What Is Going On Behind The No Trespassing Signs In Fort Worth's Gateway Public Park?

In Gateway Park, on the south side of the paved trail one exits to enter the Gateway Park Mountain Bike Trail there is an old roadway that heads south towards the Trinity River.

Years ago I pedaled a short distance on this particular trail and found that a goathead had flattened my flat tire.

For months now I have been seeing big trucks hauling what looks like rocks, from behind the Gateway Park ball fields. The road these trucks are exiting from has two NO TRESPASSING CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY signs. I climbed up on the berm that surrounds the ball fields and could see heavy equipment in the distance.

The heavy equipment made me curious. Gas drilling operation? In the park? What?

Road Through The Gateway Park Backwoods

So, I jogged down the aforementioned road, past the point where I'd been flattened years before. I was surprised by the distance I was running, by how much undeveloped space I was seeing in Gateway Park that I'd not seen before.

After awhile, on my right, I saw chain link fence on top of a levee type berm.

There is a long abandoned sewage treatment plant in Gateway Park. Years ago I climbed through the cyclone fence and explored around the old cement structures.

The area previously explored was a distance to the west. When I climbed up the levee type berm to see what I could see, today, I saw a lot of abandoned cement structures and a lot of heavy equipment.

The abandoned sewage treatment plant is way bigger than I previously realized.

My best guess as to what is going on with the heavy equipment is the cement structures are being broken up and removed.

Then I remembered years ago reading of a strange proposed development that I think later became part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle after the Boondoggle was expanded to include Gateway Park.

That strange proposed development was to turn the abandoned sewage treatment area into an outdoor amphitheater that could sit thousands.

Is that what is now underway?

The entire abandoned sewage treatment plant is surrounded by a high levee berm. I assume this was installed to keep a flooding Trinity River from flooding into the treatment plant. Or to keep an out of control sewage treatment plant from flooding sewage into the Trinity River.

Not that anyone would notice.

Paperwork Drives Me To Village Creek Walking With Re-Fried Beans

I had myself a very pleasant swim this morning with the water again being a little warmer than the air, which was chilled to somewhere in the high 50s or low 60s. It's been hours since I was in the pool and my memory is failing me in the remembering this morning's temperature department.

After swimming, several hours this morning were spent filling out paperwork. Pages of paperwork. I don't like filling out paperwork. I no longer write very legibly, with printing numbers with a pen in my left hand, being particularly difficult. More than half of the paperworking involved printing numbers.

Miss Puerto Rico flew to her home island this morning. I did not drive her to the airport. I've not driven Miss Puerto Rico to the airport since the incident on Obama's Inauguration Day way back in January of 2009, which had Miss Puerto Rico locked up for hours in the airport's jail.

I guess I am blessed in that in my long life I have only known 2 criminals who have done jail time. Miss Puerto Rico's airport jail time was for the relatively innocuous crime of over medicating on alcohol to fortify her flying courage. The other criminal I have known committed the crime of stealing 100s of thousands of dollars. That is a bit more serious crime than being drunk at the airport. Miss Puerto is not a convicted felon and thus is able to vote. The other criminal is a convicted felon and thus not allowed to vote.

During her absence I have agreed to check in on Miss Puerto Rico's very ill-behaved feline named Tasha. I'll do that sometime after 6 this evening.

In the picture above you are looking at the trail that winds around Village Creek in the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington. That was my go to place today for my daily dose of endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

I guess I am looking forward to tonight's debate. Til then I've got some beans that need to be re-fried. With cilantro.

The Old Man & The Fosdick Sea Fishing With Turtles

The Old Man and the Fosdick Sea were back together again today. Along with a cute puppy.

I've seen the Old Man and the Fosdick Sea together many times, but I've not seen the Old Man hook a fish.

I don't know what the Old Man would do with a fish he caught in the Fosdick Sea, what with the warning signs informing potential Fosdick fish eaters that the fish is not safe to eat.

Would you not think that a city, like Fort Worth, which regularly makes the rest of the world green with envy, because of its absolute awesomeness, would be just a little embarrassed by the fact that there are bodies of water within its city limits which are so polluted they render fish a danger to eat?

Both the turtles and the ducks who live on Fosdick Lake were being really frisky today. I think they may have been being happy due to the fresh infusion of fresh water from the rain that fell over the weekend.

Today the turtle population on Fosdick Lake's biggest log was the largest number of the shelled reptiles I have ever witnessed congregating in one spot.

