Will April Freeze Kill The Flowers Of May?

Yesterday when I went waving to the summit of Mount Wichita I was rolling my wheels against a balmy wind heated to somewhere in the high 70s low 80s zone.

That semi-hot bike ride was to be the hot highpoint of the last 24 hours.

Friday as the afternoon progressed the outer air chilled cooler and cooler, til eventually it became as cold as a frigid winter day.

And overnight we froze, as you can see via the screencap. Freezing with the wind making the air feel as if it as 16 degrees.

So, I won't be doing any bike riding. Or swimming. Today.

I do not recollect this type chill happening any April previous during the years of my Texas exile.

Will this freeze wreak havoc of the blooming buds and the wildflowers starting to sprout? And my tomato plants? What will happen to my tomato plants?

UPDATE: As this Saturday morning has progressed, the temperature continues to fall...

Waving To Mount Wichita Summit

With thunderstorming on the menu for today, and with a good strong warm wind blowing I decided to risk dodging lightning bolts to take myself on a multi-mile rolling of my bike's wheels.

As you can see via the view of the Mount Wichita mini-volcano, Lake Wichita was doing some white cap wave rocking and rolling when it came into view.

The waves do not look to be quite surfing worthy, but getting close.

I can not remember the last time, if ever, I went surfing. I do recollect doing what is known as body surfing in the Pacific Ocean.

I am currently thinking about locating myself closer to that aforementioned Pacific Ocean.

I am also currently thinking about getting myself in better shape in anticipation of hiking to the summit of Camelback Mountain with my Sister Jackie and Brother Jake, of course with the caveat that their various hiking issues are in full abatement.

With that getting in better shape concept in mind when I reached Mount Wichita I decided to park my bike and take a quick run to the summit of the highest mountain within miles, though not nearly as high as Camelback Mountain.

In the view above we are at the summit of Mount Wichita, looking southeast at Lake Wichita, and my bike being that small dot at the bottom of the mountain.

So far today I have seen zero lightning bolts and have hear no thunder rumbling.

Almost Freezing April In Texas

The outer world at my location was chilled to only a few degrees above freezing this morning when the sun arrived.

The outer world was a little warmer when I layered up and ventured forth on my non-mechanized wheeled transport device.

I do not remember it taking so long in the new year for warm air to arrive in Texas. It seems, if my memory is serving me correctly, that previous years a few cold days were always followed by non-cold days.

And don't get me started on the wind.

I am blogging for the first time on a new computer. Windows 10 is not as vexing as I thought it would be, but there has been a vexation or two or three.

I forgot to mention, in the photo documentation, above, my bike and I stopped at one of the sculpture works of art one finds on the west side of Sikes Lake.

Vote NO On TRWD Fraudulent Water Control Bond

In February whilst I was not in Texas I thought my gullibility was being tested when a well known Tarrant County-ite emailed me that America's Biggest Boondoggle was putting a bond proposition before those few voters in Tarrant County who are allowed to vote in a Tarrant Regional Water District election.

When I lived in Tarrant County I was included in the zone of those allowed to vote on TRWD issues.

I've never had it sensibly explained to me why all those effected by what the TRWD does are not allowed to vote on TRWD issues. Such as those Tarrant County voters who vote in Haltom City.

Haltom City is a town which has had some deadly flooding issues.

Unlike the area being disturbed by America's Biggest Boondoggle, that being an area which has not flooded for well over half a century, due to levees preventing the river from misbehaving.

That which has become America's Biggest Boondoggle has never directly been put to a vote where voters approve or disapprove.

How a town's landscape can be so drastically altered without the town's citizens voting to approve of the landscape alteration has long seemed bizarre to me, what with such shenanigans not being anything I ever witnessed whilst living out west in modern America, where no public agency would dare to do something so stupid as hire the totally unqualified son of a local politician so as to motivate that politician to secure federal funding.

Apparently that federal money has not been flowing into Fort Worth fast enough. And so on May 5 those few who are allowed to vote in a TRWD election are being asked to approve a $250,000,000 bond proposition.

The wording on the ballot seems like it would be considered fraudulent in a sane location in America...

Tarrant Regional Water District, A Water Control and Improvement District, Proposition A
The issuance of $250,000,000 bonds for flood control and drainage facilities and the levy of taxes to pay for the bonds.

Flood control? Drainage facilities? Like I already said there has been no flood to control in the area sporting America's Biggest Boondoggle since way back in the 1950s when levees were built to contain a high rising Trinity River.

Former TRWD board member, Mary Kelleher, who has seen the TRWD madness up close, has articulated her concerns about this "election" in Fort Worth Voters Beware of Proposition Propaganda.

I have read it claimed that this quarter billion dollar bond issue won't cost taxpayers anything. Who is getting taxed then to pay for these bonds?

