Tom's Blogz

The Trinity River has oddly been a focal point for my blogs, from training and running the Cowtown Marathon to riding e-bikes during sunset or going for walks at sunrise. Today, I will be adding to that collection by reflecting on something new.  I'm in a class called Real Estate Valuation, and the class is working on a real, tangible project for a local Fort Worth developer. We have to come up with design ideas, projected financials, logistics, legal feasibility, and potential risks. The property happens to be right on the Trinity River, adjacent to Wood Shed Smokehouse and across the water from Colonial Golf Course. The land is relatively flat and filled with large trees, which is a rare sight in Fort Worth.  The developer actually stated that he does not want to tear up the land and remove all the trees to put in a maximally productive multi-story building, but instead wants to give the Fort Worth community something meaningful. Pasted below is one of our concept ideas, whi...

Yesterday, I ran the Cowtown Marathon. I had been training for this since the start of the school year in August. I woke up at 5:00 AM, and we started around 7:30. We came from Dickier's Arena, down into the Fort Worth Stockyards, and then down North Main Street, where there were thousands of runners.  As we ran, all kinds of things were going on. There were volunteers offering water and Gatorade, while others handed out donuts, candy, and pickles. There were also a shocking number of people offering shots of Fireball and Tito's, while a block down, you'd have a priest blessing people with Holy Water. There was live music every few miles, and a memorial for local veterans who lost their lives for our country. Some parts were crowded, others sparse. We ran up by TCU and back down through the Trinity River parks.  Two things stuck out to me. The first was how it became socially acceptable to just throw your trash wherever on the road. Don't get me wrong, I get it. Being e...