Spirit Of Texas

"The Ballpark In Arlington!"

2011-03-29T04:48:00.002-10:00

Boy, it's been a while since I've posted anything on this site! Nearly 3 years! So what better time than now to feature one of Arlington's prized places to have a great time!

This was at the Ranger Red Round-up on October 1 2010 that I was fortunate enough to go to. This shot really captures the height of it all.

Hey look, it's a lot of current and former Rangers! In order from left to right:

Mitch Moreland <--1st baseman of the future?
Jim Sundberg <--Former Rangers catcher
Ron Washington <--should have been AL Manager Of The Year
Thad Levine <--assistant to the general manager
Jon Daniels <--general manager
Chuck Greenberg <--former managing general partner
Nolan Ryan <--current president and former Ranger
Robert Cluck <--mayor of Arlington

Here is the bullpen where the pitchers warm up. I think it's pretty cool, but I may be biased.

This is just a great shot of the whole field from the left field bleachers. Gotta love free tickets, right?

Nice action shot! Too bad that net is in the way. Actually...if they foul tipped it hard enough...might smack into me. Better to just leave it there.

If only my camera was a little better zoom and resolution...ah well.

When they have fireworks (which is every Friday night I think), they shut all the lights off which is really cool:

Well, I hope you enjoyed a tour of the 2010 American League Champion Texas Rangers Ballpark In Arlington. Can we repeat? We better! I've invested to omuch time and money in t-shirts ha ha.

"The Arboretum In Dallas!"

2008-10-07T17:12:00.005-10:00

if you're looking for the ultimate in landscaping and imagination, then look no further then the Dallas Arboretum! Hundreds of acres (or dozens...not sure) of beautiful plants, flowers, trees...and the occasional structure create an almost fairytale-like atmosphere. Let's take a tour, shall we?

Hey, who are those guys?

"The Fort Worth Zoo!"

2007-05-07T08:16:00.000-10:00

Well, it had been over a year since I last posted an entry on this site, which personally affected...no one? No one ever comes to this site! I wonder why. It's a virtual plethora of useful information featuring some great places to see and fun things to do, most of which you do not need a lot of money. But, seeing as how no one could care less if this site was around or not, I shall move on.

The Fort Worth Zoo was opened in 1909, so the 100th anniversary is not too far away! Maybe they'll do something to recognize this milestone, like...chasing the bees away.

Here we are at the ticket booth! It costs $10.50 to get in, plus $5 for parking, plus $8 for kids over 4. Cheap? No. Expensive? Yeah...

Why must we segregate the rhinos?
Why can't we have racial harmony in our major metropolitian zoos?

We have a miniature replica of the way Texas used to look like before civilizationtook over.

Someone call for a livery? For those of you who didn't grow up during the Gold Rush, a livery is where horses were kept and tended to. Kind of like a kennel, but without the pampering.

Zebra 1: "Hey, you think they'll ever let us out of here?"
Zebra 2: "We look like ex-cons man...of COURSE they'll let us out of here! Ha ha!"

Man...some people should be so lucky to have their own treehouse plus free rent. Actually, some people probably do.

"Gorillas...in the mist...all we are is gorillas in the mist..."
(sung to "Dust In The Wind")

Did you know giraffes have the highest cholesterol level of any mammal? Plus they get the most sore throats of any animal. Boy those "Uncle John Bathroom Readers" are starting to pay off.

Parrot: "Sqwawk! Wanna know how we stay so blue even out of our natural habitat? Bawk! THEY SPRAY PAINT US!! I'll pierce the next guy who starts shaking an aerosol can."

Cheetah: *yawn* "Yeah, we're the fastest land mammal...now we enjoy a more laid back lifestyle...wanna see us run? OPEN THE DOOR!"

And finally, what trip would be complete without loading up on some authentic safari supplies! Hmm...wonder if Dr. Livingston needed BLUE BELL ICE CREAM before he went on a trip.

"Central Market in Fort Worth!"

2006-05-12T05:41:00.000-10:00

Welcome to Central Market! All of your favorite foods under one very large roof. Let's go inside and take a look at everything they have to offer!

