Texas Almost Makes Bottom 10 In U.S.News & World Report 50 Best States Rankings

No, my one regular blog reader, what you are looking at here is not a group of Goobers in the polluted Trinity River getting ready to enjoy a Fort Worth Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision Rockin' the River Happy Hour Inner Tube Float.

The clean water and that volcano looming in the background likely clued you to the fact this is not a look at Fort Worth or any other location in Texas.

What you are looking at is Lake  Washington with Mount Rainier hovering high in the distance. This was an illustrative photo in a Seattle Times article titled Washington is best West Coast state in new national ranking — and 5th overall.

I clicked on the article to quickly learn this national ranking deal was a U.S. News & World Report production titled Best States Rankings.

Using dozens of various measuring metrics U.S. News & World Report made its important Best States determination.

The Top Ten Best States are...

#1  Massachusetts
#2  New Hampshire
#3  Minnesota
#4  North Dakota
#5  Washington
#6  Iowa
#7  Utah
#8  Maryland
#9  Colorado
#10  Vermont

North Dakota at #4? I am guessing treatment of protesters was not factored into the rankings.

And then we have the Bottom Ten Worst States...

#41  West Virginia
#42  Kentucky
#43  Alaska
#44  Oklahoma
#45  South Carolina
#46  New Mexico
#47  Alabama
#48  Arkansas
#49  Mississippi
#50  Louisiana

I am guessing you thought Texas was going to be in the Bottom Ten. Well, you guessed wrong. Texas missed out being in the Bottom Ten, but almost made it there...

#38 Texas

You can click the Best States Rankings link to see the entire list of 50 and learn how these important determinations were made.

Wichita Falls Flood Destroys Thousands Of Books

Lately, blogging-wise, I seem to be about the books, all about the books.

In the past couple days I have Looked Inside Sikes Lake Center Wichita Falls Literacy Council Book Fair Prep Not Googling Gosling and Loaded Books For The Wichita Adult Literacy Council's 17th Annual Book Fair.

This morning I learned that a malfunctioning sprinkler, which was intended to only spew water when a fire was detected, went rogue and spewed thousands of gallons over the course of an hour or so, til the flood was discovered and stopped.

By the time the water was not turned off thousands of books were ruined.

No, this disaster did not occur at the Sikes Lake Center, which is the location of the 17th Annual Wichita Falls Literacy Council Book Fair, which starts of today with a $10 Sneak Peek, and continues tomorrow and Saturday with Free Peeks.

This flood disaster occurred at the Wichita Falls Public Library, in downtown Wichita Falls.

Today I had to return Truman Speaks, which was due, and a couple other books, which were not due, but which I had finished reading, so I was able to check out the current state of the flooded library, which re-opened this morning, after a couple days of being closed due to the flood.

As you can see above, the area which was flooded is blocked off by an orange mesh fence. The whoosh of air blowers did not make too much noise. Were in not for the orange mesh fence, and the multiple whooshing air blowers, one would not know anything wet had happened.

It was the children's book section which suffered the calamity.

Look Inside Sikes Lake Center Wichita Falls Literacy Council Book Fair Prep Not Googling Gosling

Yesterday I mentioned Loading Books For Wichita Adult Literacy Council's 17th Annual Book Fair.

Today, what with the outer world once again being heated to a pleasant temperature, albeit under a cloudy gray sky, I opted to walk to Sikes Lake to the location where those aforementioned books were being delivered after being loaded onto a Coke truck.

What you are looking at here is Sikes Lakes Center, which is the location for the 17th Annual Wichita Adult Literary Council Book Fair, starting up with a $10 Sneak Peek on Thursday, March 2, from 5-8 PM.

It will cost you nothing to visit the 17th Annual Wichita Adult Literary Council Book Fair on the two days following Sneak Peek. That would be Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, with the Book Fair open from 9 AM til 8 PM on both days.

Above is a look at the state of the Book Fair, around noon, two days before the Sneak Peek.

Books are still arriving and being organized, which is a daunting task for the book organizers.

Til today I think it had been at least a month since I'd walked around Sikes Lake and had a visit with the lake's ducks, geese and seagulls.

Today I saw a mama goose with a flock of goslings. I think gosling is the term for a baby goose. But I am not sure. Would this mean that Canada's most popular actor's name means Ryan Baby Goose? I have no idea. I could look it up, but I am in a hurry and Googling is such a time consumer.

I took a photo of the mama with her goslings, but the photo did not do justice to the goose babies.

