Learning Continuous Chest Compression CPR To Save Gar The Texan

This particular blogging is what is known as a Public Service Announcement.

According to Wikipedia, "A public service announcement (PSA) or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media. Whereas the objective of a standard advertisement is to market a product, a PSA is intended to change the public interest, by raising awareness of an issue, affecting public attitudes, and potentially stimulating action."

I'll get to the PSA in a second or two. First I must say that Betty Jo Bouvier regularly sends me email that ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime. This morning's ridiculousness, from Betty Jo, was the latest installment of the Women of Wal-Mart. This morning's sublime, from Betty Jo, was a lot of cute animals and a Public Service Announcement YouTube video from the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

I have never been in a situation where I wish I knew what to do if someone went into Cardiac Arrest. I have been told, a time or two, that I should learn what to do.

The only time that I recollect that I have been in a situation where someone was in dire need of medical attention were multiple incidents of Gar the Texan having diabetic attacks of the vapors.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine has developed a new CPR technique that is much more effective and easier to perform than the old technique.

Every 3 days more Americans die from cardiac arrest than the total killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Continuous Chest Compression CPR is a use your hands only method of CPR that doubles the chance of a person surviving cardiac arrest. It is easy to do, easy to learn. And requires no mouth to mouth contact. Which is a significant benefit of this technique when one thinks of the possibility of dealing with someone like Gar the Texan's cardiac arrest.

Below is a YouTube video from the University of Arizona College of Medicine that explains this new CPR technique. Methinks it behooves everyone to learn this....

The 2nd Friday Of February In Texas With Leaking Eyes Not Caused By Hay Bales

The view is blue from my primary viewing portal on the outer world on this 2nd Friday of the 2nd month of 2012.

Already over a 3rd of this 2nd month of 2012 is history. Soon it will be Spring and shivering will be a thing of the past.

This Friday morning it is not too shiveringly cold at 11 degrees  above freezing.

I am really growing tired of whatever it is that is polluting the air that I breathe that is causing me for the first time ever to constantly require nasal spray intervention to keep my respiratory system functioning.

I have not read much of late regarding the apparent fact that children living in the Barnett Shale polluted zone have something like a 25% asthma rate, where the norm for kids in non-Barnett Shale zones is something like 9%.

The only thing I ever had any sort of allergic reaction, prior to moving to Texas, was to hay, that being hay inside of a barn. And that reaction was mild and only followed hours of playing in tunnels made with hay bales.

I have not been in a single hay bale tunnel since I have been in Texas.

Today I Made It Past Tandy Hill's Raw Sewage Ruts To The Crystal Clear Water Of Tandy Falls

The Crystal Clear Waters Of Tandy Creek

In the picture you are looking at ripples in the crystal clear water beneath Tandy Falls, with the ripples caused by the falls falling over the Tandy Escarpment.

It is a miracle of the cleansing nature of Mother Nature that the waters of Tandy Creek are back running clear.

Today I parked on top of Mount Tandy and made my way down the north side of the mountain to the site of the recent massive raw sewage spill that ran in to Tandy Creek and then in to the Trinity River, eventually making it all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

I can not help but wonder how many municipalities downstream from Fort Worth take their drinking water from the Trinity River?

I can also not help but wonder if the City of Fort Worth warned municipalities downstream that a massive raw sewage spill had contaminated the Trinity River?

Or is raw sewage spilling into creeks and rivers just the norm in this part of the planet and not worthy of concern? Or worthy of letting anyone know you've had a bad boo-boo?

Tandy Highway Massive Raw Sewage Ruts

In the picture on the left you are looking at the extremely rutted remains of the sewage sludge left behind on the Tandy Highway by the recent raw sewage spill.

As you can see, the most recent work on the pipelines has left the area even more rutted than it was a couple days ago.

It was a bit of a challenge to make my way to the crystal clear waters of Tandy Creek, avoiding stepping where raw sewage recently flowed.

But I made it.

Give it time and the scars of this most recent man-made environmental damage to the Tandy Hills will heal.

I hope.

The 2nd Thursday Of The 2nd Month Of 2012 In Texas Thinking About Moving To Washington Where You Can Now Marry The Girl Or Boy Of Your Dreams

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell as the sun begins to arrive on the morning of the 2nd Thursday of the 2nd month of 2012 it appears the sky is without clouds, even though my weather predictor says it will be cloudy today.

Currently, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device, it is only 4 degrees above freezing in the outer world at my location.

If I do any hill hiking today I will be wearing an appropriate level of layers of clothing, unlike yesterday's chill inducing lack of an appropriate level of layers of clothing.

Changing the subject from getting chilly to getting married.

Yesterday I was surprised to learn that my former state of residence, that being the State of Washington, has approved same sex marriage. I would expect such a thing from a liberal, progressive state like Texas, but for repressive, conservative Washington to approve such a thing? That is just really surprising to me.

I guess this news means I can now move back to Washington and marry either the girl or the boy of my dreams.

Which, apparently, is progress.

Before I make the move back to Washington I wish I could say I was going swimming this morning, but I can't.

It is too cold.

If only I was fatter, with a better developed layer of insulative adipose tissue I might be able to continue to enjoy the salubrious benefits of swimming, even when it is cold.

Delicate Arch Evidence That Texas Has Aged Me Beyond My Years

Tonight I was looking for a picture of myself when I was fatter than I am now, due to having a use for a picture of myself being fatter than I am now.

But, I could not find a picture of myself being fatter than I am now.

While looking for a fat picture I came upon one of my all time favorite pictures. I applied the Picasa Picnik CinemaScope filter to the picture, which explains the black bars at top and bottom.

This picture was taken about a year before I moved to Texas. I'd been stuck on a Lake Powell Houseboat for 4 days, and then to Moab, where eventually we went to Arches National Park and hiked to Delicate Arch, which is what is in the background in the picture.

Looking at this picture it is appalling to see such stark evidence of the degree to which Texas and its harsh climate has so greatly aged me. Maybe the passage of 12 years made some contribution.

On The Tandy Hills Enjoying New Brush Free Vistas

The New Nude Tandy Mesa

It was barely 40 when I took off for the Tandy Hills a few minutes before noon. I did not realize til I got cold that today required long pants.

Lacking long big boy pants caused me to need to run up the hills in order to warm up.

I parked on View Street to enter the hills via the main entry point. Off the main trail, I took the first option to the right.

