Tandy Hills Mascot Olive The Prairie Dog Is Still Missing

Someone named Anonymous made a comment on a blogging from earlier today, asking about Olive the Missing Prairie Dog....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "March Swimming Plotting Moving North Before Texas HOT Summer arrives": 

Any updates on Olive The Prairie Dog? 

I told Anonymous that I would post the latest info I had regarding the Mascot of the Tandy Hills, Olive the Prairie Dog, being missing. Which is what I posted above. This was from the Friends of the Tandy Hills Natural Area March Prairie Notes.

The text above the photo of Olive says....

Olive the Prairie Dog, beloved mascot of Friends of Tandy Hills and all-around incredible being, has been missing since February 15. She has a chip and tags with phone numbers. If you see her please let us know. 

The text below the photo of Olive says....

Olive the Prairie Dog knows Tandy Hills better than anyone.

Ex-Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon Goes Up In Flames In Oklahoma City

It was on Facebook I first learned that Aubrey McClendon died in a car wreck.

The Facebook version said McClendon's death was a suicide.

Online news sources like CNN, from whence this screen cap came, imply McClendon's death was a suicide, without saying such, via quoting police who said McClendon was driving extremely fast, straight into a wall of an overpass, with plenty of opportunity and time to correct his 2013 Chevy Tahoe's fatal trajectory, before it exploded in flames from the crash.

Aubrey McClendon's "accident' occurred this morning, around 9am, in Oklahoma City, home of his former company, the infamous Chesapeake Energy.

Apparently yesterday McClendon was indicted for allegedly doing some bad business behavior. Which has some speculating that is what drove McClendon to drive into a wall.

I don't know if Aubrey McClendon was a bad man, or just a bad businessman. I know he and his former company, Chesapeake Energy, made a lot of people mad.

Aubrey McClendon also aggravated a lot of people in the Pacific Northwest when he was party to helping engineer the theft of the Seattle Sonics, moving the team to Oklahoma City.

Slamming ones vehicle into a concrete wall seems to me to be a particularly gruesome way to kill oneself. Maybe there was some sort of mechanical malfunction.

I forget on which of the CBS crime drama I recently saw a plot where the bad guy used cyber means to take control of his victim's cars. If such a thing is actually possible I would hazard to guess that that is not what happened in this case.

March Swimming Plotting Moving North Before Texas HOT Summer Arrives

I am blogging for the first time on a new computer I have never used for such, previously. A little Toshiba laptop with a keyboard which is proving to be vexing.

I have now gone swimming in that turquoise body of water the first two mornings of March. Never have swam this early in March in years previous, let alone the three days of swimming in February

All of which portends not so hot for the coming HOT time of the year.

Which is why I am accelerating my plot to move back to the temperate climate of Western Washington, before the Texas HEAT hits.

Typing on this keyboard is being painful. I'm moving on to my other computer.

Now where was I?  I don't think I would ever get used to using that Toshiba keyboard, now that I am back clacking away effortlessly on this keyboard.

The Largest Cargo Ship To Visit America Could Not Dock In Fort Worth

This blogging is yet one more in the continuing series of bloggings about something I see in  a west coast online news source, usually the Seattle Times, that I would not expect to be seeing in a Fort Worth online news source about such a thing happening in Fort Worth. Or Dallas.

Apparently the largest cargo ship ever to float to the United States floated to Seattle yesterday morning.

Even though Fort Worth has a mighty fine big imaginary island, no big boats float around that island, due to the lack of water, among other navigation issues.

Years ago there was a bizarre scheme to turn Dallas and Fort Worth into seaport towns by dredging the Trinity River to make it sufficiently deep to float big boats inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

I have no idea why anyone thought it was a good idea to alter the long abused Trinity River in such a way, turning it into a shipping canal.....

The Miracle Of A Bridge Built Over Water In Fort Worth

When I woke up my computer this morning I saw an email from Facebook informing me Elsie Hotpepper had flagged me.

It always alarms me when I get flagged, especially when the flagging is from Elsie Hotpepper.

This particular flagging was that which you see here.

A bridge under construction over Lake Worth in Fort Worth, way back in 1976, for the Loop I-820 freeway.

Proving, once again, that it is possible to build a bridge over actual water in Fort Worth, unlike the three, simple little bridges America's Biggest Boondoggle is building in slow motion over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.

I wonder if a big fuss was made when those bridge piers started poppiing out of Lake Worth?

Happy Spencer Jack Early Birthday

Yesterday, a few minutes past noon, I received the following email birthday party invitation, subject line: Spencer Jack's First Leap Year Birthday, from Spencer Jack's dad, my Favorite Nephew Jason....

