The HP ( The Scot) vs. the HH.(Bob Cat). I'll take the HH(Bob Cat) over the HP (Scot) anyday.

 Well, the big LVI day has arrived. It's just a matter of hours before we know who takes the throne. That set off a comparison spread sheet on not just who is a great QB but who had the overall fabric that rounds out a great QB that makes his robe out of that fabric fit for a king. 

On a personal note, I live less than 5 miles from where Matt Stafford played his high school football. My college days started on the Main Green at Athens, where I would meet a truck outside Baker's Union that took me to a farm of riding horses there every Wednesday. I could ride horses all afternoon. I got college credit for that too!! Riding in the Hocking Hills is still something I have on my bucket list. I have only been back one time since those days. 

It comes down to a Scot or a Bob Cat in my choice. I have some Scot's blood and I like wildlife. So, my choice is no more or no less what any zoo animal has already picked. I going with the Bob Cat. Oh, and as a side bar. Stafford was Lion but now is a Ram and  Borrow was a Bob Cat and is now a Bengal Tiger. Sticking with the two time cat lover! Don't you see?  Gotta go with Joe.

The Find of the Day Where I Got an Okay Because I Showed Them I Will Credit The Art to Them.

On discovery missions, usually I do discover or uncover or stumble upon something unusual. Seldom is it a hat trick every day. Today was a hat trick. You can visit their shop on Main Street In Richardson by going to Instagram @Created_Art_Co. The splendid personality of the lady that greeted me was warm and inviting to a business that was much like I had created years ago by the name Seaway Specialties  and Stationary. This is a very big Thank You to the crew and owners who's building the header adorns our header image today. I promised her that I would credit the image and showed her that I had an image from the image at the bottom of the buildings first row of blocks. So check out their Instagram account especially if you are planning that big event somewhere down the pike. Their business is very creative from what I saw inside. It kind of brought back some images to mind of my days working to create a place where all those services came together in one location.

I walked half the Central Trail today logging in 2 1/2 miles. Coming from the other way previously, I have walked one section  already, but this is the first where I walked the full length in Richardson. I think I am going to sleep very well tonight. 

 The  weather is not going to be nice tomorrow. Cold Front. Winds, Cold, Rain, High only in the 40s after today's 78°F.  After the walk today, I need a day to recoup. While it will jump back in pre-Spring mode again, Therotically, weather begins to made headway toward Spring every day now.

We have  images of Officer Sherrard's Memorial Cruiser with all the flowers and Teddy Bears and  heart felt messages in this blog's archive. That's the new Police HQ in the background. The David Sherrard Way goes between the fire and the police facilities, ending just before the area where David's car stood. Now, that part is a secure lot for privacy where police need such privacy.

The memorial stands where the old fire station once stood. After construction of the old one was torn down and the new police headquarters were  built in front of the old police station where some remains today. 

Good Bye Kay Bailey Hutchison--Hello $2B Convension Center Fast Choo! Choo!

 Well, at the top of the list is that one of the news stations finally made mention  to one of the side bars for council's vote today for the new convention center. The fact that it will be front and center to the new Bullet Train's proposed station is not out there publicly. We ask that question more than once on this blog about the Bullet Train station that no one was willing to fess up to that fact,until today.

With all things good, there is a downer side and that is the mention of the wealth owners of the valuable land (what land in Texas isn't valuable). Those owners are jumping up and down for development of that land, which makes it time to face up to the fact that the driving force has been in that area for a very long. The development for a good twenty years or more was evident when I ask a developer which way would be the path for Dallas' future development? His reply was on the tip of his tongue and rolled off his tongue instantly with "The Trinity".  At that time I was working to secure a grant from one of the corporate world's Fortune 50 for an entertainment district's planning for it's own growth and redevelopment. The grant was obtained. Now, some twenty years later, I can look back on that task from a CEO looking to be ahead of the curve before anyone knew it was on the planning tables with modest pride. True, it was something that I could add to my resumè, but ended up with health issues that forced my retirement earlier than I had planned. It was during that time that I had a sound knowledge of the Metroplex and what was in the works. I took my lifelong hobby and turned it into a full time job on my terms. Hence, the wagon wheel view to covering the Metroplex with photography that had nothing to do with people but every thing to do with business development growth. Some of my images have sold hundreds of times over and over again. In fact, I had a sale today that was one of those 100 club image sales.

So, DART is going to stay underground with a second downtown subway. The question is what will happen to the long tunnel network in Downtown Dallas? Will they be incorporated in DART's plans or not. What? you didn't know about those relics of  another era? The pieces of the puzzle are dropping like lead weights today with only one councilwoman voting against the council vote today.

Now, CEO's and Boards of Distinctions around the world. Dallas needs an 80-95 story tower downtown. We really do. Like in 'The Field of Dreams"  build it and they will come. After all, that's what council is betting on with the new convention center.  

 

 

The Storm is Over:Things I heard during the storm and the day after.

 Officially, at DFW, we got 1.7 inches of snow on top of 1/2- inch of ice. Doesn't sound like much. I still remember the 14 foot drift in my driveway that took three days to shovel out. But, this is Texas and that is pretty much fine with me. 

Now, I like listening to how others handled the storms. There is a lot of humor that comes from times like these. 

