#Mesquite Tree Removal

[g2web]

So I sent my client Jim Chase at www.treewizards.com aka The Dallas Tree 🌳 Doctor…… a text about what chambers and biz networking groups for @foxquestinc to join in Garland! And this is what he texted back!

“Biz Netwkg Group?

Hey Jennifer!

U r the only group im in. Ur as good as 3 groups!! Cheers! Jim”

This made my day!!! 🙏☮️❤️

@whiterocktreewizards

[superiorautomobiledetailing]

Why Regular Exterior Car Cleaning is Essential for Protecting Your Paint in Mesquite

In Mesquite, the unique climate and road conditions can take a toll on your car’s exterior. From intense summer heat to dust storms, the elements can wreak havoc on your vehicle's paint. Regular exterior car cleaning is not just about keeping your car looking shiny—it's about protecting your investment. At Superior Auto Mobile Detailing, we understand the importance of maintaining your car’s paint and exterior. In this article, we’ll explore why regular exterior car cleaning is essential for preserving your vehicle's appearance and prolonging the life of your paint in Mesquite.

1. Protect Your Car from Mesquite’s Harsh Sun

The blazing Texas sun is one of the biggest threats to your car's paint job. Over time, UV rays can cause paint to fade, oxidize, and lose its vibrant color. Mesquite’s hot, dry climate only accelerates this process, causing your car to look old and worn much faster.

When you leave your car exposed to the sun for prolonged periods, the paint begins to break down, leading to dullness and discoloration. Regular exterior washing and waxing from Superior Auto Mobile Detailing helps protect your car’s paint from the harmful effects of UV rays. Wax acts as a barrier between the sun and your vehicle's surface, reflecting the sun’s rays and preventing them from causing long-term damage.

2. Remove Contaminants That Can Damage the Paint

Mesquite's environment, with its dry winds, frequent dust storms, and occasional rain, contributes to a buildup of dirt, debris, and environmental contaminants on your car’s surface. Road salt, bird droppings, tree sap, and industrial pollutants can stick to your car’s paint, and if left untreated, these contaminants can cause permanent damage.

Bird droppings, in particular, are highly acidic and can etch into your car's paint, leaving stubborn stains that are difficult to remove. Tree sap can be just as damaging, causing discoloration and ruining the car's smooth finish. Regular exterior car cleaning with Superior Auto Mobile Detailing ensures that these harmful contaminants are safely removed, preventing them from causing long-lasting damage.

3. Prevent Scratches and Swirl Marks

When dirt and grit are left on the surface of your car, washing it without properly removing the debris can cause scratches and swirl marks. These imperfections not only look unsightly but can also compromise your car’s paint. In Mesquite, Texas, where dust storms are common, your car is often exposed to fine particles that may scratch or dull the paint.

Professional exterior cleaning services from Superior Auto Mobile Detailing include hand washes and gentle techniques that safely lift away dirt and debris without harming your paint. Our expert team uses high-quality products and tools to provide a thorough cleaning that preserves your vehicle’s appearance and ensures a smooth, scratch-free finish.

4. Maintain the Gloss and Shine of Your Paint

One of the most noticeable signs of a well-maintained car is its glossy, shiny exterior. However, without proper care, even the most beautiful paint job can lose its luster over time. Dust, grime, and water spots accumulate on the car’s surface, dulling the shine and making your car look lackluster.

Regular exterior cleaning, combined with periodic waxing or sealing, is the best way to maintain the glossy finish and deep color of your paint. At Superior Auto Mobile Detailing, we use premium waxes and sealants that add a layer of protection to your vehicle's surface while enhancing its natural shine. This regular maintenance helps keep your car looking like new, even in the face of harsh conditions.

5. Increase the Resale Value of Your Car

Your car is an investment, and maintaining its exterior is key to preserving its resale value. A car with a well-maintained exterior, free of chips, scratches, and fading, is much more likely to fetch a higher price when it’s time to sell or trade in.

By investing in regular exterior car cleaning and detailing, you’re not only protecting the paint but also preserving the car’s overall value. A clean, polished car reflects well on its owner, and it signals that the vehicle has been cared for and maintained properly. If you plan to sell your car in the future, keeping the exterior in pristine condition will help maximize its resale value.

