Maggie One and Maggie Two

When the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge was announced several years ago, one thinks what's in the name? In this case it was a Hunt as in Hunt Oil or the patriarch of the Hunt family and beautiful Mt. Vernon ( an exact duplicate of the original) home at White Rock Lake.  But admittedly, even with searching for some help, when the second bridge was announced and the name was Margaret McDermott, it was a bit more work to burn an image on my mind. Philanthropist. Now it rings a bell.

True, the movers and the shakers of Dallas are all involved with the bridge project as it is part of the Trinity River Corridor Project, a non-profit to development along the Trinity River. And some of those movers and shakers can be found on the board of the Trinity River Corridor Project.

While the Margaret McDermott bridge has been downsized ( it's now, just the Margaret McDermott  bike and pedestrian portion ) and was almost axed when the economy went farther down river, it was saved after TxDOT said that the bridge over I-30 would be built, even if they had to do the engineering. That jolted a few and it wasn't long until a deal was reached to scale back but never-the-less still have Santiago Calatrava design the walkways and bikeways across the second bridge.

 Actually, the feeling is that Margaret McDermott got the better part of the deal in that the bridge is over the Trinity on a major interstate highway. It will have a pedestrian

The unofficial start to work on Maggie Two

The completed Maggie One

Note the angle of the boring on Maggie Two

and bike crossing that Maggie One doesn't have and it will be more in the center of activity when the project is complete. Sometimes, second in number isn't really that bad of a deal.

So, yesterday, while looking at the work that had been done since August when the equipment first appeared on scene, pilings are never a pretty part of the job, but they are the "bedrock" of the project (pardon the pun) the call of the Nikon hit me. When Maggie One was being built, over 100 weekends were spent photographing the construction process. That weighed heavy when the thought of another long-term project registered on the brain. The purpose of the trip yesterday was to stand on the west levee where Maggie One could be seen in its completed state and then look at downtown from where this project was digging into the ground (another non-intended pun) and get a feel if it would be worth the effort.

 There is a whole lot of satisfaction in one of these projects but not a whole lot of money, if any when you factor in gas, time and added dust and dirt to be cleaned from a camera professionally. It does cost money to do one of these things. As my maternal grandmother once told me: "Nothing in life is ever, ever free." She was very right on target and that phrase still rings out in me even today. To document changes in an urban setting can be rewarding. It also can be a drain on emotions, resources of time and money not to mention aches and pains, cuts and scratches. heat stroke and many more.

But, as I stood on the levee looking at the workers going about the daily task of such a project and looking back at Maggie One, then the future Maggie Two, it was realized that I had to give it a shot, or two, since another pun worked its way in the text. While this is kind  of written tongue and cheek, it is urban history that can make a difference, even if that difference is ever so small. Much like the history that answered a question just two years ago about where Air Force One had been parked at Love Field when Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President. It was a photo that gave the answer. An urban photo. Lots was learned in doing the Maggie One Project. Certainly, more can be learned from the Maggie Two. Provided health and money issues remain status quo.

So, Maggie One :  Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (complete and open)
       Maggie Two: Margaret McDermott Bridge ( unofficially under way, August,2013 )


Link: http://dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/trinity_river.html

Link: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy

12/29/13: correction of omitted text.

Three Stops For A Vulture, A Bridge and A Missouri Football Team

Stop One: Sometimes, being in the right place at the right time is because of the camera. It is amazing how a camera does train you eye to pick up on things long before others. Having my camera in the car, enables me to get a shot that would otherwise be missed altogether.

 

Such was the case this afternoon. After going to the bank, it wasn't two miles before I see this huge bird in my traffic lane. The bird flies from the traffic lane onto the roof of a building being used as a charter school. At the light, I turned, pulled into the side street and parked. The bird wasn't moving. In short, there were two dead squirrels in the traffic lane. Not one, but two! That within itself was unusual but what surprised me most was that it was what I grew up knowing to be a turkey vulture. While they are related to eagles and hawks and falcons, they are not  seen on the ground in the city as much as a hawk or even an eagle or two.
 

