David, Theo & Ruby Chilly Crossing Harstine Island Bridge With Out Mountain UPDATED With Mountain

Incoming photos in this morning's email, sent via iPhone from Harstine Island  in Puget Sound in the west coast state of Washington.

First line of text in the email...

It was really chilly, but the mountain was out.

Ruby and David don't look too chilly, but Theo sort of looks to be shivering with his teeth chattering.

When someone in Western Washington says the Mountain is out, it means the sky is clear and one can see Mount Rainier looming above.

However, none of the photos show the Mountain. In the chilly photo I believe we are looking west, so the Mountain would be in the direction Ruby, David and Theo are looking, oriented slightly to their right, or south.

The text in the email also made mention of that structure behind Ruby, David and Theo...

Also, the bridge to Harstine Island. Built in 1968, I think. Replaced an 8 car ferry!

Another photo gives us a closer look at the bridge which replaced an 8 car ferry.

No details regarding how long it took to build this bridge over actual water. I suspect it took way less than four years. I doubt also that those piers holding up the bridge were ever referred to by any local idiot as being signature piers. I also doubt the building of this bridge to replace an 8 car ferry was turned off and on for years whilst waiting for federal welfare money to arrive from more prosperous parts of America.

Meanwhile, in Texas, this morning we blogged about Fort Worth's multi-year mess of trying to build three simple little bridges over dry land to connect to an imaginary island, in a post titled Bud Kennedy Awards Fort Worth A Gizzard For Panther Island Mess.

One can not imagine how long it would take Fort Worth to build an actual bridge over actual water, particularly deep water subjected to tidal water movement.

Continuing on with the photos from Harstine Island.

I could not tell who was standing by the swings on the Harstine Island beach. But, the camera which took the photos of David, Theo and Ruby is an iPhone which takes incredibly good high resolution photos, so I cropped out the lone swing stander to see if I could see who it was.

Okay, that looks to be Theo. No guess as to why Theo is standing solo by the swings, whilst wearing boots. Had he been clam digging? And what is that tool in Theo's right hand? And am I right? Is this Theo?

I am looking forward to being on a Birch Bay beach with Theo and his siblings next summer. Since we last built sand castles together Theo, David and Ruby have undergone some professional sand castle building training, in San Diego. I suspect Theo will be the lead sand castle building project engineer, with me following his directions.

I hope the Mountain is out every day when I am up north next summer.

But, at Birch Bay, a few miles south of Canada, we are too far north to see Mount Rainier when it is out. At Birch Bay, (and the Skagit Valley) if you said the Mountain is out, it would be the Mount Baker volcano you would be seeing, not Mount Rainier.

But, Mount Baker is never referred to as the Mountain.

The Mountain is reserved to be used only for Mount Rainier.

Now that you are causing me to think about it I remembered that one can see Mount Rainier from the Skagit Valley, when one is out on the Flats, and the air is clear.

The reason Mount Rainier is on the Washington state license plates is because it is the only mountain in the state which can be seen from all over the state, well, most of the state...

UPDATE: I was informed my spelling of the island was wrong. I used the spelling from the original email I got telling me about the new cabin, as in it was on Hartstene Island. But, the island, apparently is actually Harstine Island. It is the private development on the island which goes by the island name with two e's.

UPDATE 2: A second email from David, Theo & Ruby Headquarters told me to zoom in on the last two photos and I would see that the Mountain is out in the picture. I did so, saw the Mountain, and cropped out the version you see below, clearly showing that the Mountain was out.

Bud Kennedy Awards Fort Worth A Gizzard For Panther Island Mess

I saw that which you see here on Sunday, via a right wing nutjob collaborator's Facebook page.

Well, actually, I only saw that which you see here when I clicked the collaborator's Facebook link to the YouTube video in which we hear the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy in, I suppose it must have been some sort of TV news segment, giving out "THE TURKEY AWARDS" with Mr. Kennedy awarding the GIZZARD FOR THE PANTHER ISLAND MESS.