I was soon surprised to see the formerly brushy view totally altered by Saturday's Brush Bash, with there now being a clear view of a now bare, flat mesa.

I am thinking this newly bared, flat mesa is going to provide a colorful wildflower vista in a couple months.

I heard no unseemly motorized vehicle noises today. I did not get near the site of the recent massive Tandy Hills Raw Sewage Spill to see if the ecological disaster is still being worked on.

Or cleaned up.

The 2nd Tuesday Of February Dawns Bright White After A Night Of Too Much Repartee

When I looked out my primary viewing portal on the outer world at the pre-dawn darkness on this second Tuesday of the second month of 2012 a bright flash of white temporarily blinded me.

When the temporary blinding abated I could see that the sun was beginning to light up what appears to be a partly cloudy sky.

Last night, when I turned off my TV, Mitt Romney was leading in Colorado. By morning Rick Santorum had won Colorado. And Minnesota and Missouri. And not by a small margin.

Methinks the Republicans are messing up real bad and the result will be 4 more years of Barack Obama.

Last night, for the first time in a long time, I exchanged multiple messages with Wee Cheng in Singapore. Wee asked me if Obama was a Republican or a Democrat. Wee said she likes Obama.

Last night, in addition to Wee, I had multiple messages going from various sources. Both my monitors were popping up with messages. Facebook  messages, Facebook comments, blog comments and email.

It can get confusing. When making rapid comments I tend to go short, succinct and snarky. And try to be a bit amusing and possibly witty.

Trouble is, if it is multiple messages going on to multiple people I lose track of who I need to be totally literal with and who can handle obtuse humor. With the non-literal, banter is more easily exchanged, With the literal I can go off the rails, with those earnest types confused.

By 11, last night, I was tired of too much messaging and went to bed, where I think nightmares caused the erratic messaging to continue.

I am looking forward to today being a message free day. If you email me, Facebook me or comment me and I do not reply, that is why.

Playing With Long Necked Fosdic Lake Birds Thinking About Foregoing Wells Fargo Bank

In the center of the picture is a long necked bird standing in the shallows of Fosdic Lake, in Oakland Lake Park, surrounded by sticks.

The long necked bird seemed not to care at all that I was near. Usually the long necked birds are a bit on the skittish side and are quick to take flight.

Fosdic Lake was seeming a bit on the full side today. I have no idea if Fosdic Lake is having its water elevation raised by any of Fort Worth's multiple water and sanitary sewer line leaks.

I started off today feeling quite the ball of energy.

Then, before I went to visit the birds who float on Fosdic Lake, I went to Wells Fargo Bank. Suffice to say, Wells Fargo Bank aggravated me. I believe Well Fargo Bank is in some sort of hot water due to bad deeds done in the whole home foreclosure mess. Wells Fargo Bank seems to be a not too competently run bank.

But, the tellers are friendly.

My other bank, First Convenience, which I took to calling First Inconvenience, a year ago, when first opening an account, has turned out to be a perfectly fine and convenient bank.

I think Wells Fargo will become Wells Forgo, soon.

And on the temperature news front. It is only 57 degrees in the outer world at my location, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device. But, I was feeling overheated in my interior space, so I've opened windows.

I fear I may be in the first throes of Male Menopause and may be having Hot Flashes.

It is almost always something. And usually it is aggravating.

Spencer Jack Enjoying Waterfront Not Brought About By Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger's Corrupt Earmarking

Spencer Jack Climbing On Larrabee Rocks

My nephew of late has been sending me pictures of my great nephew Spencer Jack in danger.

If I remember right I blogged about my Nephews in Danger last week.

My nephew's photos of Spencer Jack exploring some of my favorite places has the effect of making me a bit homesick.

The picture you see here is Spencer Jack exploring the rocky beach at Larrabee State Park.

Larrabee State Park was established in 1915 as Washington's first state park.

The water you see in the picture is saltwater. I'm not quite sure of my geography. This saltwater is either at the northern reaches of Puget Sound or the eastern reaches of the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

What I do know, for certain, is this big body of water was the not result of any demented River Vision Boondoggle created to give Western Washington some waterfront property and a local congresswoman's son a job.

Speaking of which, just minutes ago I heard from Beale that the Washington Post has an article today titled "Congressional earmarks sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers' properties", in which mention is made of the nefarious earmark dealings of Fort Worth's controversial congresswoman, the mother of J.D., Kay.Granger.

Congresswoman Kay's earmarks send money to the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle to help fund Fort Worth's important public works project that will give the town a little lake, some canals and an un-needed flood diversion channel, with some nondescript bridges across the un-needed flood diversion channel.

Oh, and to give her son, J.D., a job.

For which he has zero qualifications.

Nepotism was banned years ago from Fort Worth dictionaries.

Meanwhile, up in Washington, my great nephew, Spencer Jack, is enjoying countless miles of waterfront hiking, courtesy of Mother Nature, not Mother Kay.

The First Tuesday Pre-Dawn Of February In Texas Is Glowing Golden

I am up well before the sun on this first Tuesday of the second month of 2012, looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at a pool of water glowing golden and turquoise.

This year's February has 29 days. Which would seem to indicate almost 25% of February has already passed into history.

And that a lot of people will be having their first birthday party in 4 years this coming February 29. I am not certain, but I think those born on February 29 are called Leap Year Babies.

Before the arrival of the golden orb in the sky to begin its daily heating duty we are already warmed to 47 degrees in the outer world at my location, heading to a high of 59 today, if those who predict such things are correct in their prediction.

The time of the year is rapidly approaching where I will be able to say, every morning, I am going swimming now. I look forward to that day.

I think my aerobic stimulation today will once again come from running up the hills of Tandy. I will need such a break after multiple hours of re-tooling webpages.

Looking At The Dry Tandy Raw Sewage River Wondering If Fort Worth Is The Leakiest City In America

Tandy Raw Sewage Semi-Dried Riverbed

It was not all that many degrees above freezing when I hit the Hills of Tandy today to run at high speed up 7 hills, both to warm myself up and to finally get rid of feeling bloated from yesterday's Super Bowl overindulgence.

As I was nearing the end of today's endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation, a convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks was making its way down the Tandy Highway towards the site of the recent massive raw sewage spill.

A convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks makes quite a loud racket, with a lot of beeping and revving engines, disrupting the peace and quiet of the Tandy Hills Natural Sanatorium Area.

