. But I greatly enjoy walking through the State Fair of Texas Midway. It is a bit of sensory overload. The Carnival/Midway zone of The Puyallup is puny compared to The Dallas.

David at The Puyallup in his Ask Me
My Secret Identity T-Shirt

Both fairs have gondola rides. The State Fair of Texas gondola skyride is only a few years old. The Puyallup's was born during the Seattle World's Fair, in 1962, moving to Puyallup, many years later.

If I remember right The Puyallup has a wooden roller coaster. I don't think there are one of those at the State Fair of Texas.

I always found shows I enjoyed watching at The Puyallup, not so much at The Dallas. Ironically, it was a Dallas based band, The Shoppe, that was always the highlight of a visit to The Puyallup, followed by a hypnotist show.

With Washington being a bit more of an agricultural area than Texas, that part, the produce and animals, is a bigger deal at The Puyallup.

The Puyallup has way more varied exhibits than the State Fair of Texas. Lots of demonstrations. Lots of temptations to buy. It was at The Puyallup I got my first Vita-Mix.

The State Fair of Texas seems to devote an awful lot of space to vehicle exhibits. I do not recollect seeing cars on display at The Puyallup.

The State Fair of Texas has some very cool permanent buildings, built in the Art Deco style, plus several museums. The Puyallup has a lot of permanent buildings, but not of the sort you see in Fair Park in Dallas.

I think you can find some fried food at The Puyallup, but nothing of the exotic deep-fried Big Tex Choice Award sort that can be a bit horrifying at the State Fair of Texas.

Right now I'm thinking if I weren't such a procrastinator, I would likely have gone to The Puyallup with my nephew, David, yesterday. And had a scone. Or two. Or three. But, nothing deep-fried. Not even butter.

Watching The Old Man In The Fosdic Sea And A Los Angeles Police Chase With Robin Hood Throwing Money To Poor People

The Old Man was back fishing in the Fosdick Sea, in Oakland Lake Park, again today, fishing whilst sitting on his mini-dock, with his feet in the water one is forbidden to swim in, trying to catch fish one is forbidden to eat.

It was an idyllic scene. Sort of Tom Sawyerish. Becky Thatcher is not in the picture. She had her pole in the water about 10 feet to the right of the Old Man in the Fosdick Sea. Becky fished from shore, not from a mini-deck.

Speaking of idyllic scenes, my lunchtime entertainment, whilst enjoying Beef Stroganoff, was to watch a Los Angeles police car chase through the streets of LA, eventually stopping a pair of Robin Hoods, who had engaged in an armed robbery.

Eventually a lot of Los Angelenos, who were watching, like I was, the live chase on their TVs, with the chase taking place on their streets, left their TVs to go out to the streets, where the armed robber Robin Hoods began throwing money to the poor people of Sherwood Forest.

The Robin Hoods throwing money added an added element of mayhem to the chase, as the moneyseekers got between the robbers and the police cars, at times.

This is not the first time I've watched one of these bizarre police chases. I think I've watched 2 that have taken place in the D/FW zone. I never quite understand why these are broadcast live. It seems, like it did today, the live broadcast creates problems.

Although, on the other hand, some poor people got themselves a little unexpected cash today, after seeing the potential easy money being thrown live on their TVs.

Wednesday Night Free Dinner At Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo

When I don't hear from the good people at Paradise Center I know all is going well in their world.

It has been months since I've heard a Paradise Center peep, except for weekly emails about Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo.

This morning the incoming email included a Camp Bowie Bingo invite for free dinner, tonight, as in Wednesday, September 12.

Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo must be doing real well, with it now expanded to weekdays, in addition to weekends, and offering free dinners.

I am currently scheduled to be at TCU this early evening. I was going to follow being at TCU with biking to check out the new Phyllis Tilley Bridge, it being a massive pedestrian crossing structure that spans the mighty Trinity River, giving Fort Worth a much needed pedestrian connection between downtown Fort Worth and West Fort Worth.

Now that I've gotten this dinner invite from Camp Bowie Bingo I may add heading a bit further west to this evening's agenda.

Sneezing On Top Of Mount Tandy Before Navigating A Maze Of Thorns

I returned to the Tandy Hills today for the first time since my recent bout of allergic woes became even more woeful after my visit to the Tandy Hills last Saturday.

I parked on top of Mount Tandy and barely exited my vehicular transport when the sneeze impulse hit me.

