Sunday MSU Scary Blonde Encounter With Stampeding Mustangs

On this next to last Sunday of September, the day before the Autumnal Equinox begins the season which goes by the name of Fall, ending the season known as Summer, I opted to stay off my muddy bike and instead opted to take a walk around the Midwestern State University campus.

Eventually, if you keep reading I may explain that blonde under a red cap and big sunglasses looking borderline Halloween scary, who startled me today whilst strolling at MSU.

But first let's take another look at MSU's newest building. The just opened for business Centennial Hall, now with its landscaping installed, along with all four mustangs.

The four mustangs represent the four classes attending MSU: freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. That big mustang you see running into you is the senior mustang about to leap out of the pond into the real world. This is a very metaphoric art installation.

And above we see the freshman mustang about to gets its hoof wet in the college pool pond for the first time.

Let's see if my Official Wichita Falls Outdoor Adventure Guru Key can get us a closer look at the new building.

Well, no need to use the key, I found an unlocked door. This is an extremely futuristic interior of the sort I like a lot. The interior has lighting fixtures the likes of which I had not seen before.

The view above is looking out at those four mustangs through that tall glass wall you saw in the second photo.

I've been binge watching old James Bond movies on Pluto the past couple days. This interior seems like being in the lair of Dr. No, or some other Bond villain.

Turning around from the view out the window wall one looks up a white stairway to the next floor. There are four floors and elevators to reach them. Where we are above is on the ground floor, with a big atrium open to all the floors above. That brown stair looking structure to the left of the white stairs appeared to be some sort of series of benches, with USB/Power plug-ins, which are the square white dots you see on the vertical sides of the benches.

A closer look at the atrium's futuristic furnishings. Has me trying to remember the lyrics to the theme song for The Jetson's.

Oh, I almost forgot to explain that scary blonde wearing a red cap. I entered the building from the west side. I followed the glowing lighting around a couple corners. And then I came to a corner closed off by glass, with the blonde sitting behind the glass, making some point about getting ones vision checked. A right turn from the blonde took me right into the big open atrium and away from the scary blonde...

From Jason & Joey: A Family Loving Mother, Grandmother And Great Grandmother

Above you are looking at me, mom and dad, my siblings and my four nephews, long ago, up near the Canadian border, at Uncle Mel and Aunt Judy's for the annual combo Christmas/Grandma Slotemaker birthday. On the upper left that would be my brother-in-law, Jack, next to Jack is his first wife, my sister Jackie, then sister Nancy, then my Favorite Ex-Sister-in Law, Cindy, next to Cindy is her Favorite ex-Husband, Jake, then me, holding my Favorite Nephew Jeremy (FNJ3). On the lower left that would be sister Michele, next to mom and dad with Favorite Nephew Jason (FNJ) standing in front of me. In front of mom and dad that is Favorite Nephew Christopher (FNC) next to Hank Frank's dad, my Favorite Nephew Joey (FNJ2).

Last night an incoming text message arrived from FNJ2, after I was horizontal for the evening. I got back vertical to read "She was a wonderful Grandma. Henry, Monique and I are thinking about you." This morning when I woke up my computer and checked email the first incoming was from Joey's big brother,  FNJ.

Jason's email included two photos, the one you see above, and another below the email message from Jason. I then found a few other photos, from mom and dad's 50th Anniversary, which are also below. First the message from Jason, then the other aforementioned photos...

FUD --

I received a text about an hour ago from my father informing me that grandma passed away.

Dug through some old photos, and thought I'd share them, although I'm pretty sure you have the same copies.

If I had to summarize anything about Grandma, it would be as simple as this:   Your mom loved her family.

From what I heard, she missed your dad a lot!  I'm looking forward to seeing her and Grandpa reunited in Lynden where it all began many years ago.  A small service at Lynden's Monumenta's Cemetery will hopefully take place.

Until then, I hope they are both sitting in their chairs tonight in heaven, side by side, eating lots of sweets and falling asleep while watching TV.   That would make me happy.

Hope all is well, FNJ.