Conclusion: Protect Your Paint and Preserve Your Investment

In Mesquite, where the sun, dust, and environmental factors take a toll on your car’s exterior, regular car cleaning is essential for maintaining the integrity of your paint. At Superior Auto Mobile Detailing, we offer professional exterior car cleaning and detailing services designed to protect your car from the harsh elements, remove harmful contaminants, and maintain that glossy shine for years to come.

Don’t let the elements ruin your car’s appearance. Protect your investment and keep your car looking its best with regular exterior car cleaning services from Superior Auto Mobile Detailing. We come to you, offering convenient mobile detailing services that fit into your busy schedule.

Superior Auto Mobile Detailing

1325 East Park Dr Mesquite TX 75149

(469) 505-3607

[dupresiteservices]

Unlocking Your Property's Potential: Expert Land Clearing in Central Texas

When you look at an overgrown piece of land, do you see challenges or opportunities? At DuPre Site Services, we see the potential in every property. Our land clearing services help property owners in Central Texas transform their overgrown lots into usable spaces full of possibility.

Serving Hays, Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Guadalupe, and Comal Counties, we bring years of experience and a commitment to quality to every project. Whether you're preparing land for construction, improving views on your property, or reclaiming pasture from invasive brush, our team has the skills and equipment to get the job done right.

Land clearing is more than just removing trees and brush. It's about carefully reshaping the land to meet your goals while respecting the environment. We start each project by assessing your property and understanding your vision. This allows us to create a clearing plan that balances your needs with the land's natural features.

Our approach to land clearing is thorough and efficient. We use modern equipment to remove unwanted vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and undergrowth. Our skilled operators can work in various terrains, from flat fields to steep hillsides. We're particularly experienced in dealing with cedar and mesquite, two common problems for landowners in our region.

As we clear the land, we pay close attention to important features like soil quality and water drainage. Our goal is not just to remove vegetation, but to prepare your land for its next use. This might include leveling areas for future construction, creating firebreaks to protect your property, or improving sight lines for better views.

If you have a property that needs clearing, don't let overgrown vegetation hold you back. Contact DuPre Site Services at: https://dupresiteservices.com to discuss how our land clearing services can help you unlock your property's full potential. With our help, you can turn that overgrown lot into a blank canvas for your dreams.

[mint-moon25]

ITZY "Mr. Vampire" Dance Practice (4K)

DEAR - GERMANY,

HAMBURG - MADE - SQUARE

BURGERS - FORGOTTEN THAT

HOME - BERLIN - IS - CAPITAL

OF - GERMANY - SWEETEST

FAMILIES - EVER - JUST COULD

NOT - HANDLE - COLDNESS OF

WEATHER - LEFT - B 4 - A YEAR

GERMANY - DO - U - RECALL

CHRISTIAN - ADOLPH HITLER

MUIRDERED - 6 MILLION JEWS

THEY - ARE - CHRISTIANS WHO

MARRIED - CHRISITANS

DEAR - GERMAN - BOYS,

DO - NOT - MARRY - JAPANESE

500 BILLION - X 500 - DAILY YES

TAX - PAID

MARRY - OTHER - ASIANS

SINGERS - SPEAKS TONGUES

500 BILLION - X 500 - DAILY

UR - MARRIED - WHY - THIS

MUCH - THIS - WORLD NEEDS

SHAKING - WE - NEED - YOUR

MERCEDES BENZ - RVx - WITH

ASIAN - ELECTRIC - CARS

R SIDE - INTERNET - AND MORE

WE - NEED - SMART - HOUSES

SMART - APTS - REMOTE

'HOME - ALONE 4'

