Monday, June 7, 2010

Blogger Was Currently Unavailable But Now It Is

That is what greeted me early this morning when I went to blog, blog what, I don't remember, now, 10 hours later.

By greeted me, I mean the message that "Blogger is currently unavailable."

Apparently the outage began before midnight and affected Blogger Bloggers all over the world.

As far as I know, Google has not yet explained what went wrong.

And now I've got such a backlog of blogging I don't know how I can catch up.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Visualizing The BP Oil Spill Disaster Spilled On Fort Worth

Yikes! Just got an email from Don Young, subject line "Fun with Maps!"

I had no idea what fun I was about to have with maps.

At the website, Ifitwasmyhome.com - Visualizing the BP Oil Spill Disaster, you can see how big the BP Oil Spill is in relation to your town.

My town is currently Fort Worth, Texas. I had no idea the BP Spill was so huge. As in if it were centered on Fort Worth the spill would extend north nearly to Ada, Oklahoma, south nearly to Waco, east nearly to Canton and west nearly to Abilene.

It is about a 160 mile drive from here up to Ada, Oklahoma. About 90 miles south to Waco. Another 90 miles east to Canton. And 150 miles west to Abilene.

That is a lot of oil spilled over a really big area.

Walking Off My Misery With The Birds At Village Creek Natural Historic Area

That is one long-beaked bird doing some Sunday fishing in Village Creek today at Village Creek Natural Historic Area.

I think I mentioned earlier today that I was miserable and exhausted from very little sleep last night.

I knew getting outside would make me feel better. I also knew I did not have the energy to climb around on the Tandy Hills.

And the trails in Village Creek Natural Historic Area are mostly in the shade. Which is a good thing when you are in throes of HEAT exhaustion.

My therapist, Dr. L.C., told me to take a nap because I was out of sync. If I have told Dr. L.C. once, I have told her twice, I can not take naps, no matter how tired I am. My most recent medical advisor, Dr. Somaphx, has been given me some detailed prescriptions to mediate my misery.

Anyway, I feel hugely better after a nice peaceful walk through the woods. Now it's time for lunch.

Texas Heat Insomnia Strikes Deep Into Sleep

Saturday night was not all right. Insomnia.

All day long, Saturday, for the most part, this, that and the other thing did not go well.

By around 4 in the afternoon the official temperature taking location for D/FW, that being the airport, went over 100 degrees for the first time this year.

I went to bed early, feel asleep, went into pleasant dream mode. And then about 11 I woke up to find myself a hot, sweaty mess.

And thus began the rest of the night's attempt to battle with the A/C to make the temperature in here semi-pleasant.

Have I mentioned I am not acclimating to the HEAT well this year? Why? I don't know.

And now this morning I found the pool pump is not circulating the water. Again.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Seeing The Light But Not 100 Degrees Today In Texas

You are looking west at downtown Fort Worth from near the top of Mount Tandy, today, this first Saturday of June, which was supposed to be the first 100 degree day of the year, but the National Weather Service changed its mind and took away our HEAT WAVE.

So, at half past 3 in the afternoon, it is only 97.

Elsie Hotpepper threw off my tightly organized schedule this morning when she called to talk about Tootsie Tonasket and some other things.

I just found out from the Queen of Wink that she and I are going to Marfa to see the Marfa Light. Neither the Queen or I have seen the Light before.

Friday, June 4, 2010

What Do You Know About Goodman Chapel In Durango Texas?

I don't remember if I've mentioned it before that prior to moving to Texas I did not know there was a town in Texas named Durango.

Unfortunately, I guess, for Durango, my Durango Texas sort of overwhelms the other Durango, Texas when someone Googles "Durango Texas".

I've only been to my Texas namesake one time. I've also only been to my namesake in Colorado one time. I have never been to my namesake in Mexico.

This afternoon I got an email from Toni. Toni Goodman King. Toni's great-grandfather's last name was Goodman. Toni tells me Goodman Chapel in Durango is named for her great-grandfather. Toni would like someone to tell her if Goodman Chapel is still standing and any info about it.

Well, I don't remember seeing a chapel in Durango. I do remember the eating establishment you see in the picture. There easily could have been a chapel. I also don't remember seeing a school. Or a grocery store. Or even a gas station.

There really was not a lot to see in Durango, Texas. The town had seen better days.

At Glenview Baptist Church We Love God, Each Other & Serve The World

Every once in awhile Elsie Hotpepper says something that I am unable to parse, what with my primitive understanding of Texan English.

For instance a couple weeks ago Elsie said something like "I'm surprised you're advertising churches now."

This did not compute.

Well, then I noticed that fairly frequently, lately, Google has been putting an image ad on this very blog you are reading now, it being an ad for Glenview Baptist Church, where they love God, love each other and serve the world.

And, apparently buy Google ads.

This morning I Googled Glenview Baptist Church to learn there is a church by that name here in Fort Worth and another in Haltom City.

I have no control over the ads Google puts on my blogs and website. Google tries to match the ads to content, I think, for the most part.

I do not recollect myself talking about religion, church, God, gods, Jesus and like subjects all that much.

Maybe it's because I do mention Fort Worth fairly frequently. I wonder how many blog readers my Glenview Baptist Church ad have sent to church? I hope my churchgoers put enough in the collection plate to cover what Google pays me for the ad.