Watching the vulture for a while, the bird became very interested in a camera mounted on the side of the building, just below the coping that  the vulture seemed to like. One, he could keep his eye on the carrion and could see me. So when I did start to shoot, he just posed for the camera. I do talk to animals while I shoot them. They understand more than most people think.

 

Stop Two:  After spending nearly two full years and over 100 weekends of following the construction of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, when it was finished, my thoughts were that I would not devote that much time to the second bridge whenever construction started. Today, I went down to see what I could see and try to determine if I had any interest in photographing another long-term construction project. It took about 5-minutes and I was hooked. When these large projects get into your blood, they just seem to call out wherever you are until you can't resist any longer.

 

Stop Three: On the way home, I was just coming up on the Anatole as these 5 white buses with a 6-man motor cycle escort was pulling into the hotel. Making the block and coming back down the service road on the west side of 35E at Market Center, I pulled into the parking lot. The team had unloaded and was inside the hotel. But, I was able to get a shot of the last two buses in the 5-bus lineup. Shortly, the motor cycle guys waited until I passed then pulled in behind me. At the second light, they took off like crazy and headed toward I-30 on Inwood. Hampton Road a mile farther south.   

 

Generally, for all three events, I was in the right spot at the right time again. It was about the same thing a couple of years ago when checking on the trains at Fair Park and the Penn State Athletic Semi pulled into the Cotton Bowl.
 

Since the teams arrival at the Anatole today, I submitted the picture of the buses on a live news feed and the image is running on the 48-hour cycle. Because it is one of the top NCAA football events of the season, I could not withhold the image. It was sports news after all!

Turkey Vulture interested in camera just below on wall

The Hotel Anatole and the Missouri Team

Work on the second Santiago Calatrava Bridge is under way on I-30. When Finished, the bridge will be known as the Margaret McDermott Bridge.

 

 

 

 

The Big Man is Enroute!

As I listen to a live broadcast of  the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England, on the live stream from WXXI-FM  Classical 91.5, Rochester, New York,  Michael Barone, the host of  Pipe Dreams, has just reported that in England, the congregation of hundreds from all around the world are departing the historic chapel into," a dark and chilly evening". Christmas, in England, has officially begun.

It is a misnomer to call the structure a chapel, for it is a magnificent Gothic Cathedral in every sense of the word. The Harris & Harris pipe organ produces sounds only heard by great organs in great cathedrals. It is the reason that I love English choral music in general and at this time of year. Especially, to the songs of English composer, John Rudder.

This is my 28th year of listening to the annual live broadcast program that began in 1928. Although, the service began in 1918 and was only suspended for one year, 1930. It was broadcast all during WW II though the beautiful stain glass, and heat was removed from the chapel. It is my Christmas gift to myself. I do not have a Christmas tree, nor do I celebrate with presents and the trappings of  a society  that we have become. Some traditions are exceedingly strong and radiate from the heart. Christmas is that to me and in true English tradition, this program in slightly less than 90-minutes, captures that joy; that wholeness;that happiness and that fulfillment of completeness, from year-to-year.

The Bidding Prayer as printed in the Program, Order of Service, Christmas Eve, 2013, King's College Cambridge, England that is linked below.

   Be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels; in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child; and let us make this Chapel, dedicated to Mary, his most blessèd Mother, glad with our carols of praise:
But first let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in the dominions of our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, within this University and City of Cambridge, and in the two royal and religious Foundations of King Henry VI here and at Eton:
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick in body and in mind and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that mul- titude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

Our Father …
 OUR FATHER, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we for- give them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
 Almighty God bless us with his grace: Christ give us the joys of everlasting life: and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all.
All Amen.


