Visiting Quanah Parker Park's Monster Pecan Tree Before Doing Some Town Talking

What you are looking at on the left looks sort of like a Tree Monster, reaching out to grab me with its big arm limbs.

But, looks are often deceiving. That is not a Tree Monster, what it is a monster tree, of the pecan type, in Fort Worth's Quanah Parker Park.

This is a special pecan tree with a special designation as a Heritage Tree. I really don't know what that means, but I read in on the informational signage by the big tree.

My morning swim in the currently cool pool lasted less than a half hour, with only one hot tub warming retreat. Even though the air is cooler than the water in the pool, I decided to brave the chill, bundling myself up in long pants and a sweatshirt, to drive to the Quanah Parker Park parking lot, parked to have myself a very short walk before I decided I was not sufficiently attired in insulating outerwear, so I bailed on the walking and drove on to Town Talk.

I made today's semi-rare Town Talk visit due to being out of yogurt and cheese. Of late Town Talk has been in low supply mode of both. But, today I got two cases of Chobani Greek Yogurt, one case mango, the other orange vanilla. My two favorite flavors. Plus I got two blocks of Tillamook extra sharp cheddar along with two blocks of extra sharp white cheddar.

So, I am well stocked with yogurt and cheese, so we  can all stop worrying about me starving....

Sundance Square Plaza Redundancy Along With Goofy Propaganda Puffery & Other Questions

Sundance Square Plaza Photo by Mr. & Mrs. Galtex

On the left you are looking at fountains spouting in the oddly named Sundance Square Plaza.

When I hear Sundance Square Plaza the word 'redundant' comes to mind.

Redundant and goofy.

There are reasons some well known downtown public spaces are not known as Times Square Plaza, Westlake Center Square, Pioneer Square Plaza, Trafalgar Square Plaza or Dealey Plaza Square.

Well, you get the point.

The newly opened downtown Fort Worth public plaza is featured on the cover of this week's DFW.com Ink Edition, along with an article titled Hip to be Squared.

Before I got to the article I learned via the cover that the newly opened downtown Fort Worth plaza cost  $110 million. I don't remember funding for this project being voted on in any sort of bond election. So, I am curious, how was this $110 million financed?

DFW.com is a Fort Worth Star-Telegram production, hence the overblown Chamber of Commerce type propaganda puffery the Star-Telegram is known for, in this article.

Regarding the long standing mystery of there being no square in Sundance Square the Hip to be Squared article included these three paragraphs....

“We get the ‘Where is Sundance Square?’ questions. ‘How do I know I’m in this place that people are talking about?’” says Johnny Campbell, Sundance Square president and CEO. “So we ask them where they are. They say, ‘I’m at Third and Main.’ We say, ‘You’re standing right in the middle of it.’”

That’s long been the mystery of Sundance Square. To paraphrase Gertrude Stein, “There is no square there.”

And yet, Sundance Square has become as emblematic of Fort Worth as the Stockyards. A magnet for retail, restaurants, entertainment and people-watching, Sundance Square is one of the main reasons Fort Worth is regularly recognized among the nation’s best downtowns.
Really?

Sundance Square has been as emblematic of Fort Worth as the Stockyards? Who, other than Fort Worth locals, has the slightest idea of what Sundance Square is? Did not the article just mention the fact that this non-existent square has long been a mystery?

This mysterious, non-existent square is one of the main reasons Fort Worth is regularly recognized among the nation's best downtowns?

Really?

Classic Fort Worth Star-Telegram propaganda.

Who is it that is regularly recognizing Fort Worth's as one of the nation's best downtowns?

No one I know, outside of Texas, knows anything about downtown Fort Worth. The only thing I ever have mentioned to me is people knowing of the Fort Worth Stockyards.

How many people would the Star-Telegram have to randomly call, outside of Texas, asking the persons called what the person knows about downtown Fort Worth before, finally, after a million or two phone calls someone says, "Well, Fort Worth is regularly recognized among the nation's best downtowns."

