Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Spencer Jack Sets Foot In Texas
This afternoon my Favorite Nephew Jason (FNJ), he being my Great Nephew Spencer Jack's dad, emailed me several photos, along with text, documenting Spencer Jack's quest to follow all the train tracks, both defunct and still active, that are in the Skagit Valley of my old home zone in Washington.
Among the photos was the one above, documenting Spencer Jack stepping on Texas. If Spencer would move just a slight distance to his left he'd be stepping right on my current location.
It seems like only yesterday that I picked up Spencer Jack's dad and his Uncle Joey (my Favorite Nephew Joey, aka FNJ2) at D/FW Airport, where I soon got the news that Spencer Jack's dad was going to be getting married to Spencer Jack's mom.
I am guessing that this was in either later 2004 or 2005. The nuptials which ended up creating Spencer Jack occurred in April of 2006.
Those nuptials were over 7 years ago. Again, seems like yesterday.
And now Spencer Jack is in school, having started 1st Grade a couple weeks ago.
And setting foot in Texas.....
Rolling My Wheels Away From Snake Encounters In Fort Worth's Gateway Park
Even though it is Wednesday, not Saturday, today I rolled my wheels to my regular Saturday photo location atop a cliff semi-high above the green Trinity River in Fort Worth's Gateway Park.
With rain predicted to dampen North Texas I figured today might be the last mud-free day for the near future.
I likely figured wrong.
Today's photo op location had something added since last Saturday.
Can you spot the addition in the photo?
Yes, that's right, a snake skin is dangling from that green bush in front of my handlebars.
A short distance after this snake skin encounter I came upon a pair of disc golfers who told me that moments before they had come upon a Copperhead which quickly slithered away from them.
So, with the snake skin and the Copperhead report I continued my pedaling on heightened snake alert.
Early on in my Texas exile I was very vigilant regarding snakes. Gradually I adjusted to the fact that one does not encounter all that many snakes when one is out and about in the Texas outer world.
Yesterday I mentioned that my front bike tire had been spiked by a mesquite thorn. I am very pleased to report that 24 hours later the inner tube's self-sealing slime apparently works. Zero leakage.
With rain predicted to dampen North Texas I figured today might be the last mud-free day for the near future.
I likely figured wrong.
Today's photo op location had something added since last Saturday.
Can you spot the addition in the photo?
Yes, that's right, a snake skin is dangling from that green bush in front of my handlebars.
A short distance after this snake skin encounter I came upon a pair of disc golfers who told me that moments before they had come upon a Copperhead which quickly slithered away from them.
So, with the snake skin and the Copperhead report I continued my pedaling on heightened snake alert.
Early on in my Texas exile I was very vigilant regarding snakes. Gradually I adjusted to the fact that one does not encounter all that many snakes when one is out and about in the Texas outer world.
Yesterday I mentioned that my front bike tire had been spiked by a mesquite thorn. I am very pleased to report that 24 hours later the inner tube's self-sealing slime apparently works. Zero leakage.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Taking A Ride On The Scale Model Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Bypass Channel With J.D. Granger
I am guessing I am not the only person who has viewed the above video who found it to be jaw droppingly bizarre.
The video shows you a scale model version of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, with that scale model being the size of a football field. I have no idea where this scale model is located. Or when it was made.
The scale model did not seem to include the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's greatest achievements to date, those being the Coyote Drive-In Movie Theater and the Cowtown Wakepark.
In the video we hear some guy tell us how people will be able to take a ferry boat from downtown Fort Worth to the Fort Worth Stockyards, via, I think, the flood diversion bypass channel.
And here I thought I was joking when I asked if there would be cruise ships docked on Pond Granger if the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle ever becomes anything anyone can see.
In part, apparently, the scale model was built to test whether or not this alteration of the Trinity River would actually work. And so, to test how well the re-designed river will handle litter during a flood, a flood was simulated, with pieces of paper tossed in the flooding scale model Trinity River to simulate litter.
Methinks whoever was doing this litter testing has not eye witnessed the astonishing amount of litter which flows in the Trinity River when it is in flood mode.
Scale model logs were also thrown in the scale model river to test if log jams would form at the new bridges being built to cross the un-needed flood diversion bypass channel. The bridges passed the scale model log jam test.
