Why Does The Los Angeles River Vision Have No Happy Hour Inner Tube Floats Or Drive-In Movie Theaters?

I learned today that Los Angeles has followed Fort Worth's lead in returning a formerly scorned river to public recreational use.

It was via a CNN online article titled At last, Los Angeles River opens to public recreation after 80 years that I learned of what amounts to a Los Angeles River Vision, which, near as I can tell, is not yet a boondoggle, so Los Angeles really is not totally following the Fort Worth lead provided by the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Just like with Fort Worth's section of the Trinity River, the Los Angeles River, in the area of the Los Angeles River Vision, is technically an Army Corps of Engineers flood control channel.

I have seen the cement lined Los Angeles River flood control channel many times, both in person and in movies and on TV. I have wondered if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's un-needed flood control channel will look like the Los Angeles River flood control channel if it ever becomes anything anyone can see.

The actual name of the Los Angeles River Vision is the Los Angeles River Pilot Recreation Zone. This zone is a section of the Los Angeles River with tree covered oasis islands, views of the San Gabriel Mountains and birds, lots of birds.

The Trinity River Vision can match all that. Except for the mountain views.

A blurb from the CNN article sounds almost TRV Boondogglish...

Oasis parks are colorfully named Rattlesnake, Steelhead and Egret. And, yes, there are even fish in the river -- carp, catfish and bass -- and anglers can drop a line as long as they have a state permit. In this recreation zone, the public can launch a kayak, canoe or other nonmotorized boat without a permit or cost.

Apparently it is safe to eat the fish one catches in the Los Angeles River.

Another blurb in the CNN article indicated an uncanny similarity between modern day Los Angeles and modern day Fort Worth and their rivers...

Now there's been a shift in the Los Angeles culture and the way Angelenos view themselves. They can truly identify a river in the city.

There was no mention made in the CNN article regarding whether the Los Angeles River Vision is having Inner Tube Happy Hour Floats. Or turning any of those Los Angeles River oasis islands into a music venue named Rattlesnake Island Pavilion.

The Los Angeles River Vision might want to think about enticing the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's J.D. Granger to come help them make the LA vision as visionary as the Fort Worth vision.

It has been a long time since a drive-in movie theater has opened in Los Angeles. Let alone a wakeboard park....

Tiny Bubbles Coin Laundry Will Be Serving Chinese & Fast Food Grill In East Fort Worth

Coin Laundry & Winchester Gun Store Billboards

Driving west on Bridge Street, on my way to the Tandy Hills or Oakland Lake Park, there is a building that, over the years, has been the location of more than one restaurant or bar.

Some time ago, maybe as long as two years ago, the building housed,  if I remember right, a bar called Rockstar Bar.

Rockstar Bar did not rock long.

A few months ago it appeared that the former Rockstar Bar building was being dismantled.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Soon a sign appeared on the building saying "COIN LAUNDRY OPENING SOON."

I remember thinking, how odd, this does not seem like it would be a good location for a laundromat.

Then, about a month ago, a billboard appeared, followed by new signage on the building.

The billboard and signage inform passersby that the former Rockstar Bar is about to become Tiny Bubbles COIN LAUNDRY SERVING CHINESE & FAST  FOOD GRILL

I'm not sure what Chinese & Fast Food Grill means, available in a restaurant called COIN LAUNDRY.

But, I have a hunch that this time the restaurant at this location is going to be around awhile. I suspect it will be opening quite soon, because it was being worked on today, with today being a Sunday, known as a day of rest, when most construction projects don't get worked on.

The First Sunday Of June Back On The Tandy Hills Averting A Burnt Chicken Catastrophe

Smog Free Fort Worth Skyline View

I do not remember when it was I was last on the Tandy Hills prior to this first Sunday of June.

I also do not remember the last time the view from the top of Mount Tandy, of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, was through such a clear blue sky, with zero smog putting a damper on the blue.

