I Cannot Remember When....

 the last time the weather turned so bad, so soon. But I can tell you that I 'forecast' an early fall. Mind you, I never mentioned the ice storms, the 5 days of cold rains, winds and chill factors in the twenties. It seems that we were caught in the middle of two power house systems  406 miles apart. Winter storm warnings with snow accumulations in the Panhandle and Hurricane warnings along the Gulf. All I can say now is, "good riddance". Hurricane Zeta was, unfortunately, a killer with three people loosing their lives. We still have the entire month of November of Hurricane season to navigate through. 

While I can usually play dodge ball with the weather, I can not express it enough that the old human body needs time to heal. Ten days ago, I just wasn't making the progress that I needed, then along came these two weather systems and I made like an old bear and headed to the den burying myself under comforters and sleeping 10-11 hours a day. Now that the weather is finally moving out and the average daily highs in the 70's are slowly beginning to return. So, the next few days following the ghost and goblin event, finally, I will be able to get out with my camera and begin my 5-mile walks again. Frankly, I can't wait!! 

In other news, if you are new to Texas, tomorrow is the last day for early voting. If you don't vote tomorrow you will have to wait for the long lines of Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd. And frankly, I can't wait for that to be over with either. This has been the most dirty election that I have seen in years. I'm not talking about the major figures of Frick and Frack. I'm talking about the congressional battles that have been just absolutely awful. I plan to use the good weather and the walks to de-tox my brain and get rid of all the negatives that have been seeping into my brain from all the PAC money ads. Normally, things like that don't bother me. I'm not saying that they are bothering me now. What I am saying is that there has been a lot of junk stashed by osmosis and it's toxic and I have to get rid of it. A walk, a camera, fresh air, sunshine, and the autumn scenes will go a long way to put me back together, both mentally and physically. 

 Early Voting Ends Friday, October 30th in Texas.

Game 5 of the World Series Clear Cut Fish Hatchery by ONCOR

 It's a good thing that the new $1.2B stadium in Arlington has a retractable roof. The temps have hovered at 39-41°F all day with gusty North winds and rain; freezing rain. Winter Storm Warnings were issued last night until 1 PM CST today, and that's just what is at the edge of the Metroplex. Go 406 Miles to the SE and you run into Hurricane Warnings. Hurricane Zeta is expected to make landfall somewhere around the mouth of the Mississippi.The direct hits that the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama residents have put up with this season is something else. 

Just when I was doing so well and walking up to 5-miles per day, got put on hold on the 15th with the last of my surgeries finally complete. It has been a slower recovery with an unexpected problem, but the doctors got it all worked out and just the past two days I have been moving more normal since the surgery. The only thing that is holding me back now is the cold wet weather and two upcoming follow-up visits to the doctors. 

The decree level of getting back out there with the camera has been elevated in the past two weeks. It appears that ONCOR, the delivery arm of TXU energy clear cut a 3 acre swath through the heart of the old Fish Hatchery, which is a sanctuary for wildlife, from snakes to coyote to bobcats to raccoons etc.etc., not to mention the waterfowl that find a safe haven in those old fish hatchery ponds. I've even seen beavers in there. Those hatcheries had their own eco-systems. Some of the ponds were filled with mulch according to one of my friends that has been out there since the cutting.

Of course, ONCOR was quick to say that they have the right to clear the right-of-way. That point is true. The dirty part was that they failed to notify the city that they were going to do it until they got caught. They have a history of butchering trees along alleys and even front lawns. It just makes me sick to see the images that D magazine posted. The area was a great get -away from urban noise where you could think--actually hear yourself think--- just a few miles from downtown. I know for a fact that wildlife and plants will be back. The problem is if nothing gets more established guidelines in place, the problem a decade ago has been revisited and will be revisited again. After a while, the wildlife even moves on looking for better places to live undisturbed lives. 

So, while I am looking forward to getting back out there, I'm not looking forward to what I will see that didn't have to be.

