The "A" Train

When the connection between the Trinity Mills Station of the DART light rail and the new service to Lewisville, Lake Dallas, Corinth and downtown Denton opened up,  the service used the old BUDD-made rail cars. The ones that you see in movies in Chicago and New York are that BUDD made type. Last week, it was time to ride the new sleek European-style cars and they were super nice! The immediate difference that was noticed was the quiet ride and how smooth it was. Yes, the cars did rock like any train does, but that was at the bottom of the 'fix it' list if there were to be one.

The arrival at the downtown station was obviously the same, but walking the two blocks up the hill to court house square went well this time. The last time, my surgery was fairly new and my strength was not fully recovered. Plus, it was in the middle of summer and the heat and humidity didn't help. But, had I decided that I didn't want to repeat that physical strain again, there were plenty of bus routes this time that service the rail station. Most of the bus routes pass through court house square.

When up town, a walk around the square was an architectural tour. It is amazing how much history is in that square. The 1896 court house is a masterpiece. Texas, like many other states, have amazing county seats that are architectural wonders. One thing that weighs heavy on my mind is seeing a sign that says,"closing sale" and "closing after 54 years". Locals would know that it is the Ethan Allen Furniture Store. Others see it as another store closing with people out of jobs. Several years ago some one ask me if I thought the economy was getting better. My response was that as long as stores are closing and laying off workers, numbering in the hundreds, are still happening the economy isn't as well as it looks. And to enforce that Sears Holding announced this week that they would be closing 78 more stores; 68 K-Mart stores and 10 Sears stores.

 Lunch was had at a sidewalk table at Cartwright's. The sizzler and platter of thick fries was a delight that carried me through the rest of the day. My waitress was so nice and took care of my table service very,very well. Some would say that good service is reserved for the locals, but that was not to be found at all. She really impressed me in a small town kind of way, which is the type of service I was looking for when I chose Cartwright's. So, the next time I make a trip to Denton to the Jazz Festival or what every event interest me or my editors, Cartwright's is where I will dine!

When I got to the bottom of the hill on the return, a fast-moving Union Pacific freight train came sailing through town. It's been many years since I have seen a freight train at that speed through town, although I know that there are little towns that see it daily. I grew up in a small town where trains came 'tearing down the pike' like this one. It brought back a flood of memories. One guy was filming a video of the train. My camera was still out of the case and I got a couple of shots , too.

All-in-all, it was a long day on the road. I used public transportation from my door step end-to-end and it was fun. I had been complaining to my doctor that my legs just didn't have the strength that they did once. Well, I found muscles that I hadn't

Downtown Denton Station for the "A" Train

Ethan Allen Closing after 54 years in Denton

Union Pacific tears through the crossing.

used in months, obviously, because I am still working out the soreness in the calves of my legs from the walking and climbing the hill.

Urban Life Under A Osprey's Nest

A seashore tale

This is a story of  what drew me to this live cam for a pair of Ospreys and their nest high above a busy Maryland street. The city is Severna Park, about 11 miles south an east of Baltimore Washington International airport on the estuary of the Chesapeake Bay. At night, when the prevailing winds are favorable for north-south landings, you can see the planes landing on the short runway on the east side of the airport. As it so happens, I have been on that runway before. So, go get some comfort food or drink, come on back and click on the link that will be provided and watch, actually see the area that is being described.

This story actually begins on board an Eastern Airline Flight between Atlanta and Baltimore ( that alone is a time stamp). The flight was vectoring around Andrews Air Force Base just outside the eastern side of Washington when the cockpit door opened and a flight officer appeared. With captain boards on his shirt my reaction at first was, we are about to land, who's flying this bird? He walks down to the seat in front of mine and says to the man," Don't you live in Severna Park?" The man responds, "yes". The captain then says, "I've been trying to reach my wife on the company radio and can't get her. If I can't reach her by the time the luggage is off, can I bum a ride to Severna Park with you?"

I deplaned and had my luggage as I walked to the rental car area. My car was ready, the paperwork was processed, the keys were handed over and I was directed to the exit closest to the rental car lot. As, I was standing outside the exit, a Mercedes convertible--whips into the curb lane and the captain that had been bumming a ride, got into the car with the woman one must assume was his wife. Thus endeth my first trip into BWI. That trip to this day, lingers in my mind from being at the airport,on that flight and never beforehand or never thereafter hearing a captain bum a ride from a passenger on final approach.