Grandma Cindy retirement gig includes working as a tennis ball fetcher girl next week in Palm Springs, California, thus moving Spencer's Birthday celebration a week early.

Just wanted to extend a late invite to Spencer Jack's 9th Birthday Party, being held tonight at Grandma Cindy's Big Lake Abode.  I think Spencer requested fried chicken, and of course chocolate birthday cake, with chocolate frosting. And Ice cream.

I'm sure there will be plenty of food for ya all. Starting at 5 p.m. PST.

Well, almost 5 hours notice gave me plenty of time to get  myself up north and west to Big Lake for Spencer Jack's birthday party. But, I had a previously scheduled engagement which precluded heading up to Washington.

That is Spencer Jack's Grandma Cindy sitting next to him. I have not seen my Favorite Ex-Sister-in-Law in years. Seems like it was summer of 2004 when last I saw Cindy. At a Red Robin's in Burlington, along with Mr. and Mrs. Burwash. Spencer Jack's arrival was several years in the future at that point in time.

Happy Early Birthday Spencer Jack. Sorry I didn't make it to your party....

No Need For Thousands Of Texas Military Personnel To Conduct Frack Quake Exercise

This blogging falls into the category of bloggings about something I read in a west coast online news source that I likely would not be reading in any of my local Texas online news sources.

That which you see here was in the Seattle Times this morning.

That is a lot of emergency and military personnel conducting a megaquake exercise.

Is 6,000 a bigger number than the number of Jade Helm invaders who freaked out Texas governor Abbott?

There has been a lot of concern of late in the Pacific Northwest over the potential megaquake that the Cascadia Fault could cause if it makes a move.

When I lived in the Pacific Northwest I was shaken by many earthquakes. I have not been shaken by any of the Texas Frack Quakes that unsettle those who have been shaken in Texas.

The Frack Quakes perplex me. I have never read of anyone commenting how noisy a Frack Quake is. Just reports of minor damage.

All the earthquakes I have experienced have been incredibly loud. There was a period during the 1990's when my Mount Vernon abode was shaken by a lot of earthquakes, epicentered at Big Lake, a few miles east. These quakes ranged in the 2 to 3 Richter Scale level. About the same as the Texas Frack Quakes.

I was watching TV when the worst of the Big Lake Quakes struck with a boom and a roar. My windows flexed. The tall fir trees swayed violently. A loud cracking noise came from the kitchen. When the quake stopped shaking I walked to my kitchen to find the tile floor now had a crack running the length of the kitchen.

I think the Texas Frack Quakes must not be as violent as an ordinary Mother Nature Quake caused by a fault line moving. If the Texas Frack Quakes were that violent I think people would be a lot more upset about it.

The last time the Cascadia Fault made a big move was a long time ago, in the 1700's if I am remembering correctly. Prior to the Pacific Northwest being invaded by incoming Americans. That long ago quake caused a big tsunami to cross the Pacific, all the way to Japan.

Locked Out After Sunday Walk With Arlington's Village Creek Indian Ghosts

Since today is the last Sunday of February I did today what I often do on the last Sunday of February. I drove  to Arlington to go walking with the Indian Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area they used to call home.

There were a lot of people walking and biking with the Indian Ghosts today, enjoying the balmy temperature in the 70s. Last year about this time we were enjoying a bout of snow and ice.

The paved trail you are looking at above is at the north end of the VCNHA, as it exits to the Interlochen neighborhood and becomes the Bob Findlay Linear Park Trail. During the last major flood event, around Thanksgiving of last year, I think Village Creek flooded than I've seen it previously flood, but I did not witness that flood event. Just the aftermath. That is the dried mud residue of the flood you see at the side of the trail, high above the creek..

Village Creek is running a lot of water, still, from the most recent bout of minor drippage, as you can see below via the dam bridge which exits the Historical Area.

Why aren't generators installed to harness this energy? Probably because usually it is more of trickle than a hydro force.

When I left the Indian Ghosts behind I dropped in on ALDI, because I needed coffee.

Soon thereafter I was back at my abode. When I stuck in the metal device which slides the deadbolt out of locked position, facilitating opening the door, it was quickly apparent the lock was broken, as in the key just spun around without engaging.

All other means of entry are dead bolted from the inside, with no key openers. The windows are all locked.

So, I quickly called a door opening specialist. She arrived, tools in hand, about a half hour later. A few minutes later the door was open and I was making lunch. I asked the door opening specialist if she'd like a burger. The answer was in the affirmative, with the works, sharp cheese, onion, pickle, bacon, lettuce and tomato. With oven-baked fries.