When I eventually got too close for comfort the mass turtle exit from the log looked like an Esther Williams synchronized swimming routine, with the turtle on the far right being the first to dive off the log, followed, one by one, til the turtle on the far left was the last to hit the water.

This mass turtle exit happened so quickly I was unable to photo document the event.

I was able to get a picture of some Fosducks acting ducky.

The two boys on the right had been feeding the Fosducks, with the ducks coming out of the water, then up the hill towards the boys, with the boys backing up from the approaching ducks.

Then the boys ran out of duck food. The quacking became very demanding. The boys quickly walked away as the Fosducks seemed to be conferring to decide what next to do, as in, continue to chase after the boys, hoping for more food, or head back to Fosdick Lake?

Eventually the near riot conditions abated, with the ducks slowly calmed down, ceasing with the loud quacking.

I tell you, walking around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park is starting to become way too stimulating for an easily excitable person like myself.

Spencer Jack's Smashing Pumpkin Tragedy

I've never seen Spencer Jack look as unhappy as he does this morning via a picture sent via email from Spencer Jack's dad.

A couple days ago I mentioned that Spencer Jack and his favorite girlfriend, Brittney, had gone pumpkin hunting.

Sunday morning it was discovered that Spencer Jack's Jack-o-Lantern had met a smashing sad end.

Below is Spencer Jack's dad's email explaining the smashed pumpkin....

Spencer Jack's morning chores are to a) make his bed, b) put away his water bottle, c) open all the shades and blinds in the house and d) bring his dad the paper. It wasn't until d) where he learned that some people in this world are just not nice. Returning from the front porch with the Sunday editions of the Seattle Times and the local Skagit Valley Herald he discovered that his recently attained pumpkin was missing. As noted on your blog...he and his girlfriend Brittney picked out this $7 monstrous pumpkin yesterday in the annual trip to the pumpkin patch. He was so proud. And eager to carve and color it. And sad that it was gone. He thought perhaps the wind blew it away. His dad quickly dressed and Spencer and him walked one block away where we found the pumpkin smashed in the middle of the street. His dad explained to him that somebody took his pumpkin and the the wind was not to blame. He's been upset all day. His girlfriend promised him that they can return to the pumpkin patch and find a replacement pumpkin. That made him happy. He is insisting that we keep the replacement pumpkin indoors.

Walking Across A Raging Village Creek With A Snake

That is the spillway of one of the Village Creek Natural Historical Area's dam bridges you are looking at in the picture.

A lot of water was shooting through the dam bridge today during my regular Sunday walk with the Indian Ghosts who forlornly haunt this location on the planet.

I was expecting rain all day on Saturday, but only saw a few drops.

On my way to the swimming pool this morning I found myself trudging through some mud sludge. This was my first indication that some rain had fallen. And then when I got a closeup look at the pool I could see that several inches had been added to the depth, thus indicating several inches of rain had fallen.

I was later to learn that at some point in time during the dark hours of Sunday morning a booming thunderstorm passed over my abode, with very strong winds and heavy rain, and possible hail.

I heard none of this because I was peacefully asleep in my soundproof slumber chamber.

By the time the sun arrived this morning to begin its daily illumination duty the solar rays hit the earth with no cloud intervention, as in the sky was totally blue, with the air chilled to a pleasant 64 degrees. Currently, in the middle of Sunday afternoon the air is slightly heated to a pleasant 76 degrees.

Today, crossing the dam bridge you see above I had a slightly unsettling experience whilst gazing at the flotsam that was jammed up against the dam bridge. That is the flotsam you see below.

As I looked at the mess of litter and wood I saw something odd, like a long, thick, black piece of rubber.

And then the rubber moved.

It was a snake. A really really big black snake. As I reached for my camera  the really really big black camera shy snake slithered down into the pile of floating wood. I hope the really really big black snake knew it was slithering on wood that was jammed up against a dam with culverts through the dam shooting out water at high speed.

I maintained a watch for several minutes, waiting for the really really big black snake to shoot out the other side of the dam.

However, no further snake sighting was made.

Spencer Jack Goes Pumpkin Hunting While I Am In Texas Thinking About The Dreaded Holiday Season

A few minutes ago, after I found out, via Facebook and Google, that Mitt Romney is Completely Wrong, I came upon a picture of my great grand nephew (or is it grand great nephew? I never know) Spencer Jack.

Apparently Spencer's favorite girl friend, Brittney, took him pumpkin hunting.

October seems to be melting away very quickly, with over a third of the 10th month of 2012 already passed into history.

