The Morning Of The 3rd Saturday Of 2012 Is Freezing In Texas With Turkey

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world, through a window dripping with condensation due to the outer world being chilled to a freezing 32 degrees on this 3rd Saturday of 2012, has me disappointed to have lost so many degrees overnight.

I was sure I was going to go swimming this morning, because we heated well into the 70s yesterday. I had my windows open well into the evening.

I do not ever remember having my windows open in January at my current location on the planet.

CatsPaw is assuming responsibility for my inability to find Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo last night. CatsPaw says she should have been along to provide co-pilot navigation.

I agree.

Changing the subject from CatsPaw back to the weather.

I just realized that even though it is freezing in the outer world, it is not at all cold in my inner world. I've felt to need to turn on the heat. This indicates to me that the drop in temperature must have occurred rapidly and not all that long ago. And that my abode has good insulation.

Changing the subject from my favorite one to something else.

I am cooking a turkey today. I'm glad the temperature has dropped. I don't like being in a hot kitchen with a hot oven with the hot furnace blowing hot air on me.

Turkey lunch will be about 2 this afternoon. Don't be late.

Friday Night's Practice Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo Grand Opening Did Not Go Well For Me

I Think This Is The Camp Bowie Bingo Parking Lot

Well. I have had myself a fun Friday night. I don't remember the last time I drove Camp Bowie Boulevard at night.

I remember the last time I drove Camp Bowie Boulevard in daylight was when my mom and dad were here.

With my mom and dad I drove the bumpy brick section of Camp Bowie Boulevard.

My mom did not like the bumpiness and asked why it does not get fixed. I told my mom it is very perplexing, but somehow the locals have convinced themselves that this bumpy brick road is unique.

My mom said something like "the locals must not get out of town much."

There are very good reasons I think the way I do.

Tonight I exited I-30 at the Camp Bowie West exit. This is past the part of Camp Bowie Boulevard that is made of bricks and is, instead, a modern paved road, with little bumpiness. Except for one horrible pothole that may have done structural damage to my vehicle.

I'd been told that the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo operation was actually in Benbrook, not Fort Worth. This indicated to me that it was located past the booming Camp Bowie zone east of Alta Mere Drive.

I figured it would be easy to find the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo operation.

I figured wrong.

I drove Camp Bowie West, under I-820, plus a couple miles more, before turning around. Without finding any bingo.

I called my dispatcher to find the location. I indicated where I was. I was told that Camp Bowie Bingo was slightly west of Williams Road, east of Las Vegas Trail. I drove east, past Las Vegas Trail, saw no Williams Road, soon came to Alta Mere Drive and realized there was no way Camp Bowie Bingo was east of Alta Mere Drive.

And so I gave up on my plan for Friday night Bingo.

But, making lemonade out of this lemon. I now know the location of the semi-recently opened Camp Bowie Fuzzy's Taco Shop. Plus Mama's Pizza's new Camp Bowie location. And I saw a lot of people outside on the Riscky's BBQ patio, which looked fun, on a warm January Friday night.

But. I saw no Camp Bowie Bingo. And I tried harder to find it than I usually try to find anything.

I am almost 100% certain I was the stupidest person trying to find Camp Bowie Bingo tonight, and no one else had any problem finding it.

I hope everyone had themselves a real fine time and won a lot of bingos. Even though I did not.

Back On Mount Tandy Doing A Forensic Exam Of The Mount Tandy Cable Tripwire

Cable Tripwire At Top Of Mount Tandy

Earlier today I mentioned yesterday's injury caused by a cable on the top of Mount Tandy.

Today I returned to the top of Mount Tandy to do a forensic exam of the cable to see if could determine how I managed to trip on it.

First off, when am I lost in the moment, with my wandering mind wandering, I can get into a bit of an auto-pilot mode.

Being in auto-pilot mode, yesterday, caused me to not notice that the cable had been tightened and raised, with a can tied to it to warn clumsy people of the danger.

So, being in auto-pilot mode, not realizing I should switch to manual pilot mode, my right foot caught the cable on its way over, causing me to lurch forward, causing the cable to cause a gash and scrape on the front on my lower right leg.

I probably should have gone to the ER and gotten stitches, but I suspect the injury will heal on its own, without medical intervention.

If any of you reading this, who hike the Tandy Hills, from the top of Mount Tandy, and I'm sure there are dozens of you, if you are short, like me, with short stubby legs, exercise extreme caution when you cross the Mount Tandy cable.

Particularly if you are clumsy.

The 20th Morning Of 2012 After A Night Of Relative Nightmares With Bingo

I am up well before the dawn of the 20th day of the New Year, looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at an outer world currently chilled to 42 degrees at my location on the planet.

I had a bout of bad nightmares last night. Real bad. The details, little of which I remember. Except for the fact that the nightmares involved relatives.

I like being relatively relative free of direct relative interaction, courtesy of the big buffer between me and any of them. So, when there is a relative intrusion into my Dream World it is unsettling. Even if I can remember none of the details.