You can watch the short 37 second video below, where you will hear Mr. Kennedy saying something like "If Panther Island just sits there for five more years it's gonna be a big problem for the city. If it sits there for five more months it's gonna be a big problem for Congresswoman Granger."

To which the other talking head replies something like "Because she faces a fight from the right..."

To which Mr. Kennedy interrupts to say "Because her son is running  the project", (or ruining the project, the audio was not clear).

I am somewhat clueless when it comes to understanding the retrograde politics of Texas. But somehow my somewhat clueless understanding tells me that in a sane world, a fight from the right, in its current form, should pose no threat to Kay Granger.

Particularly when you get a look at the right wing nut job who hopes to take Granger out in the upcoming primary. which we recently did in Liberal Lunatics Body Slam Pudgy Putnam.

Methinks, and again, I admit my understanding of Texas modern era politics is limited, but it seems to me the actual hope to end Kay Granger's reign will come from the left, not the right, with Granger flushed out to sea by what most Americans, and the rest of the world, are hoping will be the biggest BLUE TSUNAMI WAVE in American history.

And then, with sanity restored, partially built walls and bridges can be torn down and relegated to the dustbin of history.

Oh, almost forgot, the aforementioned YouTube video...

Maxine Wool Over My Eyes With Polar Bears

The first Sunday, and first day, of the 2019 version of December is another blue sky cloud free day in Texoma.

Clear blue sky with a strong wind with cold air blowing in from the north, rendering today's bike ride slightly chilly, requiring more than the usual amount of outerwear.

It was to MSU (Midwestern State University) I eventually rolled today. Pretty much a ghost town, what with the school children in Thanksgiving vacation mode.

I did a roll by the Fantasy of Lights installation for the first time since its grand opening. There seemed to be a few new additions, but I am not sure about that, what with my faulty slightly addled memory.

I think the polar bears above may be new. A mama bear with her cub, both wearing red MAGA hats. Or they may have been just ordinary red Santa hats. I did not get close enough to make a determination.

The red polar bear hats put me in mind of yesterday on Facebook when I saw Linda Lou had posted a photo of herself and Maxine, with the caption saying something like "Look who I found at the yarn shop! Maxine!".

Maxine's more formal name is Nancy Handy. The married version of Maxine's name is Nancy Handy Scott. It was Maxine who first introduced me to hiking the Cascade mountains, decades ago, when she trail guided myself and the entity then known as Chris McR, up the Railroad Grade of Mount Baker, starting off at Schreiber's Meadow.

Seeing Maxine with Linda Lou in a yarn shop also put me in mind of Chris McR, now known as Granny McP.

To Linda Lou's Facebook yarn shop photo with Maxine I commented that I was shocked to learn Maxine was in such a shop. Due to the fact that way back in the last century I was party to the fact that Maxine and Chris McR made their own yarn. Got wool from sheared sheep, then carded it (I think carded is the term) and then spun the carded wool into yarn, and dyed it, ready to be made into garments, such as hats and sweaters and blankets.

I further commented that even now, decades later, I still have two Maxine made all natural wool caps.

I think my Maxine caps may be the only two things, besides myself, that I still have which moved with me to Texas.

Oh, I just thought of another couple things which made the move to Texas and are still around.

So, I installed one of my all natural handmade wool Maxine caps on my noggin and set the camera to Old Lady Hotpepper mode and snapped the photo you see below.

Is that not impressive? That something made way back in the last century, is in such good shape all these years later, still keeping me warm?

Beautiful Blue Last November Day In Texoma

A couple hours after the sun arrived for the last day of the 2019 version of November the two day fog siege lifted, with the sky returned to its usual clear blue with nary a cloud to be seen in any direction.

And so this morning my mechanized motion device took me to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area to roll my bike wheels up and down some hills, along with dozens of others who came out of their Thanksgiving hibernation to get some salubrious exercise.

All in all a pleasant experience, except for the bad barking behavior of a poorly train German shepherd. The owner had the decency to be apologetic, claiming the bad dog had been cooped up for days and was thus overly rambunctious.

