Walking Around Fosdick Lake With A Cowboy Attacking A Log

The rain break and the cool temperature, barely in to the 70s, had a lot of people out and about at Oakland Lake Park today.

Are we currently in full moon mode? I ask because I saw some loony behavior today whilst walking around Fosdick Lake.

Like the cowboy you're seeing in the picture. He was attacking old decayed logs, breaking them apart. For no reason apparent to me.

And then there was this guy and girl, singing loud as they walked along, as if practicing for a bad American Idol audition.

Then there was this couple, who I think thought they were hidden from view, who appeared to be practicing that thing married people do that sometimes results in the production of a baby.

Keeping an eye on the Fosdick Lake lunacy was the big white bird you see below.

Looking at the picture of the big white bird it looks like you can almost see how humid it is today, like there is a very thin fog of moisture hovering in the air.

Even though we are currently not HOT at my location on the planet, I am running the A/C just to get rid of that vexing humidity.

And now is that time of day where the vexing task of making lunch arrives. Salad and grilled cheese is on the menu for today.

Circa 1980s Blast From The Past From Spencer Jack's Dad

Lately with disturbing regularity I find myself unable to remember something I would think I should be able to remember.

I have had two incidents of memory lapse this morning. One lapse occurred when I read a reference to the Ronde-Voo Drive-In in Lynden, Washington. I remember this drive-in by name, but can not remember where it is, or was, in Lynden.

Lynden was pretty much my second hometown whilst growing up in Washington. This is the town where both my grandma's lived.

Then there is the photo above, emailed to me from Spencer Jack's dad. The text in the email....

Lucky number 13 appears to be a relative. I do have vivid memories of watching her play basketball. And softball. And I'm pretty sure that mural still exists at B-EHS.

I remember lucky number 13 playing softball. I remember watching lucky number 13 be named Most Valuable Player in the state softball championship tournament in Wenatchee.

But, I do not remember ever watching lucky number 13 play basketball. I remember watching both of lucky number 13's older sisters play basketball.

Basketball watching is just about the only sport I have ever had any tolerance for spectating.

So, I either never watched lucky number 13 play basketball. Or I did watch number 13 play basketball, but do not remember doing so.

I suspect the fact of the matter is I did watch lucky number 13 play basketball, but have no memory of it.

Is this a sign I am sliding down a slippery slope to senility?

Keeping It Real Without Being A Cruel Maui Cabana Boy

This morning I saw that which you see on the left on Facebook, brought to my eyes by Miss Sampson.

I really have only rarely slightly disliked anyone who I thought was jealous of me.

It never occurred to me that those legions of people who are jealous of me feel that way because they think I am better than them.

This was all new enlightening information for me.

Speaking of making people jealous.

Miss Sampson and her BFF, Delilah, are flying to Maui in November for an extended stay. Sampson and Delilah think it would be a good idea to take me along to be their Cabana Boy.

I am seriously considering this Maui Cabana Boy proposal. I am awaiting further details as to what it, exactly, is that a Cabana Boy does. Is cleaning fish, cooking and window washing involved?

In the last 24 hours I came upon another good quote, but I don't remember where it is I saw it....

'All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.'
Tennessee Williams

I read the above quote just about the same time I was pondering the ironic fact that the most cruel person I have ever known often complains of others being the most cruel person she has ever known.

This particular cruel person also advertises her false pride in what she thinks is her outspoken frankness. This particular person, in outspoken frank mode, is usually being judgmental and tactless and stupid.  And, like I already said, cruel.

I have seen this cruel person put a false spin on one of her outspokenly frank episodes that then has people who don't get what a cruel, tactless, stupid person she is, praising her for "keeping it real."

One can keep it real without being cruel. I am a paragon of that particular virtue.....

Funkytown Gets Down While Dallas Can't Tube Along With Other Nonsense

On the left you are looking at what is known as a screencap. This particular screencap is the home page of the Panther Island Pavilion website.

I was peacefully reading this week's Fort Worth Weekly when I found myself looking at a large ad for Panther Island Pavilion and its current cast of music acts of whom I have never heard, playing at what is, supposedly, the only waterfront stage in Texas.

I remember when Fort Worth's Santa Fe Rail Market was promoted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and other local propaganda purveyors as being the first and only public market in Texas, ignoring the fact that it was not only not the first and only public market in Texas, it was not even the first Public Market in Fort Worth.