The wildflowers have now greatly abated, with the Tandy Hills being about as totally green as they will be, before the relentless heat of summer turns the hills my favorite color.

Brown.

Years ago an amusing nurse, known as the Fat Lady, informed me that my signature color was brown.

I was only a couple hills into my hill hiking when I realized I'd not turned off the chicken cooking oven before I left my abode.

I frantically called Miss Puerto Rico, who has key access to my abode, to ask that she turn off my oven, if she was in the vicinity.

No answer.

I then went into running up the hills mode to quickly return to my means of motorized transport to quickly transport myself back to possibly burning chicken.

Just as I reached my motorized transport my phone made its incoming call noise.

It was Miss Puerto Rico indicating she had received my message and had turned off the oven.

And that she'd taken 3 pieces of chicken as payment for her services.

Is forgetting to turn off an oven an early sign of senility?

Today I Found Myself Wondering If The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Gateway Park Master Plan Includes Zombie Runs

Zombie Run Party Zone

Early this first morning of June of 2013 I had myself a really swell swimming time.

By the time the noon time frame came around I felt the need for some more endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, so, since it is Saturday, and creature of habit that I be, as in I go to Town Talk on Saturday, I decided to get my aerobic stimulation via mountain biking at Gateway Park.

The north entry to Gateway Park is about a half mile from Town Talk. Maybe less. As I approached the entry I could see something was not normal, in the form of a guy waving a flag.

Turning left into the entry I saw an "Event Parking $10" sign. I stopped and asked the guy what the event was.

Zombie Run, was the answer.

I asked if parking was blocked to the mountain bike trail. He told me I could park easily at the Beach Street entry. So, that is what I did.

I parked, unloaded the bike and headed to the mountain bike trailhead, ready to bail if it was full of Zombies, like the last time Gateway Park had a Zombie Run.

The Zombie Run Party Zone, photo above, is what I saw when I got to the mountain bike trailhead. I pedaled over to the Party Zone to hear loud music and see groups of girls, scantily attired, doing dance routines.

It was very festive. I learned this was the end point for those who successfully run the Gauntlet of Zombies.

Continuing on to the mountain bike trail, I came across no Zombies, at first, but could hear Zombie attacks in the distance. The first section of trail ended up being Zombie free, start to finish. The next section was blocked, eventually, by yellow tape, so I opted to pedal the paved trail, eventually coming to the trail blockage you see below.

The above Zombie was attacking the water supply whilst waiting for incoming runners. A Zombie water table blocked the trail I was on. The water supply under Zombie attack was to the right of the blocked trail.

There were 3 Zombies at the location where the Zombie was attacking the water supply. A group of runners showed up and near as I could tell if a runner made it to the water supply table it was neutral territory, but prior to reaching the Neutral Zone a Zombie could attack a runner, grabbing the runner's 'flag,' thus rendering the runner neutral. Or, maybe dead. I'm not sure.

In the picture above those are all runners, including Wonder Woman, except for the Zombie with her hands high on her hips, on the left.

The Zombies and runners all seemed to be having themselves a really fine time over exerting in the hot humidity.

Finishing my bike ride and continuing on to Town Talk, today my treasure hunting rendered 2 big bags of oranges, something called Greek Yogurt Butter and a large pork loin, among other things I am not remembering right now.

One more thing.

Something called the Gateway Park Master Plan is part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. A few days ago I asked if anyone knows of a time table for the Gateway Park Master Plan, or any part of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

All I heard was crickets chirping.

Today I wondered if these Gateway Park Zombie Runs are more goofy genius from the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle. It sort of fits in with wakeboard lakes, drive-in movie theaters, happy hour inner tube floats and the world's new premiere music venue.....

Spencer Jack's Uncle Joey Has Some Big Fish To Fry With His Grandpa & Great-Grandpa

A few minutes ago I did my daily checking in on that fad whose time to fade is past its due date, Facebook, to see that Spencer Jack's favorite Uncle, Joey, had caught a big halibut.