Soon it will be Halloween, quickly followed by November and the dreaded (by me) holiday season, with Thanksgiving, Christmas and a New Year arriving.

I am almost 100% certain that at some point in time during that dreaded (by me) holiday season I will be in Arizona.

I do not believe I will be in Arizona during the Christmas part of the dreaded (by me) holiday season. It will be earlier in the month.

I have not spent Christmas with my mom and dad since Christmas of the year 2000, also in Arizona, but further south and west, in Yuma.

That was a very pleasant Christmas. It was where I saw my first ever luminarias.

Christmas morning breakfast was at a Yuma casino, followed by a trip to the Mexican border town of Algodones where I got some cool artwork and was offered real cheap Viagra whilst walking the streets of Algodones in front of my mom and dad.

The Viagra offer was vaguely embarrassing.

I wonder what Spencer Jack's Halloween costume will be this year? Last year he was a railroad crossing. That unique Halloween costume got Spencer Jack in the Skagit Valley Herald for the first time.

I remember Spencer's Uncle Joey, he being my nephew, texted me telling me "Spencer in SVH."  I got that text whilst hiking the Tandy Hills. By the time I got back to my computer Spencer's grandma, she being my favorite ex-sister-in-law, had emailed me with the same message, albeit with a bit more text.

Google's Search Algorithms Find Mitt Romney Completely Wrong

A couple minutes ago I was on Facebook and saw that one of my longtime friends from high school, that being the mad scientist, Tom Nelson, had shared an amusing item.

In yet one more example of how incredibly accurate Google is with its search algorithms, when you go to Google Search and type "Completely Wrong" in the search window, Mitt Romney comes up, including images of Mitt Romney being completely wrong.

Riding The Rails Around Fosdick Lake In Oakland Lake Park

Til today, after dozens upon dozens upon dozens of walks around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park it never crossed my mind to wonder why railings have been installed on the edges of the trail.

As you can clearly see, there is no abyss that one might fall in to if not for a railing to keep one on the trail.

I know the City of Fort Worth is flush with funds, and can easily afford to spend money on things that don't seem to make sense, but these railings really perplexed me today.

What also perplexes me is wondering why it never crossed my mind to wonder about these railings until today.

The walk around Fosdick Lake was pleasant, a strong breeze was blowing. At that point in time it looked as if at any moment a downpour might pour down. And now, hours later, the predicted rain has still not arrived at my location on the planet.

Since it is Saturday, and I obsessively follow a precisely repetitive schedule, I went to Town Talk.

Last Saturday was the busiest I've ever seen Town Talk. Today topped last Saturday. Vehicles were parking on the grass, vehicles were clogging the parking lot, circling for an open slot.

Methinks Town Talk needs to expand its parking lot.

Currently, whilst waiting for the incoming rain, the outer world is heated to 81 degrees at my location. The return to highs in the 80s has returned the water in my swimming pool to a pleasant temperature. I had myself a really long swim early this morning. I'm hoping tomorrow morning I'll get to go swimming in the rain. I enjoy swimming in the rain.

I Can Not Stop Talking Out Of My Tailpipe Because Of Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Public Transportation Shortcomings

Today, Friday, my route to Oakland Lake Park, to walk around Fosdick Lake, took me by the closed Fort Worth East Regional Library on Bridge Street.

This route also takes me by a billboard I have been making note of for months, making note and wondering what the purpose is of this billboard.

So, today I parked underneath the aforementioned billboard and took a picture of it.

STOP TALKING OUT OF YOUR TAILPIPE, the billboard instructs me.

Seeing this billboard the past many months I assumed it had to do with vehicles with emissions problems, suggesting that someone with such a problem should stop it.

This confused me, because in the D/FW Metroplex zone you have to get your vehicle inspected annually. So, the talking out of your tailpipe problem would seem to already be legislatively addressed.

Even so, I ever so often see a vehicle spewing clouds of exhaust and wonder how this vehicle does not get stopped, ticketed and taken off the road. And how it managed to pass the emissions test.

I also wondered, even though the local municipalities are flush with cash, why money would be spent on such a thing as this billboard, with this one on Bridge Street likely not being the only example of such a billboard?

Clearly, spending money on a billboard with this important message is more important than keeping public libraries open.

Then I noticed on the lower right part of the billboard there is a website address.

StopTalkingOutYourTailpipe.com.

I went to the Stop Talking Out Your Tailpipe website and found this...