In the above photo we are at the house I grew up in in Burlington, Washington, getting ready to caravan north to Lynden, for the funeral of Grandma Slotemaker, my dad's mom. Everyone who is in the first photo is also in this one, except for sister Michele, who, if I remember right, was heading north from Tacoma, or maybe Seattle, and going directly to Lynden. I do not remember if this was when Michele was in pre-law at UPS in Tacoma, or in law school at the University of Washington in Seattle. As you can see we are a little older in that second photo than the first.

And then we get even older in the following photos, from August 11, 2001. My birthday, one month before the infamous 9/11. I had driven solo from Texas back to Washington to surprise mom and dad at their 50th party at my sister's in Kent. Jason and Joey were the only ones who knew I was heading north. However, complications arose and neither went with me, as planned, to the anniversary party.

Mom and dad's anniversary is on August 6. But, just like it did on their 40th, the following Saturday turned out to be a better, more convenient day to schedule such a thing, hence it being on my birthday. I remember the 40th one took place on Samish Island.

I am not 100% sure, but I am fairly certain that that 50th Anniversary Party was the last time mom and dad had all their children together at the same time at the same location.

Oops, just remembered, July 27, 2002, the biggest family reunion in our family's history, took place in Lynden. We were all there, along with all the nephews. I shall now go see if I can find the photo taken of all of us on that day. Almost forgot to mention, that is grandma Vera, mom's mom, sitting next to mom, above.

Dad and mom opening cards and presents at their 50th party. I do not recollect myself bringing a card or present, other than myself. I do remember a quick makeshift birthday card given to me that day after my unexpected arrival.

Okay, found the photo which I think may document the last time mom and dad had all their children together at one time at one location. The Lynden Fairgrounds on July 27, 2002.

Behind mom and dad, from left to right, that would be Joey, Jason, Jill, Jake, Jackie, Jack, Nancy, me, Christopher, Michele and Jeremy. Of those in the photo, in addition to mom and dad, Jill is also no longer with us, removed from the family via the divorce method.

I remember on this day, at this reunion, my brother-in-law asked me if I could try and convince my sister that all would work out if she agreed to try something new and move to Arizona. I do remember talking to sister Jackie about the moving idea, but I have no memory of what I said. Apparently I did a good job of convincing, because soon thereafter the move to Arizona was made.

Mom & Dad Together Again

I reunited with my phone shortly after 9, Friday evening. I saw there were several text messages.

The first text message told me mom has passed, peacefully, minutes ago. A couple minutes later my brother called. He and my sisters were with mom when she joined dad. Jake, Nancy, Jackie and Michele had spent the day with mom.

Sister Jackie got back from Vegas, in time, whilst my two Washington sisters flew in to Phoenix today.

Which had me the only sibling not in Arizona with mom today.

I do not remember ever typing through tears before.

Shirley Louise Wilder Slotemaker

January 30, 1933 - September 20, 2019

Since I moved to Texas I have gone through various stages of calling mom and dad.

It used to be when I got gas I would call with the gas price and the temperature. Usually mom answered. If dad answered we'd talk for a minute, or so, before dad would say your mom wants to talk to you.

In the two plus years since dad has been gone if I was going to Walmart, or ALDI or the library, or driving to DFW,  or somewhere else I would call mom and ask if she'd like to ride with me to Walmart, or ALDI, or wherever.

The past month or so it has seemed like something is missing because I will have the impulse to call, and then remember mom no longer answers a phone. So, I would call sister Jackie and ask if she wants to ride to Walmart or the library or wherever with me.

Mom being gone is gonna take some getting used to. I will never get to drive Miss Daisy again. I'm so glad way back in February of 2018 I talked mom into getting a transport chair. That made the trips to Arizona way more adventurous.

One such adventure came to mind this evening whilst talking about mom. Last October, hard to believe that is almost a year ago, Big Ed and I took Miss Daisy to Piestewa Peak and rolled her on a long desert mountain trail. Mom had fun that day, memorably telling us she never thought she would ever get to do anything like that again.