My love for the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine has deep personal meaning for me. It is the Chesapeake, most of all with its natural estuary, it's water people and the history, food and scenic wonders that  I most love. So when looking for nesting bird cams, I wanted eagles, ospreys and horned owls. Luckily, all three were found, but the draw to Severna Park, the landscape, the area, the bird, coupled with all the urban goings-on that mesmerized me hook line and sinker. As my viewing time increased on this particular pair of birds, the hustle-bustle of urban life pointed out how animals adapt to their surroundings. Some more than others, but generally, animals will adapt to urbanization.  This is a perfect example. I don't even turn off the sound. Listening to the noise an wind sounds of pair of sparrows that nest in the nest itself is amazing. Having traveled that area several times for work, the area is very familiar and almost like a second home at times.

Here is a bit  of info on the location. The construction site is the Severna Park High School. As explained earlier, if you look to the right above the tall trees, about 11 miles  ahead and just to the left is the short runway at BWI. The longer runways are on the west side of the airport and are basically blocked by the trees. Although, you can see the approach lights as the planes line up  when the wind favors a north to south landing.

The busy roadway is rather deceptive. Just under the cam and going southbound the road is the actual street address of the High School, 60 Robinson Road. Going north bound as the camera looks north,  it is called Benfield Road. It connects two busy arteries. Rt 2 and I-97, which helps to explain some of the heavy traffic besides the point it is also a major route out of Millersville, south to Severna Park. Having once lived on a busy street like this before, I have plenty of sympathy for the family that is directly to the left with the van sitting in the driveway most of the time. I was able to match this camera view with the Google map satellite view by matching the box on the side of the telephone pole and the pole that is in front of the camera across the street. It appears that the Google map has not updated to what we see today, so if you look at it independently, you will see athletic fields etc.,etc. and it can be a bit confusing. You will also be able to see the new High School Building under construction as well. Like all urban areas, the growth in this area will expand like a rubber band galaxy. Urbanization in the east is compressed as it is with more people per square mile than the rest of the nation.

Heather and Mark Jeweler, live in a very nice neighborhood into the wooded area in front of the camera on the right, who also fought for this permanent nest box (read their back story) and have just mentioned on the site that their site now carries this camera view. I'm a bit under the weather today. So, I have watched a very active urban life unfold . Here are a few of the things that go on before this camera as mom and dad osprey sit on three eggs that are due to hatch sometime after Mothers day.

1 ] South Bound Traffic Count for a 15 minute period: 213 cars. North Bound Traffic Count for a like 15-minute period: 144 cars.
2 ] walkers south bound: 13; one with dog.
3 ] walkers north bound:7; two with dogs.
4 ]Motorcycles NB:4; SB:8
5 ] Bikers NB:12;SB:4
6 ]Scooters: NB:1,SB:er NB in bike lane
8 ] hover board rider NB in traffic lane
9 ] Joggers NB:3;SB 6
10]Trash/Garbage/Recycle Pick up made NB and SB sides
11] Mail man delivers mail west side of street
12] Funeral Procession NB. One-hour later, limo only returns SB
13] 17 loads of dirt delivered to construction site visible
14] 4-pieces of equipment used. Bull dozier, back hoe, roller, Bucket Excavator
15] all neighbors stowed trans/garbage/recycle containers from street within 20-minutes after pick-up.
16] Fire EMS Rescue vehicle NB 13:55 EDT (saw a fire truck NB yesterday for the first time)
17] Wind gust strong enough to shake and rock stable nest box occurred twice at 13:15 EDT
18] Osprey Mate relieves Mate on nest 6 times, bringing food for mate one time.

The web site for the founders, Heather and Mark Jeweler is Osprey Nest,Severna Park,MD
or you can use the original site at; http://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/severna-park-osprey


Brought to you by the Friends of the Severn River Watershed and Wildlife
at www.severnaparkospreys.com

 
NB---
Editor Note:

04-30-2016: This morning I noticed that the frames per second had changed. That is usually an indication that something is up with the free link.

This morning, it appears that the website had crashed yesterday. This morning, it was running again with a dropdown that said it had crashed and threads that others were having the same problem.