How many million people would the Star-Telegram have to randomly call, asking the person called if they know what Fort Worth's Sundance Square is, before the person called answered, "Well, that's that mysterious non-existent downtown square that has been perplexing visitors for decades."

Why must the Star-Telegram, in its various forms, always resort to this type nonsensical propaganda puffery?

There are plenty of reality based good things one can say about downtown Fort Worth. Instead of pretending that downtown Fort Worth is on the nation's radar screen, why not focus on why downtown Fort Worth is a national non-entity that is not on the nation's radar screen, rather than pretend that is it nationally known and recognized?

This type propaganda is very perplexing. And sort of embarrassing....

The First Wednesday Of November Brings A Big Chill To North Texas

Currently we are at the mid morning point, a bit past 10am on this first Wednesday of the 11th month of 2013.

At this point in time, at 49 degrees, the outer world at my location is being chilled seven degrees chillier than when I had myself a fairly fine time swimming this morning, with only one warming up retreat to the hot tub.

The air is being blown from a northwest direction with sufficient velocity to have the wind chill factor having the already chilly air really feel as if it is 41 degrees.

Brrrr.

41 degrees is only nine degrees above freezing. I suspect I will need to find myself another blanket by the time I get horizontal tonight.

In a couple hours I think I will take myself on a walk around Fosdick Lake in Oakland Lake Park. The briskness will likely be even more refreshing than this morning's swim.

No Sunny Texas Towns On List Of Top 101 Cloudy Towns

When someone compiles a Top 101 type list of towns ranked by some criteria as being the top, best or worst at something, usually at least one Texas town shows up on the list.

However, today a Top 101 Towns type list was in the news with nary a single Texas town making the list.

I first saw this made mention of this morning whilst checking news online to learn that Bellingham in my old home state of Washington was #1.

Bellingham is a very cool college town. But, it did not rank #1 for being a cool college town.

Bellingham ranked #1 for being the town  in America, with a population over 50,000, having the lowest average amount of sunshine per year. As in, in Bellingham it is only sunny 35% of the time.

The top 15 towns, on the list of 101, were all in Washington. Washington towns continued to show up as I scanned the list of 101 to its end. I would have thought at least one Oregon town would have been near the top of this list.

The first Oregon town to be listed was the town I was born in, Eugene, which is supposedly sunny 47.5% of the time. In my memory Eugene is always sunny, but that is likely because I only remember being in Eugene in summer. My mom and dad moved me back to Washington when I was 4, so I have no actual memory of living in Eugene.

So, this is a good list for sunny Texas to not be on.

Spencer Jack's dad, my favorite nephew, Jason, sent me a link via email, subject line: no sunshine here today. Text in email saying FUD-- Thought you'd find this interesting --FNJ.

The link was to an article on city-data.com titled Top 101 cities with the lowest average sunshine amount (population 50,000+).

Today, in usually sunny Fort Worth, Texas, we are experiencing the type weather that can go on for day after day after day after week after week after month in Western Washington.

None of the towns in my old home zone of the Skagit Valley are on this list because no Skagit Valley town has a population over 50,000.

It has been 24 hours since I have seen blue sky at my current location. Blue sky is scheduled to return tomorrow.....

Thinking About Moving Into The Village Creek Treehouse

A treehouse has appeared in the Village Creek Natural Historical Area which was not in  residence when my mom and I walked with the Indian ghosts this past Sunday.

Or, maybe the treehouse was there and I was too focused on talking to my mom to notice.

The issue of when this treehouse appeared is not what I am curious about.

What I am curious about is why this treehouse has appeared and who is living in it?

And how did this treehouse get erected so high up in the tree?

I've long thought I'd like living in a treehouse.

One of my cousins, long ago, built the most elaborate treehouse I have ever seen. It was Tarzan worthy. That treehouse spanned multiple trees with the various parts of the house accessed via somewhat scary rope bridges.

Changing the subject from treehouses to something else.

I did not go swimming this morning for the first time in quite awhile. When I  looked out my window at the outer world everything looked wet. The temperature had averaged above 50 for over 24 hours and was 56 when the sun arrived, but the overcast dreariness just sucked the swim right out of me.