My first annual Tequila Taco Thanksgiving went well. There were few complaints, and lots of leftover taco fixings, along with leftover tequila.

On Thanksgiving after texting a Happy Thanksgiving message and asking if they were cooking the turkey at their new cabin, I heard from David, Theo & Ruby that they made faux turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. I have no idea what a faux turkey is. I shall make inquiries.

And now it is only about 25 days til Christmas. All my Christmas decorations are up, and all my Christmas shopping is completed, with all my Christmas cards in the mail...

Happy Foggy Thanksgiving

Today,  the 2019 version of Thanksgiving, I can think of a lot of things I am thankful for. And a thing or two I am not too thankful for.

A couple months ago I was sure I would be in Arizona today.

Instead I am looking at a dreary foggy Texas landscape. 

And I am blogging on a new phone. If this works I likely won't be hauling my laptop on a plane anymore.

So, one more Happy Thanksgiving one and all before I hit the publish button...

UPDATE: Well, the typing part worked fine, but the photo did not show up, so I had to use the more primitive using the laptop method. I'm sure it was a user error issue which will resolve with practice.

Elsie Hotpepper Granddaughter Panther Island Challenge

That which you see here arrived on my phone yesterday, on the final Tuesday of the 2019 version of November.

The sender was Natsie Hotpepper, granddaughter of the recently retired Elsie Hotpepper.

We have not heard from Natsie's grandma since our last Smoky Visit With The Retired Elsie Hotpepper.

Natsie Hotpepper's actual first name is Natasha, but she has been known as Little Natsie Hotpepper almost from the first words she ever spoke.

Elsie Hotpepper has long insisted she never be addressed by her actual first name, which is Elsivinia.

Naming Elsie's actual name in this blogging venue is not the same as addressing her by her actual name in person, so that particular Elsie Hotpepper convention has not been violated.

I hope.

Now, regarding this "graphic" which Natsie Hotpepper sent me, well bless her heart. She means well.

And we can all appreciate Natsie's sentiment regarding making mock of Fort Worth's ongoing embarrassment which has become America's Dumbest Boondoggle, also known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision Boondoggle.

But there are some obvious problems with Natsie's Panther Island Challenge meme.

First off the three bridges began their slow motion construction in 2014, not 2009. The meme shows the 2009 V-piers having made it to the cement part of their slow motion construction. That actually happened closer to 2019 than 2009.

And the 2019 part of the meme shows the V-piers in wooden form mode, prior to cement being added. Which is the reverse of the pitiful reality.

Even in 2014, when the bridge construction began with a bizarre TNT exploding celebration, actual construction did not begin til months later, in 2015, and then soon stalled.

Another problem with Natsie's meme is in the 2009 part we see the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth rising in the distance.

But, in the 2019 part of the meme the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth has totally disappeared.

Anyway, thanks for the effort, Natsie, and keep on trying to live up to your grandma's feisty reputation of working to right wrongs and fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way.

The original Hotpepper legacy is a tough act to follow...

Late Halloween With David, Theo & Ruby On A Real Island

Yesterday David, Theo & Ruby's Mama Michele emailed me with an update regarding next summer's Birch Bay stay.

I replied back and mentioned being surprised I had not seen any Halloween photos of the aforementioned David, Theo & Ruby.

Mama Michele then emailed back with several photos, with only one of the photos, that being the one you see here, being Halloween related.

I think I can only identify one of these costumed characters, and even that one I am not totally sure about. But, I think the third from the left, in basic black with red stripes, is Ruby. I am guessing that masked figure next to Ruby may be either David or Theo, with the skeleton on the far right also being either David or Theo, because none of the un-masked figures looks, to me, like either David or Theo.

And now on to the other photos, more recent than Halloween, since these were taken last weekend whilst David, Theo & Ruby drove their parental units to their new cabin on Hartstene Island. I made mention of the new cabin a couple months ago when I mentioned Ruby & David Racing Theo To New Cabin On Puget Sound Island.

