Leo's Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Update

I got an email early this morning from Leo, subject line: "Rattlesnake Update!"

I've received emails from Leo previously, regarding the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup.

I think due to my Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup webpage coming in near the top, or at the top, when searchers search Google and other web searchers, that some people of limited comprehension ability assume I am some sort of official Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup person.

Leo's previous emails resulting in blog posts with the following titles...

Apparently I Have A Big Rattlesnake Surprise Waiting For Me

And....

The Sweetwater Rattlesnakes Will Have Their Day

And...

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

And...

I Am A Tree Hugging Idiot Rounding Up Sweetwater Rattlesnakes

And...

Apparently Children Are Witnessing Rattlesnake Beheadings In Sweetwater Texas

Today's email from Leo said........

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please see the attached.

Yours sincerely.

Leo...

Leo's attachment consisted of a PDF file, which consisted, in its totality, that which you see above, that being a photo and text below the photo that said.....

Pictured here are some of the foulest people on the

planet; animal abusers and killers. Mindless, sick in the

head individuals, with principles rotten to the point of

putrefaction. Those whose only purpose in life seems

to be to inflict as much pain, misery and suffering as

possible.

Having just completed a day's rattlesnake hunt, where

the 'great State of Texas' is apparently overrun with

them, they managed to catch just the one snake.

Is it must me, or does Leo seem just a tad overwrought???

The Fosdick Lake Turtles Were In Carefree Party Mode Today

The Fosdick Lake turtles were the main attraction, this second Saturday of April, in Oakland Lake Park.

The turtles, and their duck lake partners, seemed very sedated and not their usual skittish selves today.

Did some element causing a narcotic effect wash into Fosdick Lake during Wednesday's rain?

Or were the turtles and ducks just being lethargic due to being happy about the return of warm temperatures after this week's bout of almost freezing?

In the picture at the top it appears that this particular duck/turtle pair are quite cozy with each other. I think inter species relationships like this are a bit rare? Aren't they?

Below is an example of turtles on a log not getting skittish whilst being visited by some humans. I saw these two kids playing with the turtles soon upon my arrival. When I completed my walk around Fosdick Lake these kids were still playing with the turtles, who were still log bound.

Below is another turtle pair who let me get way closer than the norm, happily posing for their close up.

I have often wondered why I never see any baby turtles, wondering if they hatch out of the egg full grown. Today the baby turtle mystery ended with my first ever sighting of a baby turtle. You can not tell, via the photo, how small this turtle is, as in about the size of a silver dollar. Where was mama turtle, I worried? No other turtles were any where near this possibly orphaned baby.

The perfect Saturday weather conditions, after a week of less than ideal weather conditions, brought a lot of people to Oakland Lake Park today. Including the BBQ Picnic Party seen below.

This BBQ Picnic Party has an inflated  bounce house, a big smoker BBQ, lots of folding chairs, a yellow Pinata hanging from the tree.

And a portable outhouse.

In a park in what is widely known as One of the Greatest Cities in the World, one needs to bring ones own portable outhouse to ones picnic.

Along with potable water. Because none is available.

Very perplexing....

Live Gun Fights Saturday Night In Fort Worth's Stockyards Station

Stockyards Station is in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

In Stockyards Station tourists find a collection of shops selling a variety of goods, mostly Western - Cowboy - Texas themed.

Along with several restaurants.

Plus the Tarantula Trail runs right through Stockyards Station.

This morning I learned, via the ad you see above, that, in Stockyards Station, tourists can also experience "Live Gun Fights."

The Fort Worth Stockyards is one of Fort Worth's few unique tourist attractions.

Actually the only other tourist attraction in Fort Worth I can think of that is remotely unique is the Water Gardens in downtown Forth Worth.

Soon, in Fort Worth, the world's first new drive-in movie theater of the 21st Century will open, giving Fort Worth one more unique tourist attraction, the likes of which exist in no big town any where else.

All these unique tourist attractions, plus having regularly scheduled Saturday night "Live Gun Fights" are likely just a few of the reasons Fort Worth is considered, by the citizens of planet Earth, to be One of the Greatest Cities in the World.

Seriously though.

Saturday night Gun Fights?

In your town's #1 Tourist Attraction?

Are tourists encouraged to bring their own guns and join in on the fight?