Just today, this is what I heard and saw:

The snow is '' fairly fine" you can't make snowballs out of this stuff. 

The parking lot of Buckee's looks like a ghost town. 

An Oncor lineman was cutting away branches covers with ice away from power lines. His saw froze up.He had to pound it on the lift arm of the truck to get it running again. To that point, it must have been a moment of creative insecurity

All the people rushing to get shovels.What happened to all the shovels they bought last year? 

Drivers on the street and people on their feet. 

The storm behaved itself. 

The trees sap is exploding from the cold and they are splitting down the center. Say away from the trees. 

If Lowe's are out of the styrofoam covers for your outdoor hydrants, use a couple of cups from Whataburger. 

 Six days below freezing during the night and not being above freezing during the day is cabin fever in the making. 

 

The Storm Is About to Bear Down on North Texas.

As advertised, the freeze line grows closer and closer. Temps were in the 50s this morning and are now sitting at 35°F with the Winter Storm Warning set for 6 PM CST. This storm stretches from easter New Mexico to almost Newfoundland, Canada. That's 2500 miles give or take where you start from. My kids that live in the Great Lakes still, are expecting ahout 17-inches of snow today. What a strange, strange winter it has been thus far. The past two days we were in the 70s with yesterday being 73°F. Now, the next five days will be at night 17 to 20 with 2-days being below freezing. By Tuesday, we will be back in the low to mid 50s again. It looks like the freezing rain is going to stay just north of us be sleet and snow is looking to be better combination for us.  Freezing rain brings down power lines and trees. Sleet is a better combo if winter mix. Sleet will not collect on power lines like freezing rain. 

 

 Now, E.R.C.O.T. is saying that they have 15K mega watts of extra power for the storm then threw in to the mix via old Gov that there is no guarantee that we will not loose power again.  The gas people have already served the generation plants with the warning that gas will not be available for power generation again---maybe!  The legislation wrote update laws for E.R.C.O.T. but failed to legislate the gas industry. Amazing. Nothing like getting schooled how to handle guns then shoot yourself in the foot. Don't you see?

 In lieu of all that garbage and added worry about having power again this February after last years mess that caused the death of some 200 plus Texans, it's time for the Gov to stop prosecuting and get out of Dodge so we can get a Gov that will work for the people instead of  riding on the coattails for past work done in Austin.  

By the number of people running for the job it looks like Texans are thinking the same way. Sure Hope so. 

Now, the good news is that the trees are showing swelling buds. Usually here in North Texas we see those swelling buds beginning to show their green around the first week or two of March. Would you look at that. I got my renewal of my voter registration that expired at the end of December. The primary is March 1.  Angles are near when a cardinal appears and I just say one this morning when I went to the mail box.

Quick Post Before the Storm

 The next 5 days are not going to be pretty---especially if we get more freezing rain than sleet. The snow, if any, would be icing on the cake, pardon the pun. 

Got groceries in today, then went out and  got nearly 60 shots besides the one on the post before the storm.  With every thing so uncertain with the weather, uncertain because the storm stretches from west Texas to Maine, that's two thousand miles, folks. 

If you don't have to get out. Don't! I heard one reporter say today that there are no good drivers that can drive highway speed on ice. Who does that anyway? Good ice drivers drive at a crawl, keeping distance between you and other cars and you don't jam on your breaks. Gees. I can't believe the guy said that about driving highway speed on ice. 

North Texas Gas Prices as of today.

The station across the street was 3.15 and 3.45. 

 

 

From White Rock Trail looking toward downtown.

Moisture is streaming northward to fuel the storm.

A New Skate Board Park in Garland Takes Shape.

 Los Angles is known for its fab skateboard parks. One even has an HD live camera. The park is full all the time. For that, I started designing skate boards. If you think that all skate boards are ridden, you would be  off course. There are nearly as many skate boards that sit on shelves, hang on walls and some find their home on the dinning room table as a centerpiece.YEP, you heard that right. Right at this moment I have about 80 abstract designs available. That will change again today as I add even more. All the designs are abstracts from my photography. 

Yesterday, with it being in the upper 60s and  plenty of blue sky, I sat out to go see the long awaited project to build a California style skate park in Garland. It's in a city park, ball field, tennis center and plenty of picnic area and the skateboard construction area is not a small area. The city has the area blocked off and even have it posted with no trespassing signs.  I think  it is more of a cover your *** from any claims  of accidents while the park is being built. The contractors know full well what a construction area has in hazards, even deathly types. The City is  trying to keep you from using it before title transfers from the construction company to the city is official and insurance coverage policies are determined. In Texas, you don't want to be in a posted area without signed permission, which I did not have. But, I sure could shoot through the fence. Been there, done that and have the technique down to a science. While a couple of kids and an adult were using it, my shots are at a distance to protect them too, while letting others see what is possible from a city that cares about their residents and their recreation needs. I will be back for some more detailed shots. Of what I could see, it's going to be a place that is going to be packed with boarders of all levels. Way to go Garland. With all the negative tones set with the decision to do this for your citizens, you voted for a vision of "for the good" of your residents. Back in downtown, I stopped at Rosalindcoffeetx.com for a great piece of ham quiche and cold beverage.