Here is the link for the program this Christmas Eve,2013.

http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/events/chapel-services/nine-lessons.html













 

The Sadness of the Holiday Season

We all get excited about the holiday season. Everyone is out getting those cherished presents and goodies for that special holiday feast. Except, for those that see the other side of the joy. 

This is my favorite. The expression on the face says so much.



I watched this fireman go up and down the ladder a few time in full gear. It's not a short way up or down.

The crews on the front side would win, then they would loose the battle. It went back and forth for nearly four hours. Team work payed off in the end. The displaced residents were aided by the American Red Cross.

 

The Mysterious Aircraft Parked at Love Field.

There is a Boeing 747 parked at one of the Fixed Base Operators at Love Field. There are all kinds of reasons why such a plane would be there. Every thing from air worthiness certification to new avionics. But, there is a very big reason why it caught my eye. On the tail (and you can't miss that on a 747) there was a logo and the words,  "STATE OF (redacted)". Someone doesn't want that plane to be identified. And, of course, the FBO isn't going to  tell anyone anything. Well, at least those outside their own circle.

This could be a plane from a foreign government. It could be a plane of many colors, in fact. But, the fact that Love Field is owned by the City of Dallas and does receive federal money in the form of grants, etc., etc., adds a great bit more of intrigue to the fact that it is sitting there at a FBO at Love Field  at all.

There is also another not so mysterious jet parked just down the block. It's a Boeing 767. According to the FAA's registration, it's airworthy certificate is expired, but it flew last week, too! There is something more unusual about this plane that smells something like a Maverick Basketball teams ride. In fact, this is Pace 5 Heavy. It once flew as Australia's Ansett Airlines and was used by a world tour on Rolling Stones on a leased charter. Mark Cuban carried the trophy home to Dallas on this plane, complete with cigar.

One final note on the mysteries of mysterious planes. There is an out of country (tail registrations give that away) business jet parked up against a fence.  I guess it's time too call up a few brokers and see who's in the market for new planes. Speaking of that. Has one seen the golden falcon that Walmart is now flying? It's got that WOW factor! Of course, the last count of registrations showed that they had about 14 executive jets total in their fleet. This one, I would think carries some very top brass. Walmart has been blocking live tracing of their planes for some time now. Most of the big companies now do anyway. Yes, including Jerry Jones and the N1DC. These guys are so gun shy today. They are afraid someone is going to be able to tie them to something if they or their planes are spotted. My dad always said that," if you think someone is going to see you do something you shouldn't be doing, then don't do it at all." My dad would love the world we live in today, don't you see?

Oh, and to my critics. I didn't want to say, " I told you so", but now that Doug Parker is in control, there is  a lot of discussion going on about the change of logos on the American Fleet. Just as expected, the ugly tail on a few hundred of American's fleet was a transitional move between the old logo, the new logo and the NEW AIRLINE logo. Dang, I also hate to say it, but," Sometimes I hate it when I'm right"

Beware of desert runways that are very, very long. There might be another logo hatching soon in or near Victorville. It's the stuff that movies are made of eventually.

A very big Maverick

Rolling Stones used this plane for a World Tour once.

 

Henry, Gas Up the Jet, It's Out Behind the Barn

Some things just all fit together regardless of how they are related as a whole. Today, was just one of those days when every thing fit like a glove. It was a great day weather wise and that just made it even better.

December has been a hot and cold kind of month anyway and I don't mean weather.  It's just one of those Murphy Law things that is good one minute and bad the next. It's usually hits during December, too! So when the stroke of luck is good, especially during December, it's always kind of like that magical gift.

Today it was just a good day and for that, I'm thankful.

A genuine word



The two men are just hanging out!

Henry, Gas up the Jet. It's Out Behind the Barn.

 

What a Warm Holiday Surprise

The Stop sign and the Handicap parking signs were also decorated.

All the signs and poles that are part of the Post Office Building were decorated.

The outside drop boxes were also decorated.

