This week I’ve had an well-deserved and ongoing affair with Jacob Franklin – the dark purple color gets me every single time. I think I’ve blogged him before, but he’s certainly worthy of another mention. Online. Elyse Winery. $65.00 and worth every penny.

Yesterday several residents in our community received a letter from Delio Silvestri, Regional Vice President of Williams Oil and Gas Exploration, stating that the temporary Industrial Waste Facility was never really temporary at all.

Williams letter is in black

Runner Susan’s interpretation of the letter is in red.

_______________________________________________

An Open Letter to Our Stakeholders Near Argyle

We and a couple of our closest next-door neighbors south of Argyle met today to discuss the future of what has been our temporary facility to support our nearby natural gas production.

We showed up at your doorstep and verbalized your family’s demise. You never had a say in the matter – you will get sick, or sicker and you property value will diminish with every spill, leak, pump of gas and puff of toxic emission.

As we shared with them, we have finalized our plans for this 7 acres of land and will put that facility into service for the long-term. This site is owned and operated by our affiliate, Mockingbird Pipeline.

In secret meetings with your community leaders, we smoothed the way for the rape of your neighborhood by installing heavy industry in a residential area through a back-end deal we made with those same community leaders. We had a crook purchase these 7 acres for pennies on the dollar. We sold it back to ourselves really cheap, so we could make the most profit.

We have reaffirmed to them and, now, all of you reading this letter that we are committed to developing this site in a responsible, respectable fashion, where we’ll remain responsive to our stakeholders.

We reaffirm to all of you that we are committed to work within the bare minimum safety guidelines, as regulated by the state of Texas, that way we will be able to give more money to our shareholders. If you get upset, we’ll send our paid liar, Kelly, over to tell you more lies.

We did consider other locations for these facilities closer to highway access. That’s why earlier this year we put the brakes on developing the site while we looked at alternatives.

Someone tried to sue us and we had to put the brakes on development until our billion dollar attorneys could find a loophole so we could continue installation.

The search for another solution was done solely out of respect for people living near the site, even though we knew it would delay our project. Such an approach is consistent with our character and willingness to work with communities.

We know putting this facility close to children and homes is dangerous, but we just don’t care.  We have zero respect for people living near this site and consistent with our character, we are willing to make a profit at the sole expense of the community’s health.

Along the way, we put in place just enough equipment at the site to handle things on a temporary basis while we continued to work toward a different location. We kept our neighbors fully informed about this work and explained the reasons for it.

We lied all along and fully informed our neighbors of more lies and now we will continue to work and will continue to lie as we compromise your family’s health and well-being.

In terms of alternatives, we looked at commercial property that was listed. We looked at other energy sites. We involved public officials and community members, but the ideal location that meets everyone’s expectations doesn’t exist.

We looked at commercial property, but it’s cheaper to put this waste facility in a residential neighborhood. We hand picked your town council. We bought your town. We own your town. There isn’t anything you can do about it.

Now, after more than four months of extensive efforts and even putting money down on another site, we have exhausted the process to relocate these facilities elsewhere. This was and honest, concerted effort – evidenced by the fact the existing site is not already entirely constructed. And today, we find ourselves back where we started.

We’ve wasted enough time pretending and we are tired of fucking around. Let’s tear out the rest of your pretty trees and get this party started.

That’s why we’re voluntarily taking a number of measures to ensure that people will ultimately see less of our operations  – not more – as we phase in the activity at this site.

We are voluntarily installing volatile compound control devices and infra-red cameras to detect for toxic emissions and methane leaks because this is seriously dangerous shit and it is only a matter of time before we fuck up and will need to cover our asses.

We have outlined many of these steps in a fact sheet that follows my letter. These actions are designed to pro-actively address the items for which people have expressed concern, such as sound, aesthetics, traffic and air quality.

We have outlined how we will hide our industrial waste facility with barns, pretty vegetation and a sound buffer and we are turning your rural country road into 4-lane highway because it’s easier for our trucks to run over your children that way.

We are grateful for the understanding we hope we can earn from our stakeholders over time. We hope to earn it through every action. We will continue to try.

We are grateful that all we care about is money and the fact that we are installing this facility behind your homes is all the proof you need. But if we can blow enough smoke up your collective asses and spread enough hush money around the community, maybe we can force everyone left living to believe all the lies.

