And Now, The Fire Department Puts Down It's Foot

In my post of June 3, I  started out the post with the words---Dallas Has A Problem. When users of the park speak up, it seems that the only solutions come with the great big tag that says," Run Around". But, when it has the power backed by the Fire Department, the tag reads differently. It reads,"JOB DONE".

Ironically, the past few years I have mentioned to others that where one sees the wood poles with the top painted red---even with years of weathering--- why the poles are painted and what it means. These poles were painted like a fire lane---which means , no parking. The reason why no parking was selected for that space was because the fire department needed a place to put in their boats for water rescues, searches, etc.,etc.

Last year, the fire department needed to go up White Rock Creek for a water rescue and could not put their boat in under the Mockingbird Bridge Lot because cars were parked where the poles could be pulled and a boat put in. The Fire Department had to go up past the first marina to the concrete boat dock.

Only a few weeks ago, the call came in again for a water rescue and even at that boat dock (where the SUP rentals call home) the Fire Department could not gain access again. So, the next thing to happen is that the parks and recreation  crews are drilling and inserting post into the gravel lot at the boat ramp. In short, they cut up the parking lot, created a fire lane and that is that!!! Anyone parking there will be issued a ticket.

The issues are part of the same issues that I have been addressing the past three years with little or no help from the city. Yet, when the city needs something---or has an issue with something---it gets resolved instantly. At least, it lends support to the growing number of park goers that are frustrated at seeing the  growing number of runners and bikers write their own rules to suit themselves.

Two weeks ago, I mentioned to an official that someone was going to get killed. A week later, a biker was struck by a DART train as he tried to access the Santa Fe Trail. So, it's not just White Rock, yet, White Rock is having some very close calls with bikers nearly hitting kids getting out of the family cars, animals being hit by construction crews and bikers alike. Having mentioned the fire lane issue, signs posted are ignored and not  where one way traffic is posted but not clearly marked as it should be. The city has a responsibility to educate the park goers about traffic patterns with proper signage, especially since Texas has a problem with people going the wrong way on turnpikes and expressways as it is. Other states don't have half the problem that exist in the Lone Star State.

Just last week, one guy ask me "where's the signs?" My point exactly!! There are common traffic patterns that are national when signage isn't in place. It's universal traffic pattern flow---like when you enter a split and don't know if you should go straight or to the right---the rule is based on the same approach to a traffic circle---you always go to the right. But, in current time, when kids can't read an analog clock and get the correct time, knowing the rule of thumb of traffic flow just isn't cutting it. I am still waiting for a return call from Public Works on  some of these issues.

Fire Department Just Created New Fire Lanes

It seems that People Had No Clue that the Fire Dept.needs access to the lake for water rescues.

Half a Lot has now been Lost because of a few who were self-centered.

Saw The Two Newest Monk Parrots Being Fed

The monk parrots at White Rock make a lot of noise but in a way that's good. You know they are in the area. I pulled up on the parking lot at Winfrey Point this morning looking for the red shouldered hawk that hangs out there but heard, then saw the little green birds that look so much like the ones that were sold in the five and dime stores as pets. There are, however, a bit larger and there are some noticeable differences. However, seeing them in action is always a delight.

You might try enlarging them after you click them on for the default enlarging. At 100 percent, they are clearly cute to see.

The chick is on the left. Mom would drive the other bird away when she came back.

Here, she feed from her beak to the chicks beak.

There are two chicks and mom and dad.

It started out with shooting a couple on the sidewalk, then they flew off to the other side of Winfrey, then to the gang lights at the ball diamonds. Then, I noticed in the big tree at the edge of the circular drive that going around the side and front of Winfrey, two parrots sitting on a dead branch of the tree canopy. It wasn't long before I figured out that these two were fledglings and then came mom and dad to feed them. Then, it happened. I got to see mom feed the baby. To me, that was a rare shot. After a number of years trying to get a really good shot of them, I was able to get a couple of good shots of the feeding.