If there are unusual things that I am not fond of, jurisdictional boundaries just might be one of them. I can recall a time when a friend of mine lived in Michigan, yet, had an Ohio address on his drivers license, which was Michigan. Apparently, at that time, the U.S. Post Office did not respect state lines when it came to the delivery of the mail.

 At one time, (it happened to be the weekend of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game), Greg got stopped by the Ohio State Patrol ("targeted because I had Michigan plates", he said. The cop detained him for a fairly long time because his address on his Michigan license was not 1234 Any street, Ottawa Lake, Michigan, but 1234 Any Street, Toledo, Ohio.

Greg finally got someone to listen who knew that the Post Office did that along the lower counties along the Michigan state line between US 75 and US 23. Eventually, it was changed and the serving post office was designated Monroe, Michigan rather than Toledo, Ohio and the addresses were changed on drivers licenses. The Michigan State Police seemed to be happy afterwards, but I'm not so sure about the Ohio State Patrol, especially on game day.

My post office is a large facility with multi-offices for postal inspectors etc., on the second floor. It is the designated post office for my zip code. I don't like it. So going a Google search one day, I discovered that the Lake Highland Post office, while not my official post office for picking up packages etc.,etc., is in mileage, closer to me. It's a small complex in an industrial office and warehouse area and is much easier to get into and out of while running errands.

It was the official day of errands and mailing Christmas Cards. Out side of mailing one bill that requires postage, I only get postage this time of year. So, off I headed to my little post office that is unofficially not mine, but I like the employees there, especially the one counter lady that I kid all the time about  finding my senior citizen discount. She says she is still looking for it. When I got up to the counter, I ask her for a half-book of stamps. She looked at the one envelope blotched with stains from the melting slush. Before she could say anything, I said to her," I dropped this getting into the car. I was going to go back inside and re-address the envelope but decided that the person it was addressed to (my youngest brother) was in the 76% that would blame it on the Post Office any way." She broke out into a laugh and said," we already get enough of those!"

After dropping the envelopes into the inside drop box, I headed to the car. As I was about to pull out onto the side street, I could not believe my eyes. Making a circle and pulling back into the lot, I parked and got out with the camera. It was a simple gift to the customers, but somehow, it just struck me as being one of the nicest gifts that I have received from a place where I do business. So to the employees of the post office at the Lake Highland Branch, Thank You!! Thank You So Very Much!!.


 

Update on Some Previous Post

This has been an unusual winter storm. One, it fell below freezing for 72 hours. Two, when it did start to thaw, the nights were in the 20s so what melted re coated the roadways and sidewalks. It's been a roller-coaster of a storm from start to finish. At least, the sun was out today and it was above freezing again. Still, it is nothing like a winter storm in the Great Lakes. And, of course, their out breaks of tornadoes in the spring isn't anything like ours. When it comes to weather, I like it all! Hot, cold, stormy, icy, snowy, high winds. I'll stop there because I don't like the dust storms that hit the desert southwest. That's a bit much.

Today, I had a couple of errands to run so while I was out, I ate lunch and then took a walk before heading back to the comfort of a warm house. When I came in, I couldn't find the cat. When I can't find her, I always get a bit anxious. I always check her favorite hide outs. And, she is a creative cat, still, she surprises me with a new one now and then. Today, I saw the comforter at the foot of the bed move, All I could see was her rear end. She had gone head in into the folds of the comforter. When she heard me, she did a turn around and came out kinda surprised but then went into the mode of " What's up with you?" as she does a big stretch on bed followed with a bigger yawn. Cats keep you humble.

The bee hive that I found a couple of months ago along a trail must have been frozen out, or the parks and recreation guys moved it because of the danger of it so close to the trail. There was no sign of the hive today.

Garland had to cancel their Christmas on the Square. The Children's Hospital Christmas Parade in downtown Dallas, that is syndicated to many markets during the month of December, was also cancelled and will not be re-scheduled this season. Balloon handlers are booked else where as are many other parts of the parade units.