For those reading this in Fort Worth, a town which only has imaginary islands surrounded by imaginary water connected by bridges built over dry land, who don't know what an actual island is, these are chunks of land surrounded by water, in this case islands in Puget Sound, which is a body of water which connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

Above that is Theo, David & Ruby, and I have forgotten the name of the new family member, posing on a beach on a real island.

And here we see the trio on what is known as a beach. Those are also islands you see in the distance across Puget Sound. On a real island surrounded by real water this thing called the tide causes a thing called tidal flats to appear with predictable regularity.

I am looking forward to next summer at Birch Bay, which is an extremely shallow bay. When there is a low tide the beach at Birch Bay becomes huge. And then, if it is a blue sky warm day the sand on the beach heats up so much that when the tide rolls back in the water heats up, making the experience like swimming in a heated pool. This is particularly fun if the incoming tide comes in as the sun sets, with the swimming then being lit up by phosphorous illumination when one splashes the water.

Continuing on with some more beach scenes.

That appears to be Theo standing on a beached log. Beached logs are known as driftwood. It looks as if Theo is holding a large tree limb, but I suspect that is an illusion and that the limb is attached to the log.

My elderly memory just had a moment of possible clear thinking. I think the new poodle's name is Raven. That sounds right. Which would make that Raven on the log with Theo.

The above look at Hartstene Island looks like it could be a scene on a Hawaiian island, with the evergreens almost looking like palm trees. I do not know if that bridge across the channel was built over dry land, using the Fort Worth bridge building method, with the channel added later.  I can say, with almost 100% certainty, that no local politician's son had anything to do with building the bridge or digging the channel. Or creating the island.

Mama Michele made mention of the fact that they are enjoying exploring all the trails on the island. That would be photo documentation of doing so, above. I am fairly sure that is Ruby in the foreground. Not sure who that is ahead of Ruby.

In yesterday's email Michele said I needed to come check out their new cabin, soon, and have myself a mighty fine time exploring the island.

That does sound fun. I can not remember the last time I was actually on a real island.

Liberal Lunatics Body Slam Pudgy Putnam

A month or so ago I found myself blogging about a Futile Right Wing Trumpist's Boot Kay Granger Attempt.

At that point in time all I knew about this potential Kay Granger booter was what I read on his campaign announcement in which he proudly vowed to stand with Trump, protect our border and defend the sanctity of innocent life, because Kay Granger has not done these things.

And now in the past several days for some reason Facebook has been showing me multiple posts about this guy's effort to stand with Trump via his "absolutely epic campaign kickoff."

I do not know why Facebook was showing me this, but I found it amusing. I looked at the myriad photos of those attending this campaign kickoff and what came to mind was it looked like the sorts who attend one of those Trump rally's. Only better dressed, and not topped with red MAGA hats. But still a bit crazy looking.

Then I clicked on a link in one of those posts which took me to this guy's Facebook "PUTNAM for Texas" page.

I was a bit startled as soon as the page loaded to see the profile photo, which you see above, and thinking to myself why would this right wing nutjob be posing with what looks to be a drag queen? Then I saw the guy on the far right and realized that this was no drag queen, that this is Donald Trump Jr.'s mistress, Kimberly.

Yes, I know it is extremely rude to suggest she looks like a drag queen, but that was the thought which first occurred to me, and due to the fine example of our Dear Leader and his pseudo conservative enablers, it is now perfectly normal to make comments like that, following the ill-mannered examples of Trump.

I scrolled down the page a bit and soon found the source photo of Pudgy Putnam's Facebook page.

Again, I realize it used to be considered really rude to label someone something like "Pudgy". But, like I said, this is the new accepted norm, due to the fine example of our Dear Leader. And pudgy was the word which came to mind when I saw a photo of the guy.

The text accompanying this pair of photos is interesting...

Don Jr. and I shared a big high-five for body slamming the liberal lunatics on "The View" earlier in the week. Don and Kimberly were excited to see Jack there so he got called back for his own pic without mom and dad. Trump is to Jack what Reagan was to me.