                                                                    Fish Hatchery Canal

 

The Absolute Best Home-Made Bologna Sandwich Ever Made in Dallas

 It must be explained that I have been going to the Parkit Market for 20 years for one thing. I would not dare go anywhere else and expect the same. In the 52-years that it has been open, it has won awards up this side of Lover Greenville area, down the other and around the Big D, especially according to D Magazine. The other thing is that the place is run by the entire Todora Family but the glue to all was  Mrs. Todora. Ann. She passed away this August at 98. She didn't accept second best. It was always top notch right down to the most keg beer business that they served to the student population of SMU over the years. Students went there for everything; food, pop, pretzels, chips and the like. And when you missed mom's cooking, you could always talk to Ann and some how, it got your though the year. 

One of the sons that I dealt with most of all was John. He brought Ann to places where I shopped like Sam's Club and that was where I saw Mrs. Todora mostly. She was particular and when it wasn't up to snuff, regardless of what it was, she let you know. Frankly, she was just like my grandmother, which is why that I think that I respected her the most. 

So, today while I am looking at the archive of pictures, I ran across an image that I had taken there several years ago. It started out in the lower portion of the third section of the Lower Greenville Avenue area. But it was clear very early on that it was going to end at the Parkit Market at Greenville and E University Avenue. 

The guy that I knew I had seen mostly in the Parkit Market but I knew that he lived in the lower Greenville so as I passed through the area that particular day, I ran across Alan.This is where I have to set the  stage once more. Just picture your college days in one of the biggest party area only several days from the big day, St. Patrick's Day. So when I saw Alan on his skate board with a Pony Beer Keg on his shoulder, I knew I had a future story that I could use later and that the images were going to be iconic for every and every in a day. So not to upset this safety and blind side on the board, I held back a bit and knowing where this trip was going to end, I could run up and down the side streets.  He spotted me and got into his silly mode. The guy had an outstanding personality anyway. But, I also knew that this was one of the last days to get your keg into the books for ordering a refill and the Parkit Market was the final destination. It was an annual ritual.for the older students. After the big parade down Greenville, the floats and units would break up and the party would get under way. 

Sure enough. I got a chance to wish  Alan a Happy Saint Patrick's Day, got my bologna sandwich and headed out. It would be about 4 more days and I'd be back on Lower Greenville again to shoot the Parade. I had an old man tell me once: "Kid, you got to think like the bird," referring to knowing what the bird was going to do before the bird did  it. It applies well to people too, Yes, sir, that is one of the most helpful hints I ever go when starting out. Think Like The Bird!

It Ain't No Fun When The Rabbit Has The Gun

 I've heard that phrase since I was a kid and never really payed any attention to it. That is---until these hospital stays have put me in the scope of that rabbit. 

                                                  An eatable table centerpiece of peppers.

Finally, after seven months the original surgery that I went into the hospital for the Monday before Thanksgiving last has been done and I am home starting all over again, now with 4 surgeries total complete.My strength had rebounded and finally, I was able to get out and go with renewed energy and strength. That's been shot in the foot for a while now. I am more sore from a 5'' incision than I was from a full 10" incision down my mid-line. Those 3'' and 1'' are nothing. And, for the second time in a row, cancer was avoided before it was getting a foot hold. I am so thankful for that. I know that there are those who have had it much worse and are still having a bad time with it than I have ever had. I do not mean to undercut the severity. Quiet the opposite, actually. 

When I get up out of my desk chair, I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame all bent over. It takes several steps before I can stand up straight. Last night I finally found a comfortable position in which to sleep and I slept a good 9 hours.

So, this coming week will be a bit of a roller coaster on the weather side and the following week a very strong autumn cold front (We used to call them the Alberta Express in the Great Lakes) will come charging through and we will have sunshine and 70s the whole week as it looks now. I'll stay in and take it easy until I am sure that I am strong enough to be back out again. My goal (and that isn't something that I express much about) will be to be getting to the point that I will be able to start walking a bit of a distance again. I think that it will take me longer to get there, now, than it did beforehand, but that's okay. I'll regain speed with time. And just wait until I find that darn rabbit!!!!

99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall...