Ice on a Foot Bridge

December this year has just not been it's normal self. Things do change and we all must adapt to that, but I must admit that sometimes, it is more difficult to adapt than at other times. That's Life as old blue eyes would sing. Music seems to help with adapting, though.

Ice on wild berries

The Grocery Shelves Were A Funny Sight

When it drops below 25 degrees F for longer than 24-hours, my dad taught me to go out and start my car to get the oil warmed and flowing in the engine. Yesterday, I took old Betsy for a little ride after getting the ice chipped of the windows and the doors unstuck. Today, it was easy to get into the car, quicker starting and I got the wipers unstuck. It appears that headway has been made.

The strange thing, which isn't all that strange, is that today, the roads were actually more hazardous than they were yesterday. Everything than melted yesterday froze with the temps in the teens over night and the high not making it more than 23 or 24 degrees.

I don't complain. The coldest that I have survived was in the early 60s. It got to minus 17 below. And, I've lived in temps below freezing for more than a month so a 72-hour period isn't that bad for me, although, some have never experienced that for any length of time and its a bit of a shock come the second day.

A Patio Pot encrusted in ice

Inside the grocery store, the bread isle was bare bones. The meat counters were bare bones and then some. The dairy isle was just as sad. The staples, basically, were the hardest hit; bread, meat, dairy. I had to chuckle. It was funny. One would expect this before the storm, not two days afterwards. But, there again, I don't have a house full of kids anymore that can make a loaf of bread disappear in one meal. Life does bring laughter as you get older.

No small branch by any means

The three-tiered  drinking fountain was iced over at all levels.

A New Sign's First Ice Storm

The sign was being tested this afternoon. While out getting the gas tank filled before the ice storm, it was working but the ramps were marked closed. It's due to open almost any day now. While getting a shot of the sign, getting a shot of the electronic gear that will be focused on cars as they enter and exit was a give me.

It was 50 degrees colder today than yesterday and the wind was a major factor with the chill index. While making my return home from the gas station, Jim Cantore, of The Weather Channel was setting up for a live shot. I should have pulled in and got a shot of him but the wind would have been in my face and the decision to keep on going was made. Sorry bout that for you fans of Cantore. He's less than two miles from me at the present. I'm pretty sure he didn't mind that I didn't stop, though.

Right now as I write this, I have my toes and fingers crossed that there will be no power loss during this ice storm. If Dallas makes it through the night without any major power outages, hopefully, tomorrow morning, although cold, some shots of the ice, maybe!

Check out the new sign. It's going to be something new to get used to in the very near future that is different than the old HOV lanes that were free. These lanes will change price depending on the traffic flow, I'm told.

The prices are displayed as they change.

Look at all the cameras ! But look closely, they aren't all cameras. There are scanners and readers mixed in there. Next, look at the  pully system of cables  attached to the bank of cameras, scanners and readers. This is actually, pretty scary when it comes to privacy concerns.

This is the back side of the previous image. This one has got you as you drive with your back to it.  Spooky!! You can see a good example of the cable system, however.

The Moving Gingerbread Houses

 The moving gingerbread houses (c.1890s) didn't move far, but it can be confirmed that they moved from where they were originally. Another piece of the puzzle was also revealed. As in any state, but Texas especially, land is like Fort Knox and it's prized dearly. It wasn't hard to figure out that the reason for the move of two old houses and a railroad depot and rail car was for the land they occupied. Call it progress. Some still do.  I'm not so sure that progress wasn't more about trying to preserve face for  the miscues of  others over the years.

There is no doubt that the new office buildings going up on the land will complete the look for  civic services for the city. The real question is why the city built the original building on the same block as the old railroad station and the two historic houses built when Garland had not yet  seen its first fifty years. However, what ever the real reason, the moves have been made and the excavating equipment was puffing smoke with every blade of dirt pushed out of the way to put in a foundation for a three story building today.

The houses looked sad as they faced where they once lived.     

c.1890s

Gingerbread Architecture