Is The U.S. Postal Service Criminally Neglectful Delivering Parcels In Fort Worth?

Way back last year, on December 21, I blogged  The Post Office Is Very Sorry They Missed Me.

The mail delivery person had left a note in my mailbox telling me a parcel was not able to be delivered.

Despite there being parcel delivery boxes next to where my mailbox is located.

I followed the instructions on the note to request re-delivery via the USPS website. I made this request twice, both times getting an email telling me the re-delivery request had been received.

I stuck a note inside and outside my mailbox telling the delivery person to put parcels in the locked parcel box or deliver to my door.

No parcel was delivered.

I subsequently learned the undelivered parcel was a box of Christmas cookies mailed from Seattle. The person who sent those cookies checked with the USPS tracking system which told her the parcel had been delivered.

When, in reality, the parcel made it as far as my mailbox, without being delivered.

After three weeks of waiting for the parcel to be delivered I mailed a letter to the Postmaster of the Poly Station Post Office on Rosedale, that being the Post Office where undelivered parcels are kept.

In my letter to the Postmaster I detailed the problem, including scanned images of the postcard left by the delivery person, and the messages from the USPS website.

I have not heard back from the Poly Station Postmaster.

In my letter to the Poly Station Postmaster I pointed out that since the Postal Service failed to deliver the parcel, I thought a refund was owed to the sender.

Now that I have had time to think about this outrageously bad service from the US Postal Service I am thinking the problem may be much worse and much more systemic than one might think.

As I have already said, this type failure to deliver has happened multiple times.

One would think that a Postmaster, upon learning of such a failure, via a well-articulated letter from a customer, would investigate, would get back to the customer.

Perhaps with an explanation and an apology. And the undelivered parcel.

Is there something more sinister going on here? Corruption at the local level of the US Postal Service?

Are postal delivery persons failing to deliver parcels and then purloining them? This would not be the first time this type theft has occurred in the US Postal Service system.

Which is why it strikes me as a bit damning that the Poly Station Postmaster chose to ignore my complaint letter. Wouldn't a person legitimately acting in a position of responsibility take this type thing very very seriously and want to get to the bottom of it? And fix the problem?

Does not taking money from a parcel sender in Seattle, and then failing to deliver, not constitute some sort of act of theft? A theft of both the money paid to mail the parcel and the possible theft of the parcel itself? Particularly when that failure is not addressed when a complaint is made?

Why would a Fort Worth Postmaster not be concerned when a detailed complaint about multiple failures to deliver is made by a customer? Is ignoring such a complaint not just another failure to deliver?

Since making a complaint to the local post office accomplishes nothing. And making a complaint to the USPS website is also fruitless, I guess my only remaining avenues of complaint are to send a letter to the Postmaster General of the US Postal Service.

And to blog about it.

Yeah, I'm sure that will get results.

Walking Around Fosdick Lake With Turtles And A Wounded Muscovy Duck

The return of semi-warm temperatures, it is currently 64, mid-afternoon, had the Fosdick Lake turtles sunning themselves like a convention of preening South Padre Island bathing beauties, today, in Fosdick Lake in Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park.

Fosdick Lake looks very crystal clear blue, in the picture.

Photographs can be deceiving.

My eyes did not take the same picture of this scene when they looked at it.

In addition to the turtles there were also a lot of Fosducks enjoying the semi-warm outer world. Plus a number of humans.

A week or two ago I was at Fosdick Lake and talked to a nice lady who was feeding the ducks. She pointed out one duck who was badly injured, limping with a hurt duck leg. I'd seen this duck many times over the years, calling it a Lulu Bird, due to it looking like an odd morphing of a turkey and duck, like it was some sort of genetic mutation.

The last time I mentioned the Lulu Bird someone named Anonymous kindly pointed out to me that it was actually something called a Muscovy Duck. It did not take much Googling to discover that Anonymous was correct.

Today the Muscovy Lulu Bird was out of the water, very close to where I last saw her. Sitting at the base of the steps that lead to the Oakland Lake Park Pavilion.