As you see in the picture above, the river of raw sewage has ceased flowing down the Tandy Highway.

What remains is a riverbed of raw sewage muck.

Perhaps the convoy of Fort Worth Water Works trucks was heading towards doing some environmental cleanup.

I suspect, though, that that was not the case.

I really don't think very many people in this part of the planet are all that concerned about raw sewage flowing into creeks and rivers.

Though there was a matter of fact mention in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram of the chronic problem of Fort Worth's water pipes and sanitary sewer pipes, breaking and spilling.

But, as we all know, we have more important things to worry about spending money on in Fort Worth than the water/sewer infrastructure. Or sidewalks.

The Trinity River Vision Boondoggle and its billion dollar price tag, that's the priority project for this town.

A town in dire need of having a little lake, some canals and an un-needed flood diversion channel to replace flood control levees which have worked fine for longer than half a century.

With all of Fort Worth's water main and sanitary sewer breaks I wonder if the town can lay claim to being the leakiest town in America?

Yet one more thing about Fort Worth that has towns far and wide Green with Envy.

The Monday Morning Post Super Bowl Bad Commercials Muted Madonna Blues

Looking out my primary viewing portal on the outer world on this first Monday of the second month of 2012, the view is frosty this morning, with this morning's frostiness caused by the outer world, at my location, being chilled to a freezing temperature of 32 degrees.

I was up real late on Super Bowl Sunday, causing me to be up late on post Super Bowl Monday.

I actually watched the entire Super Bowl. I think I have only done that once before, that being the one and only time the Seattle Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl.

I think it is time to retire the myth that Super Bowl commercials are all that special. This year, once again, for the most part, the commercials were not very memorable. Or just downright embarrassing.

Methinks whoever signed off on that Audi commercial with vampires needs to lose his or her job.

I don't think the Coca-Cola Polar Bears are cute. And being able to interact with them via a smart phone ap is just silly.

I did not like seeing Grandma launch a baby with a sling shot to grab a bag of Doritos from the baby's big brother. That seemed like baby endangerment to me. That and baby's should not be eating Doritos.

The commercial for a new Chevy car called Sonic was really bad and really made no sense to me. I kept thinking it was the burger chain being advertised until the end of the ad.

Most of the beer commercials were not at all good. And certainly did not motivate me to want to try Platinum Beer.

The exception to the bad beer commercials was one for Budweiser with an End of Prohibition theme.

Another commercial that I liked was the dog going on a diet. But, sadly, this commercial did not imprint on me what it was an advertisement for.

And then there was the Madonna Halftime Show. This was a suitably slick over production. But, on my TV, Madonna's vocals were way too muted.

I spent way too much of the Super Bowl feeling bloated after having over eaten.

I'm still feeling bloated this morning. I wish a swim was in my future today. I know some hill hiking is. That and spending way to many hours upgrading a way too technical website.

A Super Bowl Sunday Walk With The Village Creek Indian Ghosts While Chili Simmers

Village Creek Unpaved Trail

Around noon I felt the need to leave my giant simmering pot of Super Bowl Chili to go walk with the Native American Ghosts who haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area in Arlington.

I don't know if the Indian Ghosts were as cold as I was today.

Soon upon hitting the ground I found myself jogging to try and warm up.

It was barely 40 degrees when I communed with nature. Only 43, right now, about 2 and a half hours before the Super Bowl starts bowling.

I forgot to previously mention that last night I went to Wal-Mart to stock up on Super Bowl supplies. Saturday night is always, reliably, the most entertaining time to visit Wal-Mart.

Every once in awhile Betty Jo Bouvier emails me a collection of photos titled "People of Wal-Mart."

Last night, for the first time ever, I saw someone worthy of being in Betty Jo's "People of Wal-Mart" collection.

It was a plus-sized woman, walking with a man in army camouflage attire. The woman was wearing ultra-short shorts that left the lower third of her buttocks exposed. Almost all exposed flesh had tattoos, including the exposed part of the buttocks. A large area of her breast zone was also exposed. And tattooed.

When I described this appalling spectacle to someone later, I said if I were a cop I would have arrested her for indecent exposure.

This woman was walking out of Wal-Mart as I walked in. The looks on the faces of my fellow shoppers told me I was not the only person appalled at the spectacle.

Now, I must cease thinking about last night's spectacle at Wal-Mart and finish setting up the buffet table for my Super Bowl Party.

Super Bowl Sunday Dawns Bright In Texas With A Big Bowl Of Chili & Chicken Wings

The first Sunday of the second month of 2012 has dawned chilly enough to require the turning on of my furnace.

As you can see, via the view through the bars of my patio prison cell, the biggest holiday of the year, Super Bowl Sunday, is looking serene and peaceful at my location on this troubled planet.

I now know who is playing in the Super Bowl.

It is the New York Giants against America's Team, the New England Patriots.

Apparently the New England Patriots have won the Super Bowl 4 times. It seems appropriate, to me, that a team named "Patriots" would be America's Team rather than a team of "Cowboys".

Over 111 million football fans are going to be joining me watching Super Bowl XLVI.

Why does the Super Bowl persist in using the pretentious Roman Numeral counting method? I'm guessing around 99% of football fans could not count using Roman Numerals if their life depended on it. I know I can't. I think VI may be 6. Is XL 60? With X being 50 and L being 10? Making this Super Bowl 66? Or is XL 50 minus 10? Making it Super Bowl 46?

The only part of it I am remotely looking forward to is my Super Bowl Party and the Madonna halftime show.

For my Super Bowl Party I've made the biggest pot of chili I've ever made. Along with pico de gallo, guacamole, dozens of chicken wings, 3 pumpkin pies and fixin's for multiple platters of nachos.

I think I will go running the Tandy Hills around noon to help increase my calorie deficit in preparation for my Super Bowl Party.

Checking On The Tandy Hills Brush Bashers & The No Longer Flowing Tandy Raw Sewage River

Tandy Brush Bashers In Action

Today, Saturday, was the day scheduled for those who feel the need to bash brush, to do so on the Tandy Hills.

Personally, I have no particular aversion to non-native vegetation wreaking havoc with the natural state of the Tandy Hills Natural Prairie.

So, I don't bash brush.

Now, if there was a Tandy Hills Wrecked Vehicles Bash, that I might participate in.

I probably would not participate in a Tandy Hills Creek Litter Bash, due to the fact that it seems so futile. You bash the litter, and then it quickly returns.