Gee, that's a lot of strawberries! I'm reminded of when George Costanza was trying to get fired from his job at the Yankees so he put on Babe Ruth's 1927 jersey and smeared strawberry juice all over it...ah heh heh

Emily: "Daddy, can I buy this apple"?
Me: "Sure! Did you bring any money?"
Emily: "No...did you?"
Me: "Um...no...(sigh) put the apple back. Maybe next time."

You say potato, I say "You bet we have potatoes!" I think they have about 15 different kinds here. Unfortunately they didn't have my favorite kind of potato: chopped into sticks, fried and salted! Mmm mmm!!

You say tomato, I say "You bet we have tomatoes!" Wait...this all sounds a little too familiar...

Me: "Hey Emily, you think you can eat all those grapes right now?"
Emily: Are you crazy? The body can only hold about 50-60 grapes at a time! I'd explode!"
Me: "Um, so is that a yes or a no?"

This is...a big pot...with some kind of flower growing in it. As you can see it was kinda chilly and cold when we went. The wind was blowing in Emily's face which explains the face she was making.

Eeewwww!!! Cauliflower and broccoli OH MY!! Emily kept trying to eat the ice on this display and I had to keep shooing her away ha ha.

And I'm afraid I have to cut the field trip short due to some punk kid telling me I couldn't take pictures anymore. When he said that I wanted to dunk him in the giant crate of strawberries, but ultimately decided against it. Golden rule and all.

"The Japanese Gardens in Ft. Worth!"

2006-03-15T11:53:00.000-10:00

Welcome to the Japanese Gardens! As you can see by the street sign in the background, all we have to do is turn here and...

...here we are!! Authentic looking isn't it?

Now where do we enter this place? Anyone? Anyone know where the entrance is?

They have several koi and fish ponds located around the park. They also have food pellets located nearby. A whole quarter gets you about 20 of 'em. The fish love them. Maybe it's because they contain...pure crack!! Okay, just kidding about the last part.

One of the 3 waterfalls around. Do you see the fish swimming all by his lonesome self?

Now keep in mind this is a Tuesday afternoon...people sure didn't feel like working that day.

"And she's climbing...a stairway...to..." Actually there was just a bench up there...kind of anti-climactic.

Emmy: "Daddy, there's a man with a mask behind you!!"

Me: "Oh sure, right...like they'd let a criminal into a public park!"

"Like a bridge...over...troubled waters...I will something-something-something..." man, this place is full of musical inspiration!

One sign people always notice!

Fish: "Feed me. Feed me. Feed me. Something besides those awful food pellets. PLEASE."

Don't think they forgot about the birds! Pretty neat looking houses they have! And I didn't even see any birds! They know how good they have it.

Would you believe they don't rent fishing poles here? They would have incredible business! Of course the fish would all be gone but still...

This is just a really pretty backdrop. Now if they'll just let us skinny-dip...we'd be "good to go".

We tried to tell these guys a long time ago "This is not the way out!" but did they listen? Nope! And now look at them...frozen...for all eternity...ah well.

I hope you enjoyed the tour! April 1 & 2 they're having a big shindig out here. Try and make it if you're local!

"Duncanville, Texas!!"

2006-03-07T11:16:00.000-10:00

Welcome to Duncanville everyone!! Once considered just another city, they have been hard at work to show the world they're more then "just another city". And I should know. After all, I did spend the first 20+ years of my life there! Let's spend a day in the life of what it means to be a Duncanville native:

Ahh, nothing to start the day out right like a good breakfast at Burger King! Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood to stock up on the latest high-tech gadgets! Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

Did someone say scrapbooking? I know I heard it from someone! Let's go and get started making one! Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

Hey, is it lunchtime already? I'm starving! Let's go find a country restaraunt right now!

Mmm, nothing says home cookin' like Owen's Family Restaraunt! I think I'll have the chicken fried steak! Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

Time to change the oil already? Boy it's a good thing we found...Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

Fill'er up!! Nothing like topping off the ol' tank with some gas from one of Duncanville's finest...Whoops, it looks like we got here just a bit too late. Ah well. Can't let that slow us down, right?