Coming up on the middle of the afternoon, very little of the predicted rain has dripped, so far, at my location. And I have heard no thunder booms.

Due to the volume of water squirting through the Village Creek Dam Bridge it appeared that in the noon time frame water must have been precipitating somewhere.

Below is a look at the water rushing today in Village Creek....

Tonight I Learned Clinical Studies Have Discovered Why The Nature Noises Of Texas Are Good For Me

Right now, an hour, or two, after the sun called it quits for the day, I am still hearing a bird, or two, tweeting.

I am also hearing a rumbling.

Is it thunder? Or a jet?

Rain has been falling, off and on, for hours, with the natural sound of pitter patter hitting my window panes.

Tonight I learned, on Facebook, via the Divine Miss Julie, an explanation as to why it is I am so darn healthy.

Apparently clinical studies have proven that 2 hours of nature sounds a day greatly reduce ones stress, whilst activating some sort of DNA deal which repairs and heals ones body.

I guess I now know why it is, what I thought to be some sort of serious foot injury, so quickly became less serious.

I would estimate, on average, on an average day, I am outdoors hearing the sounds of nature more than a couple hours a day.

And then we have those noisy natural birds tweeting their tweets into my interior space, thus giving me even more nature sound exposure.

It really is no wonder, now, why I am such a Teddy Rooseveltian paragon of good health......

The First Monday Of November Dawns Cloudy Thinking About Sundance Square Plaza

As you can see, via the photo on the left, this first Monday of November, Day 4 of the 11th Month of 2013, appears to be stormy at my location on the planet.

Rain is in the forecast for today and the next couple days.

So far I have seen nary a drop.

The outer world was warmed to 55 degrees when I ventured out to that turquoise oasis you see under the cloudy sky.

The temperature of the water has taken a dive towards chilly since yesterday, which had today's morning swim requiring 3 retreats to the hot tub.

Changing the subject to something else.

I have heard nothing but good things about downtown Fort Worth's newly opened Sundance Square (Plaza). Some of the good things have come from the usual Chamber of Commerce propaganda puffing sorts.

So, I did not know how reliable the glowing new plaza descriptions were, burned as I have been, more than once, by downtown Fort Worth Santa Fe Rail Market type deceptive reporting.

And then there was what the Galtex's had to say about the new plaza. The Galtex's live in downtown Fort Worth. They are world travelers, so unlike many of the locals, the Galtex's have been to other cities in other states than Texas and other countries than the United States.

On Facebook this is what Mr. Galtex had to say.......

The new Sundance Square has completely changed my perception of downtown Fort Worth; at last it feels like a real city. This afternoon we enjoyed Rockestra, an electric string quartet performing Lady Gaga songs, and Alex McDonald performing a Haydn piano sonata.

And this is what Mrs. Galtex had to say on Facebook...

We live downtown and aren't big fans of Sundance Square. BUT... Sundance actually has a SQUARE now (rather than a parking lot) and it is AMAZING. I feel like I finally live in a real city with lots of cool events to get me out of the house. YAY!

I have not yet made it to downtown Fort Worth to check out the finished plaza. I am guessing when I do see it I am going to like it, like I like the Water Gardens at the south end of downtown, and used to like Heritage Park at the north end of downtown, until the irresponsible Fort Worth powers that be allowed Heritage Park to turn into a boarded up eyesore.

Except for the aforementioned boarded up eyesore, downtown Fort Worth has had itself a lot of positive changes in the past year. Getting rid of that embarrassing Courthouse Annex may be the #1 improvement.

I think I will likely make my first visit to Sundance Square Plaza on Black Friday, that being the Day after Thanksgiving, the busiest shopping day of the year, when there will surely be throngs of shoppers thronging all the stores in downtown Fort Worth, with Sundance Square Plaza packed with Holiday Celebrators.....

An ALDI Stop Then A Walk & Talk With My Mom & The Village Creek Indian Ghosts

That is not crime scene tape you see surrounding the ALDI FOOD MARKET you are looking at in the picture.