So, this billboard is all about trying to get you out of your vehicle because "With all the incredible public transportation options available in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the reasons for not riding are just a bunch of hot air."

Hot air. Unfortunate choice of words.

Yeah, the D/FW public transport system is incredible. Like it is incredible that you can not ride any Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex public transit, in any form, to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Or the Ballpark in Arlington. Or Hurricane Harbor in Arlington. Or the Cowboy Stadium in Arlington.

Arlington is the biggest city in America with no public transportation, even though there are all these imaginary incredible public transportation options in the D/FW Metroplex, according to these talking out of their tailpipes people.

Every week, or so, I drive about 6 miles to the ALDI in Hurst. There is no public transportation that would take me from my location to Hurst. I am fairly certain Hurst is part of the D/FW Metroplex.

A couple weeks ago one of my nephews was in Lewisville for 5 days. I did not feel like driving up to Lewisville to see my nephew because I did not want to be talking that long out of my tailpipe. There is no public transportation from my location to Lewisville. I am fairly certain Lewisville is part of the D/FW Metroplex.

Gar the Texan lives in Flower Mound. I can think of few things I'd rather do than drive to Flower Mound to visit Gar the Texas. Flower Mound is closer to me than Lewisville, but still a distance I would not like to have my tailpipe talking. There is no public transportation that would take me from my location to Flower Mound. I am fairly certain Flower Mound is part of the D/FW Metroplex.

I'd like to go to the Glass Cactus at Gaylord Texan up in Grapevine. But, I would not want to drive home after spending a few hours in the Glass Cactus. There is no public transportation that would take me from my location to Grapevine, and back.  I am fairly certain Grapevine is part of the D/FW Metroplex.

So, who is behind wasting money on this absurdly demented propaganda about all the non-existent incredible public transportation options available in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metoplex?

A Mysterious Red Bush At Village Creek Along With Other Mysterious Scenery At Walmart

I do not know how I missed noticing, previously, the red branched bush you see in the picture, on any of my many previous walks with the Indian Ghosts whose job it is to haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington.

The red branched bush appeared on the south side of the paved trail, a few hundred feet from the Dottie Lynn Parkway Indian Village Creek Natural Historical Area parking lot, on the east side of the open space caused by a power line right of way that unnaturally slices through the natural area.

Why I had not noticed this red branched bush before is unsettling. Apparently I am not very observant.

Or the Indian Ghosts are playing tricks with the Village Creek Natural Historical Area foliage.

I suspect the latter explanation.

After my rather short walk with the Indian Ghosts I went to the nearby Walmart Supercenter where I was also appalled by the scenery.

The explanation for the appalling Walmart scenery could not be blamed on Indian Ghosts.

The blame for the appalling Walmart scenery today is America's out of control obesity epidemic and the human form distortions that are the epidemic's result with too many who have way too bad a taste level about what they put on their plus-sized bodies.

Today I thought to myself if I had some sort of hidden video cam stuck somewhere on my person and walked around my local Walmart I would quickly have enough footage for a very amusing video, with both sights and the sounds. I over hear so many amusing snippets of dialogue whilst I walk around Walmart, some of which is me talking.

More than once I have been in Walmart and observed a particularly interesting example of an extra large human, slovenly attired, with multiple tattoos and piercings. I then wonder to myself if this big person actually thinks that getting some tattoos and piercings is going to be a big enhancement to their over all look?

I would think that, rather than spend money on tattoos and piercings, the money might be better spent on clothes that fit.

When I am in Walmart I also see many examples of plus-sized humans attired in clothes that fit them, with a good-looking result. So, it is not like there are no examples, in Walmart, of how to be BIG and still wear clothes that fit and look good.

I know it might sound like I am some sort of obesity bigot, but I really am not. What I'm a bigot about is unnecessary slovenliness to which innocent eyeballs, like mine, are subjected to against our will.

What set me off today was this woman, looking to be maybe 40 something. She was wearing way too short shorts that were way too small, creating an effect that looked like sausage oozing from its casing. The tight t-shirt like top did not have enough material to cover this woman's midsection, so it oozed out over the top of the way too shorts.

A tattoo surrounded the exposed giant crater where I think the belly button was located. Other tattoos were on both legs. There were arm tattoos. A pin pierced through the eyebrow above the left eye, another piercing was in the nose. There likely were other piercings and tattoos, but one must limit ones gawking time in these type circumstances.

So, that has been my day today, so far, freak show at Walmart, looking forward to another type freak show tonight with the Vice-Presidential Debate at 7/8C.