The birds look to be none the worse for wear and having said that...... 

McGillicuddy's in Downtown Garland

Many times while in downtown Garland most of the businesses have been closed because it was either a holiday or a Sunday. Today was the first time that a trip has been planned during normal business hours. It was an interesting day about architectural history and to me, it was worth every minute hearing about the history on the west side of the square. Not only was there oral history, there was an amazing image from the early part of the 20th century c1920 with Model T's/A's parked, where today's hybrids and electrics now park. The shop that was the focus of today's visit was an Antique shop. Getting past the front window and a select few items sitting outside the door on the sidewalk was enough to keep me busy talking to the owner of the shop and doing a visual inspection of the architectural elements of the building today with the old image of the building as indicated above. In short. the stock within the shop was picking my attention with such interest for a return trip. It's going to be just an insane walk down history lane. This is one of the finest antique shops that I have seen in the past 15 years. The last one that I browsed a shop that was this fine was on the outskirts of downtown Denton. The collection of antique cloths and artifacts of the same periods was wild. Today, my viewing experience was limited. It just blows my mind with the things that I saw this afternoon from a quick browse from the front of the store.

Being a creative person has run deep in my veins ever since 4th grade. With my interest in fabrics the blue and white pattern outside the shop was enough to draw me in to talk to the owner about the fabric. Immediately, she had me involved in helping to identify an old and small picture of a British Royal Guard. It's just one of those things that draws me into a creative mode that sometimes last for weeks. So, if you are looking for a unique antique shop in the Dallas Metroplex, start out in downtown Garland on the west side of the town square; the shop: McGillicuddy's, and it's well worth the trip to go check it out. You will no doubt want to return many times afterwords. 

I was so geeked up, the two main focal points of todays visit were put into a product that will help you appreciate what excellent inventory is part of their displays inside and out!

Horizontal Greeting Card by sam6372
Browse other Horizontal Cards

Holy 828 Meters Plus, Calatrava

Well, I have been a fan of Santiago Calatrava's designs long before they were appearing here in Dallas as the Margaret Hunt Hill (Maggie 1) and the Margaret McDermott (Maggie 2) bridges. He has created much more famous works throughout the world, frankly. However, it does seem to be more fact than fiction that in some of his most recognizable works do involve bridges or buildings with suspended wings etc.,etc. In short, cables! So, if most haven't figured it out by now, Santiago Calatrava-Valls, although he does hold a PhD from Zurich's Swiss Institute of Technology, from there, he developed that famous mixing of design with visual design which made him world famous.  He is, without doubt, "the cable guy" with a PhD.

No other point can be made to the cable guy moniker than his just announced  $2 billion project by the Dubai developer that has commissioned him to design and construct in Dubai for the 2020 World Expo a structure that will be a "notch" above the world's tallest building as of now, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It will be the trophy for the Hubai Creek Harbour development.

Here's the kicker. In the drawings released to the press, with Santiago standing in front and to the side of the official drawings, the structure is more of a viewing tower with tons of space for restaurants, shops and observations areas. But, as this has been leading up to... cables! big, long, cables that will hold the building to mother earth much like cable stays do his bridge decks. All-in-all, the design is not disappointing in any way. The thing has class. Wait. The thing has Calatrava Class!

Tom Cruse, here's another chance for you to play on the tallest building in the world. The only thing is that it will be next door to the last one you played outdoors on its exterior walls. Considering that the Burj Khalifa is officially 828 meters tall. Using 3.28084 feet to a meter, that's 2,716.53 feet above ground. A little more than a half mile tall. The new building that is scheduled to begin construction in June, does not have an official height, yet. It is just said to be a "notch" higher than the Burj stands today.

Here is a link to the image along with Calatrava.The Cable Guys Latest Design 
In the meanwhile, here is a shot of downtown on Main Street.

Squares! Boxes! More Squares!

Hum. And more squares. And more Squares!

Some how, this is refreshing!!

 

Fresh Fish for Dinner

Over the years of doing this blog, there has been a lot of fish gone into and come out of White Rock Lake. Of course putting the fish into the lake is a job for a Texan driving the tank truck from the Texas State Fish Hatchery. But, catching them is a sport, fun, a way to pass time, or to satisfy that taste for a fresh fish cooked that special way to suit the individual taste buds for anyone. In fact, most of those that have been heard putting down the quality of fish at White Rock has come from those that don't know what goes into testing the quality of the lake and the fish environmentally, or, they don't want everyone bringing their fishing gear to cutting into their favorite fishing hole. ( say what?)