From Thursday to Saturday would be a perfect time  to visit  Sikes Lake, if you've never experienced a Book Fair, or had a commune with nature which included baby geese, also, maybe, known as goslings.

Loading Books For Wichita Adult Literacy Council's 17th Annual Book Fair

You might think what you are looking at here is a Coca-Cola employee wheeling Coca-Cola products to a Coca-Cola  truck.

You would be erroneous if that is what you thought you were looking at.

What you are actually looking at is a Pepsi-Cola employee wheeling books to load onto a Coca-Cola truck, with the loaded truck eventually delivering the books to the Sikes Lake Center at Midwestern State University.

Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola are among many various entities collaboratively cooperating to help facilitate the Wichita Adult Literacy Council's 17th Annual Book Fair.

As you can see, via the photo of a poster on one of the Wichita Adult Literacy Council's many doors, this year's Book Fair starts up with a Sneak Peek on Thursday, March 2, from 5-8 PM. It will cost you $10 to have a Sneak Peak.

Admission is Free on the two days following the Book Fair Sneak Peek. That would be Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, with the Book Fair open from 9 AM til 8 PM on both days.

As you can see above, the Wichita Adult Literacy Council offices are closed for the duration of the Book Fair Operation.

The location of the Book Fair is at the Sikes Lake Center located on the east side of Sikes Lake.

For the compass challenged the east side of Sikes Lake is the side of the lake where you find the university president's house, you know, that mansion which sort of looks like the White House. There is plenty of parking in the lots south of the soccer field, directly northeast of the Sikes Lake Center, where  you will find the Book Fair.

More information about the Wichita  Adult Literacy Council can be found on the WALC Facebook page...

The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You Trump Cruz

For almost a year about once a month I find myself driving from Wichita Falls to the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

Along the way, on Highway 287, a thing or two or three caught my eye the first time I drove by, and every time since.

One of the oddest I see shortly before passing through the tiny burg of Bellevue, with that odd thing being an adult video store. I thought video stores of all sorts, including the adult  type, had gone the way of the dodo bird, due to the Internet, along with cable TV.

Prior to Bellevue, about  20 miles out of Wichita Falls what I saw odd originally was "CRUZ" crudely spray painted on a large wooden wall billboard type thing slightly elevated above ground level.

Upon first perusal I did not know if this particular CRUZ sign was a political sign supporting the creepy Texas senator who bears a striking resemblance to Grandpa Munster, or what. Around the time of last summer's Republican Convention I saw that CRUZ had been crossed out, with "TRUMP" sloppily spray painted over CRUZ.

So, apparently this is a political sign of the times.

As I drove by I tried to snap a photo of the CRUZ/TRUMP sign, but that did not work out. Next time I will pull off the highway so as to facilitate successful photo documenting.

I forgot to mention a giant cowboy stands in front of CRUZ/TRUMP, adding to the oddity.

One of the other odd things, well, not really all that odd, more Orwellian than odd, I come to a few miles south of Decatur.

That to which I refer you see above.

A billboard warning passing people that "The EYES of TEXAS are Upon YOU". With a spy in  a cowboy hat snooping with binoculars.

I think this sign's purpose is to discourage people from poaching wildlife. Or maybe cattle. I did not realize this was a problem of such serious proportions that it would warrant a billboard and a phone number so that one can call and be a snitch about a suspected poacher...

Orcas Not Yet Seen In Fort Worth's Trinity River Vision Boondoggle

No, that is not an artist's rendering of the latest imaginary addition to the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, adding a pod of Orcas to the newly designated "Houseboat District" of America's Biggest Boondoggle, which can't even manage to build a simple little bridge over dry land.

I was going through my library of photos last  night and came upon this picture I took earlier this century on a trip back to my old home zone of Washington.

The pod of Orcas you see here are part of the entry to the Tulalip Resort Casino complex. The Tulalip Resort Casino complex is in Marysville, a town north of Seattle, about 40 miles south of my place of residence prior to moving to Texas, that being the town of Mount Vernon.

Texas evicted most Indians and their tribes way back in the 1800s. So, Texas only has a couple Indian reservations with small casinos.

When I was a young lad going to Nevada was a novel experience, to Reno or Las Vegas, or any other town in Nevada, due to the legalized gambling, with slot machines ubiquitous, not just in casinos.

And then the native tribes of the west coast won legal battle after legal battle establishing their right to operate casinos. Eventually this rendered going to Nevada not nearly the unique experience it once was.

My old home county of Skagit has two big casino complexes. The Skagit Casino Resort is the location of one of my all time favorite buffets, of which I  partook frequently when I lived in the valley. The other casino complex in Skagit County is the Swinomish Casino & Lodge, which is the location of my all time favorite seafood buffet.