Fighting back the sneeze impulse I thought to myself, this is not good, it's the Tandy Hills to which I am allergic.

As I walked down Mount Tandy, past the maze of purple thorns you see in the picture, the allergic woes began to abate, once again. The more hill hiking I did the better I felt.

I have concluded it is not the Tandy Hills tot which I am allergic.

What a relief.

Another relief that I found on the Tandy Hills today, was to find that someone has removed the mysterious ice chest that has laid next to the trail, by the equally mysterious burial crypt, since August 25, which remains intact.

Wishing My Nephew David A Happy 9/11 Birthday

That is my nephew, David, getting ready to take a swing at a pinata at his birthday party this past  weekend.

Have I mentioned, previously, that David is bilingual? He is learning Spanish at the Montessori school he attends.

I do not know if David's bilingual bi-cultureness is the reason for the birthday pinata.

I was invited to David's birthday party, but was unable to make it to Tacoma in time to attend.

Even though David's birthday party was this past weekend, his actual birthday is today. September 11.

Yes, David is a 9/11 baby. Born 4 years ago, today.

Happy Birthday David!

The 11th Anniversary Of September 11, 2001

One World Trade Center

It does not seem possible that it is 11 years since I got a call from Big Ed in Dallas telling me that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. I assumed Big Ed was talking about the World Trade Center in Dallas, since he was in Dallas at a meeting near the Dallas World Trade Center.

I turned on the TV right when the plane struck the second tower in New York City.

I thought I was seeing a replay, then I realized the other tower was burning. When it sank into my thick skull that America was under attack I started waking up people on the west coast.

I'd been on the west coast a week prior to 9/11. I'd driven, solo, back to Washington a month prior. This was to be the last time I've driven back to Washington. In the 3 years prior to 9/11 I'd driven back and forth from Texas to Washington 5 times. I do not know why 9/11 stopped the drives back to Washington. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it became way cheaper to fly.

Now, 11 years later, a very impressive memorial exists where the twin towers used to stand.

What was originally called the Freedom  Tower and is now called One World Trade Center, is not yet finished. However, on August 17, 2012, the building was topped out at the 105th floor, at 1,368 feet, eventually to reach 1,776 feet, with the installation of 408 foot antenna spire.

A lot has happened in the world in the 11 years since 9/11/2001, but that date still seems like yesterday to me.

Apparently Killing Sweetwater Rattlesnakes Is Senseless & Makes You Look Like A Moron

On the left you are looking at a screencap of the webpage on my Eyes on Texas website devoted to the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup.

This afternoon I got yet one more email about the rattlesnakes in Sweetwater. Those rattlesnake emails have become frequent lately. So, I Googled "Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup" and found that my webpage about this important subject is back Googling in the #1 spot, hence the emails asking me where rattlesnake meat can be purchased, if I sell rattlesnake skins and rattles. And my favorite, asking me for my favorite rattlesnake recipes.

I have no rattlesnake recipes. Let alone a favorite.

And then there are the haters, you know, those who hate those who murder rattlesnakes. I think some of the haters think I am one of the murderers. I have never killed any snake, rattlesnake or any other brand.

Today I got a good example of the hater type rattlesnake email, incoming from someone named Jack Kittae. Jack Kittae totally overly formatted his message, all highlighted in red, with words shouted in various sizes, as you can see via part of the email, in the second screencap of the day.

I copied and pasted the email in its formatted mode, but it looked real bad in blog form, so I de-formatted it for your more easily read reading pleasure...

Hello Roundup People, Consider this a warning from a very powerful person who plans to shut down your operation. Just think (if your able to actually THINK) A rattlesnake is just as dangerous as an electrical outlet......If you don't put your fingers in it....YOU WON'T GET BIT. These animals are NOT hurting you or coming to your house seeking food and shelter.

Do you all think killing Rattlesnakes makes you "COOL"????????

What you are doing is senseless and makes you look like a MORON!!!

Why don't you have a FLEA and TICK roundup and kill some things that really bother us HUMANS.

It won't be long before WE SHUT YOU DOWN FOR GOOD.

Meanwhile, I will continue to BREED Rattlesnakes by the HUNDREDS and release them in the wild.
YOU WILL NEVER WIN!!!

My only hope is that ALL OF YOU receive a nice, big, fat, juicy BITE right in your face during your next IDIOTIC ROUNDUP.

You will never know when one of us is out in the crowd....letting some nice big Timber Rattlesnakes loose.