I might sign on to a Tandy Hills Sanitary Sewer Line Bash, due to the fact that the sewer lines which run through the Tandy Hills seem to regularly add an unwanted natural element to the hills.

Sanitary Sewer Workers Plugging A Raw Sewage Leak

Today I was pleased to see that the raging river of raw sewage that had turned the Tandy Highway into the Tandy Raw Sewage River, has been stopped.

As you can see in the picture, Fort Worth Sanitary Sewer work trucks were on the job today.

I walked up to one of the Sanitary Sewer workers. He asked if I was lost. I said I was not lost, I was hiking.

He then told me I did not want to go that way, pointing towards the former river of raw sewage, telling me that it was too muddy to walk on.

I told him I knew about the sewer break. I asked if it was fixed. He said that it was. He then shook his head and said it was really bad.

The Sanitary Sewer Worker then told me to "take care". Since English was not his first language I don't think he realized that this trite cliche was a bit out of place.

It is going to be awhile before I walk on the ground where so much raw sewage flowed. All that fertilizer should sprout some interesting vegetation in a couple months.

The First Saturday Of February Dawns Steamy In Texas

The view from my primary viewing portal on the outer world appears to be a bit steamy on this first Saturday of the second month of 2012.

I don't know why I'm looking at a steamy view. It is not freezing. The temperature is currently 12 degrees above freezing.

I did not remember, until it was too late, that last night was the Grand Opening of the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo. No one reminded me. I need reminders. Or I don't remember.

In a couple hours there will be throngs of Brush Bashers bashing brush on the Tandy Hills. I am not a big fan of communal brush bashing, so I suspect I will likely not be doing any brush bashing today.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. One of my favorite holidays of the year. I probably should go to the bother of finding out who is playing in the Super Bowl this year, prior to the event taking place. I do know America's Former Team, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Seattle Seahawks, are not in this year's Super Bowl.

Yesterday's predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms did not materialize at my location. All that fell from the sky was the usual pollution, a short period of light rain and some drizzle.

I also know I am not going swimming now, though I wish I was.

Pondering Me & Gar The Texan's Historical Ignorance About Riverboats & Charlie Chaplin

Earlier today I read a blogging written by Gar the Texan in which he claimed I had apparently commented on his lack of historical knowledge.

I do not recollect making such a comment, but I can see where such a comment may have been made, due to the fact I remember when it came as a surprise  to Gar the Texan, when he stood at the location, in the now defunct Heritage Park, of Camp Worth, later named Fort Worth, where he marveled at the idea that Fort Worth had once actually been a fort.

Another time, Gar the Texan made it apparent he did not realize when he was in Shreveport, in casinos, that those casinos were riverboats floating on the Red River. Gar the Texan did not know that Shreveport was a port. Let alone the fact that the town had a famous river running through it.

The worst case of Gar the Texan's historical ignorance came when he went to a Beatles tribute concert type thing at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. Gar the Texan opined, on his blog, as if the Beatles were a revelation, about which he previously was not aware.

I was appalled. Methinks the vast majority of Americans are aware of the effect the Beatles had on American and World pop culture. The effects of which continue to this day. Things like Coldplay and Maroon Five come to mind.

Now, let us leave Gar the Texan's ignorance and focus on mine.

A decade or two ago, when I was in college, I took a class in Cinema History. During that class we had to watch several Charlie Chaplin movies from the silent era.

Like Gold Rush.

At that point in time I did not get why anyone found Charlie Chaplin amusing. Or a genius.

And now, decades later, I found myself watching Chaplin's City Lights, with the final scene thought by many to be the finest acting ever recorded on film.

And the last silent film ever made. Chaplin's 1936 film, Modern Times.

I now totally get the fact that Charlie Chaplin was an absolute genius. And incredibly funny.

Modern Times, while supposedly silent, well after talkies began, actually is not silent. It is such a good movie, if it did not already exist, if someone filmed the same exact movie today, it would be up for an Academy Award, I have no doubt.

Which brings me to the Great Dictator. Charlie Chaplin's 1940 movie that took on the absurdity that was Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Watch the YouTube clip below of the final scene from the Great Dictator and you will experience the brilliance of Charlie Chaplin and you may make note of the fact that what he says is totally applicable to 2012....

The First Friday Of February Is Jalapeno HOT In Texas In More Ways Than One

Currently, coming up on 4 in the afternoon, the sun is shining through thinning clouds. It is humid. 71 degree. I have my windows open.

This time last year I was fighting frostbite.

In the noon time frame I took off, heading to the Village Creek Natural Historical Area, to get my daily endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation. And then on to ALDI to get Super Bowl Party supplies.

By the time I reached Village Creek precipitation was precipitating. So, I bailed on getting any endorphins and continued on to ALDI.

When I returned to my abode I made lunch and then after lunch I made what currently appears to have been a mistake.

I am making a HUGE batch of chili for my Super Bowl Party. 15 pounds of ground beef product, currently slow cooking in the oven.

I chopped up 9 jalapenos and 2 poblano peppers to add to the chili beef product while it slow cooked.

I was careful to rigorously scrub my hands with soap and water after chopping up the jalapenos. Usually this removes the Capsicum, which causes the burning.

But not today.

My right hand, the one that holds the jalapenos while my left hand cuts them up, is burning. A momentary lapse had me touching my right eye zone with my right hand, causing more burning.

I need not detail all the locations that are currently on fire. Suffice to say, I must find another means to chop up multiple jalapenos in the future.

I understand there is a product called a kitchen glove that might be useful.

Spencer Jack Is a Great Nephew In Danger

Spencer Jack & Whatcom Falls

That is my great nephew, Spencer Jack, standing on the bridge in front of Whatcom Falls in Whatcom Falls Park in Bellingham, Washington.

Spencer Jack's dad, my nephew Jason, has been taking Spencer Jack to the various places I used to take my nephews when they were little kids.

My nephew calls me FUD, the initials mean "Favorite Uncle D."

Regarding me taking my nephews to various locales my nephew had this to say, which made me feel good, "Time limits us to a local adventure each week, but as I learned from FUD, there is much to do.  You proved that to me and brother Joe years ago. We always looked forward to our Uncle outtings that freed us from our parents."

I used to enjoy the nephew adventures too. My nephews would be appalled to see what passes for a scenic hiking location for me these days.