From the Panther Island Pavilion website home page an interesting blurb...

© Panther Island Pavilion - All Rights Reserved.
A Product of Trinity River Vision Authority

The Panther Island Pavilion name has been copyrighted? With All Rights Reserved? How much did that cost the taxpayers? This is a "Product of Trinity River Vision Authority"?

A Product?

Like a flood control product? Or is this an economic development product? Producing the imaginary one and only waterfront music venue in Texas? On an imaginary island? With an imaginary pavilion?

Why do the knuckleheads who provide Fort Worth's chamber of commerce type propaganda have such a penchant for ridiculous hyperbole? There is no island. There is no pavilion. The waterfront is a polluted river.

Panther Island Pavilion is only the most recent example of this type absurdity.

Been to Sundance Square lately?

The fact that there is no Sundance Square has been perplexing Fort Worth's few tourists for decades. Yes, currently there is some sort of actual square under construction on a couple of the parking lots that those few Fort Worth tourists often mistake for being Sundance Square, but the completion date for that actual Sundance Square seems to have the same type fleeting completion schedule as the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Back to the Panther Island Pavilion absurdity. On the website's home page is where I learned that Panther Island Pavilion is the only waterfront stage in Texas, in the following blurb...

Panther Island Pavilion (PIP) is a scenic outdoor venue on the Trinity River with the Downtown Fort Worth skyline as a backdrop. PIP has the only waterfront stage in Texas, a main stage for year-round events and two additional band shells for multi-act festivals. A sand beach provides public access to the river for boating, tubing, fishing, and swimming. Kayak and Paddleboard concessionaries are located on site for rentals.

Scenic? PIP? A waterfront stage? Skyline as a backdrop? A sand beach? Swimming?

Ugh. I could elaborate, but I think Ugh suffices.

Also on the Panther Island Pavilion website's home page you get to experience an amazing example of propaganda and hubris in a series of bizarre, for want of a better phrase, slogans...

SOAK YOURSELVES IN GOOD TIMES.
THE COOLEST PLACE TO PARTY IN SUMMER.
WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT NEW BRAUNFELS? BEER. WE GOT IT. CHEERS.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IN DALLAS? TUBE.
GOOD TIMES ARE FLOWING IN FORT WORTH.
THIS IS WHERE FUNKYTOWN GETS DOWN.
LET THE COOL TIMES FLOW.
FOR A GOOD TIME...JUST ADD WATER.

You can't tube in Dallas? Add water for a good time? There is no beer in New Braunfels? Funkytown gets down here?

This past week's #1 Fort Worth Scandal has been the revelation that Fort Worth's Mayor, Betsy Price, has been traveling the world with a contingent of Fort Worth Police as she spreads the Fort Worth message across the planet, increasing the flood of tourists coming to Junky, I mean, Funkytown, to experience what can only be experienced in Fort Worth.

So, when one of those thousands of Japanese, Chinese, Australian, German or other tourists arrive and let's say, one of the Japanese, asks the Fort Worth Propagandist, "Where Sundance Square?"

"Sundance Square is downtown Fort Worth."

"What? No square? We want to see square that make other towns green with envy?"

"Sorry. No square."

"Okay, how bout Cultural District. We come to see Fort Worth Culture."

"Great. There are several museums in the Fort Worth Cultural District."

"Museums? We not come to Texas to see museums. We have museums in Tokyo. We want to see western culture. Cowboys."

"No problem. We can go to the Fort Worth Stockyards. There you will see cowboys and longhorns and western cultural stuff."

"Great. That what we come to Fort Worth to see. Get to see real stockyards too?"

"Well....sort of."

I tell you, Fort Worth really needs some sort of federally administered truth in labeling statute imposed upon the town....

The Predicted Rare July Meteorological Event Has Arrived In Texas With Rain & Cold Air

In the picture you might guess you are looking at a dark, drippy, mid-winter patio view of my pool.

You would be guessing wrong about the mid-winter part.

However, you'd be guessing right about the picture being a dark, drippy patio view of my pool.

In mid-July.

The weather predictor's prediction of a rare meteorological event arrived earlier than I thought was predicted.

As in, this morning whilst swimming I was pummeled by what seemed like thousands of cold raindrops.

The predicted rare cold front has arrived. With the outer world not even being heated into the 70s. In other words the outer world is way colder than I cool my inner world with artificial climate control.