When I was in Arizona in March, with the temperature comfortable, I rolled mom around Sun Lakes. Mom had been obsessing about wanting to talk to Bill, the neighbor across the street. So, I saw Bill had just gotten home, his garage door was open. I rolled mom over there, rang the doorbell. No response. Saw another button at the end of the garage, by the garage's door into the house, which I assumed was a doorbell. So, I rolled mom to that button, pushed it, and the garage door came down.

Mom did not get too panicky, what with her macular degeneration she didn't realize how dark it was, and that I had trouble seeing. But, I got the garage door back open and we escaped, without seeing Bill.

Suddenly the sky is crying. First rain in a long time, with thunder rolling...

Panther Island Runs Out of Money With No Construction Completed

Of late the Fort Worth Star-Telegram articles about America's Dumbest Boondoggle, also known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision, have been skewing to being more like actual news articles than blatant propaganda.

The latest example of this is an article titled Panther Island at risk of running out of money; project faces delay.

Now, this article is still a typical Star-Telegram article, in that it is not any sort of a piece of investigative journalism, seeking facts and truth, and is still pretty much a propaganda piece. But, still, these type articles are closer than the Star-Telegram has come in years previous to reporting in an honest way that which has become one GIANT mess of a Boondoggle.

This latest Star-Telegram article about the Boondoggle, at last look, has generated only one comment. It is an on point comment...

Pat Richardson: I am less than impressed with the most excuse ridden public works project to which I have ever been directly exposed. The partisan attitudes and influences on the multiple problems are obvious even though the local elected officials involved are "non-partisan." Any federal monies are subject to the whims of an incompetent POTUS who uses emergency powers to pay for his arrogance. The Republicans got who they voted for; the Democrats are stuck with them; those who could have but did not vote deserve this mess.

___________________

The Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy posted the Panther Island at risk of running out of money; project faces delay on Facebook, where multiple comments worth repeating were posted...

 Judy Alter: It's a no-win situation. Can't be finished, can't be abandoned because it's a huge scar on he city. Thanks to the Granger family for all they do for Fort Worth--not!

Pam Mosher Sorrells: Boondoggle...waste of time and money

Cathy Smith: The city needs to throw in the towel. The Honorable Kay Granger needs to stop using federal funds/projects for the gainful employment if her son. Isn't that a conflict if interest. The city of fort worth should shop out the entire project for private development. It will still cost the taxpayers billions and they will never reap the economic "rewards".

Tricia Fennell Gilbertson: Granger and Price are not good for Fort Worth. That money could have done so much more. Now it will be an abandoned project.

Marcelle LeBlanc: Tricia Fennell Gilbertson the mayor has nothing to do with that mess. It’s all the Grangers.

_________________

And then last night an incoming email pointed me to another article in another publication about America's Dumbest Boondoggle. The article is titled  Panther Island Review: No Construction Completed. 

Read the entire article, but before you do that, here are a couple good paragraphs worth repeating...


The review also says the project is not expected to be completed until 2028, a full 25 years after its inception. For comparison, it took the Walt Disney Corporation six years to build and open Walt Disney World, from 1965-1971.

The TRVA has yet to undergo either a financial or forensic audit of where $383 million in taxpayer funds has been spent. Texas Scorecard will continue to report on details of the programmatic review and how the Panther Island redevelopment boondoggle is affecting taxpayers.

_________________

I am really enjoying how it now seems to be the norm to refer to the Trinity River Vision as a Boondoggle. I recollect a decade or so ago seeing myself chastised for suggesting such. I think this chastising took place in a Fort Worth online forum of some sort, a forum dedicated to something oxymoronish, something like Fort Worth Scenic Wonders, or Fort Worth Architecture.

Continuing on, in the comments above we see the Grangers being the ones being chastised as being the culprits responsible, in large part, for Fort Worth being the host of America's Dumbest Boondoggle.

There are a lot of people who think the path to Fort Worth's salvation lies in booting Kay Granger from Congress, and firing her son from the job he has had for way too long with the Trinity River Vision Authority.

I have been getting emails regarding the Boot Kay Granger from Congress Project, and blogged about this a few days ago in Republican Hopes To Boot Kay Granger In 2020 Primary.

