Nephew Jason Finds Wichita Falls Hottest Town In America

Incoming email from FNJ (Favorite Nephew Jason) last night, comparing temperatures in key cities at the same time yesterday, as in Sunday, the day after the latest version of Christmas. With my location being the swelteringly HOTTEST by far.

Lynden is always coldest when an Arctic Blast blasts into Western Washington. There is a range of mountains between Whatcom County (where Lynden is) and Skagit County (where Mount Vernon is).

So, a cold blast coming down the Fraser River Valley, in Canada, will chill Lynden way colder than further south. And also deliver epic amounts of snow.

When we were kids one of the great thrills of Winter was to head north from the Banana Belt Skagit Valley, to Lynden, where there'd be deep snow, with snowdrifts so high cows would walk up the drifts to the roofs of barns.

Below is Jason's amusing email about the Texas heat wave...

I can't believe how hot my uncle is today.  Is this because ya'll use so much fossil fuel?  Have you yet to purchase a Tesla?   Spencer is encouraging me to do so.  However I'm leaning toward Chevy's new 2022 all electric truck.  Although it may be a little out of my price range.

I'm currently snowed in.  I measured nearly 8 inches of snow--that plus the temperatures in the teens have pretty much shut down the entire PNW.  I've succumbed to watching football.  Currently the Seahawks are playing at home in an almost unrecognizable snow covered field.  I'm sure you have the game on.

I think I may be stuck here for quite a few days.  We are not projected to be above freezing until Thursday or Friday.   I think I have enough food until then.  Though I have run out of all the good stuff -- and working on frozen goods, canned soup, and Christmas candy.   I do have some apples, which I have recently learned are better for me than potato chips or cheese and crackers.   I suppose I could walk to the store to get some milk, eggs and something green.  But that sounds like a lot of work.  Driving is currently not an option, as my truck does not fair well in the snow.  I'm planning on reassessing the food situation tomorrow.  

Did Santa bring you anything useful?  Spencer and I are sporting new AZ sweatshirts sent north by your youngest brother.  Thankfully the package arrived at the correct address, unlike a package mailed by your brother to FNJoey this past November for his birthday.  That package arrived at the wrong son's home.  Your brother has inherited the 'mail the package to the wrong relative' gene.  I'm hoping I don't get that gene.  But it will be years before I'm able to be tested for such, as I currently don't mail packages to any relative.  Maybe that will someday change when I move away to a warmer climate for the winter months.   Hawaii does sound pleasant right now.

The Seahawks are currently tied in their ball game.   If I understand this correctly, the odds of you cheering for them at your upcoming Superbowl party are very slim, if not impossible.

I'm looking forward to Spring.   The Roozens have planted a huge field full of tulip bulbs right in front of the Jones Beaver Marsh Property.  They should be gorgeous.  Are you planning on coming up this Spring to see the tulips?   I should have my house fully furnished by then, and open for select relative company.

Go green, stay cool, FNJ.

Balmy Sunday 80 Degree Lucy Park Hike While Washington Blizzards

It was back to Lucy Park this final Sunday of the 2021 version of December to go on a long hike with the throngs of other post-Christmas holiday revelers.

Due to the main trails being crowded with way too many of those aforementioned post-Christmas holiday revelers, I opted to leave the main trails and head to the Lucy Park undeveloped Back 40 to get in my many miles of hiking.

Temperature in the 80s again for the third day in a row. I think that may be one of the reasons there were so many of those aforementioned post-Christmas holiday revelers in the park today.

We are heading north, towards a line of Lucy Park trees, in the above photo documentation.

Earlier today I saw a couple Facebook postings with photos showing the current weather state of my old home state. Western Washington is in blizzard mode today. Strong wind, heavy snow.

Towards the end of today's five mile hike Linda Lou called from Mount Vernon, where she is currently snowbound by a foot of snow and that blowing blizzard. A respite from the snow is expected later today, followed by a temperature drop, followed by another round of heavy snow.

This storm, up in my old home zone, has record breaking potential.

Meanwhile, in my current home zone I hike in shorts and t-shirt trying to stay cool in the balmy 80 plus degrees...

Hank Frank's Merry Christmas Tree

That which you see above arrived on my phone around noon, whilst I was walking around Lucy Park with throngs of other merriment seekers, disc golfers and pecan pickers. The photo was sent by Hank Frank's proud papa, my Favorite Nephew Joey.

Along with text saying "Happy Holidays to you. Currently 35 and raining. Snow predicted later this evening."

I Merry Christmas-ed back along with saying "Near 90, clear sky, no snow this evening."

Joey then inquired whether I still had access to a swimming pool, to which I said I did, but it is Winter, so pools are not poolable.

To which Joey opined that Texas is such an odd state.

I assume Joey was referring to the odd weather, but it could be any number of things to which Joey was referring.

I should have explained to Joey that in Texas one day in Winter the outer world might get heated to 90, with two days later an Arctic Blast dropping the temperature to below freezing...