Walking into the pool this morning, with the air being in severe BRRRRR mode, the pool felt like getting in a warm bath. Sort of both pleasant and unpleasant at the same time, with the being pleasant part helped by all the incoming cooling raindrops.

I do not ever remember having my windows open in July during all my years in Texas. Having said that, I must admit I have a terrible memory.

As you can see, via the recent data graphic from my computer based weather monitoring device, currently the rain is falling in light mode, having slowed up from the heavy mode which pummeled me whilst I was swimming.

It  has been such a long time since a heavy duty storm dropped water and lightning bolts at my location I have sort of forgotten what that is like. Another example of my bad memory. I suspect before this day is over my storm memory will be refreshed.

In the meantime, what with the outer world being all wet, I suspect my only endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation for the day will be that already acquired.

Rare Meteorological Phenomena Possibly Bringing Record Breaking Cold & Rain To North Texas

When I saw my computer based weather monitoring device flashing red I clicked it and saw the graphic you see on the left, indicating that starting tomorrow, that being Sunday, that the Extreme Exceptional Drought area indicated by a yellow dotted line is going to have some rain falling in the green zone of the drought.

The text coming from my computer based weather monitoring device said, in part....

While high temperatures are forecast to eclipse 100 degrees in places from Texas to Kansas Saturday, temperatures will only top out in the 70s and 80s in much of this same area from Sunday through Tuesday as a storm system approaches from the east.

Not only will this storm bring an end to the streak of 100-degree temperatures for places such as Dallas, it will also bring much needed rainfall to the Plains states. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of the region is suffering from extreme to exceptional drought.

Initially, the heaviest rains will be focused from central Oklahoma into north-central Texas on Sunday with a separate area of rain developing across the mountains and I-25 corridor of Colorado. This area will quickly expand to the south and west to include central and West Texas, New Mexico and the mountains of Arizona from Monday into Tuesday.

After reading what my computer based weather monitoring device had to say I checked to see what the Texas Storm Chasers are saying about this incoming weather event in an article titled....

Widespread Rain Event Starts Tomorrow!

When we talk about July in Texas, most folks think of heat, humidity, and the occasional afternoon spent by the pond or pool. That mindset is going to change dramatically tomorrow when a rare meteorological phenomena occurs. The jetstream, which rolls upper level disturbances into the area, is draped up across the northern plains of the United States and Canada. In this scenario, we would usually hot and dry conditions. However, something very unusual is occurring in the atmosphere which will bring a unseasonably high chance of rain and possibly record-low temperatures to parts of Texas by Sunday and Monday.

Click the link to read the rest of what the Texas Storm Chasers have to say about this rare meteorological phenomena.

HOT Gateway Park Mountain Biking With Lizards Before Harvesting Giant Town Talk Cantaloupe

My handlebars were back in their regular Saturday position this 2nd Saturday of July, sitting atop a cliff, high above the Trinity River in Fort Worth's Gateway Park.

Today I was sharing the mountain bike trails with more fellow bikers than any previous time at this location.

The Gateway Park mountain bike trail is narrow single track, for the most part.

I prefer to do my bike riding when I'm not either asking someone if I can pass, or being asked by some young speed demon hotshot if he can pass the slow geezer blocking his way.

I keep reading reports about there being a lot of snake activity this summer. So far, I have not been seeing this. I did see a lot of reptile action today in the form of lizards.

This morning, for the first time this HOT time of the year, the water in the swimming pool is getting near to a lukewarm temperature warmer than the morning air. I prefer my pool dips to be cooling, not warming.

It being Saturday, and since Gateway Park is a short distance away, I did my regular stop at Town Talk to do some treasure hunting.

Today's best treasure was huge cantaloupe. I had one for lunch. Best cantaloupe I've had this century. Best I can remember since years ago, in Utah, camping in a KOA, next to a cantaloupe field.

Also got some jalapenos, dozens of chicken legs, extra sharp white cheddar cheese, jicama, a case of Siggi brand Icelandic style yogurt in the ginger/orange flavor. And likely some other stuff I am forgetting right now.

Today it is scheduled to be heated to over 100 again. But tomorrow, if the temperature predictors are predicting correctly, a cold front arrives, dropping the Sunday down into the low 80s. Not quite a get out the long underwear level of chill. But I will make sure I have a sweatshirt available.