Years ago, after the Statute of Limitations had passed, I made a bunch of webpages along the theme of "Nephews in Danger."

There is a park in Anacortes called Washington Park. There is a very scenic drive through Washington Park. At the final scenic viewpoint you are quite high above the saltwater below. I had explored all over these cliffs and bluffs. There are miles of trail. From the scenic overlook I hiked with my nephews down to the water. My nephews took their mom and dad to Washington Park and when they reached the scenic overlook they told their parental units that they hiked all the way to the water with FUD.

My brother, and his then wife, had never bothered to get out of their car to see that it is totally doable, and safe, to hike to the water.

I got a phone call from my brother scolding me about putting my "Nephews in Danger."

From that point forward my adventures with my nephews were called "Nephews in Danger."

Spencer Jack Is Looking Concerned

This is why the subject line of the email containing the Whatcom Falls pictures said "Great Nephews in Danger."

So, like I said, years ago, over a decade ago, actually, I webpaged " Nephews in Danger."

I Googled "Nephews in Danger" last night to see if I still had those webpages online. I was surprised to see that I had previously blogged about "Nephews in Danger."

I don't think the Nephews in Danger webpages are indexed by Google, but they are still online amongst my appallingly large number of web files.

I was surprised when I saw that the decade plus old Nephews in Danger webpages no longer worked right.

A long long time ago there was this now long ago outdated webpage making method called Frames. I did not realize, til last night, that modern day browsers no longer, apparently, support framed webpages. So, if you go to Nephews in Danger and click on a link, rather than open in the main frame, the page opens in its own tab or window.

Anyway.

Looking at the old pictures of Nephews in Danger made me both nostalgic and homesick. Those Nephews in Danger episodes seem so recent, in my memory, but they all took place in the last decade of the previous century.

The Dark Drought Free Dawn Of The 3rd Morning Of February In Texas

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell, this third dark morning of February, you might guess, due to the grayish look to the sky above the pool, that we are under a cloud cover at my location on the planet.

You would be guessing correctly.

I was surprised when I stepped outside this morning to find myself being moisturized by a fine mist.

A couple downpours hit the ground before midnight last night.

With those downpours last night and the deluge from last week, apparently, this was enough water for something called the U.S. Drought Monitor to claim that the Great Texas Drought is over for the Dallas/Fort Worth zone.

According to these drought monitors a section of North Texas making up under 5 percent of the state is  now at drought free status.. This leaves almost 60 percent of Texas still too dry, with an extreme drought, and 27 percent of Texas parched at the highest level of drought.

Last night was warm to an almost borderline summer heat level of HOT. I do not recollect sleeping cover free at this time of year before. Last year at this time the furnace was running around the clock to combat the frigid freeze.

Even though it is 62 degrees this morning, I don't think I will be going swimming.

A Smoky Return To The Tandy Hills Where The Raw Sewage Still Flows

The Smoky Skyline View Of
 Beautiful Downtown Fort Worth

I enjoyed the Tandy Hills so much yesterday, even with the shocking massive raw sewage spill, that I returned today.

The shocking massive raw sewage spill is still spilling.

But, I just got a message from Don Young telling me that the city is now aware they have a problem.

Doesn't the EPA issue fines for this type of thing?

The raw sewage was still flowing today.

If the raw sewage ever stops flowing it is going to be awhile before I'll be wanting to walk on that sewage tainted ground.

I wonder if this spill will qualify as a Superfund Cleanup Site?

Continuing with the pollution theme. Looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth today, the view was through a thick smoky haze.

Last night I was impressed with how much smoke the Woodshed Smokehouse was spewing. The Woodshed Smokehouse smoke made for a hazy view across the Trinity River last night as the sun was setting.

I am almost 100% today's smoky haze has been caused by Fort Worth's newest restaurant.

We are currently scheduled for some stormy weather during the coming 48 hours. I hope this stormy weather does some good air cleaning.

The Very Dark Morning Of The 2nd Day Of February With A Barbecue Hangover

Looking out my primary viewing portal on this second morning of February it is dark, very very dark.

My eyes are burning bad this morning. As bad as if someone was blowing smoke in my eyes.

I do not think my burning eyes are a residual effect from visiting the smoke, last night, that spews from the Woodshed Smokehouse.

I do think that last night's nightmares, that featured Granny Grassroots, were a residual effect from visiting the Woodshed Smokehouse.

I think I may have consumed too many barbecue products last night, which may have been what helped cause the disturbing nightmares.

Changing the subject from smoke, Granny Grassroots and nightmares to my favorite subject.

The sun has now arrived, turning the formerly dark view from my primary viewing portal to a bright view. I can see that, currently, the sky is free of clouds at my location on the planet.

Currently, according to my computer based temperature monitoring device it is 49 degrees. I think a return to the raw sewage of the Tandy Hills is in my future today.

And no swimming.

The Occupy The Woodshed Smokehouse Event Had A Good Menu & Music & Tim Love BBQing In Cowboy Boots

Flush The Shed Down The River

Since this Occupy thing started happening all over the world I have not been to any Occupy thing.

Until tonight.

I found myself part of an Occupy Woodshed group.

I did not know what to expect.

Upon arrival I was given my Occupy Uniform in the form of a black t-shirt that Xed out Trinity Uptown on the front and said Save a River Save a Billion on the back.

I did not put on my Occupy Uniform because I already was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt. This made sense at the time I decided not to put on the Occupy Uniform.

A Group Of Woodshed Occupiers In Uniform

Occupy Woodshed seemed to be a very festive affair. Sort of like a party. A band provided music. We had our own Woodshed picnic table, to occupy, and a very pleasant Woodshed Smokehouse waitress brought drinks and vittles. For some reason I thought these Occupy things were more of a roughing it experience. I did not realize at Occupy Events there are menus and waitresses.

I now understand why the Occupy Movement is so popular.

A Couple Of  Woodshed Occupiers Enjoying Some Woodshed Grub

The Woodshed Smokehouse spews out an awful lot of smoke. Between all that wood smoke and all the humans smoking tobacco based products, some of which were home grown and organic, I believe I breathed in an awful lot of carcinogens tonight. I had to take a shower as soon as I got back to my abode to wash out the smoke smell.

Skinny Blonde Woodshed Occupier

I saw Tim Love several times tonight. He was wearing a cowboy hat, way too tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. The Occupiers tried to get the waitress to get Tim Love to come by for a group picture. But, that did not happen.