WE - NEED - YOU

DON'T - MARRY - JAPANESE

ANYMORE - SHORTIES THEY

ARREST - MONETORY - FINE

WHO - PUT - MAKE UP - IN

PUBLIC - AND - TRANSPORTS

THEY - ROBBED - ME - OF MY

BABY - PUBLIC - PARK - USA 2

THEY - CALLED - ME - WITH

MALE - TWINS - MOM - PAID

PREGNANCY - ALREADY

THEY - CALLED - ME - FAT

PIG - FAT - TUB - FEMALE

TOKYO - POLICE - TOLD ME

2 - SHOW - BREASTS - FAT

FAT - UGLY - PIG - MY BABIES

ALMOST - FELL - 2 - CEMENT

SIDEWALK - BORN - 10 MIN

LATER - AS - TOKYO - MALE

POLICE - BROUGHT - ME TO

3 HOSPITALS - ALREADY PAID

9P - MY - 1ST - SON - THEN

9:!0P - MY - 2ND - TWIN SON

IDENTICAL - 2ND - FLOOR

WHITE - AMERICAN - MAIN

LIBRARY - LIBRARIAN - ATTACKED

ME - CHINESE - NEW YEAR - 2024

SAW - MY - BABY - CARRIAGE

'ASIAN - UGLY - FACE - ASIAN

SMALL - BREASTS' - LIKE - A

WILD - CAGED - ANIMAL

WE - WILL - KILL - YOUR

BABY - EACH - TIME

DEAR - KOREAN - GIRLSS,

ENDING - LAW - IN - USA

BABIES - CAN - PETITION

THEIR - ILLEGAL - ALIEN

MOM - NO - NO - NO

OVERTHROW - GOVERNMENT

ALL - ILLEGAL - ALIENS

NOW - LEGAL - ALIENS

ONLINE - APP - 2 B - USA

CITIZEN - ALL - AGES

SPEAK - TONGUES

FREE - NON-FLAMMAGBLE

US - PASSPORT

TONGUES - $500 BILLION

SING - TONGUES - $500 B

BILLION - TAX - PAID

ALL - ILLEGAL - ALIENS

NOW - LEGAL - AND NO

MORE - THEIR - NUDITY

AGE 15 - BLOOD REMOVED

NOW - NEW - PLASTIC CARD

NO - MORE - CERTIFICATES

PEOPLE - CAN - WET - AND

SHRED - STOLEN - OVER

$300 - EXPENSIVE - PASSPORT

PHOTOS - NOT - APPROVED WE

MESQUITE - TEXAS - NOT - LOTS

OF - PROOF - OF - NO - CRIMES

HARDER - APPLICATION - NEW

PHOTOS - OVER - $600 WHEN

2 B - ONE - $50 - NOT - CASH

5 YEARS - RESIDENCY

NEW - LAWS - $0 - FREE

NO - RESIDENCY - ALL AGES

ADD - ON - CITIZENSHIP

JURY DUTY - OPTIONAL

ARMED - FORCES - OPTIONAL

BE - PRESIDENT - AGE 16 AND

ONLDER - 1 YEAR - ONLY - NO

RESIDENCY

DEAR - GERMANY,

DEAR - KOREA,

LET's - UNITE - AGAINST

JAPAN - BUDDHISTS - AND

USA - CHRISTIANS - THEY'RE

VULGAR - MURDERES - BRUTAL

ROBBERS - ASSAULT - BATTERY

UNITE - AGAINST - TWINS BOTH

REPULSIVE - MIGOGYNISTS

TYRANTS - WHO - HARM YES

WOMEN - JAPAN - MIDGETS

5 FT - 4 FT - UGLY - WOMEN

UGLY - MEN - NOT - VIRGINS

PROSMISCOUS - USA - JAPAN

BOTH - DO IT - WITH STRANGERS

PROMISCOUS - JAPAN - AND USA

KOREA - AND - GERMANY,

UNITE - WITH - TAX SMOKE

AND - CRIME - FREE

PHILIPPINE - REPUBLIC

STRAWBERRY - GUMMIES

JUST - 1 - REMOVES NICOTINE

ADDICTION - FREE - ALSO

FREE - PINEAPPLES GUMMIES

JUST 1 - REMOVES - ALCOHOL

ADDICTION - FILMING - LOTS

IN - BEAUTIFUL - FRANCE

AND - OTHER - ASIAN YES

PLACES - SAKUIRA - TREES

PINK - JUST - UGLY - FR AFAR

THE - REAL - FLOWER - IS YES

SUPER - UGLY - ROSES - ARE

THE - MOST - BEAUTIFUL

FLOWERS - ON - EARTH

KOREA - AND - GERMANY

UNITE - JESUS - IS - LORD

[chipperstreeservice]

Use Affordable Mesquite Tree Services to Get Rid of Common Tree Pests

The trees in Texas yards stand as guardians of green, providing shade, beauty, and ecological balance. Unfortunately, winter months bring a number of seasonal pests. You can combat common tree pests effectively by staying vigilant and implementing proactive measures. Do not hesitate to reach out to affordable Mesquite tree services if you encounter a formidable foe.

Common Tree Pests in Mesquite

Aphids: The Tiny Trouble-Makers

Aphids are sap-sucking insects that can wreak havoc on your trees. Look out for curled leaves and a sticky residue known as honeydew. You can combat these pests by introducing natural predators like ladybugs or using insecticidal soap.

