In Fort Worth Searching For The Wilderness Camp On The Stella Rowan Prairie

The photo you are seeing here would seem to indicate I was back on my favorite prairie in the Texas Prairie and Lake Region today for the first time in several weeks.

Looking across the Texas prairie at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth one might think I was hiking my regular Texas prairie hiking zone, that being the Tandy Hills.

One would be thinking wrong if one was thinking I was hiking the Tandy Hills today.

What you are looking at is the view of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth from the south, looking north; the view from the Tandy hills of the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth is from the east, looking west.

The Fort Worth prairie I was hiking on today is known as the Stella Rowan Prairie. I had not heard of this prairie until I happened upon it by accident this morning.

This morning I volunteered to drive Big Ed to an eye doctor appointment, due to the fact that Big Ed currently has trouble driving due to something called cataracts which are in dire need of being operated on.

I dropped off Big Ed at his appointment and then proceeded to check out my location. Soon I saw a  sign that pointed to something called the Wilderness Camp. That sounded intriguing. What type Wilderness Camp might there be in this bustling modern American city where the west is thought to have begun, I wondered to myself?

Following the Wilderness Camp sign soon led me to the sign you see above which had informed me I was looking somewhere on the Stella Rowan Prairie for the Wilderness Camp.

I soon found myself hiking down a long hill, eventually crossing a creek, with the trail dead ending at what I assume was the Wilderness Camp, though no sign indicated such.

The only reference to Wilderness is that which you see here, that being signage informing wilderness seekers that the WILDERNESS AREA CLOSED FROM DUSK UNTIL DAWN. And to do NO DUMPING.

One finds that closed from dusk to dawn sign only after one has gone the distance to reach the wilderness. So, since one would have reached the wilderness is not the wilderness actually open? And really, how is it actually possible to close a wilderness, what with it being a wild zone?

Anyway, I had myself a mighty fine time today hiking in a wilderness and on prairie I had never heard of before.

I doubt I will be back. Big Ed can ride the bus for any future eye doctor appointments at that location.....

Have You Ordered Your Limited Edition Texan Washingtonian T-Shirt Yet?

A few minutes ago I was scrolling down through Facebook and came upon the "Sponsored Post" you see here.

It seems Facebook is getting real good at targeting ads at a specific Facebooker.

Apparently 190 of these "Living in Texas but from Washington" t-shirts have been sold.

I had no idea so many Washingtonians were living in the Lone Star State.

I figured it was only myself, Big Ed and Steve A, from Washington, living in Texas.

If there are 190, or more, of us Washington Exiles, in Texas, maybe we should form some some sort of support group. Maybe a Facebook page.

A support group would likely be a great help in dealing with the culture shock for any new incoming Washingtonians feeling bum puzzled by that which they are experiencing that is so different from the America they knew up in the far northwest.

I know I would have found a support group of fellow Washingtonians helpful early on in my exile in Texas. I probably would have adjusted to the culture shock more quickly if things like The Fort Worth Way had been explained to me way back when I first starting thinking something was not quite right with so many things in so many ways in the new town in which I found myself living....

A Middle Of The Night AccuWeather Wolf Cry Over Possible Fog

Last night I was peacefully horizontal when around 3 in the morning my phone made its incoming message noise.

I opted to ignore the incoming message noise the first time it woke me up, figuring I'd quickly fall back into being peacefully horizontal.

About three minutes later the phone again made its incoming message noise.

I thought to myself this must be something serious with someone desperately trying to get a message to me.

So, I got myself vertical and went searching for the phone. The hunt did not take long.

I woke up the phone and quickly saw the urgent messages were both from AccuWeather, a photo image of which you see here.

Why would this AccuWeather thing think it a good idea to send out two messages in the middle of the night alerting hapless sleepers that a Dense Fog Advisory was in effect?

What is one to do with this advice in the middle of the night?