The skinny blonde in the sunglasses, who looks like a movie star, was the only one of the Occupy Woodshed people I saw who were occupying any space outside of the Woodshed Smokehouse.

After the sun exited for the day, J.D. Granger showed up. But not with a beautiful, buxom blonde. J.D. Granger had a kid with him. I suspect one of his offspring.

I expected Elsie Hotpepper to be at the Woodshed tonight. Elsie had told me she would be there for certain. But, Elsie was a no show. Elsie Hotpepper is so unreliable.

Today I Was Shocked To Find The Tandy Highway Has Turned Into The Tandy Sewer River

Tandy Trojan Horse On Roof Of House

Today was the first day I have been back on the Tandy Hills since our recent deluge.

I parked on top of Mount Tandy, under the Fort Worth Space Needle. The trail down Mount Tandy, leading to the trail junction, where the choices are to go north or south, was a bit damp.

At the trail junction I saw that the Tandy Trojan Horse had moved on top of the house that arrived a couple weeks ago.

As you can see looking at the stunning skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth, it is partially cloudy today. What you can't see is that it is quite warm. Currently 70.

At the trail junction I chose to take the north option, planning to cross Tandy Falls. I was soon shocked to find that doing so is currently not possible.

Tandy River Sewer Flood

Last week Stenotrophomonas told me that after the rain the Tandy Highway had turned into the Tandy River.

Today when I got to the bottom of Mount Tandy and saw the Tandy Highway I was very surprised to see that it is still being the Tandy River, more than a week after we got around 4 inches of rain.

There have been plenty of times more than 4 inches of rain has fallen on the Tandy Hills, without turning the Tandy Highway into a river.

I was very perplexed.

Due to being blocked by the river I could not make it to the Tandy Falls crossing. So, I backtracked back up Mount Tandy, to go down the south trail option to the Tandy Highway.

When I reached the Tandy Highway from the south trail I expected to see it covered with running water. But, it was dry.

Now I was even more perplexed.

Perplexed due to the fact that there are no creek crossings, or water sources, that I knew of, that would explain the flood.

Tandy Sanitary Sewer Fountain

So, I headed north on the dry Tandy Highway. After awhile I began to hear the sound of water gurgling.

And then I saw the source of the flood.

Water shooting out of a Fort Worth Sanitary Sewer manhole.

That explained the malodorousness.

Apparently this manhole has been spewing sewer water for over a week, flowing into Tandy Creek, and then the Trinity River.

Now, it is well known that untreated sewer water flowing into the Trinity River is no big deal in this part of the planet. Come summer, many of the locals think nothing of going inner tubing in the Trinity River's untreated sewer water.

A Closer Look At The Tandy Sewer Fountains

What is causing this outpouring, I can not help but wonder? Is the sewer line plugged further down the line, causing the backflow to flood out of the manhole?

The city has been doing a lot of work on the sewer lines in the Tandy Hills.

Is the city aware that one of their Sanitary Sewer Manholes has turned into the Tandy Sewer Fountain?

Like I already said, this is all very perplexing.

The Dawn Of The First Day Of February Thinking About Occupying A Woodshed

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell you can see that the arrival of the sun on the first day of the second month of the new year of 2012 is shining through a clear blue sky.

It is currently 52 degrees in the outer world at my location. This means the 24 hour temperature average has been over 50.

Before I re-calculated my swimming temperature requirements I would have consider this a sufficient temperature average to warrant getting in the water of that turquoise colored swimming pool that daily taunts me.

Late this afternoon an untold number of aggravated citizens will be occupying Tim Love's Woodshed Smokehouse to protest the sweetheart deal given to him by J.D. Granger and the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle.

Because there is no open transparency in the dealings of J.D. Granger and the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle, the "story" of how it was that Tim Love got this sweetheart deal and who, exactly, gave it to him, has been as shifty as any other Tall Texas Tale.

I do not know, right now, if I will be among the Woodshed Occupiers. I do know I am not going to go swimming in a few minutes.

Walking Around Fosdic Lake Thinking About Occupying A Woodshed While Being On Fire Due To Uncensored Skinny Dipping

Earlier today I said I thought I'd be going to the Tandy Hills for my endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

But, I changed my mind and went to Oakland Lake Park to walk around Fosdic Lake instead.

As you can see, Fosdic Lake is looking very serene today. And white puffy clouds are floating under the bright blue sky.

It does not appear to me that enough clouds are going to assemble today to deliver the predicted rain.

Looking at my computer based weather information device I see the prediction for rain has been removed from today and moved to Friday.

As you can see, it is currently 73 degrees at my location on the planet. I have my windows open. Last year, at this point in time, I had my furnace running and was wearing multiple layers of outerwear.

If the forecast holds, there will be no need for weather shielding tents at tomorrow's Occupy The Woodshed Protest on the banks of the Trinity River.

I got my TV Blog on fire for the first time in a long time. I figured there would be a lot of Googling for the uncensored version of last night's skinny dipping on ABC's The Bachelor. I figured right.

The TV Blog is currently getting more visitors every 20 minutes than Gar the Texan's Random Ramblings gets in a year.

I just threw that Gar the Texan remark in there to test if Gar the Texan's claim to read all of my bloggings is true.

The Last Day Of The First Month Of 2012 Has Already Arrived

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell at the dawn of the last day of the first month of 2012 you can see that we are under a pre-rain cloud cover.

What you can not see is the outer world at my location is currently heated to a relatively balmy 59 degrees.

At this point in time a year ago, in the days leading up to the Super Bowl debacle in Arlington, we were freezing and covered with ice on this part of the planet.

If the predicted rain does not arrive by the noon time frame I plan to return to the Tandy Hills for the first time in over a week.

Due to a lot of unexpected interruptions, yesterday, I did not make it to any location where I could get myself some much needed endorphins. Today, even if I have to walk at high speed in Wal-Mart, I am going to get myself some endorphin inducing aerobic stimulation.

Should Storage Unit Facilities In Tarrant County Be Allowed To Rent To Medical Marijuana Growing Operations & Open Indian Casinos?

Every once in awhile I see something that starkly contrasts big differences between my current location in Tarrant County, in Texas, in the Buckle of the Bible Belt, and my old location in Skagit County, in Washington, a couple thousand miles from the Buckle of the Bible Belt.