Um...anyone else noticing a trend here?

Does anyone even work in this town?

What about dinner and a movie? Can someone give us that at least?

NOPE!! Can't even do that! What kind of crummy town IS this!? (sarcastically) I wish I could buy a house here so I could live here forever. Where's the nearest realtor?

Whoops, should have known! Maybe I'll just stay in Arlington with my family...come to think of it, that's probably for the best.

"Krispy Kreme Donuts in Arlington, TX!"

2006-02-25T06:10:00.000-10:00

Now I'm almost certain they have these like, say...all over the world, but for me, this one is special. This is where we go after goofin' around on Saturday morning and have a pre-breakfast treat! Let's explore the wonder of this donut-making megagiant:

I love the way they put the old pictures of how they used to look back in the 1950's. Fortunately the donuts are much fresher.

Lots of different drinks available! Except chocolate milk...did you know choclolate milk goes great with donuts? I guess everyone else does too...

...and speaking of everyone else...always a crowd here on Saturday mornings! Now most of them get the same ol' "dozen glazed" but a few get the weird ones...like lemon filled? And apple filled? Whose idea was it to put fruit in a pastry?

Ooh, a lovely assortment of fabulous prizes!! Okay, more practical then fabulous, but haven't we all writeen Santa asking for a Krispy Kreme coffee mug?

Ooh, so many choices, so little insulin! My personal favorite is the chocolate glazed custard filled...could eat about a dozen of those.

I need to add this to my collection. To see my collection click here.

"Here At Krispy Kreme we select only the finest applicants. We subject them to a rigorous screening process (pulse a plus) then send them off to donut school. A lot of people think it takes only a day to learn how to make donuts but it doesn't. Takes a whole weekend!"

"Time to make the donuts..." Except we ain't dunkin here, we're glazin'! The kids could watch them get made all day if they had to. My favorite part is when they cook them on one half and then they FLIP over and cook on the other. Could get secrets out of the enemy if we made this big enough.

Ahh, the Valentine's Day special. You could get these with creme or custard in the middle or "broken"...with nothing inside...if you're depressed don't order a broken one. More then likely it will make you more depressed.

As you can see, this place is a hit among the younger crowd. We also went to "Barney's Broccoli Bonanza" snack bar later and-get this-no one was hungry! Shock heard 'round the world!

Well, we've come to the end of the line folks. If anyone wants to buy me one of those little cars, it sure would be appreciated.

"The American Airlines Center (AAC) in Dallas!"

2006-01-06T17:11:00.000-10:00

Come one, come all to see the finest hockey and basketball establishment this side of the Mississip'!! Okay, so maybe I embellished just a bit for effect, but when teams get a brand new building to hone their craft, they must be doing something right. So hop on the bus as we take a tour of the only place to see the Mavericks and Stars do their thing:

Before we can have a hockey game, we need an AM station to broadcast it!! Here we see the WBAP broadcasting team of Ralph Strangis and...some other guy calling the exciting (and ultimately futile) Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings game.

Yes, make some noise we did!! We had to do something to get the seemingly bored Stars players to put some points on the board! Remember in "Return Of The Jedi" when Darth Vader came to see the completion of the death star and when he was told the men were working as hard as they could, he quipped, "Perhaps I can find new ways to...motivate them." Coach Vader...has a nice ring to it.

If the image were WAY sharper, we might be able to read the names of the players who have had their numbers retired...or maybe it's championship banners...whichever.

The Haggar Slacks blimp makes its way around the arena. What's interesting is this blimp still uses deadly hydrogen gas to power itself from seat to seat. One stray spark from a cigarette and POW! the entire building explodes. Makes ya wonder why they don't use harmless helium. Glad they banned smoking from inside the arena.

Finally the moment we were all waiting for!! GOAL!! Mike Modano was definitely the star of the game with not one but TWO goals on the night. Even though we lost 3-2. I can bet Modano was in the locker room after the game saying to his teammates "Wasn't my fault we lost...wasn't my fault...we...lost..." Nah, I doubt he said that. Seems like something a real jerk would say. But enough about Ed Belfour...