Catching big fish in Washington waters of various sorts, as in rivers and saltwater, apparently is hardwired into the Jones' genes. However, I did not catch this trait, as I've never much enjoyed fishing. Being out on Puget Sound in a boat, yes, that I like, but not fishing.

In the fish collage above you have 3 generations holding a big fish. On the left is my Grandpa, Spencer Jack's Great-Great Grandpa, Cornelius, known as Neil and Cornie. In the middle is Spencer Jack's Great-Grandpa, my Dad, Jack. And on the right is Spencer Jack's Uncle, my Nephew Joey.

My Grandpa is holding a big sturgeon he caught in the Nooksack River. The Nooksack is the first river you come to in Western Washington when you head south from the Canadian border.

My Dad is holding a 187 pound, over 6 foot long, halibut, caught using his Dad's, my Grandpa's, 35 year old pole. I remember that pole. It was big. I wonder if it still exists? If it does, Joey should have it.

Joey is also holding a halibut. Joey's halibut does not appear to be 6 feet long, and since Joey is holding the halibut with one hand I suspect it does not weigh anywhere near the monster his Grandpa caught.

Below is the newspaper clipping, with the story of my Dad catching the halibut, with the help of my Mom  and my Grandma's husband, who I knew as Mr. Lee and my baby sister knew as Grandpa Lee.

Entering Veterans Park's Wildscape Entrance Hunting For Fort Worth's Favorite Pearls Clutching Dowager Heiress's Missing Recount

In the picture you are looking at one of the Wildscape Entrances in Arlington's Veterans Park.

I had to be in Pantego this morning, so I thought, since I was in the neighborhood, I'd have myself a humid walk.

Early this morning, when I accessed the outer world to walk to the body of water where I do my daily swimming, the humidity was causing a strange dew-like thing to happen, which sort of seemed like an extremely light misty invisible fog.

Speaking of invisible fog, I am getting confusing messages regarding what I thought was a recount of the votes in the recent (May 11) Tarrant Regional Water District Board election.

A couple days ago I blogged A Thank You Has Me Wondering Who Is Overseeing The Impartiality And Accountability Of Marty Leonard.

That blog post generated a comment from someone named Anonymous, I then commented on the comment from Anonymous, which had Anonymous commenting on my comment. Below are the 3 comments....

Anonymous said...
Durango Texas,
You did not read very carefully, "Pol Adv by Marty Leonard" means she paid for the cards herself. Also, the Pearl Clutching Dowager Heiress is not overseeing and has nothing to do with the recount.

Durango said...
"Pol Adv by Marty Leonard" would seem to only indicate she authored the Adv. If it said "Pol Adv Paid for by Marty Leonard" that would clearly indicate she used her own funds. I was told be a fairly reliable source that Marty Leonard was going to be the TRWD Board's participant in the recount.

Anonymous said...
Better check the reliability of your sources before you comment.

I asked my reliable source about the Anonymous claim that "the Pearl Clutching Dowager Heiress is not overseeing and has nothing to do with the recount."

My reliable source then sent me a lot of information about this serious subject, including the following paragraph...

In the event of a dispute on whether to count a ballot, an observer’s role is nominal.  Should such a dispute arise, a recount committee member may submit an affidavit stating that legal votes were not counted or that illegal votes were counted.  The affidavit must be submitted to the recount coordinator (Marty Leonard).  Leonard would then have the discretion to order a recount of the disputed ballots.

The above paragraph was part of what seemed to me to be a rather legalistic document that seemed to me to be legit.

And so it goes. Texas election rules confuse and perplex me....

Walking With Indian Ghosts, Bobcats & Ticks To The Village Creek Green Bayou

Very early this morning I had myself a very refreshing long swim in a not too cool pool.

In the noon time frame I had myself a not too cool walk with the Indian Ghosts who haunt Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

Not too cool, as in the hot and humid type of not too cool.

The Village Creek Blue Bayou  has turned into the Village Creek Green Bayou, as you can see in the picture, all green, no blue, not even in the sky.