Oak Wilt: A Silent Threat to Mesquite Oaks

Oak wilt is a fungal disease that poses a significant risk to Mesquite's beloved oak trees. Pruning during the wrong season can spread the disease. You need to consult with affordable Mesquite tree services to diagnose and manage oak wilt effectively.

Bagworms: Silent Architects of Destruction

Bagworms are expert architects, crafting protective bags on tree branches as they feed. You need to keep an eye out for these bag-like structures and handpick them or use insecticides to control their population.

Spider Mites: The Web Weavers

Spider mites are tiny but mighty and can create fine webs on your trees, causing discoloration and leaf damage. You should regularly hose down your trees to disrupt their habitat, and consider introducing predatory mites for natural control.

Scale Insects: Tiny Invaders with a Shell-Like Exterior

Scale insects attach themselves to tree branches, draining nutrients, and causing yellowing leaves. You can easily get rid of them by introducing natural predators or using horticultural oil to suffocate these pests.

Whiteflies: Tiny Pests with a White-Winged Presence

Whiteflies gather in large colonies on the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing leaf yellowing. You may want to introduce natural predators like parasitic wasps or use insecticidal soap to keep their numbers in check.

Combatting Common Tree Pests in Mesquite: A Proactive Approach

Regular Inspections: You should conduct routine inspections of your trees to catch pest infestations early.

Proper Pruning: You should get professionals to remove and dispose of infested branches promptly, and ensure proper pruning practices to minimize entry points for pests.

Balanced Watering: Make sure your trees are adequately watered, as stressed trees are more susceptible to pest infestations.

Professional Assistance: You should consult with a professional tree service for accurate pest identification and targeted treatment plans.

Professional Tree Removal to Avoid a Major Pest Infestation

When a tree in Mesquite becomes infected beyond the point of repair, the decision to remove it becomes an important step in preserving the overall health of the landscape. Infections, whether caused by fungal diseases like oak wilt or infestations of destructive pests, can compromise a tree's structural integrity and pose risks to surrounding vegetation. Prompt and professional tree removal in such cases is essential to prevent the spread of diseases and protect neighboring trees.

Experienced tree removal services in Mesquite can assess the severity of the infection, execute the removal with precision, and implement proper disposal methods, ensuring a safe and effective resolution. By making the difficult choice to remove an irreversibly infected tree, homeowners contribute to the overall well-being of their green surroundings and prevent potential hazards that may arise from a weakened or diseased tree.

[treesforneeds]

Professional Tree Maintenance & Care Services Company Phoenix

Professional Tree Maintenance & Care Services Company provides tree trimming, removal, and other Tree Services in Phoenix to ensure healthy trees for your property. Our customers want professionals that know tree care and insist on someone they can trust with what most likely is the largest investment in their landscape. Our tree workers are more than just tree workers. They are professional arborists with exceptional workmanship– trained, knowledgeable, and experienced. Arborists Arizona residents can count on applying the skill and judgment needed to accomplish their specific goals, whether it’s structure pruning a newly planted mesquite or the largest removal. Our office staff is really nice, too!

[dallaslandclearing]

Euless Texas Land Clearing Services 972-472-2362

[g2web]

Did You Know That Our Tree Wizards Serve the Mesquite, Texas Area? At White Rock Tree Wizards, we’re proud to be your local tree care experts, offering professional and reliable tree services to homeowners and businesses throughout Mesquite, Texas. Whether you need tree trimming, removal, or emergency storm damage cleanup, our Tree Wizards are here

@whiterocktreewizards

[glacierruler]

Obviously all deserts are vastly different ecosystems from each other, but I'm gonna go over some pretty plants I've seen in the desert!

Some of my info comes from this sight! https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=372

First off: Silk Mimosa Trees have been part of the Sonoran Desert since they were transported from China in the 18th century. So pretty, attract so many hummingbirds and butterflies and bees (even though I'm personally not a fan of bees, many people are and that's cool!)

I have one in my front yard, it's been there since before we bought the house and she's beautiful :3

Second: Mesquite Trees are so prebby, just look at them. Sure they're no jungle tree but they are nice to view, plus their little seeds are adorable. These are native to the desert

Third: Saguaro, have you ever seen their flowers, they are so pretty. They're rarer down where I live because we're considered too wet for them. Also they're illegal to remove, it's a $75 fine for each individual saguaro. It should be more, but at least it's something.