And finally, what evening would be complete without one last shot of our beloved skyline? We parked on the fourth level of the garage and we had a perfect shot. That big green building really put us on the map. Still don't know what goes on inside of it.

Well, there you have it!! Hope this tour was informative as well as entertaining. Now if the Stars and Mavericks could just figure out a way to win the big one...

"The Galleria in Dallas!!"

2005-12-22T03:39:00.000-10:00

Seeing as how Christmas is getting closer everyday, I thought I would take a trip down to one of my favorite places growing up, which is the Dallas Galleria. Not too many malls have four stories, which makes this place all the more impressive. With lots of shops and eateries found nowhere else, I'm glad my kids will have this memory.

This is the giant tree they have right in the middle of everything. As tall as the height of the mall in fact! They also have some cool light patterns which, if it were possible to capture with my camera, I would have.

The colors...the colors!

Anyone know where I can find this..."Santa" fellow? Oh...there's a sign right there!

Here is where they have their annual ice skating show. Pretty neat-o isn't it? Now ordinarily I'm not a fan of ice twirlies, but Emmy seemed to get a kick out of it and let's face it, sometimes that's all that matters.

What better way to finish out the evening then with a nice, big, warm cookie!! FYI: If you're looking to keep your kid's face clean, do NOT give them a chocolate chip cookie. But some of you already knew that, didn't ya.

Well, there you have it! If you've never been, any time of the year is good. A great and relatively inexpensive way to have a good time.

The Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth!!

2005-10-17T14:28:00.000-10:00

Welcome, welcome to the Log Cabin Village!! This excursion was especially fruitful because it was more then just a trip; it was a trip back in time, complete with blacksmith and ye olde musicians, plus the steep admission fee waived (we saved $6!).

Musicians: "Are you ready to rock!!"
Us: "Um, yeah, I guess..."
Musicians: "I can't hear you!! I said...ARE YOU READY TO ROCK!!"
Us: "Yes! We already said that!"
Musicians: "Ah, you're a beautiful crowd..."

Girl: "Who wants to jump through the hoop? Anyone? Do it or I'll whip ya with my stick!"
Us: "Hmm...this is not as much fun as I had anticipated."

Blacksmith: "Ya see this gun I made here? Ya see it? I just made this seconds ago!"
Us: "Um, excuse me, but isn't it still hot?"
Blacksmith: "It's extremely hot!"

(awkward silence)

Blacksmith: "Any other questions?"
Us: "How old are you exactly?"
Blacksmith: "Um...I'm not sure...alright, that's it! No more questions!"

Moving on...

Teacher: "This is a genuine schoolhouse from the 1800's. Any questions?"
Me: "Yes, where did they-"
Teacher: "Ehh!! Raise your hand if you wish to speak!! Yes, little girl?"
Girl: "Where did they go to the bathroom?"
Teacher: "Everyone see out the window?"

(everyone looks out the window)

Us: "All we see is the open ground."
Teacher: "Yup!"
Us: "Eeewwww..."

Sorry we asked...

Here's where they milled...grist...I guess they used grist back then...I dunno.

Ya can't read the sign but it says "Cathouse". I'm assuming this was for cats to sleep in and not for really tiny hookers.

Kid: "Okay, this is like the least fun ride EVER."

From the rollin' hills...

...to the rollin' papers.

Unfortunately, there were no meats that were being smoked...(sigh)...some brisket sure sounded good that day too.

The rest of these are some shots of the cabins themselves.

Well, there ya have it! 200 years of history conveniently located in a single block! Who's ready for a treat?

Mmm, nothing says yum like root beer and cobbler!! See ya next time!!

"Putt Putt Golf 'N' Games in Arlington, TX!!"

2005-10-10T14:27:00.000-10:00

Now I know what you're thinking..."Hey Mike, Putt Putt has been around for years! Why would you waste time covering THAT!?" Well, that's a good question, albeit a little harsh. The Putt Putt I went to was nothing more then a golf course a not much else, but what would you expect from Duncanville (AKA: Dumpville)? So, without further ado, let's visit what a mini golf course is supposed to look like!