Today if I wanted to partake of a buffet in a casino I could drive about 20 miles north, crossing the Red  River into Oklahoma, to go to the Morning Star Buffet in the Kiowa Red River Casino.

The buffet may be good at the Kiowa Red River Casino, but I have not partaken, I know from personal experience  the buffet at Oklahoma's WinStar World Casino Resort is real tasty, with the best coffee I have had in all my years in the South.

I am about 100% certain I will not be going to a casino today.  I am also about 100% certain I will not be seeing any Orca pods today playing in Lake Wichita, or any other Texas location.

Well, maybe Sea World in San Antonio. Or have the captive Orcas been freed?

Record Breaking Temperature Has Me Thinking About Being Stuck On An Imaginary Fort Worth Island

Does that view looking north from the Wichita Falls Circle Trail look HOT to you?

I heard via the radio, a few minutes ago, we may be heating up to a record high today.

Currently, barely past noon, the outer world at my location is not quite HOT, but is merely extra warm at 77 degrees.

I do not know if I will be able to resist turning on the air conditioning today.

If I do turn on the A/C I believe  this will be my first time doing such a thing in February.

I remember a February day a couple decades ago, when I lived in the Puget Sound zone of the Pacific Northwest, a rare winter heat wave struck with temperatures in the 70s. Or was it 80s? I don't remember. What I do remember is Washingtonians by the thousands  flocked to the beach. I recollect my beach of choice that day was the one at Camano Island State Park.

I had not thought of it before, til typing Camano Island,  that my old home zone actually has one thing in common with Fort Worth.

Imaginary islands.

There were two islands which were not islands a short distance from my Washington abode. The aforementioned Camano Island and Samish Island.

Fort Worth's imaginary island is called Panther Island.  Currently Fort Worth is stuck trying to figure out how to build three simple little  bridges over dry land to connect to the imaginary island.

A key difference between those two Washington islands, which are not islands, and Fort Worth's island, which is not an island, is the Washington islands were actual islands before farmers built dikes to hold back the saltwater.

Now that you are making me think about, Camano Island may actually still be an island. It has been years since I drove to that island, but I am sort of remembering a bridge crossing to the island, which would seem to indicate Camano Island is still an actual island.

Even if Fort Worth ever manages to dig a ditch under those three non-existent bridges, and fill that ditch with water, I don't think any sane person would consider the result to be an island.

When I starting writing this blogging about it being HOT I sure did not think I would somehow end up on an island...

Country Road Detour While Helicopter Rescues Jackie, Fancy & Clancy

Well, I have had myself an exhausting day.

Up early to drive to the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro mess.

This particular morning commute was pleasant, no traffic woes, not even in the congested construction zone one comes to when one reaches Fort Worth's version of I-35.

The return to Wichita Falls commute this afternoon had a bit of a problem. I will get to that later.

But first, yesterday, after receiving a cautionary email from my Favorite Nephew Jason, I asked the question Will Camelback Helicopter Rescue Be Needed For Clancy, Fancy, Jackie & Jake?

In that blogging I opined that I likely would be getting text  messages regarding the Camelback Mountain debacle, if such became the case.

I was in Arlington, making a quick visit to River Legacy Park when Jason texted me a photo he'd been texted from Camelback Mountain, which is what you see above. That would be Jake, Jackie and Fancy, with Clancy, on the right, looking like she's not quite yet recovered from recent electroshock treatments.

I thought it looked like the Camelback  Mountain hike was going well and Jason was concerned needlessly.

And then a couple hours later I was having a chile relleno lunch with Felicity Frankfurter at Esperanza's in the Fort Worth Stockyards zone when Jason texted me the following photo.

I do not know which of the three we are seeing being rescued above, dangling from the helicopter. Jason provided no details. And no word about Jason's dad's hiking condition.

I got gas today in North Richland Hills. $1.93 a gallon. Sometimes I call my mom  and dad when I get gas, but today I did not. I did not want to call because I figured I could not resist asking if mom and dad knew any details about the Camelback Mountain rescue debacle. Figuring they were likely oblivious to this ongoing drama I thought it best just not to call, so as not to needlessly worry them.

Moving on.

I did not decide my return route to Wichita Falls until I reached the Decatur option junction. Scenic route or the more direct Highway 287 route? I opted to go direct. That turned out to be not so direct.

About 10 miles west of the little burg called Bellevue, that being one of the few slow to 55 sections of 287, all Wichita Falls bound traffic was halted.