 99 bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall. The song is popular in Canada and in English Pubs, especially Scotland. I haven't thought about that song since college. But, this morning, while there was still a comfort level in the weather department, my camera bag almost jumped into my lap to go, so I turned off the computer and grabbed a few things to stuff in the bag and away I went with bag over my shoulder. After making the corner, my plan was to walk the neighborhood behind me and look for unusual stuff again. Within less than 2 or 300 hundred yards, my eye caught something in its focus and low and behold, that song popped into my head. It's been there all day. Yes, all day. 

So, with that find, my legs just kept walking forward. The neighborhood is a bit tricky and I didn't want to walk a fair distance only to find that the street was a dead end. The way it is laid out, there are through streets and there are dead ends. Some are marked, some are not; for what reason, is still unknown to me. But, there were several things that ended up in my camera as I came out onto the street that is about a mile or so north of mine. The problem was, I'm sitting on a parapet wall that ran along the sidewalk at the bus stop waiting for the bus and I look up at the bus stop sign only to have my eye catch one little phrase that would change my whole day. It simply read: there is no service to rail stations on weekends. So, that put me in a catch-22 situation. My first snarl to the bus system. The first stop also had a change notice to service change that could become permanent. It read like a city zone law change, and no date was included. I had no choice but to make the turn onto a parallel street to the street where I had seen the notice. All said and done, I had walked a bit over 3 miles already. 

Finally, I got back to my street a mile to the east waiting for my regular bus. At least on Sundays, it runs every hour to a train station and with a short brisk walk meets the train that I want. In short, I ended up back at Mockingbird station across from SMU. I'm still having laps of memory with that  name change from just Mockingbird Station to SMU/Mockingbird Station. Any how, the wait for the northbound train or Red Line was short. On the Blue Line, that I had just departed, there are cars that are even with the platform and you have steps to climb aboard. There are also raised platforms that allow for wheel chairs and bicycles to come on board.  I was sitting at one stop waiting for the doors to open and take on the passengers there. When, all of a sudden, there are two bicycles, then a wheel chair that came on the middle section of the car. No big deal but the car was suddenly more crammed with passengers in tight quarters, when at the next stop, the door opened and in came a guy ridding a four wheel ATV. Wait, it gets better. Then, when the car arrived at SMU/Mockingbird, there were people in the upper levels that wanted to exit. Of course, they could not do that. And, neither could I and the guy that got on with me at my stop. We both had to go up to the upper level and exit on our end of the car. The door to the car where we were sitting was two seats away from the door, but blocked by the ATV and the bikes.

Two of the bicycle riders were talking to the ATM driver about being born in Brooklyn but growing up in the Bronx. I'm thinking to myself...well Dallas, our trains are getting that New Yorker life to them. After all, it is public transportation. It makes the point that street wise know can help to manage those kinds of situations and those that don't have street wisdom can't understand that point of view. Really, it's a live and let live attitude that most people in the south don't really understand in the text of what is really being said by such actions.

I've made junket trips up and down the east coast meeting my customer base of steel buyers. You soon learn you don't get judgemental. Not at all. I did recall hearing the one guy talk about driving a cab in the "city" [New York] and how the one way streets made him a lot of extra money. The old game of having a few cause delays and make you take a one way street that's going in the same direction that you had just come from; with the meter running, of course. They would all get a cut of the extra pay. When you talk about being street wise, that's one of those things knowing can save you a lot of headache. After the second train line and the same bus twice, I was finally home again The thermometer on my porch read 90 degrees. Hey!! Fall. check you heat levels but I guess that is why we are getting three cold fronts over the next week, beginning with tonight. No rain, Just lower humidity a dew points and temps back in the low 80s.

After a cold glass of lemon-flavored iced tea, I ordered groceries from Aldi. They came in time for dinner! Aldi's has Moose Track Ice Cream. After butter pecan for a while. It was time for a change for the old taste buds! Yum Yum Yummie! I averaged my calorie count for he first 10 days of October. The numbers were impressive. 1891 calories average per day. Good protein counts and just the right amout of carbs.