Yes, I know that's an elephant's behind. But look how high it is!! Let's move on, shall we?

Here we see the river of broken dreams. If you'd ever hit a ball in here and had to incur that nasty 2-stroke penalty, you'd know exactly what I mean.

See the alligator? It's not real. You never saw a more disappointed group of kids then the ones who found that out. However, you get five tickets from the arcade if you hit the ball off the gator's nose and/or tail. Remember "Frogger"? How you could jump on the gator's body but if ya got too close to the mouth it was lights out? Same deal.

Here we see the employee lounge, located convienently in the 2nd floor of this giant rock. They make 'em work for their lunch break, don't ya know.

Same deal with the giant seahorse. Again, not real. Again, five tickets if ya hit it with your ball and/or club.

Ten points if you can find the elusive river raft someone fashioned from a styrofoam cup. Some people will play golf with anything.

Interesting fact about lighthouses: there are no more man-operated ones. The last one went automatic in 1990. I wonder if anyone lives in this one...spooky...

Had no idea giraffes were such good climbers, did ya? Considering they have 6 ft legs, I'd be surprised if they couldn't get up there.

This shot was kind of interesting. Just enough space to peek out of and see the wondrous waterfall. At least I HOPE that's water! There are an awful lot of animals on top of these things.

Oy, another giraffe. They've taken over! Run for your lives! Okay, just kidding, they ain't goin' anywhere. I guess when yout think safari wildnerness, you think...golf...?

Everyone say bye to our friend, the rhino!! He really can be a friend once you get to know him.

The Living Science Center in Arlington, TX!

2005-09-20T12:29:00.000-10:00

This place is pretty neat. All of the education without those high admission charges or "donation requests". If everyone is ready, let's get started! I hope everyone packed a lunch 'cuz this is gonna take a while.

We'll start with the inside, where as you can see, Tuesday afteroon is like the perfect time to avoid those annoying crowds of kids and teachers.

Here we see a rattlesnake...

...a tarantula...

...and a crayfish. Glad to see they're in captivity...WHERE THEY BELONG.

If you'll follow me outside, we'll do some exploring and really see what Mother Nature has to offer...besides bites and stings!

This...may have been a project started by the man of the cabin and never finished. Can you imagine that? A man not finishing something he started? Wild, I know!

Maybe the "Blair Witch" crew had a kind of dry run here before they filmed it up north. Eh, I doubt it.

Looking down we see a big ol' creek with not too much water in there since in Texas the rain is like the Easter Bunny...we know it's out there but darned if we ever see it.

Just up ahead is a big bridge where you can see...more of the creek...good times.

Look, a gift shop! What are the odds that something that is free to do would have a way of charging people? Overwhelming, right?

And...finally...everything you ever wanted to know about soil! Let's all take a moment and ponder what soil has done for us...okay, that's enough.

"Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas!"

2005-08-26T11:16:00.000-10:00

Ever since I found out that Six Flags was potentially going to be on the selling block (which you can read about here), I figured I'd better post an entry about this great park before it gets torn down. So if you're ready, here we go!

Me: "Well, here it is folks...the mighty Titan. You know, it takes a mighty brave man to even think about riding this true marvel of physics and engineering."
Tour group: "Have you ever ridden this ride, Mr. Overall?"
Me: "Heck no."

Moving on...

To your right, we see the exciting Batman ride. Considering Batman didn't fly, the engineers had to come up with this from the ground up. I think they did a great job.

Here we see the Flashback. Apparently, you go forward through the ride, then go backwards through it. Can we say "Bleccch"? After 3 funnel cakes, I know I can.

Ahh, the Texas Giant. Some say it's the largest wooden coaster in the world. They might be right. Or they could be lying through their teeth. This time I'll give them the benefit of the doubt...this time.

Bundle up people, Mr. Freeze is on the loose! Actually, there's only like two weeks of the year where you actually have to bundle up to come to Six Flags (think December). This ride is similar to the Flashback, but here you start out at 70 mph. And yes, the faint of heart will be hatin' it the whole time.