That blogging generated the following Anonymous comment about Booting Granger from Congress...


Anonymous said...There is zero chance a Democrat can win in CD12. It’s all of Parker County and a bunch of Wise in addition to downtown and western Fort Worth. The funny thing is Granger basically legislates like a Democrat these days anyway but her constituents have no idea how she votes because she flies so low under the radar.

________________

I suppose the voters of Parker County, and Wise County, are not much annoyed by the mess the Trinity River Vision debacle has made in Fort Worth. And so they are not disgusted by Kay Granger's grifting role in the debacle, or her son's corrupt nepotistic hiring for a job for which he had zero qualifications, and which he has thoroughly botched, for which he is being paid over $200K a year, plus perks and benefits.

Eternal optimist that I be, I am hoping the incoming Blue Wave of 2020 is of Tsunami Proportions, washing the likes of Kay Granger and her cohorts from American politics, in one big flush...

Dallas Bon Appetit 2019 Restaurant City Of The Year

A day or two ago, via the CBS Morning News, or maybe it was the NBC Today Show, I saw the news that Bon Appetit magazine, in its annual Top Ten America's Best New Restaurants 2019 issue had a Dallas restaurant as its #2 pick.

I was mentioning this to someone, who, like me, is a fan of Dallas, it being the town which is the bigger, more attractive, more dynamic, more sophisticated, more modern sibling in the Dallas/Fort Worth family.

It did not take long in Texas to make note of the fact that Fort Worth has a bit of an inferiority complex regarding its more successful, world known, sibling, with that civic inferiority complex often reflected in Fort Worth's rather bad excuse for a town's newspaper of record, the Star-Telegram.

Hence that fellow fan of Dallas, wondered, when I made mention of this Bon Appetit accolade, if this latest good news about Dallas made Fort Worth Green With Envy.

Making that Green With Envy remark was a reference to something I soon noted upon arrival in Texas, and eventually made into a Green With Envy webpage, due to myself being appalled and amused by the number of times I would read an article in the Star-Telegram about some perfectly ordinary thing, with the Star-Telegram claiming this perfectly ordinary thing would made towns far and wide Green With Envy, or give Fort Worth Bragging Rights, or other similar nonsense.

I remember years ago a lifelong Fort Worth native explaining to me about the Fort Worth jealous relationship with Dallas, and it being a long one-sided rivalry, where Fort Worth civic leaders, like Amon Carter, fanned the flames of what basically is an imaginary rivalry, in the sense that it is one-sided.

Dallas, as reflected in that town's media, and when talking to the town's people, has never thought itself to be in any sort of rivalry with Fort Worth.

In metaphoric terms, it's like how Brad Pitt has never felt any sort of rivalry with his younger brother, Peach Pitt, whilst Peach Pitt has always seethed with jealousy that big brother Brad got the good looks, talent, wealth, women and world wide fame.

And can get any corporation in the world to take an interest in him, whilst no corporation will pay any attention to poor Peach Pitt. And whilst Brad offers to help his unfortunate brother, Peach Pitt instead opts to try and support himself with federal welfare, while indulging in bizarre schemes, like trying to build bridges over dry land to connect to an imaginary island. The Pitt family worries it may have to commit Peach Pitt to an insane asylum.

Back to the Bon Appetit Top Ten America's Best New Restaurants 2019 article.

In addition to Dallas having a restaurant in the Top Ten, Bon Appetit tossed another accolade at Dallas which likely will make Fort Worth even Greener with Envy. The Top Ten Best New Restaurants Bon Appetit issue also details that Dallas, Texas, Is the 2019 Restaurant City of the Year.

A couple paragraphs about Dallas in that Restaurant City of the Year article which should also fuel even more Green with Envy in those Fort Worthians prone to this sad ridiculous syndrome...

There are two things in this package that are going to upset a lot of people in Texas. One: naming Dallas our restaurant city of the year, which I have a feeling a lot of people in Houston and Austin are, uh, not gonna like. Two: what I’m about to say about a breakfast-taco joint…that’s also a barbecue joint…that’s in the most un-Texas location imaginable—Portland, Oregon. Please don’t hate me.