Sincerely,

Delio A. Silvestri

The A. is for Asshole

The Chef and I rode the Tour of Paris, TX yesterday and it was so stinking stupid hot. I rode the 37 miles and Chef rode the longer route, 60 something miles. It was really fun to get away for a day together – although the last ten miles I seriously thought the skin was melting off my bones. Someone there said the heat index was around 117 degrees – that is just ridiculous – and even more ridiculous that we voluntarily rode our bikes for 2.5 hours in the stupid hot. Like I need more reasons to move to Napa. Anyone want to buy some radioactive property in the middle of nowhere Texas?

It’s also ridiculous that gas drilling has permeated my mind so deeply that whenever I see smoke, or pollution or anything – the first thing I do is reach for my trusty iPhone and make a video.  I’m not sure what this place is or what it does, but it was along the tour route and it was smoking so I instinctively did what I do best – fight crime while riding a bike – the multi-tasking talent just never ends.

Paris Texas from Runner Susan on Vimeo.

This is my favorite picture – Watch for “fog” on road:

Just 2 or 3 miles to the west of my home, in residential community called Double Oak, another industrial toxic waste facility is going in, a massive one, complete with 22 more gas wells, compressor stations, generators, diesel tanks and 40 waste storage tanks – this waste facility is even larger than the one a mile from my house. Can’t you just smell the clean country air?

You can’t have this kind reckless exploitation in residential areas without causalities.  Why won’t anyone stop them? Our communities are a time bomb.

Just north of my home the water is flaming right out of the faucets:

Nine miles from my home, in DISH, TX, the well water looks like this:

And on occasion, my water still foams. Some days a lot and some days a little.

Sometimes the foam is pretty thick and often the water is very cloudy and gray or thick like baby oil. It’s a crap shoot, we never know what will come out of the faucet next.

I’m doing my part, I’m testing and retesting and telling everyone I know. I’ve talked with local, national and international media. That doesn’t seem to be enough. I just don’t get what it will take to get people to open their eyes? What will it take to make this madness end? Sick kids, dead bodies, a giant chemical explosion?

Some people say they won’t help because it’s a waste of time – the billion dollar gas guys just can’t be beaten. Some people just don’t care or want to believe that this is a problem. But what makes me the saddest, is that there are people who do care but they don’t want to take time out of their busy schedule to do anything.

If clean air and water for our families isn’t a priority, I’m not sure what is.

A few months ago, Tom Ackerman, an International reporter for Al Jazeera stopped by to talk with a few angry residents about the gas drilling exploitation and how it has negatively affected our health and environment. You’ll notice scenery from the Knollie Witch Project, and several other areas around Argyle and Bartonville.

I guess when Ed Ireland says there isn’t a single case where ground water is polluted from fracturing he forgot about the Smiths in DISH, TX. Hmmm, I wonder how bentonite, a constituent of drilling mud, got in their well water?

I also like when Ed says that an environmental study would severely impair the gas drilling industry. I reckon those billion dollar gas drilling companies don’t have enough money to care about the environmental or health impacts of our communities.

RS tap water left, RS well water right. I don’t think the stink is going to come out of that glass. Sadly, some people are around here are only on well water, at least my family has city water for drinking and bathing.

Well water tests positive for drilling mud and known drilling surfactants.

On Friday, June 25, 2010, Wolf Eagle Environmental, LLC confirmed drilling mud has impacted well water in DISH, TEXAS. The water tested positive for Methylene-blue-active substance (MSAS) and Cobalt Thiocyanate Active substance (CTAS), surfactants commonly used in oil and gas drilling operations.

Affected DISH residents Damon and Amber Smith have been without clean well water since the summer of 2009, shortly after Devon Energy started hydraulic fracturing behind their home. The well water is the main source of water for the Smith residence and property.

Despite an installed filtering system, the Smith’s well water appeared to be filled with gray mud-like sediment. The mud sample taken from the heavily clogged filter was confirmed by scientists to consist of bentonite, a constituent of drilling mud.

A recent high pressure incident in one or more of the gas wells near the Smith’s house may have caused a large amount of drilling mud to migrate into the aquifer where the Smith’s draw water from. It is not uncommon to see migration of drilling mud months after drilling has occurred because not all of the drilling mud is removed after a gas or oil well is bored.