We'll conclude the tour with a shot of the double loops of the Shockwave. For those of you with memories of the 1980's there was also a Transformer named Shockwave...a Decepticon if memory serves me. Maybe it's just me, but someone could sue someone for copyright infringement. Question is, which came first? A thinker...

Well, that's the wonder that is Six Flags...may all...(counting)...six of her flags fly high for many years to come!!

The Catfish Plantation in Waxahachie!!

2005-07-31T14:57:00.000-10:00

They say this place is...you know...haunted. Not "Scooby-Doo" haunted, but genuinely haunted. Outside of a few strobe lights they bring out on Halloween, I've never seen any proof.

I must admit, I was pretty scared to attempt to have a meal here, until I saw those four magic words over the door. "All You Can Eat". My fears have been assuaded!

Here we see when the house caught on fire many years ago. I guess some people try to help put the fire out, others photograph it for tourists to look at years later. Which one are YOU???

Be sure to check out the store's gift shop where you can purchase "books" on ghosts who may or may not have taken up residence in Texas. I mean, why would they want to live here when they could live in say...Hawaii? Or Napa Valley? Or France? I guess since they can't feel weather, they want to be close to the "action"...what action that is is beyond me.

Be sure to check out the "Banana Boat" club on the way home. The good times are flowin' just like the second rate beer.

The Rainforest Cafe` at Grapevine Mills Mall!!

2005-07-17T12:43:00.000-10:00

This place is one of a kind. So much to see, so much to do...and as always, the juice is fresh squeezed.

If you are ready...all aboard!! Time to see the sights! And, as always...keep your arms inside the train.

To your left we see where you are greeted by the elephant operators who will put your name on the extr-e-e-mely long wait to sit down and eat. Trust me...takes forever.

As long as we have some time to kill, if you'll look to the right you'll see one of the many giant fruit displays with their merchandise in front. Haven't seen this much fruit since my weekend in Cedar Springs.

Ooh! If you look straight up you'll see the giant boa constrictor which moves all around! But relax...it's completely manmade...I think...actually, let's just keep moving.

If you'll look down below you'll see the vicious crocodile! Fortunately for us he's resting...or sleeping with his eyes open...ah well...what's the worst that can happen, right?

Oh no!! He's awake! And he's hungry!! Good thing for us he only eats nickels...and pennies...and the occasional slug or washer...but that's only when I'm tapped.

Now that the crocodile scare is over, let's look out the window to the dining room entrance. Lots of fish and...other things...swim around in the giant aquarium. Pretty creative if you ask me.

Let's check out the menu here...okay, I know it's hard to read but the giant frog looking down on us almost makes up for it, right? Okay, didn't think so.

The giant mushroom will provide us with cover in case it rains...you know, if it ever rained inside a mall. And it could...you never know.

If everyone is ready, please take your purchases to the counter, where you can also see another huge aquarium. I'm sure someone had the brainstorm that if you see fish swimming around then you'd want to spend more money. So wise...so wise...

Okay, time to set sail out of here. Everyone wave bye-bye to the giant frog-host!! He sure seems happy. I guess if I could stand on one leg for hours on end I'd be pretty happy too!

The Fort Worth Botanical Gardens!!

2005-06-25T11:43:00.000-10:00

This is the best free place to visit if you are ever in Fort Worth. With over 100 types of flowers and trees spread out over...oh...numerous acres(so I don't know the exact acreage...sue me) , plus the Concert In The Park which runs through the 4th of July, it's always a good time.

As you can see, the roses are slowly making their way back into their little homes. But what a view, eh?

If you're curious enough, you can find the secret path that will take you...here. Basically it's not much more then some paths and creeks, but it is a neat place to indulge in some hide 'n' seek.

Emily: "Daddy, I really have to go to the bathroom!"
Me: "Okay...lessee...ooh, I see a sign with 'bathroom'!! Let's go there!"