Catching Up With Depeche Mode

In Loving Memory of my son, KP who passed away in the early morning hours on July 4,1998 at 27 years of age. 

I listen to Depeche Mode in your honor, KP. I miss you so very much.

Dallas Has A Problem For Sure

This car is correctly going to right direction, including making the required right turn at the stop sign. However, a black SUV came down the road today going the other direction and nearly hit me head on. The very point that TxDOT could learn from  about why vehicles are going the wrong way all over the Metroplex and lives are being lost.

The park is posted with signs that read:" You must Obey Warning Signs. It is a state law."

One thing that I have noticed about Dallas is the number of people who go the wrong way on the Toll Roads, expressways, and streets. One thing about going to the lake on a daily basis is that over a period of time, it begins to point itself out to you that people don't read signs---especially road signs and/or traffic signs. The Texas Department of Transportation could do a study in a high use area where this very topic could be studied in concentration. After all, it is state law to obey warning signs!

In talking to various departments and people from inside city hall on down, it came to light that one of the reasons why there are so many violations at White Rock Lake is because the park and recreation division are short on parking spaces in out-of-ratio comparison to the number of people using the park in comparison to the numbers just a few short years ago---like 5 years. Also, White Rock is a big Public Relations Platform for the city and its parks. Having passed that information on after being told to me, it's also the age old story that the genie isn't going back into the bottle once it's been let out. So, I ask one of the police officers that at the time, was new to the park beat from the old guard that has gone on to better jobs, retired and left the force or otherwise moved either up the ladder or up the food chain. The question was since you know about the parking situation being on the the reasons some of the signs had come down  why aren't the city codes enforced? His answer to me was," Thank God--next question!"

Loss Prevention finally got a good number for me to call about the signs which have caused more confusion being down than up. Since the storm hit the park, now is not the time or the place to bring up that question at the moment. However, since then, I have counted 6 armadillos, a red should hawk, a pelican and several pigeons that have been hit by cars or bikes. Surprisingly, the number is growing by bike hits on the wildlife and migrating birds. Cars, being what they are, have nearly hit kids on bikes, older adults and a few hikers. With the number of cars going the wrong way on one way patterns while others, not knowing the basics of transportation flow when "signs are not present" (i.e., when approaching a "Y" where so sign is present at where to enter,  always go to the right as if you were entering a traffic circle). State law requires that bikes observe stop signs the same as cars. That just does not happen at White Rock Lake.Images of cars going the wrong way on marked "do not enter" or 'begin one way" are into the hundreds while bikes running stop signs as if the "Tour De France" trophy was on a finish line somewhere at the lake is only going to get some one killed before that trophy is ever awarded in Dallas.

Need To Find Out If Count Was Aerial Survey

Never Had Bad Vibes at the Lake---Until Today

With high heat indexes, yesterday's lunch on the shore of the lake was delightful. So, it seemed to me that doing a repeat today would be a wise move. After the pre-noon news cast, I packed the cooler much the same as yesterday but added a couple of items that I had forget to put in yesterday. Having said that, I made my way to the lake, going straight to the area where I had eaten lunch yesterday.
While sitting at the table looking out over the lake, I spotted my little friend, the red squirrel. He hangs out on top of a cluster of trash bins that are like a pre-sort of recycled items.

As I unpacked my lunch, the squirrel picked up on the smells coming from the picnic tote and positioned himself right at the end of the table where I was sitting  and did all sorts of things to get my attention. He would raise up on his haunches, then stand up on his hind legs more or less begging for a hand out.One of the items that I brought with me today was a round white corn chip. So, I held one up and ask him if he would like to have one? (I love talking to animals. They understand more than we give them credit) Tossing the chip to him, he grabbed it and ran up the side of the tree on the back side where I could not see where he went. Then, when I had my lunch laid out on the table where I could manage it and the wind and not have things blown away, I looked up at the tree. There sat the squirrel on a tree limb knot at about 10 feet up. It was a perfect perch for him to sit on and he was eating the chip like we humans eat corn on the cob. When he finished, he came back down from the tree and went to the end of the table. The little rascal was telling me that he wanted more. He took the second chip and returned back to his perch where he began to do his return carriage routine as he ate this second chip.