In an era where we are experiencing an awful lot of worried yammering about gun control, due to what almost seems to be an epidemic of tragic gun enabled mass murders, it really does not seem to me that having regularly scheduled "Live Gun Fights" is a good idea, even though this is the town which thinks it is Where the West Begins........

A Post Storm Serene Walk With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts

Gazing out at the serene Village Creek Blue Bayou today, one would never guess a storm passed this way yesterday.

I would have thought that yesterday's rain would have dropped enough water to have Village Creek running high.

I was half expecting the Village Creek Natural Historical Area to be closed from flooding, with me denied access to walking with my favorite Indian Ghosts.

But, instead of a lot of water, a mere trickle was trickling through the Village Creek Dam Bridge.

The dose of water amped up the Village Creek greenery, but not the wildflowers, except for a massive carpet of yellow dandelions, which I don't think the locals consider to be a wildflower. For some reason the locals seem to think the beautiful yellow dandelions are a weed, not a wildflower.

Methinks yellow dandelions are a flower, growing wild, hence a wildflower, not a weed.

Enough with the weedy pondering, it is time for lunch.

Bud Kennedy Is Not Allowing Tarrant Regional Water District Candidate John Basham To Comment On Facebook

Bud Kennedy is just about my favorite Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist, journalist and food critic. Bud Kennedy is very prolific, very opinionated and very articulate.

Bud Kennedy is also prolific, opinionated and articulate on Facebook and Twitter.

Yesterday, on Facebook, Bud Kennedy informed us that Texas Representative Matt Krause has endorsed John Basham to be elected to be a board member of the Tarrant Regional Water District in the upcoming election.

Bud Kennedy also informed us that neither Krause or Basham "live in the district".

When I read this I thought to myself that I was fairly certain that John Basham lives in the Tarrant Regional Water District. Then when I read the comments to Bud Kennedy's posting I was reminded of how bizarrely strange the rules are regarding the set up of the Tarrant Regional Water District.

As in only voters who live in selected parts of the district are allowed to vote. And, even though you may live in the district you must own property in the selected parts of the district to qualify to run for TRWD Board Member.

Like I said, bizarrely strange.

Below is Bud Kennedy's post on this issue followed by the comments, with the last comment being from Bud Kennedy telling us he'd deleted a comment from John Basham because Bud Kennedy does not "allow candidates to campaign here." Apparently Bud Kennedy is allowed to make a comment about a candidate, but that candidate is not allowed to comment.  Like I said, bizarrely strange....

Bud Kennedy
17 hours ago via Twitter
Update: TX @RepMattKrause, who doesn't live in the Tarrant Water district, has endorsed @JohnBasham, who also doesn't live in the district.

Joe Corpening Dont ya love politics???

John Murrin Pritchett The law clearly states board members only need to own property in the boundaries of the TRWD's election boundaries. They don't have to live in it. The state rep mentioned in your post represents folks who live within the election boundaries of the district.

Bud Kennedy Did not question anyone's eligibility. In general, a board should represent those stakeholders taxed to build and operate the agency.

John Murrin Pritchett In general, a board with power over 11 counties ought to be accountable to the voters in those same 11 counties.

Bud Kennedy No representation without taxation.

Bud Kennedy Candidate's comment deleted. I generally don't allow candidates to campaign here, but John was pointing out that he owns a parcel of property in the district and also lives nearby in the area served by Tarrant Water. http://www.trwd.com/ServiceArea

A Wet Wednesday In Fort Worth Walking On Dirt Sidewalks

That is my windshield wiper keeping time with the music while it wipes rain from my windshield as I head east on John T. White Road this wet Wednesday in North Texas.

As of mid-afternoon I have heard no thunder booming. Rain continues to drip, off and on.

According to my computer based temperature monitoring device my location is being chilled to 39 degrees.

To go from the balmy 80s, to almost freezing, in less than 24 hours really does not seem normal to me. Two nights ago it was so hot and humid I almost got out of bed to turn on the A/C. Last night I re-installed the heavy winter blankets that I'd stored away, thinking winter was done for the year.

Changing the subject from the weather to one of my other favorite subjects.

A short distance ahead, in the view in the picture above, you come to John T. White Elementary School.

Note that dirt path on the south side of the road. That is what is known in Fort Worth as a sidewalk.

In the year 2013 Fort Worth is a town that still has dirt paths leading to some of its schools. This is just one of the things that makes Fort Worth unique and known around the planet as one of the Greatest Cities in the World...