As in, this past week my old home zone's hometown newspaper, the Skagit Valley Herald, has been running a poll asking if storage unit facilities in Skagit County should be allowed to rent to medical marijuana growing operations.

Recently one of the towns in Skagit County, Sedro Woolley, that's where Betty Jo Bouvier lives, approved a medical marijuana processing facility.

Texas has not legalized medical marijuana, let alone allowing facilities to process the medicine.

I don't recollect it even coming up as an issue, the idea of Texas legalizing medical marijuana.

I can not imagine there being a poll in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram asking readers if they approve of the idea of allowing medical marijuana to be grown in storage unit facilities.

It is a really interesting experience to go from living in one of the progressive, liberal areas of America to an area that is not quite as progressive and liberal.

Skagit County has two large casino complexes, complete with hotels. Native American tribes operate these casinos. When I lived in Washington, my favorite seafood buffet was at the Swinomish Casino, with my favorite all around buffet being at the Skagit Valley Casino Resort.

The above is one of two large casino resort complexes in Skagit County.

The population of Skagit County is 116,901. The population of Tarrant County is 1,809,034.

Both casino complexes in Skagit County built large hotels without milking any city for funding help. Fort Worth had to ask for funding help to build a hotel for its seldom used (for conventions) convention center.

Skagit County has Native American tribes in residence in addition to the Skagit and Swinomish. The Samish Indian Nation is another proud Skagit County tribe.

When the Texans arrived in Texas they needed Lebensraum. And so the Native Americans, who were living in Texas, were either exterminated or run out of the territory. There are a couple very small Indian Reservations remaining in Texas.

The teeny Kickapoo Reservation, down on the Rio Grande, by Eagle Pass, actually has a little casino, the Lucky Eagle Casino.

When Anglos moved into the Western Washington zone, there were some adjustments between the existing tribes and the incoming new white tribes. For the most part the adjustment was peacefully made. Well, there was that nasty Yakima War. But that was on the east side of the mountains, not the Puget Sound zone.

One of the chiefs of one of the Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations, the Duwamish, was named Sealth. Chief Sealth was born in 1780 and died on June 7, 1866. Chief Sealth was revered by his people and by the incoming white settlers whom he befriended.

A small settlement grew on the banks of Puget Sound. That settlement was named after Chief Sealth.

In 1890, a group of Seattle pioneers, led by Arthur Armstrong Denny, set up a monument over Chief Sealth's grave, with the inscription "SEATTLE Chief of the Suqampsh and Allied Tribes, Died June 7, 1866. The Firm Friend of the Whites, and for Him the City of Seattle was Named by Its Founders"

Now that is how you treat your Native Americans. In my humble opinion. And from such treatment, good karma flows to this day. Again. In my humble opinion.

Occupy Woodshed Smokehouse Wednesday To Protest Million Dollar Giveaway

TRIP To Occupy Woodshed Smokehouse

Last month my favorite aunt asked me if I'd participated in any of the various Texas occupy operations.

I told my aunt that Fort Worth's occupying petered out with about 9 people participating at the height of the occupation.

Last night I got email from my scheduler telling me to mark my calendar because I had plans on Wednesday.

This is what my scheduler told me my plans were...

Time for OWS! Occupy Wood Shed! We're "Occupying" the front of The Woodshed Smokehouse on Wed, February 1st! We'll meet out there starting at 4:30...The TRV GAVE almost $1Million to this restaurant with barely anything in return. No competitive bids. No personal guarantees. Just gave them your $$! Instead of working on fixing our water problems, they just keep thieving from us!! EVERYBODY who helps us 'occupy' gets a free TRIP T-SHIRT!! (No camping required... We'll break up after a while and head to Pappa's for some real BBQ!!)

Demonstrations and protests make me really nervous. I've never been part of an occupation, but I suspect an occupation will make me as nervous, if not more, than does a demonstration or protest.

With the 100s of OWS Occupiers occupying and yelling protest chants I worry how Tim Love might react.

What if Tim Love sends out his phalanx of cutting knife wielding Chef Goons?

My one longtime reader may remember that last month we learned that Tim Love owns Fort Worth.

I can not imagine Tim Love standing idly by while his new Woodshed Smokehouse is sort of Occupied. And let us not forget, Tim Love is tightly allied with J.D. Granger, who happens to be Tim Love's benefactor who so kindly gifted him, like a Mafia Don, with the Woodshed  Smokehouse.

Who knows what legions of goons J.D. Granger might be able to summon, if the opening of his, I mean, Tim Love's, new restaurant is occupied by 100s of protesting malcontents?

It is all very worrisome.

You can read more about this worrisome occupation on Facebook.

Up Late Monday Morning With Pullulating Perplexation Over The Important Issue Of The Dallas Cowboys Being America's Team

I was up way past my regular bedtime Sunday night, for multiple reasons. This has me up way past my regular up time on this last Monday of the first month of 2012. Which you can likely intuit from the semi-bright view from my primary viewing portal on the outer world.

January has disappeared at an unseemly rapid pace. I'm feeling like I'm in a time machine with the controls accidentally set to fast forward.

Today is my mom's birthday. I must remember to call, even though I do not need to fill my gas tank today.

Last night I learned I am expected to participate in an "Occupy" event in Fort Worth. I have not been to a rare Fort Worth protest since a couple years ago on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse.

I have long made note of the fact that few protests take place in Fort Worth. This has long seemed such a contrast with what I used to experience in protest-prone Seattle. We recently learned that Seattle is far more literate than Fort Worth. Perhaps part of that is understanding citizen's First Amendment right to free speech and to peacefully assemble.

For those whose time spent in the Fort Worth School District's schools did not expose them to the United States Constitution, the First Amendment....

Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Speaking of free speech. Yesterday I mentioned that the Sunday edition of the Star-Telegram had an embarrassing article on the serious issue of the Dallas Cowboys alleged continuing status of being America's Team.

The Monday edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram elaborated on this extremely important issue in an article titled "Are the Cowboys still America's Team?" With the below screencap being the link to the article from the Star-Telegram's front page.

The Dallas Cowboys earned the "America's Team" moniker in 1978? Back when Jimmy Carter was President? 34 years ago? By this type logic Jimmy Carter is still America's President.

There are a lot of embarrassing elements in today's Star-Telegram article about this important America's Team issue, with, maybe, the most embarrassing paragraph being...