The Muscovy Lulu Bird was trembling. I cut her a wide berth so as to not worry her. What injured the Muscovy Lulu Bird's leg, I wonder? Did the same type cruel person who murdered a Gateway Park armadillo, harm this duck? It would seem humans are the only predators who might harm such a creature.

Is Someone I Know A Major Creeper?

I am a big fan of strange coincidences.

For a day or two I have been trying to figure out the strange coincidence involved in the meeting between Gabby Goathead and a group of Secret Service Agents using the codename Goathead.

And then just minutes ago it crossed my mind how badly I would like to be totally rid of a creep or two, when I got an email from Stop The Creeps with the subject line asking Is someone you know a major creeper?

The body of the email follows, minus the two links, which I removed, because they appeared to be some sort of email address phishing attempt....

Local Arrest Records are Now Posted Online

We have the technology to find out virtually anything you want about anyone you want, at anytime, online, now.

See if there is danger lurking in your neighborhood. You can never be to safe or to sure.

Would you be interested in finding out what our background check says about you?

___________________________________

I really don't know all that many people who have arrest records, that I know of. I can only recollect one person I have known who has spent time in jail and under house arrest.

The last link in the email tells me to "Enter your name or someone else's name to begin."

I suspect if I entered a "name to begin" I would be quickly asked to provide credit card info to proceed from the beginning.

I know if I entered my name nothing would come up. Nothing as exciting as being arrested, tried, convicted and jailed has ever happened to me. I do not think I would react well to being strip searched and locked up.

I am thinking I must come up with a better idea than looking up arrest records to rid myself of major creeps being creepy......

Walking With My Mom While Singing Happy Birthday In Gateway Park

In Texas, a time or two, I have heard someone say something along the line that "if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait 10 minutes and it will change."

I am likely not even close to the correct wording of what it is I have heard Texans say about the Texas weather. But, I am close to the sentiment.

Yesterday morning it was 70 degrees when I went swimming soon after the sun arrived, with the outer world cloudy, warm and windy. This morning I did not go swimming, because it was 41 degrees and windy.

But, as you can see, via the picture, on this next to last day of January, the clouds have mostly evacuated.

That is not a lake you are looking at in the picture. It is the Trinity River, looking west, viewed from the Gateway Park trail that trails along beside the river.

My mom went walking with me in Gateway Park today.

I called my mom on the way to Gateway. This was not a getting gas related call. It was a Happy Birthday Mom call.

My mom's birthday, as long as I can remember, has been on the next to last day of the 1st month of the year.

My mom claimed, today, that when she called me a couple days ago that she invited me to today's birthday party. That sort of seems familiar.

Later today, my sister, favorite brother-in-law, favorite nephews CJ & JR, brother and favorite sister-in-law, plus an extremely distant relative, who does not speak the same language I speak, and likely a few others, will be helping my mom blow out the candles on her birthday cake.

I Have Been Instructed To Watch Severe Thunderstorms While Being Advised About Wind

This afternoon the temperature kept rising, nearing 80, to the point where I turned on the A/C for the first time in 2013.

And now, an hour after turning on A/C, it is back again dormant, because, as you can see, we have quickly chilled to only 25 degrees above freezing.

Brrrrr.

The most recent National Weather Service Alert has the thunderstorming ceasing by 5.....

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS VALID UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN TEXAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 14 COUNTIES

IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

BOSQUE COOKE CORYELL DALLAS DENTON ELLIS HAMILTON HILL HOOD JOHNSON LAMPASAS MCLENNAN SOMERVELL TARRANT

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...ARLINGTON... BURLESON... CLEBURNE...  CLIFTON... COPPERAS COVE... DALLAS... DENTON... ENNIS...  FLOWER MOUND... FORT WORTH... GAINESVILLE... GATESVILLE...  GLEN ROSE... GLENN HEIGHTS... GRANBURY... HAMILTON... HICO... HILLSBORO... LAMPASAS... LEWISVILLE... MERIDIAN... MIDLOTHIAN... OAK TRAIL SHORES... THE COLONY... VALLEY MILLS... WACO AND WAXAHACHIE.

