Taking My Facebook Aggravation To Windy Lake Wichita Park

The view you see here is looking southeast at a backwoods vantage point in Lake Wichita Park. My destination this morning, after spending a few minutes being aggravated by Facebook malfunctioning.

That water you see is not Lake Wichita. It is a large pond which currently is mostly dried up.

The temperature has cooled from yesterday's balmy 80s.

In the 60s today with a strong wind blowing.

Fast walking got me sufficient endorphins to end the bad mood Facebook had put me in.

And now Facebook is back behaving properly...

New Improved Vision Of Fort Worth's Imaginary Island Boondoggle

I saw that which you see here in the Saturday edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Just the headline got my head shaking and eyes rolling.

Over two decades ago a big headline on the front page of the print version of the Star-Telegram screamed "Trinity Uptown to Turn Fort Worth into Vancouver of the South".

I remember seeing that and wondering what fresh absurd ridiculousness is this? Who could have guessed the absurdity would get so ridiculous, and last so long.

Soon the name morphed into the Trinity River Vision.

Because Fort Worth does not operate like a big city wearing its big boy pants, the public was not asked to approve this project and fund it.

The project was touted as a vitally needed flood control and economic development scheme. So vitally needed nothing much has come of the scheme, despite millions of dollars spent over the past couple decades.

Oh, there are the three freeway overpass type bridges, built over dry land, to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island, awaiting a cement lined ditch to be dug under the bridges and filled with diverted Trinity River water.

Those three simple little bridges took an astonishing seven years to build.

And, almost forgot to mention, this vitally needed flood control project is in an area which has not flooded for well over half a century, due to levees installed way back in the 1950s by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Due to the fact that the citizens of Fort Worth were not asked to approve of this project via a bond issue it was determined that federal funds might be acquired. To that end, J.D. Granger was hired to be the director of this public works project, a job for which he had zero credentials or experience, a fact which soon became evident as various malapropisms and public embarrassments ensued.

Why hire J.D. Granger?

Well, his mother, Kay Granger, was the congresswoman representing the district of what became known as the Trinity River Central City Uptown Panther Island District Vision. It was thought giving her son a high paying job directing the Trinity River Vision would motivate his mother to secure federal funds.

When Trump came along Kay tried and failed to secure federal funds. And then gerrymandering moved Kay's district out of the Trinity River Vision zone, causing J.D. to lose his cushy job.

But not before hiring him, after firing him, for six months at $12,000 a month, allegedly so J.D. could share his vast knowledge of the stumbling project with the new people directing it.

And then Biden's Infrastructure bill passed. And suddenly there were federal funds available for Fort Worth's ridiculous Boondoggle, to the tune of around a half billion bucks.

And now we have this latest The new and improved vision for Fort Worth’s Panther Island is about to be unveiled article in the Star-Telegram.

The article contains several Star-Telegram doozies.

Such as...

The presentation comes more than two decades after the first strategic plans for the island were developed and eight years after the last update to Fort Worth’s Panther Island zoning codes. 

More than two decades after the first strategic plans for the island were developed. Uh, the imaginary island did not become part of the nonsense til several years into the Boondoggle.

And then this...

The island is a byproduct of the 1.5-mile channel being built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The channel will connect two sections of the Trinity River north of downtown as a way to improve the city’s flood protection. 

Does no one in Fort Worth know what an island actually is? The channel will connect two sections of the river as a way to improve the city's flood protection? Like we already said, there has been no flood in that area since levees were installed to prevent such. 

Meanwhile, there are other areas of Fort Worth and Tarrant County in dire need of flood mitigation. Such as the Trinity River in East Fort Worth, which floods anytime the river runs high. Or deadly creeks which go into flash flood mode due to poorly planned development.

And this paragraph mentioning Kay's attempt at getting funding, without mentioning Kay...

Congress approved $526 million in 2016, but disagreements with the Trump administration over the project’s feasibility held up funding until the November 2021 passage of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enabled the Army Corps to allocate $403 million toward the project in January 2022. 

And then there is this...

The initial plans for the island’s development focused on dense residential buildings with some commercial spaces. However, a preliminary report from HR&A in August 2023 called for the district to be a mix of residential, entertainment and recreation with the potential to attract companies and talent to the city. 

Was this not what the supposed vision was always seeing, from the start? A mix of residential, entertainment and recreation. But, claiming this might have potential to attract companies and talent to Fort Worth? Well, the town does not have much luck with either, and I doubt the imaginary island will change that.

And, finally, this...

It’s expected to address potential impacts to nearby neighborhoods like the north side where residents have expressed concerns about the island’s impact on the area’s unique culture. HR&A’s August 2023 report said the island should have a distinct culture while at the same time complementing and connecting its surrounding neighborhoods.

Yes, that is totally believable. Residents expressing concern over the imaginary island's impact on the area's unique culture? What culture are we talking about here? The Fort Worth Stockyards? How could the imaginary island impact Fort Worth's one and only legit tourist attraction?