“DISH, TX is only 9 miles from my home. If I can ride my bike to DISH in under 30 minutes, how long will it be before that water migrates through the underground aquifer and contaminates my well?” says concerned Bartonville resident Michael Knoll.

According to Wolf Eagle Environmental, MBAS and CTAS are a concern to aquatic environments and human populations due to their carcinogenic and reproductive toxic byproducts.

News of the contaminated DISH water comes shortly after the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a comprehensive research study to investigate potential harmful consequences of hydraulic fracturing to water quality and public health.

For more information contact:

Wolf Eagle Environmental, LLC

PO Box 270541

Flower Mound, TX 75027

Office: (682) 502-6056 Fax: (682) 502-6069

I can’t believe two years have gone by since my friends from Kentucky visited and hung out by the pool.  It was a fantastic day and a wonderful relief not to think about gas drilling for a few hours! I miss them.

The boys are as cute as ever – and it’s good to know that Rachel and I are still cute too! I’m already waiting for the next visit.

Did you watch GASLAND last night? If not, watch Josh on Jon . . . The Daily Show, where all my dreams come true.

Toxic’s comment reminded me its been a while since my last wine review. Here’s one sponsored by Chie Mihara, my new obsession. (See previous post) I’m considering adding a section to my site for shoe reviews, whatcha think?

Indecisive. I know, how odd. For some reason I remember liking the wine more the last time I had it. It’s pretty woody and, I hate to say it, just okay. I have another bottle, perhaps I’ll like the next better. In-store, $35.99.

or, the day I declare my self and Anthropoloholic. Almost, not everything is from Anthropology. My friend Kathy made the necklace and I bought the Current Elliot jeans and black dress from her store, Denim Depot. I am working on a new system for shooting, I just haven’t figured out the new camera yet – until then, it’s iphone pics for you.

Jeanne will have her fashion shoot posted tomorrow.

• Belt – American Eagle
• Blue with Gold Coin Heels – Chie Mihara (my all time favs), Amazon
• Gray Strappy Heels – Fry, Anthropologie.
• Brown and Fabric Wedges – Pink, Anthropologie
• Brown Heels – Retro Donald Pliner, Nordstrom
• Patent Black Peep Toe – Cole Haan, Nordstrom

The work for leeches, too. And I don’t know why the video keeps flipping sideways.

Well Water, June 17, 2010 from Runner Susan on Vimeo.

Internet People, the worst is upon us. Yesterday Kenza and her friend were playing in the pool and they are all like “what’s that black worm thing?” and OH. MY. GOD. I nearly had had failure. Two oven mitts, some tongs, a 10-foot pool net and I manage to get the thing into a jar.

Do you see what I see, Internet People? It’s a leech. A. LEECH. My neighbor drained his pond and guess what, the leech decided it wanted to live in my pool since his home was gone. I am still having serious some heart palpitations. I’ll take a snake over a leech any day! ANY DAY.

I’m not sure what leeches are good for these days, but maybe we can use them to drain the stupid out of unscientific greedy gas promoting guys?

I’ve been down this week. The gas stuff and turning forty has left me blue. But that all changed yesterday when I got the most fantastic comment on my petunias post. And if there is one thing I love more than fan mail, it’s hate mail. Hate commenting does the trick, too – especially when it’s more playful than hateful, and the commenter toys with my heart by using phrases and words like “alien robot invasion, giant ant colony and hausfraus.”

Oh, especially hausfraus! Hausfraus is just up Runner Susan’s alley and this comment is the most awesome thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. See for yourself:

Mr. Toxic Avenger, I might want to marry you. We could be a gas-hating-crime-fighting duo. It could work like this, Mr. Avenger on the inside, secretly detoxifying the Williams O&G toxins and Mrs. Avenger on the outside, fighting the local town governments.

We could make beautiful clean air and water together. Oh yes, yes we could!

But alas, the tides of condensate tanks sadly divide us.

Mr. Avenger, or Toxic if I may, maybe I was wrong about you?  Maybe you are on our side, and this is your way of secretly reaching out to help us? Maybe you deserve more than 20 bucks an hour – and honestly, handling radioactive stuff is worth at least $50 an hour. Everyone knows that. I’ll make sure to mention that to the pit boss next time my busybody self is over there with my new 800 foot zoom lens camera violating your public privacy.