Trinity River Vision Boondoggle Executive Director, J.D. Granger, shows up several times in this video to share with us his vision of the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.
At one point J.D. is totally gaga over Vancouver's Granville Island. Why it was almost a religious epiphany for J.D. seeing this development in Vancouver where people could shop, walk, ride their bike and get on a boat.
The way J.D. describes his vision one would think such mixed use developments have not developed anywhere else on the planet. Except, I guess, Vancouver. And now, Fort Worth.
Has J.D. never been to San Diego? Portland? San Francisco? Seattle? Or, on the other coast, New York City? Miami? Boston? Or the middle of America, like Chicago? Or places in Europe, like Amsterdam? Or London? Or Paris? Or towns in Asia, like Shanghai? Or places like Singapore? Or Sydney?
Listening to J.D. Granger, almost breathlessly describe the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, well, troubling is the word that comes to mind.
Let me see if I can paraphrase/parody J.D. in the above video...
"What we are seeing here is an accomplishment that has not been accomplished anywhere else where things get accomplished. When we designed this project we did what is not usually done. We addressed all the issues that go into making a space a special space. Transportation. Recreation. Housing. Flood Control. When this project is completed in time for my great grand children to enjoy it, in 2040, my dream is for it to be so special that my great grand children never ever want to leave Fort Worth."
At no point in this propaganda video is it mentioned that this project is not funded. It is not mentioned that this public works project has not been voted on by the public. It is not mentioned that over half the funding, as in around 500 million dollars, is based on the assumption that somehow federal dollars will be sent to Fort Worth for this ridiculous boondoggle.
In the meantime, even though the money to build this project does not exist, even though the public has not voted on this public works project, eminent domain has been abused to destroy dozens of businesses and disrupt I don't know how many lives.
None of that is mentioned in this propaganda video either......
Having A Really Fine Time Rolling Over A Thorn At Mallard Cove Park
In the picture you are looking at my bike's handlebars looking at one of the entry points to Fort Worth's Mallard Cove Park.
As you can see the usual blue sky which hovers above my location on the planet is currently being blocked by a lot of gray clouds.
Thunderstorms are in the forecast. Currently I have heard no booming.
My pedaling at Mallard Cove Park was uneventful except for one event.
I rolled over a thorn.
The thorn was stuck to a stick. I think it may have been a mesquite branch. I quickly pulled out the thorn. It had penetrated deep into my front inner tube.
My inner tubes have self sealing slime inside them.
I continued rolling a couple more miles, to no noticeable air leakage. By the time I made it back to my abode the tire still felt fully inflated.
But, I will not be totally shocked tomorrow to find my front tire flat.
All this self sealing slime talk has me being hungry. I must put an end to my current starvation. Lunch will likely accomplish that goal.
As you can see the usual blue sky which hovers above my location on the planet is currently being blocked by a lot of gray clouds.
Thunderstorms are in the forecast. Currently I have heard no booming.
My pedaling at Mallard Cove Park was uneventful except for one event.
I rolled over a thorn.
The thorn was stuck to a stick. I think it may have been a mesquite branch. I quickly pulled out the thorn. It had penetrated deep into my front inner tube.
My inner tubes have self sealing slime inside them.
I continued rolling a couple more miles, to no noticeable air leakage. By the time I made it back to my abode the tire still felt fully inflated.
But, I will not be totally shocked tomorrow to find my front tire flat.
All this self sealing slime talk has me being hungry. I must put an end to my current starvation. Lunch will likely accomplish that goal.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Fort Worth's Killer Waiter Aaron Alexis Was A Nice Guy To My Facebook Friends
I am sitting here not having any clue what to say. I logged in to Facebook to see that a pair of my Fort Worth Facebook friends had contact with Fort Worth's latest assassin, Aaron Alexis, and found him to be a nice guy. Which he likely was. Driven homicidal by who knows what, to be revealed as time passes....
Two years ago, we got a Groupon to try out Happy Bowl, a Thai restaurant here in Fort Worth. Our waiter was Aaron Alexis, the shooter in this morning's Navy Yard killings. — with Terri Bednar Wegner.
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