"And so don't accept impostors or substitutes. Don't consign the nickname to the trash, or put it in the freezer or hide it in a drawer beneath the old socks. The Cowboys, Staubach said, are still America's Team. And America's quarterback is right. Yes, amid dubious poll results and pullulating flapdoodle and perennial piffle, America's Team still stands out."

So, now we have someone anointed as America's quarterback anointing the Dallas Cowboys as America's Team?

I still have not seen any mention made in the Star-Telegram of the fact that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's flood control project's first completed project, the Cowtown Wakepark, was severely damaged in the first flood of the Trinity River since its completion.

I have learned, from Steve A, what "pullulating" means...

"To breed or otherwise increase rapidly or abundantly."

To use in a sentence...

The ridiculousness of much of the Fort Worth Star-Telegam's content seems to be pullulating at an alarmingly rate.

Walking From Interlochen Through The Mud To Get To The Village Creek Indian Ghosts

This Is Not The Village Creek Hydro Dam

If I remember correctly, earlier today I indicated that walking with the Indian Ghosts of the Village Creek Natural Historical Area would be my walking option today, if the parking lot flood gates were open.

Well.

The flood gates were still closed at the westside parking lot on Dottie Lynn Parkway.

So I drove to the eastside of the Village Creek Natural Historical Area, in the Interlochen Neighborhood of Arlington.

Interlochen is so named because there are several canals, giving a lot of houses waterfront property. I do not know if these canals were the result of Arlington's Village Creek Vision. I do know that the project that resulted in Interlochen was not a boondoggle, unlike some other area canal projects.

Rather than being a boondoggle, Interlochen won design awards for its instigator, Bob Findlay. And Bob Findlay Linear Park is named after him. Bob Findlay Linear Park begins where the Village Creek Natural Historical Area paved trail exits Village Creek into the Interlochen Neighborhood.

The eastside gate was also blocking entry to the former location of one of America's biggest Indian Villages. But the eastside gate is easy to get around. The mud, is not quite as easy to get around. I was not the only person I saw being a scoflaw, but I was the only one I saw who slipped on the mud.

In the picture you are looking east, across Village Creek Dam/Bridge #2, looking at the Interlochen Neighborhood in the background.

Judging by the highwater mark left by the mud and debris, Village Creek flooded more than I would have guessed it would from the 4 inches, give or take, that fell during the recent deluge.

Yesterday, when I saw the Trinity River, it appeared to have receded back to pre-flood mode. Village Creek was still flowing above the norm.

It is not time for lunch. Spaghetti.

The Final Sunday Of January 2012 Amused By America's Delusional Team The Dallas Cowboys

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell from my secondary viewing portal on the outer world you can see the sun begin to rise above the aquamarine pool on this final Sunday of the first month of 2012.

Day 29 of January is dawning cold. As in a single degree above freezing. The temperature predictors are predicting that eventually the outer world at my location will heat up to 62 degrees.

I think I will go for a walk with the Indian Ghosts that haunt the Village Creek Natural Historical Area today. If the park closed due to flooding blockage has been lifted.

I still have not seen any mention made in Fort Worth's failing supposed newspaper of record, the propaganda purveyor called the Star-Telegram, of the fact that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's flood control project has had its first completed project, Cowtown Wakepark, seriously damaged by the first flood to hit the Trinity River since it's completion.

Maybe I missed the article about this inconsequential piece of ironic news in the Star-Telegram.

However, this morning the Star-Telegram did report on the serious issue of whether or not the Dallas Cowboys are still America's Team.

As I understand this serious issue, long ago the Dallas Cowboys had a successful football team for a few years. During this long ago period of success, some sort of NFL documentary was produced in which someone made the remark that the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team.

I have now lived long enough in this attention starved part of the planet to understand how many of the locals grasp onto anything here being given such an accolade and hold onto to it no matter how ridiculous it becomes, or no matter how much evidence accumulates that indicates America does not think the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team.

In the Star-Telegram article this morning is the following....

"They'll insist that the Dallas Cowboys, who have borne the nickname for more than 30 years, are no longer America's Team. But, of course, such arguments, which seem to come around every other football season or so and to be pullulating this year because of a recent poll, are 24-karat flapdoodle, sterling nonsense, pure piffle. The Cowboys are America's Team forever."

I have absolutely no idea what the word "pullulating" means. But, see what I mean about the local's attitude, as projected via the Star-Telegram, regarding this serious America's Team issue?

You reading this in other parts of America, than this ill-served, news-wise, zone, are you giggling? I bet you did not know that the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team forever, due to some such reference in some long ago documentary.

Fort Worth Has Plenty To Be Proud Of Other Than Falsely Claiming To Have The World's First Indoor Rodeo

Earlier today I blogged about how we in Fort Worth take great pride in allegedly having the world's first indoor rodeo.

Today, in the noon time frame, on my way to Town Talk, I took a walk in the newly re-opened, flood-free, Quanah Parker Park.

In Quanah Parker Park benches have been installed underneath the newly installed solar-powered dim lighting. I am sure it is with great pride that Fort Worth makes its name part of these benches.

I saw the light coming from the Quanah Parker Park solar lights Friday before last, on my way to not finding the Paradise Center Camp Bowie Bingo. Not a lot of light shines down on that bench, after dark, courtesy of solar-powered light.

Earlier today, after I blogged about Fort Worth taking great false pride in the bogus belief that Fort Worth has the world's first indoor rodeo I pondered what, if anything, in my opinion, Fort Worth might be legitimately proud of.

Well.

I like the Fort Worth Stockyards. I think the Fort Worth Stockyards are something Fort Worth can legitimately take pride in. I also think the city should work harder at making the Stockyards more attractive. Though, I must say, the Stockyards have greatly improved, appearance-wise, since I first saw the Stockyards, late in the last century.

The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is something Fort Worth might be legitimately be proud of. Though not many Fort Worth citizens visit the nature preserve. And it is absurd that a city with delusional pretenses of being a World Class City, charges an entry fee to this park.

In downtown Fort Worth I like the Water Gardens. The Water Gardens seem to be a fairly unique downtown feature. I used to like downtown Fort Worth's Heritage Park until it turned into a boarded up eyesore.

Last, but not least, of the things Fort Worth might rightly take pride in, in my humble opinion, is the Tandy Hills Natural Area. I know of no other city in America which has acres of natural prairie so close to its downtown center.

But.

A city that prides itself on allegedly having the world's first indoor rodeo, well, that is just embarrassing, again, in my very humble opinion.