Aren't the people of Fort Worth tired of this Boondoggle? Driving over those three bridges over nothing. Seeing that absurd roundabout with the million-dollar piece of supposed sculptural art which J.D. Granger somehow foisted on the Boondoggle.

Does that massive installation of Trinity River Vision propaganda billboards still exist at Gateway Park, by the Fort Woof Dog Park? Touting all the wonders to come from the Trinity River Vision.

The Boondoggle continues to be so perplexing. Over two decades of being perplexing...

Long Ago Microsoft OneDrive Memory Of Me & My Siblings

The photo you see here showed up this Sunday morning in my email, in the daily Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day.

I do not actually remember this memory. As in why the photo was taken. But, I do remember where the photo was taken. And who is in the photo.

From the left, that is Genora Olson, then my eldest sister, Nancy, then my little brother, Jake, then my little sister, Jackie, then me, being bigger than all of them at that point in time.

Which is no longer the case.

The photo was taken in our front yard, in Burlington, Washington. Our house was at the north side of Burlington's Maiben Park. The Olson's house was at the south side of the park.

I think the last time I saw Genora Olson was way back in the 1990s. In the Mount Vernon Post Office. I remember that incident of seeing Genora because she made some remark about how broad my shoulders are.

A remark I thought a tad odd, as I did not think of myself as having broad shoulders. I'm not actually sure I know what is meant by 'broad shoulders'...

Spring-Like Saturday In Lucy Park

Yesterday, the first day of the third month of 2024, Summer-like weather returned, heating the outer world into the high70s. 

Getting heated that HOT felt real good after the multi-day return to frigid Winter-like weather had North Texas freezing when you take the wind chill factor into account.

And now, on this second day, and first Saturday of the third month of 2024, the temperature is soaring into the 80s. This made for a mighty fine return to Lucy Park, for some nature communing and fast-paced walking.

There were a lot of fellow sun worshipers out and about at Lucy Park today. Most people, and dogs, I have seen in quite some time.

The sky is bright blue, no smoky haze, no smoky smell. The wind switched directions, currently blowing north, instead of south, which brought hazy smoke to town.

I suspect Winter weather is gone for now, not to return til next Winter

Final February Rainy Day Walmart Walk With Alligator Nuggets

I have not ventured into the outer world for walking purposes the past couple days due to cold temperatures and strong winds rendering doing such to be unpleasant.

Today, on the last day of the second month of 2024, we are still cold, not so windy, but rain has been added to the weather mix.

The rain seems to have dampened down the smoke blowing in from the Texas Panhandle wildfires.

So, today, what with beginning to feel the effects of wanton slothfulness, I made my way to my nearest Walmart, for a cart pushing walk with the Walmart throngs.

I walked 44 move minutes, according to my phone's Google Fit app.

During the course of those 44 Walmart Google move minutes I walked by the seafood display. 

Are Gator Nuggets and Filet of Alligator sold in Walmart's outside of the South? That is what you see photo documented above.

I have not had myself any Gator Nuggets or Filet of Alligator, and have zero intention of ever doing so.

I don't even like catfish, which is a sad seafood staple here in the South...

Welcome To Texas Where It Is Often Too Hot To Drive Friendly

Well, the early return to Summer ended overnight, with a fresh blast of cold air blowing in from the North.

Two degrees above freezing when I woke up my computer this morning, a few minutes before the sun arrived to illuminate the day.

And, that cold air blowing in from the north seems to have blown in smoke from the wildfires burning out of control in the Texas Panhandle.

I am assuming the smoke I am smelling is from the wildfires, but have read no confirmation of such.

The return to semi-Winter-like temperatures is not scheduled to last too long. Just a couple days, and then we are back in the 70s and 80s and maybe 90s.

Methinks these balmy days of Winter are a dire indicator that we are heading into a Super Hot Summer...

Wichita Falls 91 Degree High Today

Three days left in the second month of 2024, with North Texas continuing to bake in a Summer-like heat wave.

I'd go swimming today, if my pool was not drained.

I could go swimming in one of the nearby lakes, if I had not determined to never do so again after being chased by a mad turtle in Lake Grapevine, along with seeing a garfish, and water moccasins.

The nearby lakes are all murky, so you can not see what lurks beneath the surface.

Getting Detained In Canada With David, Theo & Ruby

Incoming "Where in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) are David, Ruby?" email showed up this morning when I woke up my computer.

Text in the email indicated this one is too easy to guess where the Tacoma Trio are. Which it clearly is, what with the Slotemaker Road sign indicating the Tacoma Trio were in the Lynden zone, a short distance from the border with Canada.

The rest of the text in the email, that accompanied four instances of photo documentation, was a chilling tale of what it is like these days at the border, a border which used to be super simple to cross, both going to Canada, and coming back to the U.S.

The email text telling the chilling tale is below the next photo.


