The Fosdick Lake White Swan Along With A Murder Of Crows Behaving Badly

The Fosdick Lake White Swan continues to hold court in Oakland Lake Park in the same location the bird has sat for weeks.

Just like was the case with my last White Swan visit, today two ducks were all that were sitting with the White Swan.

Meanwhile a flotilla of ducks were barely offshore, sort of keeping company with the lonely White Swan.

Today my Swan Food was sunflower seeds. The ducks seemed to like the sunflower seeds more than the White Swan did.

In addition to a White Swan and ducks and the regular turtle contingent, I came upon a large murder of crows acting as if they were auditioning for a remake of Hitchcook's The Birds. It seems as if recently I read of a murder of crows attacking people engaged in some outdoor activity, like picnicking. It seems as if this was in Washington, but my failing memory is not giving me access to the details.

The maid just rang the lunch gong. Today I think lunch is going to be baked whole wheat cheddar cheese pepperoni spaghetti and salad. This sounds good to me. Because I am hungry.

Exploring Fort Worth's Cultural District Is A Sophisticated Cultured Undertaking

The above is an advertisement in this week's Fort Worth Weekly. A time or two I've had people, who do not live in Texas, suggest that I am making up the fact that Fort Worth has an area it calls its Cultural District.

When I first arrived in Fort Worth a thing or two perplexed and confused me.

One perplexing confusion, I distinctly remember, was the futile search to find Sundance Square. All I could find was parking lots. Yet there were all these signs pointing to Sundance Square. It took years for me to learn there is no Square in Sundance Square.

Currently there is a project underway, that is long past its due date, to finally add an actual Square to Sundance Square.

The same directional signage that pointed me to the non-existent Sundance Square, and which is still misdirecting, all these years later, also pointed to the "Cultural District."

Yes, it really is true, Fort Worth has an area it calls its Cultural District. Apparently culture needed to be restricted to one designated district. When I first learned of the Cultural District it seemed really embarrassingly uncultured to me, to so label a district, as in unsophisticated nonsense not worthy of what some locals (Betsy Price) believe to be one of the greatest cities on the planet earth.

Other towns have districts they assign a designation to, like the Arts District or the Theater District or the Museum District.

But, Cultural District?

Methinks there is likely only one town on the planet that would be so goofy as to label a part of its town as its Cultural District.

It is sort of poetic, and apropos, that Fort Worth's Cultural District is so close to its Rockin' the River Happy  Hour Inner Tube Floats and the Panther Island Music Venue, with the World's first Drive-In Movie Theater of the 21st Century, nearby.

Methinks Fort Worth's Cultural District should be expanded to include the wonders that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle is bestowing on Fort Worth.

That would be the sophisticated, cultured thing to do...........

Tarrant Regional Water District Board Election Recount Flushed

For days I wondered what was up with the Tarrant Regional Water District Board Election recount.

I knew the recount had been halted, but I was sketchy on the details of why or how the recount was halted.

And now, this afternoon, via Facebook, I am no longer sketchy regarding the details of why or how the recount was halted.....

To fill everyone in; My recount request was unsuccessful. We started the recount with just 90 votes (out of over 40,000) separating me from an elected position on the board. After ALL paper ballots cast in the election were counted and a "sampling" of the electronic ones... I had gained an additional 10 votes, but with only electronic ballots remaining and NO errors found in any of those samples, I called off the remainder of the recount. I want to Thank EVERYONE for the incredible effort and invite you to congratulate Director-Elect Mary Kelleher who garnered the MOST VOTES IN TRWD HISTORY. Mary is in the unique position to be able to influence the board from within and to help introduce a little sunshine to the inside. She can't do it without all our help and support and from time-to-time will need a serious display of support at meetings to help remind the incumbents that she has a huge following. Again, Thank You all for the support. There is MUCH MORE to come very soon.

John Austin Basham

A Wet Walk & Talk With Connie D & The Indian Ghosts In Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area

Water Roars Under the Village Creek Dam Bridge

One of the Connie D's went walking and talking with me and the Indian Ghosts today at Arlington's Village Creek Natural Historical Area.

As you can see, by looking at the picture, the outer world is slightly stormy this first Thursday of June of 2013 at my location in North Texas.

A few drops of precipitation precipitated whilst we were doing our walking and talking.

After a half hour of slight drippage the drips went into downpour mode with a lot of precipitation precipitating.

This morning, shortly after the crack of dawn, I had myself a really fine time in the pool. At that point in time the air outdoors was being chilled to 67 degrees, well below the temperature to which I set my air-conditioner. With the air being so cold the pool water was significantly warmer, thus creating the illusion that it is a heated pool.