Speaking of pains. I neglected to mention I had an accident on the Tandy Hills yesterday.

I had a serious bout of being clumsy as I stepped over the cable that blocks the trail that leads into the Tandy Hills from the top of Mount Tandy. I somehow tripped, with the front of my right lower leg getting hit hard and scraped by the cable. I thought I'd be black and blue in that location by this morning, but that is not the case. No bruising, just a big red scrape with some scabbing action.

Unless we get hit with an Ice Storm today, which is not even remotely in the forecast, I'll be playing bingo tonight at the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Practice Grand Opening.

In the meantime, I am not going swimming.

In The Unlikely Location Of Texas Thinking About Great-Grandma Tillie & A Wiener Dog

Me, My Brother, Great-Grandma Tillie & My Sister

In the picture you are looking at me on the left, my little brother next to me, my Great-Grandma Tillie and my little sister, who was emailing me snow photos yesterday.

My Great-Grandma Tillie was on the boat that brought my Dutch relatives to America, way back in the 1890s. Great-Grandma Tillie was married to my Great-Grandpa John, with Tillie and John being the mom and dad of my dad's dad.

My dad's dad and my dad's dad's dad died before I was born.

It was Great-Grandpa John who made the trek to Washington, a few years after the family landed in America, to the upper northwest part of the state, where he found land that reminded him of Holland.

My Great Grandpa returned to his mom and dad and sister and wife, with tales of giant trees, berries growing wild, and lush land ready for farming. The move was made to Washington, which eventually is how I came to be born there. Well, actually, I was born in Eugene, Oregon. Let's just say this was how I came to be born on the West Coast of America.

Tillie The Wiener Dog

Great-Grandma Tillie was the first human knitting machine I ever knew. I remember getting caps, mittens, sweaters.

Great-Grandma Tillie still had a thick Dutch accent by the time I came around. I learned a few Dutch words. Like "brookies'' means underwear.

Why am I sticking one of yesterday's snow photos, from my sister, in this blogging about my Great-Grandma Tillie?

Well.

That is my ex-wife, all bundled up in winter wear, holding a little wiener dog on a sled. That wiener dog's name is Tillie. Yes, my sister named her new baby after Great-Grandma Tillie.

I am almost 100% certain that Tillie the Wiener Dog is not wearing a dog sweater knitted by her namesake.

I don't know what Great-Grandma Tillie would have thought about knowing a wiener dog would be named after her in the next century. But, I suspect she would be pleased.

Elsie Hotpepper Has Invited Me To Chesapeake Energy's Party In Fort Worth

Just seconds ago I hit the publish button on a blogging about going to tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening of Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo and now I've been invited to another Big Fort Worth Event.

Elsie Hotpepper has invited me to go to the "The Party In Fort Worth."

Tickets are only $200 a person. For your $200 you get to join Chesapeake Energy 'in a treasure trove of opportunity to help make the 2012 Party in Fort Worth the most successful to date.'

Chesapeake Energy is inviting Elsie Hotpepper and me to join them in 'celebrating this wonderful City of Fort Worth and the Buried Treasure beneath our feet - the Barnett Shale.'

Apparently, each year (since 2004) Chesapeake Energy's Party in Fort Worth has raised funds to support the Fort Worth Promotion and Development Fund. This fund promotes Fort Worth as a great business environment, working to attract conventions to Fort Worth's seldom used Convention Center, tourism, and also seeks opportunities for spotlighting in national media Fort Worth's success story as a diverse city with a robust economy, cultural excellence, and an exceptional home for growing families which has left the rest of the World Green with Envy.

The Party in Fort Worth takes place in Fort Worth's seldom used Convention Center on Saturday, February 25, 2012, with auctions, dinner and dancing.

I do not know what is being auctioned. A dance with Betsy Price? Dinner with Aubrey McClendon?

I also do not know what is on the dinner menu at the Party in Fort Worth. I do know that Elsie Hotpepper is real good at dancing. I also assume adult libations will be available at this party, because, I am sure J.D. Granger will be there.

J.D. Granger's mom, Kay, may be at the Party in Fort Worth, too. Perhaps a dance with the Congresswoman will be auctioned.

Tomorrow I Am Going To The Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo Practice Grand Opening & Hope To Figure Out How To Bingo

Tomorrow, Friday, January 20, Paradise Center is having their Practice Grand Opening of Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo.

Paradise Center's Camp Bowie Bingo is located at 8105 Camp Bowie Boulevard West.

Tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening opens at 7pm.

Following tomorrow's Practice Grand Opening, the Official Grand Opening is Friday, February 3.

After the Official Grand Opening, Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo regular operating hours will be Thursday and Friday, 10:30am-2:30pm and Saturdays 12:00-4:00.

You can follow Paradise Center and find Camp Bowie Bingo info on the Paradise Center Facebook page.

Playing Bingo is very stressful for me, what with my Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (AADD), but, I will be there tomorrow and hope someone is there to help me play bingo.