No need to thank me, I’m here to help.

To show my appreciation for you making my week better, I’m going to bake you cupcakes – there isn’t nothing a good batch of cupcakes (or lethal amount of tequila) can’t fix. Hopefully, when you are back from vacationing in Nevada, I’ll get to meet the mysterious Mr. Avenger – but if not, know those cupcakes are from your biggest fan, who anxiously awaits your next comment.

Until you comment again,

RS

Internet people, if you have HBO you have to watch GASLAND.  You need to be informed! This is important for our communities and for everyone across the company. Chef and I had the pleasure of meeting Josh Fox during his showing in Ft. Worth at the Modern, and he is super sweet and cute as a button! AND he didn’t sell out to the Good Guys.

So, on Monday, June 21st plan to watch GASLAND, Josh Fox’s award winning documentary on HBO. Thousands are getting together in living rooms around the state to watch this award winning documentary. When Josh Fox received an offer to drill for natural gas under his property in Pennsylvania, he did what few landowners think to do – he conducted his own research into the drilling process.

With a hand-held camera in one hand and a banjo on his knee, Fox hit the road on a 24 state tour to conduct a “seat-of-pants investigation”. In the process, he filmed the award winning documentary, GASLAND, that uncovers the dirty truth about the so-called “clean energy”.

Winner of the special Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, GASLAND, is more than a documentary. It is a piece of art with beautiful cinematography that propels the audience to interact with collective gasps of horror, jubilant applause, hilarity and tears.

As for the barbed wire and waste tanks? Looks like they are here to stay. I love how the guy is waving in the last picture. I always make sure and wave and smile when I’m over there taking pictures – they actually believe the propaganda they are feed. And I have no clue what that giant blue circle thing going in on the Blessing unit is?

Isn’t Argyle Beautiful?

I’m sure I am the last person anyone would want to take seriously, especially after so many years blogging about my blistery marathon feet and fantastic date night martini sex with Chef. (Which, by the way, is way more fun than blogging about gas drilling.) It’s only been three months, but I can hardly remember my life before gas drilling consumed my every moment.  Since gas took over I have been a shattered shell of myself, trying to make my world go around by defending my property while I still maintain a sense of normalcy for my family. I don’t always succeed.

For months I have given you “Good Guys” the power to take away my happiness, my laughter, my sport and my joy for life. I have given you the power to take attention away from my daughter, my husband and the people who mean the most to me. You Good Guys are all greedy, egotistical, shallow and sick remnants of humanity and the pain you are inflicting on my family cannot be forgotten. It will hurt forever.

Your poison is near odorless, colorless and so hard to detect that most people choose not to believe your tainted ways – because believing would mean abandoning their homes and the livelihood they worked so hard to attain. Why would anyone want to believe this horror story? Sadly, they will all have to soon. Horror = Reality in Argyle and Bartonville.

On Monday I turned 40. FORTY – and instead of a party, fancy jewelry, or a bikini body – do you know what I asked for? Clean water, clean air and a non-radioactive Donkey boy. I had to settle for a few martinis, a bottle of Goldeneye Pinot Noir, and a new 800-foot zoom camera lens. (Now I can take closer and totally legal pictures of you dirty drilling bastards.) It’s the simple things in life that count.

The dishonest actions you Good Guys have chosen hurt many innocent people. When you Good Guy Drillers are exposed in Argyle and Bartonville, these towns will become the most scandalous Ghost Town extravaganza of stories ever documented in US history. We’ve reached the point of no return, because what you’ve done can’t be fixed – you cannot give back the water you’ve contaminated, the trees you’ve cut down, the ecosystem you’ve destroyed or the healthy children you are killing. And you know you are, because I recognize your shame.

I honestly hope you can find your own way in love, life and family and see what you are doing to our community. Because what you are doing is consciously killing us and I hope you can see this and stop it and help us – because I’d like to believe I have it in my heart to forgive the worst.

Sincerely,

Runner Susan

P.S. Thanks for the birthday bubble bath, but you can can turn it off now.

Well Water June 9, 2010 from Runner Susan on Vimeo.