Fourth: Prickly Pear Cactus: Flowers pretty, shape pretty, lovely little things

There's a lot more but it's late and I'm tired, and y'know what I might just take pictures of the pretty desert tomorrow to prove my point. She's pretty on her own and if you can't love him correctly then leave!

The desert is pretty. Maybe he's not aesthetically pleasing to YOU (you) But you cannot deny that she is pretty and everyone needs to stop greenifying and trying to make him into a forest. Leave her alone!

She has an ecosystem! Trees! Cacti! Shrubbery! Plants! Birds! Yes these are more sparse than in forests, but if you only want forests then get out of the fucking desert! I'm already so mad that plots of deserted land keep getting bought up and torn down to make more stores/parks/etc. Work with the environment not against it!

[dupresiteservices]

Call On DuPre Site Services for Reliable Land Clearing Service in Central Texas

Have you ever looked at a piece of land and thought about all the things you could do with it if only the trees, bushes, and rocks were gone? Maybe you want to build a home, create a farm, or start a park. Whatever your dreams, DuPre Site Services is here to help you make them come true with our land clearing service.

Land clearing is when you remove everything that's in the way on a piece of land. It's like cleaning your room but much bigger. You get rid of trees, bushes, rocks, and more to make space for something new. It's an important step to prepare land for building or farming.

DuPre Site Services is a company in Central Texas that offers land clearing service. We work in Hays, Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Guadalupe, and Comal Counties. Here's why people choose us:

Besides land clearing, we also offer other services to help you with your land. We do dumpster rentals, cedar & mesquite eradication, creek & stock pond construction, and much more. We want to be the team you call for all your land needs.

If you have land in Central Texas that you want to clear, DuPre Site Services is the team to call. We'll work with you to make sure your land is ready for whatever you want to do with it. We care about doing the job right, and we want to make sure you're happy with the result. Learn more by contacting us at our website: https://dupresiteservices.com.

[whiterocktreewizards]

Our Tree Repair Company has one of the best Tree Doctors in the Dallas, Garland, Rowlett, Mesquite, Sunnyville and Richardson areas!

Our Tree Repair Company has one of the best Tree Doctors in the Dallas, Garland, Rowlett, Mesquite, Sunnyville and Richardson areas! https://arborwizard.com/our-tree-repair-company-has-one-of-the-best-tree-doctors-in-the-dallas-garland-and-richardson-areas tweet @arborwizard #treedoctor #treerepaircompany #treespecialist #treecarecompany #dallastreedoctor #Garland #Dallas #mesquite #Rowlett #sunnyville #Richardson #treerepair #treeremoval #treetrimming

[mesquitetxtreeservice]

Website : https://mesquitetxtreeservice.com

Address : 2901 Live Oak Dr #105, Mesquite, TX 75150

Phone : +1 972-449-5979

Mesquite Tree Service has been offering tree care services in Mesquite, TX for years. Our skilled workers have the tools and knowledge required to cut back unruly hedges, prune overgrown trees, and remove undesirable trees. We can also remove stumps if you need it done. You may rely on us to significantly improve the appearance of your landscape. Because we respect our consumers, we always put their needs and pleasure first. We not only provide quality work but also finish it inside the allotted period. We don't want to squander your time since we understand how valuable it is. We provide the most reasonable rates and packages. If you have any issues with trees, get in touch with us right away to take advantage of our reasonably priced services.

[syngoniums]

For whatever reason it didn't occur to me earlier that I could use Google Maps data to track the history of some plants, particularly those in the Onion Creek area. This method isn't perfect, since street view only goes back so far and many of these plants were in backyards and thus not visible until the houses and fences were demolished. But it does give us some interesting insights. Here's this agave again, circa 2015:

This is a side on view that's zoomed in quite a bit, because even though the house and street are long gone, you can still look up the address and find data on former residents. I first encountered this plant in 2018ish, so it was a little bigger but otherwise much like this, solitary with a few small pups, between a fig tree and a mesquite.

But here's 2009, from the front and then side of the plot:

It's pretty low quality, but this looks like a colony, with a large mother plant showing the floppy habit agaves develop when growing in shade. (It could also be blooming, with the stalk either barely emerging or cut off). It would have been well established at this point. The only earlier image available is from 2007, when the house and fence were still present.