Yeah, that really was quite something seeing Don Jr. body slamming those annoying liberal lunatics, including John McCain's daughter, on The View.

Again, bragging about doing something like body slamming someone, whilst mislabeling them as "lunatic liberals" is totally okay in our current world, thanks to the enlightened leadership of our Dear Leader.

And then I came to the next photo with still more amusing text...

Waiting to meet Don Jr. and Kimberly. Jack is pumped. Raise them right friends.

Now, I read the above and honestly wondered to myself what does it take for CPS to intervene to save a child from exposure to a cult of clueless fanatics?

Continuing to scroll down this Facebook page I decided to copy out the text of some of the posts for your amused reading pleasure, giving you a good inkling of the high quality thinking of this challenger to Kay Granger for the 12th District Representative seat, followed by a comment, if the motivation to do so, strikes me....

There is zero doubt that the TX 12th is hungry for unapologetic, principled conservative representation in Washington DC. Come join us. Kay Granger started as a Democrat, and still acts like one. Siding with Pelosi on bailouts, Obama on amnesty, and refusing to stand with President Trump, she's become a stranger to us.

______________

Yes, everyone likes their conservative representation to be unapologetic and principled. It is like it goes without saying, yet somehow nowadays seems to rarely occur. Principled conservative? Nowadays that is what is appropriately known as an oxymoron.

President Trump's leadership has led to a significant reduction in illegal border crossings, but the issue of drug trafficking remains. Democrats in Congress need to return their focus to securing the border and ending the ongoing crisis.

_________________

One can not deny giving Trump credit for getting that wall built along the southern border. And having Mexico pay for it. Now we must figure out how to stop the Mexicans from so easily bulldozing through the world's first Medieval wall built since the Dark Ages of long ago.


Last week, the American people learned that the Democrats don't have a case against President Trump. Nonetheless, they are continuing this pointless witch hunt. Join me in telling them to end the impeachment sham by adding your name now!

_________________

Those wily Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. Having diplomats and ambassadors confirm that Trump was colluding with the new Ukrainian government to get the Ukrainians to announce their government was launching an investigation into Biden. It is just like that Russian hoax, accusing Trump of colluding with the Russians to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. How can the Democrats be so un-American as to think it is somehow an impeachable offense for the president to withhold aid unless a foreign government does his bidding? What a shameful sham case those Democrats have mounted. By now everyone should accept that Trump totally tells the truth in matters such as this.

The Left sees President Trump's conservative, America First agenda as a threat. That's why they're doing everything they can to stop him, including impeachment! We need strong conservative voices in Congress to stand by the President and help advance his agenda.

__________________

What an insight! The un-American Left thinks the Trump disaster must be stopped.

It is not just the Left. It is pretty much most of the educated, informed, intelligent humans on the planet who sees Trump's agenda as an existential threat. Even some former Republicans, such as actual conservative stalwart, George Will. And others.

Under Pelosi and the Democrats, this Congress will be remembered for doing more to avenge President Trump's election than working for the American people. It's time for the impeachment sham to end so the real issues can be addressed.

_______________

Yeah, it's all about avenging President Trump's election. It has nothing to do with anything remotely rising to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. What's a little bribery or extortion? No big deal. It's not a high crime and misdemeanor like lying about an office affair with an intern. Or covering up a break-in of the DNC headquarters. Or wanting to go easy on the defeated states of the confederacy.

All Trump did was collude with a foreign government to smear a political opponent, whilst using withholding aid to bribe that foreign government to do so. The Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for thinking something obviously innocent like this is an impeachable offense..

There were multiple comments to these posts on the Pudgy Putman Facebook page. I will just copy one of the more amusingly wrongheaded ones...

Susan Whitehead: We must really know who the people we vote for are. Are they true conservatives? Conservative financially, ethically, morally, politically? Our country needs to return to the constitution and the republican form of government it outlines or we are going to become a socialist/communist nation, then there will be no place to go to live free.