“We’ve always been looking over our shoulders at Houston,” says the first guy I meet in Dallas, his tone dramatic. “But not anymore!” And it’s true. Though Dallas and its food scene have long been overlooked in favor of other Texas towns, today, the city's in the midst of a renaissance, with excellent new restaurants and bars opening so fast and so furious that it's hard to keep up. (Seriously—I was last there in mid-June and already feel like I'm behind.)

______________

Oh my, no mention of Dallas looking over its shoulders to the west, at Fort Worth. No mention of Fort Worth at all.

Imagine if it had been Fort Worth Bon Appetit had named as the Restaurant City of the Year? The Star-Telegram would likely feel the need to resurrect its long dormant Green With Envy verbiage. At least I think it has been long dormant. It's been many years since I've seen an instance, while that Green With Envy embarrassment was chronic when I was first exposed to the Star-Telegram.

There was a slight flareup of Green With Envy type verbiage in the Star-Telegram last month when the Star-Telegram claimed "The Eyes Of The World Are On Fort Worth" due to ESPN broadcasting in downtown Fort Worth something to do with the start of college football. A big deal was made of this in Fort Worth, like it was some sort of noteworthy event.

I recollect wondering why no one seemed to wonder why it might be ESPN might opt to broadcast from downtown Fort Worth, when there are more, uh, logical venues in Arlington, near the stadium where the football game took place. I opined that likely the Fort Worth staple of offering incentives and bribes were involved. With neither Arlington or Dallas much caring where ESPN did its broadcast from. Sorta like how Dallas did not seem to care where the new Dallas Cowboy stadium was built, so it ended up in the same county Fort Worth is in, instead of in Dallas County, with the citizens of Arlington and Tarrant County paying for much of the stadium.

Yes, that Dallas is one city of slickers, always seeming to come out on top, in one way after another, over its city siblings in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...

EXHIBIT A TRVA Board Financial Report Fraud Trial

I saw that which you see above, on Facebook, along with text below commenting on what you see above, with what you see above being EXHIBIT A: TRVA Board Financial Report.

EXHIBIT A?

An exhibit in a criminal fraud type trial? Well, it's about time. Who brought this to trial? The victims of eminent domain abuse who had their property stolen for this Boondoggle which by now obviously has had nothing to do with property being taken for the public good? Because clearly there was no eminent need to take property, what with little having come to fruition with this imaginary flood control scheme where there has been no flooding for well over half a century.

And now that aforementioned comment about that EXHIBIT A you see above...

More than $380 million in taxpayer money has been spent on Kay Granger’s Fort Worth development boondoggle.

According to the agency responsible for the project (TRVA), which is run by Granger's son J.D., only 1 aspect of the project is 100% complete; the design.

After 15 years, and $380 million, the only thing they've completed is the design? Are you serious?

The water district (TRWD) apparently loaned $200 million to the TRVA--and got voters to approve another $250 million in bond debt last year--to keep it going while Granger works to get $600 million more in federal pork.

The price tag started out at $435 million in 2006, and has since ballooned to $1.16 BILLION.

Does anyone believe this will be completed in 2028, or that the cost will not increase...again?

My guess is the price tag will be $2 billion when the dust settles in 10 years.

Ross Kecseg

___________________

I dunno who Ross Kecseg is, but the name sounds familiar. Mr. Kecseg certainly seems to have a firm grasp of the absurdity of what has become America's Dumbest Boondoggle, soon to enter its third decade.

That TRVA Financial Report does not answer questions I have asked many times. Questions like how much did the TRVA spend on its first failure, the harbinger of the Boondoggle to come, that being the Cowtown Wakepark.

How much has the TRVA spent on all its various propaganda websites?

How much has the TRVA spent on all its ridiculous propaganda signage?

How much has the TRVA spent on its year after year of absurd quarterly propaganda mailers?

How much has the TRVA spent on all its various junkets, including even relatively cheap junkets, such as the imaginary fact finding junket taken by J.D. and his now wife which required an overnight stay in a Dallas hotel, billed as an expense to the TRVA.