I got gas on my way to walk and talk with Connie D and the Indian Ghosts, so I called my mom, like I often do when I get gas. My mom was not available, at that point in time, so I left a message.

The maid is sounding the lunch gong, so I guess it is time to eat. I believe the menu today is BBQed pork with bean cheese whole wheat burritos and some sort of salad product.

Up Early After A Big Storm Banged Overhead In The Middle Of The Night

You can sort of tell, via the early dawn view from my patio overlook, that the morning of the first Thursday of June has some storm potential.

In the middle of last night, around 3 AM, I began hearing drops of water hit my window, soon followed by wind and an increase in the water droppage.

Big bangs began a short time later, with the big banging lasting for a long time, maybe an hour, or longer.

This was the most lightning striking and thunder booming I've seen and heard in recent memory.

The forecast for today is for some more storming.

Last night I watched a NOVA episode about the Moore, Oklahoma tornado. I'd not seen so much footage, previously, of the damage from that tornado. It was rather sobering.

I don't think it will make me quite so cranky any more when the local TV weathermen go all drama queen over incoming storm action.

I do not know, at present, if the weather will permit any endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation in the noon time frame.

I do know that the weather can not stop me from getting some endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation in a couple minutes, in that glowing turquoise body of water you see in the picture above.

The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Cordially Invites You To A Historic Ground Blessing

Since this invite came from the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, and one is asked to RSVP to the Trinity River Vision Boondoogle, I guess it is safe to assume that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle has now broadened its vision to include erecting statues and building plazas on which statues are erected.

Apparently, before we can have the statue erection we must bless the land upon which the statue will stand.

Hence the cordial invite to the historic ground blessing of the future site of the Major Ripley Allen Arnold Monument and the John V. McMilllan Plaza.

This will take place directly behind the Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus at the doomed confluence of the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River.

The announcement does not use the word "doomed" regarding the confluence of the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River.

Mentioning that confluence in a Trinity River Vision Boondoggle announcement is sort of ironic, due to the fact that if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle ever actually becomes anything anyone would want to see, one of those things is a small pond, where currently the two forks of the Trinity River join forces to become a bigger river.

It also seems ironic, to me, that the TCC Trinity River Campus is to be the location of a Major Ripley Allen Arnold Monument. The TCC Trinity River Campus originally was Radio Shack's Corporate Headquarters, before an amazing confluence of Fort Worth/Tarrant County Boondoggles had TCC taking over the Radio Shack building.

Radio Shack's Corporate Headquarters are built at the location of a former monument to Major Ripley Allen  Arnold in the form of the Ripley Arnold Housing Development, a development which was taken by abusing eminent domain so Radio Shack could build the corporate headquarters it could not afford.

It would seem the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle has now broadened its scope to include Native American Spirituality. The TRVB announcement informs us that the Medicine Wheel, pictured on the announcement, represents harmony and connections and is considered a major symbol of peaceful interaction among all living beings on Earth.

More irony.

So, this Medicine Wheel will be an important part of this historic ground blessing ceremony, with a ceremonial Native American blessing by Eddie Sandoval.

An Apache.

The Medicine Wheel is a major symbol of peaceful interaction among all living beings. Yet one more irony, what with the Texas Native American population having been long ago either exterminated or run out of the state, mostly to Oklahoma, with Oklahoma being a state where many of the tribes which used to reside in Texas, now live.

I don't think the Apache ever had a Texas presence. Could not a Comanche spiritual leader be found for this historic blessing?

Hubris, more hubris....

Biking With Fallen Trees & No Zombies In Gateway Park

Handlebars Pointing at FWMBA Trail Sign

Today I decided to get my first Wednesday of June, mid-day endorphin fix by pedaling the Fort Worth Mountain Bike Association (FWMBA) Trail in Gateway Park.

I last biked at this location last Saturday, on the first day of June. At that point in time I found Gateway Park infested with Zombies.

Today the Zombie infestation was completely cleared out.

At some point in time since Saturday a tree has fallen across the FWMBA Trail, almost obliterating the directional arrow. I had been at this location previously so I knew which way to go, even if there was no arrow pointing the way.

I assume all the fallen foliage is wind caused, but, I do not recollect a strong wind blowing since Saturday.

I really don't think all this fallen limbage could possibly be Zombie related damage. However, this location is a very short distance to the west of where I came upon a Zombie attacking a water supply.

Despite the air being a bit humid, I had myself a really fine time spinning my wheels. Most of the trails are under the shade of big trees, which makes for cooler trailing than one is subjected to under the direct rays of the unshaded hot sun.

Speaking of the sun. I was up well before its arrival this morning. Which caused me to have a really fine time having a really long swim in the increasingly warm pool, very early this morning.