And now hours after the sun arrived with its incoming illumination possibly impacted by dense fog, I have seen nothing remotely foggy.

I must figure out how to disable fog alerts on the phone before the next instance of AccuWeather crying wolf....

A Tardy Texas Celebration Of National Grammar Day

I did not know until this morning, via Facebook, that grammar had a special day called Grammar Day and that this special day was celebrated last Wednesday, March 4, to be precise.

I do not know how such an important celebration passed by my radar screen without notice.

Apparently National Grammar Day has been observed in America on every 4th of March since 2008.

National Grammar Day was instigated by the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, Martha Brockenbrough.

I admit I find the careless use of bad grammar to be a bit annoying, with some of that annoyance coming from the fact that many of the bad grammar users seem not to care to learn how to correct their bad grammar.

I also must admit that I have accidented into a bad grammar incident a time or two. I remember one mortifying incident where I typed "your" when "you're" was obviously the word I should have typed.

I've known an individual for whom the misuse of  "your" and other grammar mistakes is like a fingerprint, identifying her when she thinks she is being anonymous.

In tardy celebration of National Grammar Day below you will find a collection of amusing grammar memes I found Googling this morning....

I really do not think one accidental typo type misuse of "your" indicates someone is an idiot. I do, however, think chronically making this mistake is a strong indicator of a very low IQ.

Yikes, I think that is true of me. I do make a judgement about someone if they use bad grammar, as in I devalue whatever it is they are trying to incompetently say. Meanwhile I am 100% judgement free when it comes to race, creed, color or gender.

The same people who don't get how it is that "your" is not the word they should be using likely will not get what the above comma is doing.

That same "your" type grammar confuser likely will not get the above comma either. Usually when a person is grammar challenged the problem is not just one chronic misuse, like "your".

Woman and women come to mind.

I recollect one grammar challenged person's verbiage using a line, directed at a single female, typing "I am sure your a fine women."

There you go. Above is another classic example of the type word those challenged by "your" also mess up.

I wonder how many hunters thought the above sign was giving them permission to hide in the bushes whilst hunting pedestrians walking the trail?

One would think the above makes the point clearly enough that one of those "your" challenged, I mean "you're" challenged, sorts would finally figure it out.

Finally we come to my favorite grammar meme I found this morning...

Wading My Stir Crazy Skinny Self To Miss Puerto Rico's Rainy View

This day in Texas would be one to make me homesick for my old home zone if I were missing a stereotypical Western Washington winter day of dark clouds and slow rain with extreme dampness.

Seems like only yesterday, but I think it was Friday, I took a blue sky photo of the view from Miss Puerto Rico's balcony.

What you are looking at here is the view today, a few minutes ago, from Miss Puerto Rico's balcony.

No, I did not use what is known locally as Luenser filter to distort what my eyes were really seeing. I don't know how to use such a filter. The above is what my camera saw with no help from me except to turn it on, aim and push a button.

It felt good to put on a raincoat and go for a walk under the dripping sky. I'd not done such in quite a while, sans bumbershoot.

I was feeling a bit stir crazy, cooped up, mostly from way too many hours of seeing meta-tags, viewports and misbehaving DOCTYPE declarations.

Changing the subject from misbehaving DOCTYPE declarations to something else.

Today I got on the scale for the first time in awhile. I'd noticed of late that any pair of pants I put on are extremely comfortable, with my favorite pairs requiring severe belt cinching to keep the pants aloft.

Well.

I do not remember when it was I realized I had once again put on too much weight. But it was well over a year ago. At that point in time I got on a scale, struggled to look down over my swollen gut to see the scale read 217.

That's pretty heavy for a short guy like me.

So, today I got on the scale and was easily able to read the reading with no swollen guttage getting in the way. That reading read 179.

Just a second, I must get a calculator, challenged as I am at high level math.

217 - 179 =

Found the calculator.

38 pounds. There are almost 40 pounds less of me than when I was a swollen blimp.