Wednesday Morning Swimming In The Rain Waiting For The Big Storm To Arrive

This Wednesday morning's patio view of the outer world at my location does not quite capture the fact that drops of rain are falling, falling in amounts copious enough to require sticking my camera to its Popabrella in order to take a dry picture.

For a couple days the weather predictors have been predicting a BIG STORM, scheduling this BIG STORM to arrive around midnight, last night, with BIG BOOMS, BIG WIND, BIG HAIL and BIG DOWNPOURS.

I don't know when the totally non-copious rain began to hit the ground last night. I have heard no booms, seen no lightning flashes, or any hail.

However, there has been some breezy wind action, so much so that the current outer world temperature of 37 degrees really feels like a sub-freezing 23 at my location on the planet.

So, once again we return to winter in North Texas.

The weather predictors predicting BIG STORMS that don't seem to quite materialize with the level of Bigness one might expect from the forecasts, is beginning to have a bit of a Crying Wolf feel to the forecasting.

Maybe the BIG BOOMS will arrive at some point during the day.  Although, as you can see below, the forecasters no longer seem to be forecasting any booming.

Despite the extreme temperature drop, this morning I was able to have myself a really fine time swimming in the pool that was not nearly as cool as the air. I believe the outer world got heated to some temperature in the 80s yesterday, hence the pool water being way warmer than the air. I suspect this will not be the case tomorrow morning.

Olive The Prairie Dog Official Mascot Of The Tandy Hills Is In Wikipedia

This morning I Googled "Tandy Hills Natural Area" to learn that there is now a Wikipedia Tandy Hills Natural Area article.

I Googled "Tandy Hills Natural Area" because I was curious to see how the Tandy Hills was currently being indexed on Google.

A couple years ago Don Young emailed me asking if I could tell him why my Tandy Hills webpage, and various bloggings about the Tandy Hills, showed up in searches before the official Tandy Hills website.

I explained that my Tandy Hills webpage was likely getting ranked high by Google because I was linking to it every time I blogged about the Tandy Hills. I said I'd stopped doing that and that would likely fix the "problem".

So, I was pleased to see that the official Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area website now Googles #1. My Eyes on Texas Tandy Hills webpage is not only no longer #1, it doesn't not even show up on the first page of results!

The Wikipedia article about the Tandy Hills Natural Area is illustrated by a photo of Olive the Prairie Dog (Official Tandy Hills Mascot) playing in a field of wildflowers.

Below are the three paragraphs making up the Wikipedia article about the Tandy Hills Natural Area....

Tandy Hills Natural Area is a 160-acre (0.65 km2) indigenous remnant prairie located in Fort Worth, Texas. The land was obtained by the City of Fort Worth in 1960 and designated a natural area in 1987. The park is currently managed by the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge.

Noted for its unusually complete collection of prairie flora, THNA contains more than 500 native plant species. The show of spring wildflowers is unsurpassed in the D/FW Metroplex. The land is a living demonstration of how most of Fort Worth appeared in predevelopment times.

THNA is adjacent to I-30 and less than 5 minutes from downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The fact that it has never been developed and survived into the 21st century in relatively pristine condition is extremely remarkable.

The Continuing Trouble With Fubbo The Hut: Chapter 24

Today brought me more convoluted creepy weirdness from Fubbo the Hut, including 2 emails.

Apparently, Fubbo the Hut loves getting Bitch Slapped.

Individuals with Histrionic Personality Disorder crave attention. No matter how that attention is attained.

Fubbo had been told that if she does not stop emailing me, commenting on my blog, on other blogs about me, or lying about me, she'd get Bitch Slapped, yet again.

On Saturday I blogged The Continuing Trouble With Fubbo The Hut in which I pointed out that Fubbo was lying, again, in claiming I had subscribed to her Flea Market Newsletter.

Clearly these are very serious issues, which clearly is why I am wasting time on this.

The Continuing Trouble With Fubbo The Hut blogging generated 9 comments, 1 of which was from Fubbo, to which I counter-commented...

fubbo/lulu said...
You will be happy to know that I personally went and removed you from the list. You seemed to have opened every one of the newsletter's we sent you. Nice you like to keep such a good eye on me. But really, you can move on now.

Durango said...
Fubbo/Lulu, it was you who added me to your list, so it is a rare instance of you doing the right thing, for you to remove me from this list. Yet you could not stop yourself from lying, yet again, claiming you somehow can tell I opened every one of these newsletters. Methinks it is you who spends too much energy keeping an eye on me, via stalking my blog. So, me additionally thinks it would really behoove you to take your own advice and move on. Preferably to another planet.