How much has the TRVA spent on things like its imaginary music venue with its imaginary pavilion, where the TRVA holds events, such as inner tube floats? How much have those events cost? Where is any of this accounted for in this TRVA Board Financial Report?

How much did the TRVA spend on J.D. Granger's beer hall, named the Shack, which is part of that sprawling imaginary Panther Island music venue?

Are all those expenses somehow accounted for somewhere in the items listed in EXHIBIT A? I can think of a few dozen inquiring minds who would like answers...

Day Late Happy Birthday To Jason, Joey, Christopher, Jeremy, Spencer Jack, David, Theo, Ruby and Hank Frank's Eldest Aunt

Yesterday Spencer Jack's dad text messaged me reminding me not to miss the Happy Birthday Party of Jason, Joey, Christopher, Jeremy, Spencer Jack, David, Theo, Ruby and Hank Frank's eldest aunt.

As so often happens my invitation to the birthday party must have gotten lost in the mail.

So, I text messaged d with my regrets that it was unlikely I would make it to the birthday party in a timely fashion, so Happy Birthday, in case I do not make it there in time.

Jason, Joey, Christopher, Jeremy, Spencer Jack, David, Theo, Ruby and Hank Frank's eldest aunt then texted back, thanking me for the Happy Birthday wishes, along with regrets that I might not be able to attend the Happy Birthday Party Gala.

That and the photo you see above, which Jason, Joey, Christopher, Jeremy, Spencer Jack, David, Theo, Ruby and Hank Frank's eldest aunt described as "The view from our latest Hood Canal property acquisition". That may not be the precise quote, I am typing from memory here.

That is one lush looking garden. I am not able to discern what type vegetables are growing in that lush garden.

The location of that garden, on the west side of Hood Canal, on the Olympic Peninsula, is not in what is known as the rain shadow of the Olympics. The area of the rain shadow gets a desert level of precipitation. Much of the part of the Olympic Peninsula which is not in the rain shadow gets copious amounts of rain, creating, in some places, a phenomenon known as a Rain Forest.

I do not believe this latest Hood Canal property acquisition of Jason, Joey, Christopher, Jeremy, Spencer Jack, David, Theo, Ruby and Hank Frank's eldest aunt is in the area of the peninsula which gets Rain Forest levels of rain, but, still, likely gets a lot of rain.

I wonder if there are blackberries growing wild at this location? I do miss blackberries...

Son Of A Grifter Durango Award Winner For Outrageous Corruption

Til yesterday I had no idea there was a Durango Award for anything, let alone a Durango Award for Outrageous Corruption.

And yet, there it is, on the cover of a book titled "SON OF A GRIFTER".

Subtitled "The Twisted Tale of Way Stranger and Sonny Boy, the Most Notorious Con Artists in America".

Most notorious con artists in America? Even more notorious than the notorious Trumps?

I shall see if I can copy the blurb from the jacket of this book to give us some idea of what this book is all about...

While this may read like a true tale, any resemblance to actual characters, living or dead, is simply a coincidence.

In Son of a Grifter we meet young Way Lost, a poor Texas girl, struggling to survive on her grandma's pig farm. Eventually Way meets Jimmy Ray Stranger. Soon they marry and soon after that Sonny Boy is born, named Jimmy Ray Stranger II, known as JR Stranger.

Way is not happy married to Jimmy Ray, soon finding comfort in the arms of another stranger. Soon after that Way finds she is again in the family way, with triplets, and Jimmy Ray is not the baby daddy.

Jimmy Ray leaves Way, who finds herself alone with JR and the triplets. Barely making enough money to survive at her job teaching tap dancing Way decides to start selling Pre-Paid Legal, trekking from one potential sale to another, with Sonny Boy and the triplets in tow.

Way Stranger was determined to find a better life for her and Sonny Boy, and maybe the triplets, no matter what she had to do. Eventually Way sells her soul to the devil and becomes a Texas politician, having realized this was the route to securing her family's future.