 

Some Updates; Construction; The Wagon Wheel: Autumnal Tones Inspire

 While I listen to Camille Saint Saëns Symphony No. 3, popularly known as his Organ Symphony, and its use in 2 of the 4 sections. Now, is the perfect time to let you know what is going on with the changes in the webpage and this blog page as well as another found leg to the lost wagon wheel that I used to shoot most of my urban scenes and happenings.

 As you may have discovered from previous post, my car has been sent to where ever totaled cars go after my accident with the lady, also involved in the accident and who was talking on her cell phone, a decided to take off until I chased her down, only to find that her insurance was expired. It was then, that I decided after running the numbers that my buggy would not be replaced. Despite the fact that my buggy didn't stop running, I was able to drive it home. But, after the adjuster came out it was totaled and hauled away.

With the super fine rail systems in Dallas for city suburban runs as well as the new wi-fi loaded comfort of the new TEXrail system now in place, and more coming, it just made sense to let go.

Between the north end of DFW airport's Terminal B to the TP station in downtown Ft. Worth or the south end of the airport's Center Port Station, that goes from downtown Dallas' Union Station to Ft. Worth via the TP (Texas and Pacific) station which also can connect with/to the TEXrail if you want to go back through North Richland Hills to Grapevine's downtown station and then on to Terminal B at DFW. With a slight walk between DFW's Terminal B to Terminal A, once again you can meet the DART light rail system that will take you to UNT's (University of North Texas) campus in south Dallas near I-20 or going north where you can meet the "A" train that runs from the DART line along I-35 to downtown Denton and the main campus of UNT.

In short, the Silver line is due to be ready in March 2022 that will run across the north sectors from Plano/Garland to Addison, Carrollton and UT at Dallas campus, and into DFW. Not to mention the high speed bullet from Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes. Ground breaking for that is coming up in the spring. Holy rail Batman, who needs a car?

Talk about life-style changes, the accident opened tons of new doors from pharmacy to grocery to anything else almost. An just wait until you see one of those cute little robo delivery gizmos roll up your side walk or street which I have seen being tested. And finally--drones and Uber air service. I was still a bit in the ''hesitate mode'' until  my grocery delivery service Instacart just raised another $200 million of capital this week. It's a whole new age people. A whole new age.  

 Construction on the Web and on the Blog

Most of the work has been taking place behind the scenes until just recently. Then you might have noticed oversized pictures on the headers and footers of the web page, and on the blog. The reason that it became necessary was that the © copyright © was being violated. Someone even tried to submit one of my images to one of my agents where I had the image listed. I have never been anxious to make my smart phone smarter. Because, after all, it is, another computer to maintain. This was something that I am sensitive about and now, the smart phone just got very smart much to my own chagrin. It because necessary. While I was doing that, it occurred to me, that I should go ahead and change the header to follow the trends with the agencies where I list my images. And so, instead of doing by seasons, it will now be done as trending topics hit at least three of my agents sites. That means that images could change daily, if not monthly, or even full circle back to what autumnal tones inspire.

The Third Leg of the Wagon Wheel Shooting Wheel has now been completed  

and verified that I can continue to shoot in those areas via bus, rail, on foot, or any combination thereof. It's actually better than the car because when I see something interesting, I can get off the transportation mode and go shoot it. Where as in the car,  you had to find a parking spot. And all that goes with that. Which could be expensive at some parking lots in Dallas. Meters are always filled and if you were lucky to fine one and used the new digital meters they require a credit or debit card---which is not a problem but its slower than just dropping in a couple of quarters and running!  Getting off the train or bus you are right at the action and can get your shot. In many ways, it solved a lot of problems using the bus or train, and helps my health by walking even more. (I'm now up to 5 miles a day. It's nine miles around White Rock Lake which I have walked before.)

So, we do appreciate your patience with us. We are still open.

                                      

   We have been demolishing a few things here and there

And you thought that we were talking about a small demolition.