That is construction tape.

Last summer, en route to Arlington's Village Creek Natural Area, I noticed a construction project starting up. A couple months after that a sign went up that indicated an ALDI was coming soon.

Two months ago I was in the Pantego ALDI and asked if the checkout  person knew when the Eastchase ALDI was opening. She told me they were aiming for an early December opening.

By how ALDI looked today, landscaping complete, workers inside on a Sunday, methinks it is an early November opening that will be happening.

Having an ALDI located between my abode and one of the locations I frequent, that being the location of my regular walk with the Indian ghosts who haunt their former home along Village Creek, will be very convenient.

I stopped to take the above picture of the soon to open ALDI and then continued on for the Indian ghost walk with my mom.

I had a nice walk and talk with my mom.

Changing the subject from my mom to my favorite subject. The weather.

The 24 hour temperature average was above 50 when I went swimming this morning. At that point in time the outer world air was being chilled to 46. I was able to have myself a mighty fine swim, albeit with two warming bouts in the hot tub.

Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. Maybe by morning I will be able to go swimming in the rain. Likely not.

Hiking Hilly Texas Prairie With Towering Hoodoos Before Finding Borscht

In the photo you are looking east across the Tandy Hills Natural Area prairie at the Fort Worth Space Needle, also known as Tandy Tower and its sister towers of lesser height.

The foliage has become more colorful since I was last on the Tandy Hills, a week ago. Many leaves have decided to turn on the fall color, with some still resisting and remaining green.

There was no muddy sign, on any of the trails I traversed today, of Wednesday's mini-deluge. I was not sure that would be the case, but decided the Tandy Hills were my go to place today, even if there was a slight chance of mud.

If you are reading this and are a local, as in someone living in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex zone, and you have never hiked the Tandy Hills, now would be your perfect time to do so. Perfect temperature, perfect trails, perfect prairie and even though it is now November there are still wildflowers adding that type color to the fall colors.

The towering Tandy Hoodoo which leans over the intersection of the View Street Trail and the Trail to Tandy Falls remains towering, as you can see. I had some concern that recent winds would have toppled the Tandy Hills newest  monument.

Upon completing the hill hiking, because it is Saturday, I was off to Town Talk to do some treasure hunting.

Today the most unusual thing I got at Town Talk was 3 jars of Borscht. The label claims the Borscht is all-natural. The only ingredients are beets, water, sugar and salt. By all-natural does that mean it was made in Russia? I did not look long enough at the label to determine the country of origin.

I also got a big block of jalapeno jack cheese, two tubs of artisan lettuce, steak burritos, blue corn tortillas and tomatoes.

The only time I remember having Borscht was years ago at Pike Place Market in Seattle at a Russian food purveyor's place.

One more look, from today, of the fall colors coloring up the Tandy Hills....

The First Day Of November Breathing Cleaner Air In My Favorite Industrial Wasteland

In the photo you are looking west across Bridgewood Drive, past the big security fence spikes which protect me from intruders, looking at the entry to my closest neighborhood Chesapeake Energy Barnett Shale Natural Gas Drilling Site.

My closest neighborhood Chesapeake Energy hole in the ground is much closer than the one I usually mention, which is across from Albertsons, which I mentioned yesterday in a blogging titled A Walk Around The Industrial Wasteland I Call Home.

Today I also took a walk around the industrial wasteland I call home, walking to the aforementioned Albertsons in a futile attempt to get this week's DFW.com Ink Edition. The DFW.com Ink Edition does not show up as reliably on time as does Fort Worth Weekly.

Due to the recent winds the air that I breathe has improved, pollen levels have dropped, my respiratory system is working without any chemical intervention.

In other words, November is starting off as a mighty fine month in Texas.

Swimming went swimmingly this morning. The air was heated to only 51 degrees, but due to the air being heated much warmer than 51, of late, the water which I immerse myself in was much warmer than 51 degrees, so I was able to have myself a good swim on this first day of November.

I remember the first days of November, previously, as being a bit challenging, swim-wise. But not today.

I am back being a Global Warming believer, I guess.