_______________

Whitehead? Is that really someone's name? Susan is totally correct. We really must know who we vote for. Real conservatives. Not a budget busting, deficit exploding, bankrupting, amoral, lying, cheating, porn star boinking, poorly educated, inarticulate buffoon, but a real true conservative of the Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower type. Or even another Nixon would be a good thing at this point. No one ever described Nixon as being a dumb moron.

If Susan wants to continue to live free after America becomes a socialist communist nation there are multiple democratic socialist nations in the world she can move to.

Like Sweden. Or France. Or Germany. Or Denmark. Or Norway. Or our conveniently located neighbor to the north, Canada.  I hope Susan gets the point and can quit worrying...

Following Yellow Brick Road Tot MSU's Fantasy Of Lights

Operation Get in Shape for Moab Mountain Biking has been going well.

Yesterday, as in Sunday, I joined the throngs in the Wichita Bluff Nature Area, biking the hills over and over again at relatively high speed in a relatively high gear.

Today, as in Monday, it was Off to See the Wizard on the Yellow Brick Road Day, rolling my wheels around Sikes Lake and then to the MSU campus where eventually I was rolling through the now totally installed, turned on, and ready to open Fantasy of Lights.

The Emerald City is in a new location this year. I saw several new Fantasies I did not remember previously. And some I do remember seem to have been spruced up a bit, such as new passengers on the Ferris wheel, including multiple Santas.

Today all the displays were turned on, with wheels spinning, music playing, saloon girls dancing, piano players tinkling the ivory, dolphins swimming, Dorothy walking, the Scarecrow strutting, the Cowardly Lion puffing out his chest and the Tin Man fiddling with his oil can.

I saw on the morning news the Fantasy of Lights being talked about. I believe I heard the talking head say tonight was the Grand Opening.

I do not remember if I have ever actually seen the Fantasy of Lights lit up at night. I must remember to drive by after dark sometime during this long holiday season...

World's Most Unique McDonald's No Longer In Dallas

Years ago, near the start of the current century, I recollect reading of a new McDonald's in Dallas. And that this McDonald's may possibly be the most unique McDonald's in the world.

I was sort of used to Texas style hyperbole by that point in time, so I sort of figured I would be non-plussed when actually eye witnessing this McDonald's.

I remember it was soon after reading of it that I first saw this supposed world's most unique McDonald's.

Well. I was impressed. It seemed to live up to the hype. With me thinking if this is not the world's most unique, it certainly must be one of the world's most unique McDonald's.

And so I made a webpage about it titled World's Most Unique McDonald's 

The webpage soon was getting a lot of page views, which by 2007 was being monetized by Google.

My last time seeing this McDonald's was in January of 2009, when my mom and dad were in the midst of what was to be their final visit to Texas. That is mom and dad, above, posing in their cowboy hats in front of the former World's Most Unique McDonald's.

I say former, because that which made this McDonald's unique no longer exists. I knew something had been changed with it due to previous feedback. Somehow I just thought that this McDonald's had closed, to be demolished for some new project, or road expansion. I did not know the actual facts of the matter.

And then this week I got the following letter, from McDonald's....

Hello. I work for the McDonald's Franchise that owns the McDonald's on Montfort and LBJ in Dallas. The "world's largest Happy Meal." This location was remodeled years ago, years before we purchased it.

While we do love the attention, some of your readers make a long drive to see this huge Happy Meal, only to be disappointed...then they get angry....then they complain. I've had several customer book birthday parties here, only to be disappointed when they arrive to see it is now a regular McDonald's.

Please consider updating this story. Thank You Kindly,

L.W.
Arch Fellow, McDonald's
Community Ambassador

___________________

Arch Fellow? That sounds like something sinister.

So, I altered that webpage, including the letter from the Arch Fellow. And let me say, it was not easy to alter. It has been several years since I have done any HTMLing. And with that webpage, as with most of my others, the HTLMing was done on my old laptop, using the long dead Microsoft web editor called Front Page.

Trying to edit that webpage in a simple text editor wreaked all sorts of havoc, but eventually I managed it.

I wonder what was the reason behind altering the former unique McDonald's into being just a regular McDonald's?

Perplexing...