Way's plan was that she'd get Sonny Boy a good job, sell political favors, buy property, no matter what she had to do, Way would do it, and did, until all her shenanigans caught up to her and Way Stranger and Sonny Boy JR became known as the most notorious con artists in America... 

________________

The above is as far as the book's jacket description of the tale told in this book goes. No clue what happens when the law catches up with Way Stranger and Sonny Boy's shenanigans. Or what the two did to earn that most notorious con artists in America title.

I do know I am not gonna buy this book, what with its $29.99 price tag. For all I know this book is yet one more Way Stranger Sonny Boy con job. I'll wait til the book is available to be checked out from my favorite public library...

Republican Hopes To Boot Kay Granger In 2020 Primary

Friday morning an incoming text message from someone insisting she be Anonymous, cryptically forwarded the following question...

Can you clue in Durango that a legit Granger challenger who has been critical of her and JD's role in the TRVA Boondoggle is announcing soon?

In followup text messages I tried to understand why someone thought I needed to be clued in about this, what with there being no actual factual details helping me understand.

Via followup text messages I basically remained clueless, other than being told it is someone challenging the Granger Grifter Gang in the primary, as in a Republican challenger.

And then later in the day I was told "Apparently is it out now, so you can blog that Granger has a challenger."

I still do not quite understand what or why or who. What is out now? Why does whatever is out now mean I can now blog Granger has a challenger? And who is this challenger?

And while I think it would greatly benefit Fort Worth and the surrounding area to retire Kay Granger, and her son, I would rather see a Democrat replace her in the general election, than see her get an early boot in the primary.

How is some local Republican gonna manage to thwart Fort Worth's Good ol' Boy and Girl Network and boot one of their own?

My guess is the only real hope of getting rid of Kay Granger and her son, and putting an end to the Granger Gang's continuing damage to Fort Worth, is for the expected 2020 Blue Wave to be a historically HUGE Tsunami level Blue Wave...

Wally The Duck's Wichita Falls South Weeks Park Pond Return

A couple days ago, heading east on Southwest Parkway, en route to Walmart, I was pleased to see Wally the Giant Duck has returned to the fish pond in South Weeks Park.

Driving by it appeared Wally looked to be shining brighter than he shined previously.

Around the most recent 4th of July Wally put in a brief appearance on Lake Wichita, about a mile from where he is currently floating.

During that Lake Wichita appearance Wally was visited by the Guinness people who judge big things, to determine if Wally the Duck needed to be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as being the World's Biggest Wooden Duck.

Unfortunately it was determined Wally was not big enough, so Wichita Falls still has only one world class record, that being the town with the world's littlest skyscraper.

This Saturday morning's Wichita Falls Times News Record, in its online version, has an article about Wally the Duck's reappearance, with the article imaginatively titled Fowl-weather friend: Wally the Wood Duck returns to pond for one year.

Wally had been blown out of the water by a storm, months ago. Well, actually not blown out of the water, but blown loose from its anchorage, with the wind crashing Wally against the cement shore, doing serious damage.

Wally's creator, Ralph Stearns, took the duck home for repairs, which included refurbishing Wally's outer coating, hence his new shiny appearance.

Wally has now gained some weight, which should make him more impervious to wind, that and his anchorage has been doubled.

Wally the Duck and his creator are hoping to be reimbursed for the cost of his creation and restoration. Currently those who managed the purse of the City of Wichita Falls do not think they have sufficient funds to help pay for Wally the Duck. I believe the dollar figure mentioned is $10,000.

Stearns spent around $8,000 of his own funds for the material which made Wally, and spent four months working on the duck.

I can think of another small town in Texas which spent money on what few think is a work of art. Around a million bucks wasted on what looks like a giant aluminum trash can to some, a cheese grater to others, and a coronary artery stint to still others. And that giant aluminum million dollar trash can does not sit in a scenic pond, it sits in the middle of an unfinished, unlandscaped, littered, weed infested eyesore of a roundabout.

Methinks somehow a few thousand bucks can be found to pay for Wally the Duck. He is quite the attraction, judging by the increase in number of people I see stopping at the fish pond at South Weeks Park...