I just heard the lunch gong go off. I am fairly sure that lunch today is Jalapeno Cornbread Casserole, Rice, Chicken and some sort of Green Salad, the nature of which I am currently not remembering.

A Walk Around Fosdick Lake With A White Swan Being Kite Bombed With Turtles

The Fosdick Lone White Swan is still taking up residence at Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park.

Today the Lone White Swan's entourage was only two ducks.

I think the Lone White Swan may be being always in the same shady location because he/she has learned that park visitors bring him/her goodies.

Like today I tossed some Swan food at the Lone White Swan in the form of whole wheat bread.

While the Lone White Swan was holding food court, nearby a she of the human type was being a kite launcher for her boyfriend.

You can see the Lone White Swan to the left of the trunk of the tree. The birds seemed not to mind the kite that was being launched and crashing, over and over again, in their neighborhood.

The kite was in the shape of a bomber aircraft. The kite would successfully launch and then do a dive bomb. To me it looked like the boyfriend was purposefully dive bombing the girlfriend. The longest the plane kite stayed aloft was about 30 seconds.

Today the Fosdick turtles were congregated on their main log. This log has done some floating to new locations on the lake due to strong winds of late. Somehow the Fosdick turtles seem to always find where their log has moved to.

This morning my computer based weather  monitoring device had the air quality being sufficiently bad that it was suggested sensitive sorts not expose themselves to it. That warning has since gone away. However, the air is noticeably smoggy, unlike the ultra clear sky I saw on Sunday from the top of Mount Tandy.

The bad air has not had any noticeable effect on my ultra sensitive breathing.

Freshly Vexed & Perplexed By Texas Wind Chime Noise Pollution

Of late I have been freshly vexed and perplexed by the noise polluters known as wind chimes.

Vexed because two neighbors, closer to my abode than 300 feet, have installed a total of 8 wind chimes making a racket that penetrates my windows, walls and delicate ears.

Perplexed because having these noise polluters closer than 300 feet from a neighbor is allowed in this part of the planet.

Awhile back I was talking to my sister who lives in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. My sister mentioned being annoyed by some new neighbor's noisy kids. I mentioned being annoyed by wind chimes.

My sister's reply to me mentioning being annoyed by wind chimes was to ask "They allow wind chimes in Texas?"

Long ago civilized parts of the planet realized that in densely populated areas wind chimes were a noise pollution issue, and thus banned, unless ones wind chimes were chiming from a mandated distance from innocent ears.

I have blogged about the wind chime issue previously, as in way back in October of 2009. That blogging has generated a lot of comments, mostly from people who share my aversion to unwanted noise pollution, and a few from morons unable to understand the issue.

Just a couple days ago someone named Anonymous made an amusing comment on the above referenced blogging....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Texas Wind Chime Noise Pollution": 

My story starts with an innocent set of wind chimes made of seashells hanging from my neighbor's back porch about 20 feet from my house. Then she graduated to a larger set of metal banger clangers hanging from a shepherd's hook on the side of her 2-car garage - 5 feet from my house. And finally cowbells hanging from a higher hook next to my garden. I could no longer enjoy an open window, my patio, or even my garden. I asked her to move them away from my house...she said no. I said they were making a terrible racket. She said too bad. Then one stormy night my hubby took a pillow case and as Reba's song went, "that's one body that'll never be found." Or in this case -- two. 

I usually do not think it a good idea to take the law into ones own hands. But, there are circumstances, when one lives in an uncivilized part of the planet, where one must take the law into ones own hands in order to protect oneself. Or ones eardrums and peace of mind...

Pedaling Village Creek Finding Myself In A Jungle Under A Giant Mirror Ball

I had myself a mighty fine swim early this morning that gave me a good endorphin boost. But, a few hours later the boost began to wear off, which led me to drive my bike to the Village Creek Natural Historical Area to get a fresh endorphin fix.

Being an addict is a lot of bother. Between needing endorphin fixes and coffee fixes, my addictions are, at times, a tiresome, time taking nuisance.

Which I like most of the time.

Like today.

The Arlington park people who keep the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in great shape, long ago installed a giant mirror ball to make it easy for parkgoers to take photos of themselves. The large mirror ball may have some other purpose, but taking a photo of myself is what I used it for today.

As you can see, the Village Creek Natural Historical Area's foliage has returned to its jungle-like state. This lasts for a few months, til the heat of summer begins the slow fade to losing the greenery in the fall.

In the meantime, with the Village Creek NHA paved trails under a heavy canopy of green, it makes for a cooling shade from the blistering sun.

And now the maid is ringing the lunch bell, which means I must go consume some vittles, which today, if I remember right, is spring greens salad, whole wheat smoked turkey pizza and chicken. Typing that all out it really does not sound all that appetizing.