Connecticut Apologizes For Giving Birth To George W. Bush

I saw this on Facebook this morning.

Connecticut

Welcomes You

Birthplace of

George W. Bush

We Apologize

Some, on Facebook, were skeptical about this signage, figuring it was an altered image. Others confirm this signage does exist.

I have not been to Connecticut in all the years since George W. Bush became president despite Al Gore getting a lot more votes.

On Facebook, under the picture, were the words "Apology Not Accepted."

I really do not think it is fair to blame Connecticut for the birthing of George W. Bush. I do think someone, somewhere, should be doing some apologizing, though.

Or simply plead guilty....

The Late Arrival Of Tuesday's Predicted Major Storming At My Location In North Texas

Stormy Village Creek Blue Bayou

The weather predictors were predicting that around 1 this afternoon some major storming would descend upon my zone of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

In addition to very strong winds, the major storming was predicted to possibly include large hail, lightning and tornado action.

I was a bit dubious about getting in any salubrious outdoor endorphin stimulating aerobic activity, but decided a short, fast walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area was doable.

I experienced a little drippage whilst walking. And then it was on to Walmart where suddenly a downpour was pouring down about the time I turned the ignition key to off. This downpour did not last long. It was well over with, a few minutes later, when I exited Walmart.

I am now well past a couple hours from the time when major storming was scheduled to arrive. Of the predicted weather calamity, only wind has so far made an appearance. And a little rain. No thunderstorming.

However, as I sit here typing the outer world has grown dark, water drops are now being blown against my computer room window.

This is suddenly way too strange.

Seconds ago I typed there had been no thunderstorming.

And now I've seen a very bright flash and heard a very loud boom.

I suspect the major storming may have arrived.

I must go batten down the hatches now...

Winter In Texas Is Sweltering With My First Successful Swim Of 2013

70 degrees when the sun showed up to begin illuminating the outer world this morning at my location on the planet.

I had my bedroom windows open all night long. Nearing the end of the first month of 2013 it is so HOT not only are windows open, no blanketing was needed last night in my slumber chamber.

Even though the temperature has risen another 2 degrees by mid morning, my windows are now closed, due to bouts of precipitation precipitating.

My longtime criteria for swimming, temperature-wise, has been that swimming is doable whenever the 24 hour temperature average is 50 or above.

With the 24 hour average temperature being around 70, I decided to give the pool a try this morning.

I can now report I have had my first successful swim of 2013.

The water felt pretty much the same temperature as the air, making for a very pleasant swimming experience.

I am ever so slightly concerned as to what these record breaking temperatures portend for the coming summer. I guess I will just enjoy the current balmy winter and worry about the ultra-balmy summer, when it, or if, it happens.

In the meantime, the wind seems to be picking up. Is the predicted major storm with possible tornado action going to happen?

There Are Currently No Plans To Add A Mountain To The Trinity River Vision

No, that is not an artist's rendering of what Pond Granger will look like if Fort Worth's Trinity River Vision ever becomes something someone will be able to look at.

The body of water, in the picture is Lake Tapp. That big white thing in the background is a volcano known as Mount Rainier.

Sampson of Sampson & Delilah had this picture on Facebook this morning. Sampson is having a bit of a bout of SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder) due to the lack of sun currently having Western Washington way too gray.

That is not a boat you are looking at in the water. It is a giant inner tube being towed by a motorboat piloted by Sampson & Delilah.

The mention of an inner tube brings me back to the Trinity River Vision.

The TRV vision has been trying to get clear for well over a decade now.

I would think that with this flood control project so vitally important in protecting downtown Fort Worth from the type flood that it is already protected from, that there would be more urgency with this project, with more evidence of progress, besides a lot of signage, Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats and property taken by abusing eminent domain.

Well, there is the very important Cowtown Wakepark, it being the world's premiere urban wakeboarding venue, and a humongous financial success, drawing wakeboarders from around the world to experience this world class experience.