The last time I played bingo my Grandma helped me. That was way back in the last century.

The Shadow Of The HOT Tandy Hills Thin Man Looking North At The Haltom City Water Tower & Not Seeing A Corn Dog

The Shadow Of The Tandy Hills Thin Man

It was back to the Tandy Hills today for my daily dose of endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

The temperature was approaching 70 when I left my abode and headed to the hills.

A couple days ago I was totally under dressed whilst out walking in near freezing weather. Today I was properly dressed for the balmy temperature and, by the time I took a picture of the Shadow of the Tandy Hills Thin Man, the thin man was shirtless, just like a HOT summer day.

That is one of the many things I like about Texas. The schizophrenic weather. One day it will be bone-chilling cold, as cold as any winter day ever was in Washington. And then two days later it is like being back in summer, with temperatures that would pass for a HOT summer day in Washington.

Now that you're making me think about it, with the "it" being the warm temperature, I think I will open my computer room windows and enjoy a balmy breeze.

Okay, I'm back from doing some window opening. Now that feels refreshing.

The Haltom City Water Tower Currently Corn Dog-Free

At one point, when I was on the Tandy Hills today, I was looking north, across the I-30 freeway, and realized the white mushroom tower I saw in the distance must be the infamous Haltom City Water Tower.

I mentioned the infamous Haltom City Water Tower a few days ago in regards to the desire, by some, to sell naming rights to the tower to Sara Lee, which is Haltom City's biggest employer and polluter, to turn the tower into the Haltom City Sara Lee State Fair Corn Dog Tower.

Due to all the controversy over what to do with the Haltom City Water Tower the city is holding a design contest. I don't know what the prize for winning is. Maybe a case of Sara Lee's State Fair Corn Dogs.

Near as I could tell, from a far distance away, the Haltom City Water Tower has not yet been turned into a giant corn dog.

The 19th Day Of 2012 Dawns With Yet One More Nice Day In Texas

We  are looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world as the sun begins its daily lighting and heating duty on the 19th day of 2012.

The sky appears to be clear this morning over the spot in North Texas were I am located.

The outer world is already heated to 43 degrees in my current home zone. My old home zone is below freezing this morning with an icy mess of slipperiness on the ground.

Last night I was emailed some more snow photos from Washington.

I suspect the next photos I'll be being emailed from Washington will be flood pictures.

Pictures Of Today's Washington Snow Day With Things Texans Say When It Snows

In the first picture you are looking at what I believe is the north shore of Big Lake. Big Lake is a big lake in the Skagit Valley of Washington, located about 2 miles to the east of the location of my former abode in Mount Vernon.

Before my brother moved to Arizona he lived in a house on a hill that overlooked Big Lake. Currently the only person I know who lives at Big Lake is my brother's first ex-wife, my favorite ex-sister-in-law, Spencer Jack's Grandma.

My Sister's Front Yard In Kent

For Texans topographically used to flatness, that white covered object in the background, in the Big Lake picture, is what is known as a foothill.

This particular foothill is a foothill of the Cascade Mountains.

If the view turned just a bit to the left you would see yourself some Cascade Mountains, including the Mount Baker volcano, if the sky was cleared of clouds.

The non-Big Lake snow day pictures are from my sister, playing out in the snow, whilst snowbound, in the south King County suburb of Seattle called Kent.

The #1 Vehicle In Washington Today Is A Sled

From my sister's location, above Lake Meridian, there is no direction she can go without having to deal with a hill. So, til the slipperiness subsides, my sister is driving nowhere, even though she has a 4 wheel drive Honda SUV.

I can not tell if that is my sister or my ex-wife sledding solo down a steep hill.

I thought I was going to get some pictures of Tilly the Dachshund on a sled. Apparently Tilly has specially made winter outerwear. I do not know if Tilly's older siblings, Rosie the Rat Dog and Bean have winter outerwear.

I suspect Rosie likely stays away from the snow. Rosie the Rat Dog is something like 40 years old, wrinkled, with failing eyes. Still cute though.

The only text in the email that contained my sister's snow photos said, "I should know better than to walk a mile in snow, get on a sled, go down a hill and expect for it to turn out okay!"

My Sister & Ex-Wife Caught Possibly Illegally Sledding

I do not know what did not turn out okay. However, there was one photo of a firetruck, at least I think it was a firetruck.

In the last photo it appears that my sister, on the left, and my ex-wife, on the right, have their hands in the air, as if a law enforcement officer has ordered them assume that position.

I have no idea why my ex-wife has been cut-off at the knees. I'm guessing what ever the story is, it is not a tragedy.

Meanwhile, over on Facebook, I think it was MLK who posted an amusing video of a guy in Seattle saying various things the locals say about the snow when a rare occurrence, like today's Snow Day, happens. Methinks Texans might be heard saying similar things during a rare Texas Snow Day, except for any mountain or public transit references (View Part 2 of Seattle People Snow Taking at the end of the video. It is funnier and mentions Sedro Woolley. Twice) ....