Hoping Your Day Is As Nice As Your Butt

 

About an hour ago, this 2021 Christmas morning, I got around to remembering to unwrap the assortment of packages which have spent days sitting under the Christmas tree. 

Of the things unwrapped I think that which you see above was the most surprising. It came from some sort of gift store in Portland, Oregon called Heart You Gifts.

I expected the box to contain some sort of candy product, was not expecting a coffee mug talking about my butt. After cutting the box open there were several layers of protecting fluff to get through before I reached the Butt Mug. It was a big box for a little mug.

Now, I know you are wondering who would send a thing such as this to me.

Well, I will just say that this person's last name rhymes with one of the words on the mug. And that this person has seen my butt, and thus, I guess is qualified to think it to be nice.

I am looking forward to the classic Christmas dinner I'm making today. Beef Stroganoff and Cauliflower Soup...

Wichita Falls Merry Christmas Eve Fantasy Of Lights

Last night, Christmas Eve, I walked the Midwestern State University (MSU) Fantasy of Lights, with my phone in video mode. That resulted in two videos, covering the entire Fantasy zone. I walked fast, because I did not want the videos to be long. Walking fast resulted in a lot of artful dodging around a lot of people. 

The two videos are below, at the end of a series of photos. 

After walking the Fantasy of Lights, I got back in my vehicle to drive through the Wichita Falls Beverly Hills Fantasy of Lights, where dozens upon dozens of homes are lit up with over the top Christmas lights and displays.

The Polar Express trams, there are three of them, leave the MSU Fantasy of Lights parking lot every few minutes to tour the Beverly Hills Fantasy of Lights zone.

When I saw the above photo, my first thought was how did my phone camera mess up this picture. Then I realized the lights were reflecting off my vehicle's hood, with the road I was on above the reflection.

The above entire house was draped in lights. I'd never seen this type of Christmas lighting before.

My favorite house in what I call Beverly Hills is a flat roofed modern style that looks like my Mount Vernon house would have looked like if way more money was spent on it. This house's lights consisted of stringing so many lights in the trees that it looked sort of like illuminated spider webs.

That is one of the aforementioned trams you see behind the tree in the middle.

Again with the reflection off the hood.

The giant snowman you see here was the most unique thing seen last night. It is HUGE. And it glows with a sort of pulsating light.

The phone's camera really does not do justice to these displays. It does not help the quality when shooting through the windshield.

The above trees had the biggest tree ornaments seen last night.

All these photos were taken on routes I regularly roll by on my bike. I do not know when all these lights are installed. I did not eye witness any installing going on whilst I biked by. Seems like it must take a lot of time to string up so many lights in so many locations.

And now the videos of the MSU Fantasy of Lights..



As I walked, phone in video mode, by the time I ended the above video I had no idea how long it'd taken. Ten minutes? Five? Turns out less than three. When I realized it was not all that long I decided to take video of the rest of the Fantasy of Lights. Hence Part Two of the Fantasy of Lights...

New Look At Deception Pass Bridge Built Over Actual Water

 

I seem to regularly see things on Facebook's You Know You Are From Anacortes When page which trigger that dreaded homesick feeling that has become sort of epidemic during the pandemic.

I have never seen a photo of the Deception Pass bridge from this perspective before. The photo was taken by Oak Harbor's Gary Skiff. Oak Harbor is the biggest town on Whidbey Island. Whidbey Island is what the bridge connects to from Fidalgo Island. We are on Fidalgo Island in the photo, looking across the bridge at Deception Pass State Park.

The part of the bridge we are closest to is the Canoe Pass section. It connects to a small island, and then continues across Deception Pass to Whidbey Island. There is a parking lot on the small island, if one feels the urge to explore the rocky island.

I have blogged about the Deception Pass bridge a number of times on my Washington blog, and a time or two on the blog you are reading right now, including Washington's Deception Pass Bridge Took A Deceptively Short Time To Build.

A deceptively short time to build refers to the fact that the Deception Pass bridge was built in less than a year. Over water. Deep fast moving, at times, saltwater. 

In Texas I have eye witnessed the bizarre building of three bridges.

Over dry land.

Taking 7 years to build. Small freeway overpass looking bridges.

Over dry land.

Hoping one day to dig a cement lined ditch under the three bridges, then divert Trinity River water into that ditch, creating an imaginary island.

The Fort Worth grifters responsible for the slow motion construction of those pitiful little bridges touted repeatedly that they would be iconic signature bridges.

And people wonder why I have fun making fun of Fort Worth so frequently...

Walking With Dead Calm Placid Sikes Lake Roosting Seagulls

It was to Lake Placid, I mean, Lake Sikes, I drove today for a walk around the lake. A warm walk, with tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, also known as Christmas, way warmer.

In that view above you are looking north, across Sikes Lake, with the Midwestern State University campus on the horizon.

This morning began with a thick fog. When that fog burned off dead calm was left in its wake.