There is a new bench at Dryfuss Club overlooking the lake above where the steps at the end of the stone wall are located. The view is nice, however, a word of caution: the birds sit above you and drop their dirt on you. One got me today hitting the lid of my lunch container squarely in the center. Luckily, I had put the lid over on the other half of the bench and it missed me and my cardio lunch of fruit, sharp cheddar and some other goodies.  While sitting here, because the light was to my advantage, I watched a silk filigree descent from the tree with many, many small caterpillars crawling up and down the filigree string. By the time I finished my lunch and got  the camera over to the area that had produced the sight, there was not many left and it seems that the ones that did reach the ground had become bird food or had made haste to hide. Visible from the new bench was also the black smoke from the 4-alarm apartment fire in Irving.

It was a good day to be outside. By the time it was time to pack it in for the day, the humidity had also arrived. Thickening clouds were evident of that fact. There was also a healthy supply of mosquitoes, also. AARGH!!!
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One of my favorites--the blue iris

See the sting of creatures descending

About a 2 pound white bass-type fish.  Nice!

White Rock Paddle Has A New Dock

Just about six years ago, while making my editorial rounds at White Rock Lake, I noticed a shiny trailer in the parking lot at the foot of Scout and East Lawther section as it comes under the Mockingbird bridge. When I got out and was walking up to the trailer, there was this young lady with a pink baseball cap and her pony tail dropping down through the adjustment strap on the cap. Now, at the beginning of the sixth year at White Rock Lake, Amy, the pony tailed,  pink baseball cap wearing, owner of the White Rock Paddle Company has become a dear proxy friend through her staff, although I don't get to see her as much now. As in today, I missed her by about an hour, but the Paddle Co was operating never-the-less. It was, however, operating at a different location at Big Thicket.

Actually, the new location has much more to offer than the former bank of the parking lot across from the dog park between the pedestrian bridge and the Mockingbird bridge. The new location has a large surface mat that is even and much easier to load and unload. There's a great view of the downtown skyline, a dock, a picnic table with both a water fountain and a spigot for filling bottles or bowls for the dogs. Parking is much more evenly distributed. All-in-all, it's just a paddle around the first boat marina then under the pedestrian bridge for those that like to paddle or kayak up White Rock Creek.  For others, that want to paddle the open lake, you are right there from the get!

Since we are mostly creatures of habit, it's only going to be about one trip from the new location until things begin to settle back into a routine and nothing will seem strange or awkward from then on.  To make it even easier, the White Rock Paddle Company has a sign right next to where they were in the past at the Nautical Area sign. Just turn left and head around the curve toward the Big Thicket Building and the Sailing Boat Marinas (when you pass the first one, get ready to turn in to the old boat dock). There is an orange tent by the trailer to help you zero in on the new digs.
*************************Click on any image to open all in a larger view******************

This is Garrett, one of the staff. He'll be watching for you!

The boats on the new mat launching area, and I hear there are a lot of new boats this year too.

Now, here's the landmark. It's just like being in the old place but much better overall! Enjoy you summer and do some serious boating from White Rock Paddle. Say hello to Garrett, too!

Looking Back Over March

Sometimes, even with good intentions, things get missed. So, this serves as a sweep of things that did get missed. However, outside of the President and Air Force One being here (which are archived on the Live News Feed) the one central topic seemed to be the weather.

In cleaning up March-- as everyone already knows-- it was a windy little end to the first quarter of 2016 with storms, hail, tornadoes (again). Luckily, only about 20,000 were without power at any one given time in the Metroplex. The hail damage was bad--to say the least-- on cars and roofs. Some of those 12,000 new residents that arrive here every month got that old fashioned Texas Spring Hail Storm initiation. Welcome, to Texas!

At the end of the first ten days of the month, a young fisherman calls it quits as the wind and rain move in. A very wise young man, indeed.

Near the end of the month with about a week to go, the wind was still howling. The low-level stratus had lifted to clearing skies,however.

Yep! even the ducks were bobbing on the rolling waves and white caps.