(after going there and reading the sign)

Me: "Aw man...you gotta be kiddin' me!"
Emily: "Oh why, why is this happening!?"

Moral of the story: Sometimes a sign with the word "bathroom" on it is just that - a sign.

This is the first thing you see as you enter the conservatory area. I had no idea clocks could run on pollen...or can they? I doubt it...but what if...

Yes, so true this is...without trees, we wouldn't have...furniture...and firewood...and birdhouses, which is ironic because birds live in the trees and yet we cut them down to make birdhouses that we hang from...trees. (Sigh) if you ever wondered what a "Catch-22" is...now you know.

Heritage Park in Fort Worth!

2005-05-14T14:17:00.000-10:00

Located convienently(?) on a big hill in downtown, Heritage Park is a winding series of trails and concrete paths that leads to the Trinity River. Read the sign for some specs.

What's that say?

I'll give you the first part: "Embrace the spirit and..." and...figure it out for yourself pal.

"The Wall Of Tears"

Okay, so it's not really a wall of tears...but hey, how was that for dramatic effect?

"The Wizard's Cave"

Okay, so it's not really a wizard's cave, but hey, how was that for dramatic effect? Okay, I'll stop now.

It's...a parking garage! Five points for whoever got that right. Here in Texas even the downtown parking establishments are done bigger and better than anywhere else.

For me, I had never seen anything like this before! It's like an old house built right into a big hill. It's pretty creepy...but in a good way...if that's even possible.

If this rock started rolling there'd be problems, believe me. Here we see the stagecoaches as they settled Fort Worth over a hundred years ago. It's a cool rock.

Mayfest 2005!!

2005-05-05T18:34:00.000-10:00

Not sure how they celebrate this elsewhere, but down here it's a lot of walking and a lot of junk food. See the floating garden? Keep an eye out for the girl in the yellow shirt...that's me pride and joy!

The bounce houses were plentiful! If I had a dollar for each one there, I'd have...um...carry the one...$17! If only that were possible...(sigh)

They had a jet ski show that was pretty cool. See those three guys there? The announcer told us that they were kind of famous in the world of jetskiing. $20 says ya can't identify 'em.

Any idea what she's making? Here's your choices:

A) Peanut butter souffle`
B) Peanut butter pizza
C) Birdfeeder
D) Dad's birthday present

Oh please don't let it be D.

I kept telling her she was doing the colors all wrong, but did she listen? NO!!

Announcer: "Okay everyone, let the audience know who you are!"

girl on left: "I'm Christina Aguilera Jr.!"
girl in middle: "I'm Britney Spears Jr.!"
guy on right: "I'm Justin Timberlake Jr.!"

Watching these three nitwits on stage was almost worth the admission fee...which was $6.

See the muscleman in the black tank top? Right before I took this picture he was all "Yeah...that dinosaur's pretty big...I guess"...sounds like someone thought it was going to be WAY bigger.

Five hours we spent here! Some people just weren't built for the long journey. Then again...it might have had something to do with the fact that she's only THREE!!! Give her a break guys!

Fort Worth Water Gardens!

2005-05-02T09:54:00.000-10:00

This place is simply amazing. Given as a gift to the city from the Amon Carter museum in 1974 (the year I was born!), the water gardens are located right at the entrance to downtown.

This is a giant pool located somewhat underneath the rest of the park. Using a series of stairpaths will take you down here. At night the lights come on and provides a haunting atmosphere.

The best time to come here is when the sun is about to set and the air is no longer scorched by the Texas sun. When the mist hits you and the wind blows all around you...you know what summer truly feels like.

One of my favorite memories was coming here when I was about 5 or 6. School was just a half-day that day. What was it about half days that were much more exciting then days off? ya got me. Anyways, I think I came here...a great place to take kids...they'll remember it for the rest of their lives.

Opening Remarks

2005-04-27T18:29:00.000-10:00

Welcome whoever you are!! Whether you are a Texan native or somewhere on the other side of the world, hopefully you will visit this site often as I plan to showcase various places and events found only in our great state. Saturday we are going to Mayfest in Ft Worth. You can learn more about what this is by clicking here.