I imagine this morning's thick fog made the Sikes Lake flock of seagulls think they were back near the ocean. The Sikes Lake flock of seagulls were roosting on their regular roosting location, the Sikes Lake coffer dam.

I have never figured out the purpose of this coffer dam.

The Sikes Lake geese flocks were enjoying the balmy calm by floating on the lake. The birds must be confused, thinking Winter is done and Spring has arrived. 

Video Of Me Singing About McNutty Bikini

Miss McNutty has been being extra nutty this morning, sending me videos purporting to be me singing a song, the words of which I can not make out.

That is a screen cap from the video of my supposedly singing.

For some reason McNutty thinks this bothers me, or embarrasses me, when it is widely known I am impervious to being embarrassed.

The reason McNutty is doing this is especially nutty.

For some reason, photos of McNutty in a bikini, or any sort of swimwear, embarrasses her due to a nutty belief that showing such is way too much skin exposure.

So, why put on a bikini then? Let alone put on the bikini and then politely pose for a photo in said bikini, whilst smiling.

Like I said, McNutty. And perplexing. Below is one of the McNutty bikini photos. Other than the granny glasses, do you see anything embarrassing here?

Gigglemugging Lucy Park Pagoda Before Chasing Santa On A Motorcycle

It was back to Lucy Park today to do some fast Wednesday walking on the day after Winter began.

Today was a t-shirt and shorts warm outdoor day.

Currently Christmas Eve is scheduled to be heated into the 80s, with record breaking highs. Same prediction for Christmas.

Which makes it zero probability there will be a White Christmas at my location.

I think I have experienced more White Christmases in Texas than all my years in Washington.

I seem to have lost my ability to take a proper selfie photo, with the necessary sober serious look. Instead, being overcome with the holiday spirit has me uncontrollably gigglemugging.

Scraping the sky behind me is the Lucy Park Pagoda. I have yet to get an explanation for this Pagoda. Next time I attend a service at Bob's Buddhist Temple of the Golden Dome I will try and ask my fellow Buddhists if any know the answer to this serious question.

With the underbrush foliage mostly gone, til Spring, today I saw I could get off the Circle Trail and walk the bank of the Wichita River. When I saw this was doable I thought it might lead to being able to take a photo of the Lucy Park Suspension Bridge showing its entire span of the river.

The result did not turn out as I'd hoped.

So, I turned the phone around and took my favorite type of selfie photo. That line you see across the river is the shadow of the suspension bridge. If you look real close you can see the suspension bridge above its shadow.

After the walking was done for the day, as I fired up the engine of my motorized transport I saw something speed by I had never seen before.

Santa on a motorcycle.

I soon was in pursuit, eventually catching up to Santa at the exit from Lucy Park intersection with the Seymour Highway, where a red light had stopped the man in red, allowing me to catch up.

Above you are looking through my somewhat dirty windshield at the stopped Santa, waiting for the light to turn green. As cars passed they honked and Santa waved at them.

 And then the light turned green and Santa took off like a rocket. I followed Santa, turning right on Brook Avenue, then lost him when I got stopped by a red light.

Seeing Santa on a motorbike is the type thing that has me in a gigglemugging tidings of joy mood. It won't last. By the time the new year arrives I should be back my usual sour dour self...

Holiday Selfie Spirit Of Joyful Tidings With Geezer Cemetery Tour & McNutty Elephant Cleavage

This morning I once again drove a senior citizen geezer to get some prescriptions filled.

The geezer calls ahead to make sure the prescriptions are ready for pickup, so I drop him off at the pharmacy entry door and then go park to wait for the geezer to return.

Today's wait went on for a half hour or more. Apparently, there was some sort of confusion with the prescription order.

Whilst sitting and waiting and bored I checked Facebook on the phone, and then when that turned boring I aimed the phone's camera at me to take a selfie photo of my sour dour mood. 

But, I am just so caught up with the holiday spirit and tidings of joy I had trouble mustering my usual level of dour sour selfie.

Eventually the senior citizen geezer and his walking cane showed up. In his feeble weak voice he asked if we could go on a walk somewhere. Where? I asked. Could we go to the cemetery so I could have a short visit with some of my long gone friends? asked the geezer.

And so I drove to Riverside Cemetery, adjacent to Lucy Park, which is where I took the below tree photo yesterday.

What brand of tree is this? On the west coast, well, maybe only on the Pacific Northwest part of the west coast, there is a tree called a Madrona.

Madrona trees have a thin skin like red bark which peels off. I have seen several of the above type tree in Lucy Park. Is is an Albino Madrona?

There are so many varieties of trees in Lucy Park. I think I have mentioned previously that I think it would be a good idea to have labeling signs stuck in the ground identifying the trees.

On a totally different, totally weird change of subject about something which happened this morning. The entity known as McNutty sent my phone a photo of McNutty with an elephant trunk. The text with the photo explained nothing, it just asked a weird McNutty question, as in "Do you think I am showing too much cleavage?"

How does one answer a question like that? Here's the photo in question. Feel feel to opine about the cleavage level if you feel so inclined...