If it didn't have any consequences....I would take your "hatchet man" and do to him what you do to those defenseless little RATTLESNAKES..

YOU ALL make it real easy to HATE YOU and FEEL SORRY for you at the same time.

YOU ALL are NOT COOL and are not REAL MEN no matter how hard you try and convince yourselves......

I REALLY, REALLY hope you get BIT and stay in the hospital for a few days.

YOU are ALL so WRONG.....WAKE UP ROUNDUPPERS!!!!

Go get your Pick em Up Trucks and your Bud Lites and go hunt some Coyotes!!

GOD is watching YOU and HE doesn't like what he sees...better watch your Karma!!!

LEAVE OUR RATTLESNAKES ALONE!!!!!!

84 Years Old Walking With The Indian Ghosts Who Haunt The Village Creek Natural Historical Area

That is the shaded Village Creek Natural Historical trail you are looking at in the picture.

It was to this location, to walk with my favorite Indian Ghosts, that I drove today to do my daily walking.

I am currently experiencing a respite from the allergic woes I've been experiencing the past couple days. Currently the National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for this part of the planet. Those who are sensitive to bad air are advised to be careful where they do their breathing.

The pollen level is supposedly extremely high today.

I am hoping whatever it was that caused me to go into allergic meltdown has gone away.

The allergy woes have caused me all sorts of aggravation. Yesterday I seemed to be suffering from some sort of allergy caused dementia.

For instance, yesterday I told someone I was 35 when JFK was assassinated. This would make me only 84 years old. The person I told that I was 35, when JFK last visited Dallas, was under the delusion that I was 29. Thus reading that I was 84 caused her to spew the tea she was drinking all over her keyboard.

I feel real bad every time I cause someone to spew anything on their keyboard.

This morning I learned that 6 months ago I was sent incorrect drawings to add to a website upgrade. I've been asked to insert corrected drawings ASAP. If I was still in allergy suffering mode I don't think I could do anything ASAP that required any attention to detail.

The lunch bell just rang. Chile Rellenos.

A Fast Hike Through Plano's Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Thanks to Marie I had myself a fine time making a quick trip through Plano's Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.

I'm looking forward to a more leisurely trip to Plano, including biking the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve's mountain bike trail.

Sniffling My Way Around Fosdick Lake To Quack With The Fosducks

I do not recollect if I've previously blogged a photo of the paved trail that winds its way around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park.

In the photo, you might guess, because I've already mentioned it, that is the paved trail around Fosdick Lake you are looking at.

You can sort of tell that the trail is going up a hill at this location. Heading north up a hill on the east side of Fosdick Lake.

On the long, almost 4 mile, drive to Oakland Lake Park my allergies started acting up quite miserably. By the time I arrived and parked I was thinking that the walking outdoors idea might be a bad one.

However, very quickly after I started walking the allergy woes abated.

I walked the paved trail all the way around Fosdick Lake and then sat on a conveniently located park bench, for a spell, to quack with the Fosdick Lake Fosducks, who were in happy quacking form today.

In my foggy groggy state I did not realize, til a minute ago, that Elsie Hotpepper has gone missing again. I lack the energy to hunt her down at my currently level of extreme decrepitude.

I got gas yesterday and did not call my mom. I am feeling a little guilty about this. My mom is allergic to people with allergies, so I was afraid she'd have an allergic reaction to my sniffling and nasal voice.

Green Fosdick Lake

Fosdick Lake was looking very green today, as in the color of the water was green, not just the color reflected off the water.

I think that the green Fosdick Lake water must be very nutritious, because I saw 3 very big fish jump out of the green water today, making 3 big splashes.

Where do the fish in Fosdick Lake come from, I found myself wondering today? It is not a natural lake. It is the result of a dam damming up a little trickle of a creek. Did the city stock Fosdick Lake at some point in time, with the fish remaining the mutant survivors of that original stocking?

It would be a really nice thing if the city of Fort Worth cleaned up the water in Fosdick Lake and stocked it with a variety of edible fish, like the city of Hurst does with the lake that is in Chisholm Park, with its trout, catfish, bass and other slippery water dwellers.

What would be so difficult about draining Fosdick Lake, cleaning up the lake bed, then making sure the water that refills the lake is clean, then stocking the lake with edible fish? If Fort Worth would do this it would likely make the city the Envy of the Nation, maybe even make the entire world Green with Envy.