When the chips were gone and the tomato, cheese and pickle mix was also gone, I went to my sandwich. I noticed he was watching me and I told him that I didn't have any more. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him scamper off toward the lake's  edge.

As I worked on my sandwich and drink, I got this eerie feeling. It came out of no where but it sent a chill running up my shoulders and neck.  I turned around to look toward my car and at that very moment, I looked down and there were five squirrels across the ground at the back of the table. They had that ''look'' like you see in the movies of animals getting even.

Now, I'm begging to the squirrels---I'll bring more tomorrow!!  I finished my sandwich and took the picnic bag to the car. In my tote with my camera bag, I always carry about 10 saltine crackers in a little container and three sandwich duplex cookies for my afternoon snack. I took the container and went back to the table. While the squirrels were still hanging out, I took out a cracker and broke it into four piece and tossed them to the squirrels that were stretched out on the ground--a belly flop on the cool ground would be more accurate. They all ran to grab a piece of the handout. Three took off running with their little hand out and I didn't see them again, but the original little buddy and one of his friends hung around and wanted more. My friend wanted a whole cracker. The little devil held out until I gave him one, then he returned up the tree to his little balcony and worked on that cracker.

All-in-all, the band that came from no where and just gave me dirty looks until I noticed them had vanished with their hand out did give me those bad vibes, never thinking that they would come from a pack of squirrels. It was almost like a story board.
So--for the rest of the summer---if I pack more lunches--- which I will---I'll make sure that I have white oval corn chips and saltine crackers to give to the pack.

There's that Look.He was in stalk mode

This one, too, was in stalk mode.

This is my buddy that always greets me looking for a hand out but also is a dumpster diver with great skills.

My Trips To The Lake Daily Have Been Validated

Yep! Spending two to three hours a day out in nature has now been validated as a healty exercise that reduces blood pressure, keeps aging in a slower pace and prevents some of the common pains   altogether that comes with age progression.

Yesterday, with the heat indexes at 108 and the air temp at 95 with humidity and dew points through the roof, I packed the cooler with lunch and a snack and headed toward the lake. I have found a perfect picnic table that reminds me why I have always liked lake houses and beach houses. While eating my lunch, there was a cool breeze blowing across the area coming in off the lake. It was delightful and I ate my lunch in a comfortable ambient temperature. Summer doesn't start until today but the last weeks of June always rings the door bell of summer early here in Texas. 

By 1:30 I had pointed the car toward home and spent the rest of the day (the most unbearable part) in the cool of air conditioning. Australians survive the heat by closing up the house during the day and opening it wide in the evening. Now that a sample of what summer feels like again, I go out early and come in early. Come on September!!

The developing storms in the afternoon developed as advertised. They went north of us and south of us. The city of Greenville, north east of the metroplex got hit hard with wind damage and heavy rain leaning toward 4-inches as the storms trained over the same area for hours. Then, during the evening around sunset, a few developing storms grazed the Metroplex in the sector where I live. However, there was not as much lightening, nor strong winds and the rain was gentle and still wet. My trees are growing at an alarming rate where I am going to have to give them away to someone who needs a tree are cut the back to where they become a bush rather than a tree. I don't want to do that to my trees.They have reduced that direct sun heating of brick that sends the thermometer to the 120 mark. That is the main reason why I have trees in pots on the porch. Now, my neighbor has the same.

My view during lunch

Piles of wood chips from all the damage to such majestic trees

Pile after pile of these wood chips look like ant hills