Here's 2011:

Significant decrease in size here. The house and fence behind this plot also disappear between 2009 and 2011, so it doesn't seem unreasonable to suggest the larger plants got hacked away or removed during demolition of that property. You'll also notice the agave in frame here is in front of the trees, not between them. There were two, as seen in the side view from 2013:

The plant on the right here disappears between 2013 and 2015. It may have simply been dug up by someone. The plant on the left was the only one left of the original colony. It did leave at least one offset behind, and I have another in a pot here at my home.

But that's not all! The seeds that came off that plant have had decent germination:

Given the relatively low number of fertile (black) seeds in the pods, and the fact that I haven't observed another recently bloomed agave in the surrounding area, these may well have resulted from self-pollination. This should still give us some insight to the genetics of the parent plant, as a hybrid should produce some observable diversity in the seedlings. We'll see!

[litwitlady]

Never Have I Ever (5/?)

Read the Board Game Verse on AO3.

The next Friday night Michael shows up early and with a list of demands. ‘Put on some warm clothes and grab a couple of blankets you don’t mind getting dirty. We’re taking this show on the road.’ He heads into Alex’s kitchen to pilfer the fridge, and Alex doesn’t bother asking questions, he just does as told.

Outside at Michael’s truck, they toss the blankets and whatever Michael took from his kitchen into the bed. ‘Your firepit? Where are we going?’

‘The desert. Our old spot. Hop in.’ A little thrill shivers down Alex’s spine as he climbs into the Chevy. In all their years of each other, spending the night in the desert has only ever ended one way.

Their drive out is twenty minutes of quiet, radio softly playing between them. Michael’s window is down despite the chill, and Alex enjoys the way the wind dances through his hair, making a mess of his curls. Every couple of miles, Michael glances over at him with a promise-painted smile, the same way he used to when they were seventeen.

They turn off the highway, tires kicking up dust clouds behind them. Beyond the mountains the sun is setting, pink and purple and orange flames licking at the first stars daring to blink down at them. The desert around them looks the same as it ever does with pockets of snow still unmelted from the season’s first snowfall. Eventually, two familiar mesquite trees appear and it’s like coming home, both of them breathing a little easier.

Michael puts the truck in park. ‘This place never changes.’ He slides out of the Chevy and before Alex has even set foot on solid ground, he’s managed to float everything out of the bed and onto the desert floor. ‘You want to sit on the ground or would the tailgate be easier?’

He looks nervous and that makes Alex nervous. ‘On the ground, near the fire. Just need a hand getting down there.’ He reaches out to Michael, asking for help but also offering comfort for whatever anxiety is biting at both their heels. Michael helps him onto the blanket and plops down beside him, the fire close enough to keep the encroaching sting of autumn winds at bay.

Scattered around them is an array of food. Everything from paninis oozing melted cheese to a handmade Greek salad from a recipe Michael had found at Isobel’s house while rummaging through her cookbooks. ‘I might have gone a bit overboard, but in my defense, I skipped lunch and was starving.’

Alex is already halfway through one of the paninis, eyes closed in satisfaction. ‘This is delicious.’ Michael makes a mental note to keep the panini maker he’d borrowed from Max. It’s not like Max ever uses it anyway.

Once they’ve eaten their way around the blanket, Michael gets back up and removes a large black case from his truck. ‘There’s a reason I wanted to come out here tonight.’ He winks down at Alex. ‘And no, it’s not the reason you’ve been thinking since I first mentioned the desert.’ Alex looks away quickly, hiding the disappointment that suddenly floods his face.

Michael doesn’t notice, too busy pulling a large telescope from the velvet lining inside the opened case. ‘Mars is brighter than it’s been in years this month. I’ve been itching to get out here and have a look. Isobel gifted me the telescope on our shared birthday in June. I was going to pawn it.’ He shrugs and peeks his eye through the eyepiece, adjusting the fingerscope per the instructions he’s found on his phone.

Alex looks up at the night sky and finds Mars with his naked eye. It is extraordinarily bright, a glowing pink orb rising through the inky black expanse of space. And when Michael finally captures it in the lens of the telescope, he gasps and grabs at Alex’s arm. ‘You can see so much detail. All the pockmarks and craters. And the dust looks almost orange. It’s amazing. Look.’