Don't ask me how I managed to lose so much weight. It ain't like I've been on a diet. I do eat nutritiously though. And I don't indulge. When I found I'd become a blimp I did cease buying things like butter and peanuts.

I am a bit concerned that the pool is going to feel more cool to me than when I was better insulated. I suppose I will adjust...

A Day Late Happy 8th Birthday To Spencer Jack

Yesterday was my one and only great nephew, Spencer Jack's, 8th birthday.

This morning when I checked in on my email I found that last night Spencer Jack's dad had emailed me with an account of Spencer Jack's 8th birthday, including some not too subtle humble bragging about Washington's balmy weather.

The subject line of the email: March 7th:  a special date in the Jones family tree

The message in the email in its entirety...

Spencer Jack Jones turned 8 today.

Born  3/7/07 at 3:06 p.m.   Making Jones family history as the first official 'great' nephew.

He woke me up this morning shortly after 6 a.m., despite going to bed very late the night before.

He was very excited to celebrate his arrival anniversary.

Soon Spencer convinced me that sleeping in wasn't an option. We looked out the bedroom window and realized it was another sunny 60 degree warm Washington winter day.

We both quickly showered and dressed and were out the door. I grabbed my camera for a photo of Spencer on his 8th year on earth in the Skagit Valley.

With sunglasses in hand, almost a Skagit Valley necessity these days, we parked the car and watched the sun rise over the Skagit River.

Beautiful sunrise.

Spencer had plans of meeting a few of his classmates for a fun Saturday birthday party event at a newly opened trampoline gymnastic type of kid center in Bellingham.

He was so looking forward to such!

He just had one unpleasant thing to do prior to that. That would have been his Saturday morning indoor soccer game. He fights sports a lot. And prefers other activities. But he knew he had to go.

I was more than amused after dropping him off at such, when I got the news that Spencer had been officially 'kicked out' of his soccer game today by the referring official.

I don't believe he was the first of the Jones family be asked to leave a sporting event. Maybe just the youngest.  

I have personally witnessed his Grandpa being tossed from a game. And have heard stories of his great youngest Aunt being asked to leave as well. And I do believe that there is a few stories of your dad arguing balls and strikes with umpires over the years.

Nonetheless, Spencer doesn't argue with umpires.

His dad just forgot to make him wear his shin guards to the game. Which means he couldn't play today.

He wasn't upset at all. He may forget them next week.

This kid has different priorities. This week, he was selected by the school to spend a day at the Skagit Valley College to participate in their 'young authors' program.

This dad is proud of his 8 year old.

I suppose learning how to write my advance him in the world a little more than kicking a ball.

But just like Spencer, I think a little different than most.

Reducing Fort Worth Litter With Oakland Lake Park's Solar Powered Trash Compactor While Unable To Wash My Hands

With the recent visit of the Arctic to North Texas fading from memory, with very little snow remaining unmelted, I decided this first Saturday of March was a good day to march around Fosdick Lake in Fort Worth's Oakland Lake Park.

A lot of people made the same decision, with some in picnic mode.

Earlier today I blogged about adopting a Fort Worth drain to do my part to help curb Fort Worth's astonishing volume of litter.

Fort Worth litter seems to be my blog theme of the day.

On my walk around Fosdick Lake I came upon that which you see above. A solar powered trash compactor, sitting next to two old-fashioned litter barrels.

What you can not easily see, way in the background, is the Oakland Park restroom facility.

An outhouse.

There are none of what most modern towns in the world consider to be modern facilities in Oakland Lake Park.

No running water, no restrooms.

How is it not some sort of health code violation to have parks where people are encouraged to picnic, with no way to wash their hands?

Why in the world would money be spent on a solar trash compactor in a park with no modern facilities, well, except for that solar trash compactor?

How much did this ridiculous thing cost?