Anthropology is a Strange Animal

 My first encounter with a live Anthropologist was a university professor. He was known to cut his lawn with a push mower that had a flashlight duck taped to the handle tongue. In his defense for his family, he was in the Who's Who of Anthropologist Journals. From there, it was pretty much knowing what an Anthropologist was until I meet another one some many years later that taught at U Mass, Boston. We meet on Twitter. I must say that our Twitter conversations have been not much more than bantering back and forth, but the man and I have much more in common that the world knows when it comes to facing our own mortality. I have been thinking about that a lots lately since my nearly half year of surgeries and hospitalizations. But, also, he lost a brother at a young age and I lost a son at about the same age. He gets emotional. I get emotional, when it comes up in respectful and loving way in our conversations.

Over the few years that I have know of him, I read his blog. He covers his field of Anthropology in his specialized area with professionalism and gifted spirits! I happen to like that ability. So much, in fact, that when he wrote in one of his last post that I have read, it struck me much like it had taken him from the writing of  Dr. Emile Bruneau, a neuroscientist, who recently passed. I'm going to use that quote, which you can read from my Twitter friend and Anthropologist's post at:

http://kevishere.com/2020/10/03/the-chances-of-violence-the-u-s-election-lessons-from-emile-bruneau-and-reading-intentions/

 The Bruneau quote from the above linked post says:

"I just had a thought: I learned in physics that our physical mass never actually touches another – the outer electrons of each repel, giving us the illusion of touch. As a neuroscientist, I learned that our brains don’t really see the world, they just interpret it. So losing my body is not really a loss after all! What I am to you is really a reflection of your own mind. I am, and always was, there, in you."

Ironically, I had read something to that effect several years ago. Where, I cannot remember. But, it did stick.in my brain for some unique reason. So, when I did see it in my Twitter associate's post, it rang a bell and I became more interested in the context. 

The brain is more than just an amazing organ.The scope of what it can do is mind-boggling in or of itself. But, the fact that we can live on in the minds of others is amazing as we remember people of ancient Rome and Greece that we have never meet, but some 2000 years later, there they are. Even just learning about them in a class from high school or college or even a program on the Discovery or History Channel implants something of importance into our mind and we carry that with us and someone behind us does as well. It's a never ending cycle.

Recently, I had also read a quote by Terry Pratchett that read:

"No one is actually dead until the ripples they caused in the world die away."

Mr. Pratchett is none other than Sir Terence David John Pratchett OBE.so, here is another example that we live on and as God has proclaimed, through His only begotten son, Jesus, life can be eternal if you believe in Him.  That part has never been a problem for me, but the thought of death has not really been a problem either. Yet with the loss of my son, seeing my parents and grandparents pass, has set off a few ripples in my mind. That's why I want to set into motion as many good ripples in the time that I have on this planet that I can send rippling. 

Also in my recent readings, I ran across an article in Space that said that our sun has about another 4 billion years of life before we become a black hole and all matter on this planet is used to fuel the nursery of future stars. How do you like them ripples, folks?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explored the nature trails at the Bush Presidential Center

 On purpose, the delay to explore these grounds and trails in a park-like setting was delayed until it had time to mature from construction and plantings. Several of the living presidents were there at the dedication. I was shooting the fringes of the action. There is always more going on in the fringes than at the focal point of the event. 

From home, I took the bus to the train station. After a short wait for the train, (Sunday schedules are farther apart) taking it to the SMU/Mockingbird Station as it is now know, was a quick trip. To bring a closer association to SMU, the station was renamed. The center is directly across North Central Expressway at Mockingbird Lane. On the west side of the expressway, it's University Park. It was also my longest walk to date. The weather was delightful and that made the outing even better. 

The trails and the flowers (mostly wild flower variety) are what I like to shoot anyway. But, the change from fall to spring is yet to be experienced, so I will be coming back in the spring to see that change and what it has to offer.

The Geo.Bush Presidential Center

                                                                    The Trails look like this

                                       Some of the foliage has begun to show signs of turning

Early Fall Confirmed

 Well, if you follow natures signs like I do, one of the first signs of an early fall is the flipping of leaves on the trees (see previous post on leaf flipping). That has already occurred this year. The next sign is the occasional leaf found on the ground in various spots as the sap begins to recede in trees. That has already occurred this year. The next phase is the turning of the leaves themselves into yellows then to golds or reds and then into that textured look of leather or tanned hide colored. Some trees are now showing that and have even begun to drop.Usually that stage is for the softer woods like ash etc.,etc.The hardwoods will follow those in time. 