As I was walking across the Village Creek Dam Bridge, on my way to the Green Bayou, I met two guys carrying fishing gear. I asked if they'd caught a lot of fish. One of the guys then told me that they did not even get a line in the water, because before that could happen they found that they were getting ticked off by ticks.

I got ticked off by a tick, years ago, camping somewhere near Mount Baker, the precise location lost to my failing memory. That particular tick ticked me in an extremely sensitive area. The pain was intense, so intense I dropped my drawers without warning to my fellow campers.

One of my fellow campers had tick experience. Or so she claimed. Next thing I knew a lit match was heating the tick to tick it off enough that it would release its grip. This worked. Relief was instant.  I quickly re-installed my dropped drawers.

The two guys I met today who got ticked off enough by ticks that they decided not to cast their lines, must have caught the ticks before they struck, I assume, because the two guys did not evidence being in any recent pain.

The stray dog that was living near the VCNHA parking lot was gone today. Once again, near that location, a large bobcat crossed the trail ahead of me. I think the stray dog was too big to have found itself bobcat food. At least I hope that's the case.

Last night's storm knocked out power at my location for an hour or so. The power came back on right about the time the sun set for the evening.  Power goes out way too often at my location. Rarely does it go out across the street, where Albertsons and other stores are.

The Last Wednesday Of May In Texas Brings Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

My computer based weather monitoring device started blinking RED about the same time the outer world at my location suddenly became very windy, followed by a short downpour and a few thunder booms.

The storm burst did not last too long. I think the short storm burst may have been a prequel with a longer storm burst arriving soon.

Just heard a new boom.

Below is the Severe Thunderstorm Warning from the National Weather Service...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...

WESTERN DENTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS... NORTHEASTERN PARKER COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS... NORTHWESTERN TARRANT COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS... EASTERN WISE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 715 PM CDT

* AT 610 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM PELICAN BAY TO WILLOW PARK... MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... COTTONDALE...WHITE SETTLEMENT AND WESTWORTH AROUND 615 PM... AURORA...BOYD...SANSOM PARK AND RIVER OAKS AROUND 620 PM... AZLE AROUND 625 PM... SAGINAW AND PELICAN BAY AROUND 630 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO A STURDY SHELTER UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A STRONG BUILDING AND STAY INSIDE...AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

Today I Could Not Wake Up The Fosdick Lake Lone White Swan

It has been several days since I last visited Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park in East Fort Worth.

The Lone White Swan who took up Fosdick Lake residence several weeks ago is still in the same spot, along with the Lone White Swan's entourage of ducks.

Today the Lone White Swan did not wake up from its slumber when I stood nearby snapping pictures. The ducks were equally sleepy.

I hope the Lone White Swan and the ducks aren't ailing from eating fish they caught in Fosdick Lake.

A Thank You Has Me Wondering Who Is Overseeing The Impartiality And Accountability Of Marty Leonard

This morning, in my mailbox, I found a note from Fort Worth's favorite Pearls Clutching Dowager Heiress, Marty Leonard, thanking me for helping re-elect Vic Henderson and Jack Stevens to the Tarrant Regional Water District Board.

Apparently Marty Leonard feels that these are honorable and experienced men whose election will bring about a continuing focus on water supply for Tarrant County.

Marty Leonard also let me know that my vote made a difference.

I guess it did.

Because I did not vote for Marty Leonard's honorable men, I voted for the honorable, experienced Mary Kelleher, who got the most votes in the recent election.

I wonder why Marty Leonard made no mention of her new fellow board member?

Did Marty Leonard pay for this 'Thank You" note with her own funds? If not, whose?

I have not heard how the recount of the vote that re-elected the honorable and experienced Henderson and Stevens is going.

Marty Leonard is overseeing the impartiality and accountability of the recount for the TRWD Board.

Who is overseeing the impartiality and accountability of Marty Leonard I can not help but wonder?