Well, the above exchange drove Fubbo's Histrionic Personality Disorder up a notch. This caused Fubbo to make screencaps that she thought proved I'd been opening her Flea Market Newsletters to which I had not subscribed. What Fubbo apparently failed to notice was that her screencaps did prove that I had not subscribed to Fubbo's Flea Market Newsletter, that it was, as I said it was, that Fubbo had put me on this list.

I then replied to Fubbo's Screencap "proof" email with the following...

I am sure you believe that somehow something is able to track whether an email is opened because this "service" you are using is leading you to believe this is the case. 

Additionally I have not claimed I have never opened one of your spam emails. I have done so more than once anticipating some amusing bit of cray/cray. I am usually disappointed by the lack of cray/cray but appalled by grammar and syntax faux pas.

The best part of this data, that you just sent, was the part that said, Subscribed: Dec. 11, 2011 03:35 pm from N/A (You added this member).

Seems like only yesterday you were trying to claim I had subscribed to your Flea Market Newsletter. I'll help you out with your next lie. Just claim I magically hacked into your computer and nefariously added myself to your subscriber list, nasty dastardly bastard that be me. To make it even a better lie, add that you've consulted with the FBI about this crime and they are coming to investigate.

Anyway, thank you for the additional Fubbo Fodder. I'll try and find the energy to use it, but, lunch comes first.

Fubbo then replied to the above email, with her 2nd forbidden email of the day. In this email Fubbo pretty much ignores her previous lies which claimed I'd subscribed to her Flea Market Newsletter saying....

I don't think you are smart enough to crack into my computer, Gooff writes the newsletters so I will be sure to pass your well respected insights on to him. And I did add you because you were on my e-mail contact list, your sister alerted me to this fact, and when I went to look at how many of the e-mails she had opened she had not opened a one.

The most amusing part of what Fubbo had to say, above, is that she now thinks I am not smart enough to crack into her computer. When just a couple years ago, in one of her creepiest Facebook rantings, which came about because she'd been humiliated when caught lying about me on another blog, for which multiple people gave Fubbo a good Bitch Slapping, with Fubbo then making up a lie about me doing the same type thing, telling that lie on Facebook.

My FBI reference above refers to the above paragraph's referenced Fubbo Facebook incident. In that incident of idiocy, all these morons were chiming in with sympathy for the dirty deeds Fubbo was being dealt by nefarious me, when Fubbo told one of the morons that their advice worked, that the FBI was coming to talk to her and check out her computer, which apparently I had remotely hacked. Or cracked.

But, in the past couple years I guess I have become less smart regarding doing computer cracking or hacking, according to the Gospel According to Fubbo the Hut.

Walking My Fort Worth Neighborhood Green Belt To Escape Wind Chime Noise Pollution

Today I had some books due, so I trekked them to the library via my neighborhood green belt that is decorated with tall towers connected by wires.

Today is being the third breezy day in a row at my location on the planet.

When the wind blows I hear wind chimes disturbing the peace and quiet. At times this can be a really loud cacophony to which I have a strong aversion.

In civilized areas of America wind chimes are restricted, with rules, such as one can not make noise with a wind chime unless one is a minimum of 300 feet distant from the next abode.

I believe wind chimes are restricted in all the west coast states.

When I mentioned my wind chime issue to my sister who lives in Chandler, Arizona, her quizzical query was "They allow wind chimes there?"

That wind chimes are allowed to make noise, unfettered, here in Texas, is perplexing, when most of the civilized word considers wind chimes to be annoying sound pollution.

Speaking of annoying pollution.

I think I've mentioned my Trouble with Fubbo the Hut. Apparently Fubbo likes getting Bitch Slapped, because she keeps emailing me. Two more emails today, with the first one being amusing, with Fubbo apparently not realizing she'd sent me documentation that documents one of her recent lies. The second email tried to use another lie to explain away the first lie.

I would think one would opt out of lying if one figured out they really were not very good at that particular art form.

I may blog about Fubbo the Hut's latest, if I have the energy. I did promise to do a Bitch Slap whenever Fubbo emailed me, made a blog comment or lied about me. I do like to keep my promises, but I fear that Fubbo the Hut experiences this as getting much craved attention, which is a tendency in those with Histrionic Personality Disorder.