I have read that this bond will be paid for via a TIF.

You know,  "Tax Increment Financing which enables municipalities to self-finance its redevelopment programs. TIF funds can pay for public improvements and other economic development incentives using the increased property tax revenue the improvements generate."

So, apparently the money to pay for these bonds would come from the property taxes accrued from all the valuable property built on America's Biggest Boondoggle's imaginary island.

What responsible developer is going to risk developing anything on that imaginary island, what with its latest project completion date being in 2028?

For what seems years now the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision's project manager, J.D. Granger, has been claiming a Dallas developer is soon going to be building a small apartment complex on the Boondoggle's imaginary island, with the developer also digging a ditch to tie into the imaginary canal system traversing the imaginary island.

Why would any developer develop anything on that imaginary island in its current state? With three simple little bridges being built in ultra slow motion over dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to that imaginary island.

And what happens to America's Biggest Boondoggle if those few who are allowed to vote do not get conned into approving this bond proposition? Will the Boondogglers use the bond failure as their excuse for the project failing?

When is 60 Minutes coming to Fort Worth to do a Granger expose?

Adventure Unplugged In Wichita Falls Visitors Guide

Months ago I found myself surprised to learn I had become the Wichita Falls Visitor Bureau Outdoor Adventure Guru.

I learned this when I was asked if use could be made of a blog post about the newly opened Wichita Bluff Nature Area.

I said sure, make whatever use of that blog post you can make of it.

That blog post was then re-configured and turned into what you see above, a couple pages in this year's Wichita Falls Visitors Guide.

I like the heading above the photo of me.

"ADVENTURE UNPLUGGED"

I have no idea what that means, for sure, but I like the sound of it. I basically like anything unplugged.

One of the perks of being the Wichita Falls Outdoor Adventure Guru is I get all the water I can drink any time one of my unplugged outdoor adventures takes me to the Wichita Falls Visitors Center offices.

I have yet to avail myself of this hydration opportunity....

No Tarrant County Election Fraud Criminal Charges While Crystal Mason Gets Five Year Sentence

That should say "Crystal Mason of Tarrant County, Texas voted in 2016 without realizing she was disenfranchised due to a felony."

You know, Tarrant, that county in Texas which recently was nationally, well, internationally embarrassed when a judge ordered an uncooperative witness to get zapped into answering questions.

Tarrant County is also the location of an election which triggered the biggest election fraud investigation in Texas history. With that investigation triggered by the way out of the norm number of absentee Tarrant Regional Water District Board Election ballots cast for Marty Leonard and  Jim Lane. Somewhere around 10,000 absentee ballots.

Receiving 10,000 votes used to be enough votes to give a candidate the win in a TRWD Board Election.

This particular Tarrant County election fraud has been the subject of a number of blog posts....

Evidence Corrupt Tarrant County Political Machine Steals Elections

Tarrant Regional Water District Board Election Fraud

Is The TRWD-Gate Scandal About To Blow Wide Open?

A Noble Look At Probable Election Fraud In The Recent TRWD Board Election

Even though this rather obvious Tarrant County election fraud was so obvious even the world's most oblivious person could see it, nothing has been done, no one has been prosecuted, no charges have been filed, nothing has happened.

Well, there was that next TRWD Board Election which saw Mary Kelleher lose with results which seemed as out of whack as was the previous TRWD Board Election. With again, nothing happening of the righting a wrong sort.

But now, a young Tarrant County woman who was on probation after having served time for a felony, who voted in the 2016 election, has been sentenced to five years in prison for voting when the terms of her probation forbid her from doing so.

When Crystal Mason went to vote she was not on the voting rolls, and so she was given a provisional ballot. You know, the type ballot one is given if ones validity as a voter is in question, so you get to vote with that vote only counting once it is determined you were eligible to vote.

Crystal Mason says she was not aware she was not allowed to vote due to her felony. Like Crystal Mason has said in the press, if she knew she could get in trouble and risk being sent back to prison, once again locked away from her daughter, would she have taken such a risk?

Methinks no. Honest mistake on Crystal Mason's part.

And even if Crystal Mason voted fully aware she was not supposed to be doing so, is doing so really a crime of a level warranting five years in prison?

Methinks, absolutely no.

Due to that provisional ballot thing Crystal Mason's vote did not count. No harm done.

Meanwhile, who is doing time for the Tarrant County ballot shenanigans which triggered the biggest election fraud investigation in Texas history?

I am hoping sanity prevails and a higher court than a corrupt Tarrant County one overturns Crystal Mason's five year prison sentence...

Good Friday Lake Wichita Flying Fish Following Fishers Of Men To Easter

This morning I took my motorized means of conveyance to the doctor for an oil change.