Dead stop.

At this point in time I do not know what closed the road.

Eventually I reached a point where a highway guy was directing  people to drive across the grassy median to head back from whence one came.

Highway 287 looks like a four lane freeway, for the most part, but it is not part of the federal interstate system.

When it was my turn to get directions from the highway guy he simply said, just follow that truck and he will lead you back to 287.

And so I did. As the miles accumulated, following that truck, I had no clue how far we were going backwards before finding the detour. The detour exit turned out to be in Bellevue, heading south on a country road.

Above, that is the truck I was following in a convoy of people being detoured.

Eventually we came to a junction heading back north towards 287. Soon thereafter we came to another junction, this one going to the little town of Scotland. I knew that would more efficiently take me back to where I needed to be, instead of returning to 287 past the obstruction.

And so I left the convoy and went to Scotland, then home.

I hope those Camelback hikers are okay, but the best part of today was that chile relleno at Esperanza's.....

This Morning I Learned I Am An Emotional Extrovert

This morning on Facebook, via Nurse Martha, I saw one of those scientific survey test things which do an in-depth analysis using precise data to make some determination about something, such as if one is spelling challenged, a genius or what state one is best suited to live in. That type thing.

I found out I am an Emotional Extrovert after I took this grueling test.

The link bait in Facebook said "You Can Only Fit One Of These Four Personalities. Which One Is It?"

"Every single person is one of these four. Which are you?"

Along with learning I was an Emotional Extrovert I also got the following detailed analysis....

Most defining characteristics: Your personality is mostly associated with fire! You are optimistic, restless and sensitive. 

You are a extroverted, eccentric and opinionated person. You tend to be impulsive and restless but at the same time passionate and sensitive. You love to be in charge and ambition is one of your strongest qualities. 

You have a very short fuse and a flaming temper. Patience for other peoples' inadequacies or ignorance is something you lack, and you can come off as blunt and aggressive. Despite your flaws you are wildly intelligent, incredibly loyal and you do have a soft side that helps you create deep and meaningful relationships with people.

Uncannily accurate....

Will Camelback Helicopter Rescue Be Needed For Clancy, Fancy, Jackie & Jake?

I will get to the explanation as to who you are seeing in this photo in a moment.

But first I have to explain  that this afternoon I got a cautionary email  from Spencer Jack's dad, my Favorite Nephew Jason.

I will copy that email in its entirety so as to convey what is being cautioned...

FUD-

I have just been informed by your brother that he, your two eldest sisters and one of their wives are going to attempt to hike Camelback Mountain tomorrow morning, via the Echo Canyon Summit Trail.

This is the same 'extremely difficult' trail that I traversed last week.

I don't see this outing going well. I know that one member of the hiking party has severe lower back issues which may prevent him from reaching the summit.

To reach the summit, one climbs on large boulders, often on all fours, for a gain of 1700+ feet in about a mile.

Many rescues are made on this trail via helicopter. Local authorities use a helicopter to rescue hikers, as the pathway to the summit ends after a few hundred yards, leaving few other options.

I advised your brother that someone ought to make sure that the helicopter has a full tank of gas.

- FNJ

_________________

I can understand Jason's concern. The main objects of concern would be Jason's eldest aunt, who also is my eldest sister, Clancy. That would be the most recent  photo of Clancy. that I could find, which you see above. You can sort of intuit from the photo why Jason has some concerns about Clancy getting on a Camelback.

The brother to whom Jason refers is my little brother Jake, who also is Jason's dad. Hiking with a bad back over treacherous terrain is a recipe for pain.

Now, the other two hikers, those being my second eldest sister, Jackie, and my ex-wife, Fancy, well, I don't think those two present as big a concern as the other two.

On my last visit to Arizona I went hiking with my second eldest sister, Jackie, who also happens to be the mother of my Favorite Nephews Christopher and Jeremy. We hiked up Piestewa Peak. Jackie wore me out on that hike. At one point she somehow went straight up the peak, bypassing a pair of switchbacks. Suddenly I had no clue where Jackie was. Eventually, after she watched me spend a couple minutes being perplexed, hollered from above, letting me know where she was.

Now, Jason and I may be totally wrong in our danger assessment regarding this Camelback Mountain climbing expedition. All four of these hikers have been regularly playing something called Pickelball. Maybe all that Pickelballing has gotten the quartet in excellent shape.

I expect I will be getting a report about this expedition tomorrow. I will be in Dallas for most  of the day. I likely won't  know if a helicopter rescue was needed until I get back to being connected to my computer. Unless I get a text message...