I suspect that the Cowtown Wakepark is likely a good indicator of the quality of whatever the Trinity River Vision eventually becomes.

Will Pond Granger be big enough that motorboats could tow inner tubes like what happens on Lake Tapp?

On Wednesday I was watching Top Chef: Seattle. A ferry boat floated by whilst the judges were sitting outside judging fried chicken. All the water scenes seen on Top Chef: Seattle show a lot of boats, sail boats, ferry boats, cruise ships, container ships, dozens upon dozens of boats.

What will be floating on Fort Worth's artificial water feature if Pond Granger ever comes to be? A lot of inner tubes? I doubt there will be any ferry boats taking cars and walk-ons from one side of Pond Granger to the other.  I am almost 100% certain there will be no cruise ships docking on Pond Granger.

I don't think I've ever read a good explanation as to what the exact purpose is to create Pond Granger at the currently perfectly scenic confluence of the West and Clear Forks of the Trinity River.

To me it seems a town either has a working waterfront. Or it doesn't. Creating a small artificial waterfront seems sort of goofy.

I guess the vision could be even goofier.

Currently I know of no plans to build a fake mountain to give Fort Worth some artificial mountain scenery....

Chesapeake Energy Is Warning Me To Call Before I Dig

In the picture you are looking over the fence of the industrial complex that was added to my zoned residential/commercial zone about a year ago.

A Chesapeake Energy Barnett Shale Natural Gas Pad Site.

You are sort of looking southwest, in the picture. The building in the background is an Alberstsons, plus some strip mall type businesses.

My neighborhood gas pad was fracked recently. I don't know if this is what caused my bout of respiratory woes, or not. What I do know is the fracking is now completed and my respiratory woes have abated.

Years ago I got myself being all cranky over Chesapeake Energy's bullying tactics regarding pumping non-odorized natural gas under homes on Fort Worth's Carter Avenue. I found myself making an anti-Chesapeake blog and joining a protest at the Tarrant County Courthouse, supporting Steve Doeung's courageous court fight against the Chesapeake Energy bully.

Steve Doeung won that fight. No non-odorized natural gas flows under Carter Avenue.

I can not say the same for the two roads closest to my abode, those being Boca Raton Boulevard and Bridgewood Drive.

In the picture on the left  you are looking at a Chesapeake Energy WARNING, letting you know you are standing above a gas pipeline. No mention is made regarding the non-odorized nature of the natural gas flowing in that pipeline.

There are multiples of these warnings, due to the newly fracked well producing non-odorized natural gas that is being pumped somewhere unknown to me.

Today, for my daily walk, I took a tour of my neighborhood, which is when I made note of the new WARNINGS.

Walking across Miss Puerto Rico's parking lot I saw little round warnings embedded into the asphalt. The pipeline runs under Miss Puerto Rico's parking lot.

In the picture on the left that little yellow round dot in the center foreground is one of the "CALL BEFORE YOU DIG" warnings.

That is the back of the aforementioned Albertsons in the upper right of the picture.

When this pipeline was placed underground at this location the racket the process made was incredibly loud. It vibrated my location quite a distance away, to the point where I felt compelled to exit my abode to find out what was making the racket.

I asked Miss Puerto Rico if the people who park above this non-odorized natural gas pipeline were given any sort of notice as to what was being installed almost in their living quarters.

No notice was given.

I doubt many of the people who live here are aware of what is being pumped beneath them.

Texas has a long history of natural gas explosions, with the most famous explosion being the big bang at the New London School which brought about adding a telltale odor to odorless natural gas.

I have blogged about the exploding natural gas issue a few times...

Stairtown Latest Texas Natural Gas Explosion and Texas Natural Gas Explosion and Carter Avenue & The New London School Explosion.

I guess that whatever it was about non-odorized natural gas that caused disastrous deadly explosions in the past has now been fixed, which would explain why it is safe for non-odorized natural gas to be flowing underground at my location....