While at one of the train stations last week, I noted that the leaves in one of the trees on the platform had begun to turn yellow and had even dropped a fair amount to note. Having said that, it got me to watching more closely as the train went through the areas that are not so much commercial as the trees on the platforms. Sure enough, spotting that ever noticeable color of yellow. The tops of many trees were popping up as we moved alone the trains route. As a side bar, when I came in from my outing, I noticed the change more closely with the trees on my porch. One is nearly 12 feet high and it is showing signs already,too. 

Growing up in the South, I recall my walks in the woods behind our house on the hill. Leaves almost never seemed to be on the ground until mid November. Here in Texas, being farther south still, it is more like Thanksgiving to the end of November.. So, by the signs seen thus far, we are running nearly 6-7 weeks early this year in the transition into fall. Colors move from North to South at about 20 miles per day for peak colors.

Going back through my files, for the past three years, images back up the assumption from visual signs noted already. As, 2017 was a very early fall by past year standards, that too, is noted in images. 

So, as the annual change in the jet stream drops farther south, true and stronger 'cold' fronts begin to arrive every three or four days. Temps fall back on my porch thermometer from 80s overnight to 60s and now into the low to mid 50s. It's getting to be my favorite time of the year. I can sit out on my porch and drink my morning couple of cups of coffee. There is that feel of briskness in the air again. We know fall is here. As is said in midtown Manhattan: "You'll have that from time to time,yes, you will." We just say in Texas: "Hallelujah!!"

 

October 4-6-2019

October 6-8-2018

November 18,2017

 

The Old Wagon Wheel Shoot Route Has Been Solved

A bus. A train. A bus. A train. A bus. Home! Two of the spokes of the old wagon wheel that I used to shoot, well at least 1/6 of the shoot wheel, have now been visually verified that they can be done as before. In fact, I was on both sides and one end of White Rock Lake today. This will help solve some of my shooting schedule. And, I also got to see some of the old haunts from before my accident.

It does seem that the old adage that I have heard most of my life that, "when the Lord closes one door, He opens another." I'm just glad to be able to get out, see life in motion and do more walking. The weight is dropping, my appetite is in check, and I'm eating more healthy than ever before, I was eating health before, but not as healthy as I am now. I'm balking at companies that add additional sugar to their products, but that is another story for another day.

Also, I have been sorting folders and using them more efficiently with my pictures. Both, for my customers and for my own work flow.Waiting for the next health tornado is in the shadows, but it is shrinking farther and farther into the background.With exactly 90-days left in 2020, how the election goes will not cause me to loose any sleep. And speaking about sleep, I'm getting 11 to 12 hours of sleep most every night. That's for sure, the result of the change in diet again. Those hospital stays from last November until the end of May with two short periods at home in between stays did get me to thinking.When ask, and the nurses ask daily what my goals were, it was for me, the same thing. I wanted to get back out into nature and behind my camera as soon as I was able to do so. It was a long time in coming and still has a little hurdle to jump, but with that behind me later this month, I am pretty sure I can say, World, I'm home!

Today was an exploration trip mostly, yet, it produced some interesting results.  It was a good day.

,

                                           The one pedal ids the run for Alzheimer's disease.

Looking at my file folders of images, I can now see clearly the gaping holes in shooting that were created by my illness. Just in the past two weeks, I am back to shooting at least something every day. My last surgery that was scheduled for last March has now been rescheduled for this month. Hopefully, I'll be able to sit down and work out a shooting schedule. The one thing in my favor is also the National Weather Services declaration of a La Niña setting in, that means a warmer and drier winter than normal. So, the nature prospects are looking good to be outside, and not having to worry about some cold winter. It will get cold even if the set up is as planned, but just not as bad as living in the Great Lakes 39 years The worse being a winter of 17 below O°F. So, we shall see what we shall see as time shifts into winter mode. But I am thinking that what ever it is, mentally and somewhat physical strength being what it is, Yes, indeed, even with a bus and a train regardless of how many transfers, being home feels pretty darn good.