While that was happening I found myself a new portable computing device.

As soon as the fog lifted this morning I felt a surge of energy which had been absent for a couple foggy days.

Rain the past few days has left some puddling in its wake.

Even with some remaining puddling, around noon I decided my bike needed some wheel time, so I rolled it to Lake Wichita where eventually my bike and I stopped at the Lake Wichita Flying Fish.

A plaque of the inspirational sort, at least I am assuming that is the intention, has been added to the Flying Fish since I last stopped at that location...

"THE FLYING FISH"

SCULPTOR

PATRICK GIRAULT

AND JESUS SAID,

"FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN"

MATTHEW 4:19

DONATED BY

THE ROBERT SEABURY FAMILY

It is so amazing that it is known what Jesus said all those many years ago, what with there being no recording devices available at the time, except for memory and and words written long after Jesus said them, if he did say them.

I think today is the anniversary of that day, long ago, when Jesus died for a couple days, murdered by evil Romans, only to come back to life the following Sunday, which came to be called Easter.

I think I have that story right...

Visiting Haltom City's Elsie The Cow Where Dreams Come True

Yes, as you can clearly see via the photo documentation, today I found myself at that place "WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE".

Haltom City.

Well, at Fuel City in Haltom City.

At this location one finds a couple buffalo, a couple longhorn, and one beast which looks like a zebra losing its stripes.

Someone told me that the biggest of the longhorns was named Elsie the Cow as some sort of homage to Haltom City native, Elsie Hotpepper.

I find that a bit hard to believe. It would seem more likely one of the buffalo would be named after Elsie.

Then again, when I called out the name "Elsie" the big longhorned wonder you see above responded, lifting its horns in a proud photo posing stance which seems quite reminiscent of Elsie Hotpepper in one of her patented selfie posing modes.

There is talk lately of me moving out of Texas, heading west. I am conflicted. I enjoy my monthly returns to the DFW zone. Among other things I do in Texas...

Elsie Hotpepper Caught Shamelessly Taking Forbidden Sikes Lake Selfies

A couple days ago Elsie Hotpepper's appointment secretary made contact to arrange a meeting this weekend whilst the Hotpepper was in Wichita Falls for some Hi Jinks involving a Silver Dollar Saloon and a stage once performed on by Elvis.

After some negotiating it was arranged to meet Elsie Hotpepper at a bench on the Sikes Lake paved trail at the north end of the signature bridge at the west end of the lake.

Elsie Hotpepper agreed to come alone, without her entourage and that she would take no photos, no selfies, no nothing of the take a photo type thing.

The no photo clause was inserted due to previous incidents where Elsie Hotpepper took stealth photos, unbeknownst to those photographed, with those photos then showing up in various venues, such as Facebook, Twitter, Dallas Observer, Fox News, and other such spots.

So, today, whilst on that aforementioned Sikes Lake signature bridge, Elsie Hotpepper whipped out her phone and took a photo before prevention measures could be taken. When chastised for this breech of photo protocol Elsie claimed she was just taking a selife of herself with Sikes Lake in the background.

And then, a few minutes ago the photo Elsie took began to show up on various social media, where it was quickly clear Elsie had surreptitiously taken a forbidden photo, using her sunglassess as reflective mirror.

Dastardly.

And people still wonder why there are people who insist you just can not trust Elsie Hotpepper.

Warm Saturday Spring Lake Wichita Wheel Rolling Looking For Saloon Hopping Hotpepper

The first Saturday Spring day of 2018 brought temperatures ranging between 70 and 80 at my location way north of being deep in the heart of Texas.

Meanwhile I have had multiple reports from my old Washington home zone of people waking up this morning to look out their windows to see snow had rendered the landscape white.

With a clear blue sky and semi-balmy temperatures, and no chance of snow, I joined the throngs on the Wichita Falls Circle Trail today, rolling my wheels to Lake Wichita, across the dam, and then around Mount Wichita, which you see hovering above on the west side of the lake.

Today I found myself dodging multiple roller bladers and skateboarders. I do not recollect such previously happening on the Circle Trail. I had sort of figured those two means of fun conveyance had somehow never arrived at this location on the planet.

I have been getting reports Elsie Hotpepper is about to arrive in town. Tonight the Hotpepper is expected to be doing some of her patented saloon hopping, starting with the Iron Horse Saloon in downtown Wichita Falls. If I am understanding correctly libation fortification is needed by Elsie Hotpepper and her entourage prior to seeing some Hicks.

Are the Hicks Hotpepper relatives? I have no idea.

I have tentatively agreed to meet Elsie Hotpepper Sunday morning at a specific bench location located on one of the Wichita Falls urban lakes. Specific conditions have been agreed to for this meeting, including a zero tolerance of selfie photos...