There seem to be some details missing in this cross border detention tale. They must have somehow accidentally driven across the border. I don't quite know how one might accidentally do that. At the Lynden crossing you clearly know you are at the border, you pass through a checkpoint to enter, something you don't accidentally do.

I am thinking crossing the border has drastically changed since I last did so. Back then you did not even have to show an I.D., let alone a passport. The Canadian border guy would just ask where you're going and if you are all American citizens. Then on the return the American border guy would ask a question or two, like do you have anything to declare that you purchased.

Ok, this one is too easy. But a funny story. Went to Bellingham for a soccer game. Jake and Joe and Monique and Henry came to the game. Henry is a hoot! And Ruby’s team won 1-0, so now they need to come to all the games. After, we hit up Slotemaker road again, had a lovely lunch with Judy and the Whatcom County cousins, visited mom and dad then got ice cream cones at Edeleen. Since we were so close to the border, we drove to show the kids. But we went too far, had to enter Canada, didn’t have ID for the kids and we got detained! I had pics of their passports on my phone and that worked and they gave us paperwork to get back into the US. It was a bit of an ordeal. They even searched our car. So weird!

I am assuming Edeleens is a dairy store selling ice cream that has arrived in Lynden since I was last there, back in August of 2017.

I assume the above is a border marker at the Lynden border location. I do not recollect ever having seen this myself. 

I am assuming the above photo shows Theo, David and Ruby in the detention area, awaiting being cleared for passage back to America.

When my siblings and I were kids we were often taken to Canada by our parental units. Usually entering via the crossing at Blaine, which is the location of the iconic Peace Arch Park. When we were kids we thought it great fun to jump back and forth across the border, thinking it clever to later say we went to Canada 50 times today, or some such number.

I do not recollect ever going to Blaine's Peace Arch Park with David, Theo & Ruby's Mama Michele. Michele is the youngest of my siblings, younger than me by almost two decades...

OneDrive Memory Of Enchanted Rock & Ralph The Swimming Pig

Another Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, which I actually remember, something which does not happen too often with these alleged photo memories.

It was a Winter day, easily could have been in February, during a time when I took myself on a solo roadtrip. 

First night I stayed in Waco, and mountain biked the trails in Waco's Cameron Park.

Second night I stayed in San Marcos, and had fun exploring Aquarena Springs, site of the clearest water I have ever seen, and an abandoned amusement park that one could walk through.

Back during its heyday a pig named Ralph, known as The Swimming Pig, put on a show in Spring Lake. One could watch the show from above the lake, or venture into a submarine viewing venue. 

When I visited one could still climb down into the submarine viewing venue to look deep into the crystal clear water.

Leaving San Marcos I found myself in what is known in Texas as Hill Country. This is where one finds Luckenbach, and many other sites of interest. Eventually I found myself at Enchanted Rock State Park, which is where the above photo was taken, at the top of the rock, using my long-gone Casio digital camera, which had a feature now known as taking a selfie.

Leaving Enchanted Rock I headed south, eventually spending the night in San Antonio, and seeing the Alamo for the first time. That and San Antonio's Riverwalk.

The next morning I got a phone call which caused me to hurry back to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex as quick as possible.

Remembering that phone call, and all the other phone calls that day, is a memory I would have preferred not to have been reminded of today...

Hot Hiking Wichita River Waterfall With No Rattlesnakes

Day five of the early return of Summer, during the final weeks of the Winter of 2024, had me overheating on the final Saturday of February fast hiking the Circle Trail as it meanders east of the Wichita Bluff Nature Area.

Walking this section of the Circle Trail I do not recollect previously making note of the Wichita River waterfall you see below. This is almost as wild a waterfall as that which remains of the original Wichita Falls, located a few miles further downstream.

I have yet to see any reptiles slithering during this current unnatural heat wave. It would seem snakes would slither out of wherever it is they spend the cold time of the year.

Speaking of snakes. The Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup happens in March. I experienced this disturbing event once, earlier in the current century. I made a Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup webpage, which included the first video I made with my long-gone Canon camcorder.

Years ago, that Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup webpage came up #1 when Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup was searched for on Google. I don't know if it shows up at all, anymore. During the time it Googled high that webpage generated a lot of email feedback. Some of which were of the sort that arrived in my email yesterday...

Rattlesnake Roundup

Howdy there.

It's that time of the year again when we're coming back for the killers to them a damn good exposé.  The merchants of death will be dragged through the dirt like they'll always be until such time as the killing ends.

Henry sends his regards by the way.

Robert Piller.

Campaign Against the Trade in Endangered Species...

__________________________

Are rattlesnakes an endangered species? There seem to be plenty of them slithering about. I've happened upon several out in the wild whilst I have been in Texas.

I have zero clue as to who this Henry is who is sending his regards my way...

I opted to take advantage of today's blazing hot sun to get an early start on getting suntanned, preparing to get tropical.

I appear to be a tad sunburned. Methinks such is an optical illusion. That swamp grass on the banks of the Wichita River probably should have had me vigilantly looking out for any snakes in the grass...