This Morning I Decided To Adopt A Fort Worth Drain Instead Of A Cat

Incoming email this morning from Elsie Hotpepper.

Subject line: Adopt-A-Drain Fort Worth

Opening the email I found one of Elsie Hotpepper's favorite catch phrases "What fresh hell is this?" followed by a link to that about which Elsie Hotpepper was asking her hellish question.

That being a link to a website advertising the Tarrant Regional Water District's latest product, that being the aforementioned Adopt-A-Drain Fort Worth.

I have been thinking about getting a pet. Maybe a cat. Now I'm thinking adopting a drain might fulfill my pet needs.

On the screen cap above you can see all the drains available for adoption in my neighborhood. I chose the drain closest to my abode to adopt, something called a Curb-Box Drain: IN012987.

It only cost $30 to adopt a Fort Worth drain. That is way cheaper than getting a cat vaccinated and neutered.

In addition to the $30 one must also take the Adoption Pledge----

By adopting this storm drain, I pledge to follow the motto, "Don't Trash Your Trinity" and I promise to abide by the following principles:

I will not litter anywhere
I will not dump anything down a storm drain
I will do my part to keep plastic bags and styrofoam out of the river
I will clean my adopted storm drain(s) when conditions are safe and contact the phone number on my drain(s) when maintenance is needed.

I read the above pledge and thought to myself does not the majority of the population already follow those principles? Except for the last one?

I can not help but wonder how much this latest TRWD product cost to produce. The website is quite well done, what with its drain selection and adoption process.

The Return Of The Texas Sun Has Forced The Ice & Snow To Retreat

I was not long into my exile in Texas when I learned why Texans have a weather homily that goes something like "If you don't be liking the weather, just sit a short spell, cuz it'll be fixin' to change darn quick."

Or something like that.

The last 24 hours in Texas have been a prime example of that weather fixin' to change thing.

This first Friday of March view from Miss Puerto Rico's balcony shows a blue sky void of clouds with nary a spot of anything white or frozen, to be seen.

Yesterday noon this view was many shades of gray, with all ground surfaces covered in ice topped by snow. At my location it was around four inches of snow. Other locations had twice that amount.

Fellow exile from the Pacific Northwest, Steve A, escaped the D/FW zone before this latest Arctic Blast to return to his semi-tropical vacation home spot at Ocean Shores on the Washington Pacific Coast.

This morning Steve A indulged in some deserved humble bragging regarding his current weather situation...

Steve A has left a new comment on your post "Shivering One More Time Under A Blanket Of Texas Snow": 

OTOH, it is sunny again today in Ocean Shores. Lawn mowing soon...

Today was so much warmer than yesterday's bracing wind chill that I was out and about with no coat, just a t-shirt covering that which yesterday required multiple layers.

Is this Arctic weather madness done now? We are about a week from my regularly scheduled start of swimming season. Unless we get a heat wave soon, that ain't gonna happen. Then again, a heat wave would not shock  me....

Shivering One More Time Under A Blanket Of Texas Snow

Just as predicted, this fifth morning of March snow blankets the outer world at my frigid location on the planet.

I ventured out, briefly, to take the picture you see here, looking over a snow covered  lounge chair through my patio prison bars to the snow covered hot tub.

It seems like a long time since I had myself a pleasant early morning soak in that hot tub.

Back in the era of global warming, before the arrival of this modern era ice age, March was the month when swimming in the un-heated pool always became doable.

Below are the current Texas weather  conditions, gleaned this morning from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

I am seeing a bright, clear blue sky from my vantage point. Definitely not "mostly cloudy" as indicated above.

25 degrees? I've read nothing about those 25 degrees being a record breaker. It seems that those 25 degrees should be a record breaker for this formerly warm part of the planet.

This winter has been the most wintry winter in Texas since I have been in Texas. My memory of wintry winters in Washington is fading, but I think this wintry winter in Texas may be the worst winter, wintry weather wise I have ever experienced...