He drags the telescope closer to Alex so he doesn’t have to move much, checking through the eyepiece one last time to focus directly on the red star. Leaning back on his heels, Michael motions at Alex to take his place and turns his own eyes upward. They are both looking at the same star but he also knows they are seeing something entirely different. He huffs out a sharp laugh which draws Alex’s eye away from the telescope. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘Nothing. Just metaphors and nonsense. The ways that perspectives get so warped and are so hard to understand when everyone doesn’t have the same telescope.’ Alex gives him a funny look and Michael laughs outright. ‘I’ve been hanging around Max too much.’

Alex shakes his head gently. ‘No. I think I get what you’re saying. For a long time, we’ve wanted the same thing, but we’ve been coming at it from our own messy angles. I’ve often thought we were similar to the codes I break. We’re on the same page, but written in a language the other needs help translating.’ Michael nods at him, smiling sweet.

They spend an hour searching through the various stars and distant galaxies before a growing ache in Alex’s chest pushes him to ask a question he’s been holding inside since they decided to work on their friendship weeks ago. ‘One day you’ll be able to find your star. The one you’ve been searching for since you crawled from that pod. And you’ll figure out how to finish building your ship.’ He pauses to collect himself, already feeling the emotion in his chest threatening to overwhelm him. ‘One day, you’ll be able to go home.’ His eyes start to burn with unshed tears, but he keeps going, meeting Michael’s gaze with determination and readying the fortress around his heart he was so sure he wouldn’t need anymore. ‘Is that still what you want?’

Michael reaches up and swipes at the first tear that falls from the corner of Alex’s eye. ‘I found my star a long time ago. And I’m not going anywhere without you.’

Alex drops his eyes to his hands. ‘I have no right to ask that of you. I know that. Not after all the leaving I did.’ He tugs nervously at the hem of his shirt, hands starting to shake with the cold. ‘But I’m never going anywhere without you ever again. I promise.’

‘I know.’ Michael grabs an extra blanket and wraps it tight around Alex. ‘So what’s tonight’s game? Didn’t see you toss anything into the bed when we were leaving.’

They both lean back against the Chevy’s tire. Alex stretches the blanket around Michael’s shoulders so that they are sharing more than just the woven wool’s warmth. ‘How about the classic drinking game, Never Have I Ever? Sans alcohol but with a new twist.’ He grins, lips sharpening at the edges and eyes darkening with dare. ‘Instead of taking a drink, you have to kiss the other person.’

Michael snorts. ‘So we’re just soundly saying goodbye to the friends experiment then?’

‘No. Platonic kisses only. No kissing on the mouth and no use of tongue.’ Alex hears the bullshit in his words and knows Michael does too. His nerves return and he begins to second guess himself. ‘Or we can play like normal. There’s still plenty of wine left. Or not at all. I’m happy to just sit here with you too.’

‘That’s okay. I like the new rules. Not much of a wine guy anyway. Who goes first?’

‘Me.’ Alex sits up a little straighter and spends a fair amount of time considering his first move. ‘Never have I ever used my telekinesis to do literally anything.’ He follows the statement with a cheeky grin, clearly quite proud of himself.

‘Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be? That’s how we’re going to play?’ Alex tries to suppress the manic giggle that bubbles up in his throat but loses the fight pretty quickly. Michael shakes his head. ‘Have a placement preference?’

‘Nope. I’m looking forward to wherever you choose.’ He blushes and struggles to meet Michael’s eye, muscles tensing in anticipation once he feels Michael shift against him.

A breeze nestles between them, but neither of them notices. The cool air doing absolutely nothing to assuage the heat pulsing between them. Michael presses his lips to Alex’s temple, less a kiss than a remembrance of every kiss that has come before. Alex closes his eyes and lets this new memory burn a spot next to all the others.

It’s strange. Michael has kissed him goodbye dozens of times over the past few weeks. None of them half as affecting as this barely glancing touch.

Abruptly, Michael pulls away. ‘Never have I ever gone to war.’

Alex reopens his eyes at the sound of Michael’s voice. ‘If we keep this up, we’re going to dig ourselves into a hole, Guerin. One we can’t get out of.’ He brings his fingers up to the sleeve of Michael’s shirt. ‘You told me to dress warm when all you’re wearing is this thin t-shirt.’ Michael watches as Alex slowly guides the sleeve up over the top of his arm. Alex bows his head far enough to leave a trail of rough, chapped kisses where the bony end of his collarbone meets his shoulder.