The new lock and key are quite nice.

A Roller Coaster Bus Ride To See A Panther & JFK

Yesterday I rode four Fort Worth buses to transit from my abode to downtown Fort Worth and back.

Whilst walking the mean streets of downtown Fort Worth I came upon two points of interest I'd not seen previously. Both visible from Main Street, that being the road which runs from the Tarrant County Courthouse to the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Fort Worth loves its panthers, so  much so that the town has named an imaginary island Panther Island.

The panther you see above rests on the plaza in front of the Tarrant County Tax Office. I believe this to be near the actual location where long ago a Dallas reporter reported that Fort Worth was so lifeless he saw a panther taking a nap on the courthouse steps. Or something like that.

After I was done visiting the napping panther I headed south on Main Street. Directly north of the Convention Center I saw what you see below.

A memorial marking the location of the last speech John F. Kennedy gave prior to heading east to Dallas on that unfortunate day over half a century ago.

Soon after leaving JFK I was caught up in the Trump Mob milling at the south end of the Convention Center.

I lasted about 15 minutes in the Trump Mob and then walk back to the Transit Center to get on what is known as a Spur bus to go east to another Transit Center to get on another bus.

I don't understand why so many Texans have an aversion to using public transit. Yes, the ride is not as smooth as a car or pickup. Yes, the seats could be more comfortable. Yes, it takes longer to get to ones destination.  But, once you are there you don't have to find a parking spot.

To put oneself in the mindset to enjoy riding the Fort Worth buses think of Fort Worth as a big theme park and you are riding a theme park ride.

If you have experienced getting seasick, or find roller coasters to be a not fun thing, well, then, maybe riding the Fort Worth buses would not be something you'd want to do. If you have back problems or are easily nauseated by jerky motion you probably wouldn't like the ride you get on a Fort Worth bus.

The Fort Worth bus system now has a smart phone app you can use as your boarding pass. I have no clue how this works, but I saw several people use that method to get onboard.

The last time I roller coastered to downtown Fort Worth was back in March of 2012, almost four years ago. Apparently about every four years I ride a Fort Worth bus. It probably takes that long for the memory to fade enough to make it seem like a good idea to use the Fort Worth bus method of transit again....

A Few Minutes With The Trump Circus In Downtown Fort Worth

Every few years I find myself once again in Adventure Mode and thus decide to ride a Fort Worth T Roller Coaster Bus to Downtown Fort Worth.

In the picture I am on the left side of the bus, looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth as we pull into the Downtown Transit Center.

I needed to go to the Tarrant County Tax Office. The directions on the Tarrant County Tax Office website said they were located at 100 E. Weatherford, which to me meant the Tax Office was in the County Courthouse.

So, I get to the Courthouse, go through security that is about the same as getting on a plane, including almost losing my baggy pants when my belt set off the alarm. Then, after going through that living hell I quickly learned the Tax Office was not located in that building, but in the new building on the south side of Weatherford.

Where one did not have to go through airport like security to enter.

My business at the Tax Office was quickly concluded. So, I head south on Main Street, heading to the Convention Center, to see the Donald Trump madness. The throngs walking to see The Donald were a colorful lot. I saw two or three Trump RVs, like you see here.

Multiple vendors were selling a variety of Trump paraphernalia, such as t-shirts, buttons, flags, banners and other stuff. To my surprise people were buying this stuff.

Was that Ted Nugent being interviewed in front of one of the sellers of Trump-ware? I don't know. But the guy was spouting some idiotic nonsense as I stood listening the length of time it took to take a picture. Something about Trump would take control of Congress. What did that mean, I wondered? Like how Hitler took over the Reichstag?

A lot of attention was being paid to a group protesting the nasty stuff Trump has said about our Mexican friends south of the border. They were loud, with a lot of cameras aimed at them.

Before getting to the location where people were entering the Convention Center I came upon a rather scary looking bearded guy waving a big poster which only said something like Info Wars. He shouted as people walked  by. To me he shouted "I am from Arkansas and I am here to tell you the Clintons ruined my state."

All in all the entire scene seemed somehow surreal and somehow carnival like, with a hint of being a mob.

I arrived at the Trump location about 11am, an hour before the scheduled appearance of The Donald. I was in no mood to wait around for an hour, particular since the event was taking place in a meeting hall with no seating, if my understanding was correct. And it sometimes is.

So, I left all the crazies behind and soon hopped aboard a bus heading east.....