Rain is also in the forecast for Sunday. I'll believe that when I can step outside for a natural shower.

Opening My Email To Find The Horror Of The Brides Of Frankenstein Scaring Me In Texas

This morning I was emailed the above from someone in one of the west coast states.

The person sending me this told me that someone in their neighborhood is having fun shooting a new sorta Mormonized version of 1935 horror classic, The Bride of Frankenstein.

With this new version's title being The Brides of Frankenstein, with the four "Brides" in the picture being the new Brides of Frankenstein.

I am just sitting here and hoping that the honeymoon scenes of this new version of The Brides of Frankenstein do not engage in the modern day R-rated type explicitness that was not allowed in movies way back in 1935.

If this movie does engage in modern day R-rated type explicitness that was not allowed in the movies way back in 1935, well, this movie will give new meaning to the term "Horror Film."

Under Village Creek Shade Calling My Mom About Gas & Disneyland & Six Flags Over Texas

Looking at the picture one might deduce that it appears that it might be cool to stand in the shade of this particular tree when the outer world is being heated to 100 degrees HOT.

In this case, appearances are not deceptive. It was cool to stand in the shade of this tree around noon today.

This particular tree overlooks one of the Village Creek dam bridge crossings in the Village Creek Natural Historical  Area.

Yesterday's brief storm that blew through downtown Fort Worth dropped well over an inch of fast blown rain in a very short time. At my location, about 6 miles to the west, I only saw a couple drops. But I did hear the thunder booming in the distance while downtown Fort Worth was being stormy.

I did not get gas today but I called my mom and dad anyway. I called on their Arizona land line, figuring if they were back from going to last Saturday's Tacoma Wedding of the Century my mom would answer that phone.

No answer.

So, I called the mom and dad cell phone. No answer, no voice mail.

Speaking of getting gas. I heard on the radio, two days ago, that we could expect a big price jump, with whoever it was who was talking on the radio, advising that it might be a good plan to top off ones tank.

And so I did. But, I did not make my regular call to my mom and dad at that point in time because it was too early to be calling the time zone of wherever their current location is, either Pacific or Mountain.

I topped my tank off at $3.29 a gallon. Today I saw gas has jumped  up 20 cents at the location I topped off a couple days ago. If I remember right I pumped over 20 gallons. I am really bad at math, but I think I saved $4.00.

I think I can remember when around $4.00 could fill up the tank of my now antique 65 Ford Mustang.

Back when I drove that Mustang I could drive it to California and go to Disneyland for about $15.95 for a ticket book that had 5 E tickets.

Today if I drove to California to go to Disneyland it costs around $90 to enter the park. And there are no E tickets.

I've always liked going to Disneyland. For years, back in the last century, I'd drive to California and go to Disneyland just about every year. The last time I went to Disneyland was Christmas of 1994.

When I moved to my current location I figured I'd get a season's pass to what I hoped was the Texas version of Disneyland, Six Flags Over Texas.

During my first year in Texas I went to Six Flags on the same day John F. Kennedy Jr. went missing. I had a free pass to go to Six Flags that day. Two years after that I had another Six Flags free pass.

After two visits to Six Flags Over Texas I felt no desire to return, let alone buy a season's pass. Suffice to say, Six Flags in no Disneyland.

Being Blocked By Fosdick Lake Fosducks While Enjoying A Sauna Steam Bath

Unlike yesterday, today I did not let the HOT heat keep me from enjoying a sauna steam bath.

I took today's sauna steam bath at Oakland Lake Park by walking around Fosdick Lake.

My walk around the lake required a detour when I found a flock of Fosducks refusing to give up paved trail territory.

I think the Fosducks may be being territorily aggressive under the apparent leadership of a white bird with a long neck.

The white bird with the long deck acted as if it was on patrol, waddling the perimeter around the flock of Fosducks, while the Fosducks quacked.

While walking around Fosdick Lake today I thought about how nice it would be to escape to a South Pacific Island with no Internet and few humans. And a lot of mangoes and fish to catch. I'd take Elsie Hotpepper with me because she is good at cooking with exotic ingredients and climbing trees, a skill which would come in useful for acquiring coconuts.

Speaking of cooking with exotic ingredients.

And who isn't?

Jicama is on the lunch menu today. I got used to my newfangled electronic oven much quicker than I anticipated. Once I figured out how to stop the oven from talking to me I had no more using the new oven issues.