Michael’s breath hitches the instant Alex doesn’t stop with one single kiss. The dry scrape of his lips sending goosebumps down to his toes, his heartbeat a staccato rhythm echoing throughout his entire body. ‘That doesn’t feel at all platonic.’ His voice is low and strained, edged with the desire to flatten Alex hard against the wool blanket beneath them.

Alex smiles and smacks his shoulder with one last loud kiss. ‘I guess that depends on your perspective. Never have I ever stepped foot on another planet.’

‘How about I share a little bit of my perspective with you?’ He scoots impossibly nearer to Alex, hand cupping his cheek and tilting their mouths dangerously closer. Their breaths mingle together although Alex is almost certain he’s not breathing at all anymore. Michael’s lips hover over Alex’s, the anticipation building to a crescendo they’ve both been waiting for since five Friday nights ago at the Wild Pony. And it doesn’t matter how many times they’ve kissed before. Because there’s never, not once been this much hope waiting for them on the other side.

When Michael’s lips finally land on Alex’s skin, they narrowly miss his mouth. Instead they fall at the corner of his lips, a sliver away from touching home. Alex exhales, half-groaning with the comedown. He’d been sure, so sure this was their moment. Swallowing down what he really wants to say, Alex turns to Michael just as he pulls away. ‘Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.’

‘I think this was the best idea.’ He tilts his head and smiles at Alex so beyond innocent that Alex yelps when Michael pushes his shoulders roughly onto the blanket and slides effortlessly between Alex’s welcoming thighs. Alex barely has time to take another breath before Michael’s mouth steals it away, sucking at his bottom lip so desperately Alex has to lift his head to chase after Michael’s urgency.

The kiss is needy, both of them grasping at each other like they’re dangling off a cliff holding on with nothing more than their fingertips. Michael’s hands tug at Alex’s hair, jagged, work-worn nails digging into the softness of his scalp without apology. And Alex fills the gaps between Michael’s ribs with his fingers, feeling Michael’s lungs expand with each new, shuddering breath. Eventually twisting Michael’s t-shirt so tight in his fists it rips at the seams.

One kiss becomes two becomes twenty until neither knows whose tongue is whose anymore. Michael’s shirt is long gone and Alex’s pants are shoved halfway down his thighs before either of them has the sense to stop. ‘Your skin is like ice, Alex. It’s too cold out here for this, even with the fire.’ His breathing is ragged, his chest heaving. Leaning back on his knees, he helps Alex back into his jeans, despite his ardent protests that he’s not too cold, and grabs the remaining blanket to wrap around them. Even with two thick, wool blankets, the night air is still harsh enough to make both of them shiver. ‘Maybe we should go back to your place.’

‘No. Please not yet.’ Alex shifts closer to Michael, joining their bodies wherever he can reach. Laying his head on Michael’s chest, he hums in satisfaction at the steady beat of his heart. ‘You’ll keep me warm. Tell me about the stars like you used to.’ Alex points to a random patch of desert sky. ‘Isn’t that Polaris?’

Michael snorts into Alex’s hair. ‘You’ve always been so bad at this. You can’t really see the North Star from here. It’s not bright enough.’ He drags Alex’s still-raised finger to another part of the sky. ‘That’s Gemini. The twins. I’ve always thought of me and Max as Castor and Pollux. But the version where only one of them, Pollux probably, is immortal.’

‘Max is Pollux, I’m guessing?’

Michael nods, chin tapping against the top of his head. ‘Yes.’

The stars glow brighter as Michael spends the next hour recounting so many of their mysteries, fingertips dancing up and down Alex’s arm like he’s tattooing the stories into his skin. Alex pretends like he’s never heard them before when in reality he’s had them all memorized for over a decade. The stars and Michael’s stories are what had kept his first tour overseas from chewing him up and spitting him out.

Tilting his chin, Alex kisses into Michael’s neck, leaving a sloppy trail in his wake as he nibbles up to his ear. ‘Take me home.’

The warmth of Alex’s house beckons as they pile everything back into the truck. With no traffic, they pull into the driveway in record time, not bothering to unpack the Chevy before heading inside and straight to Alex’s bedroom. They collapse onto the bed and undress each other slowly, allowing the furnace’s heat to melt them into nothing but nerve-endings and sensation, their sweat-slick skin sliding smoothly together.

Once they’re sated and sleepy, Michael throws a leg over Alex’s thighs and wraps an arm around his waist, tugging him as close as possible. ‘I guess we’re dating now.’

[fatehbaz]

Oh, the Concho watersnake (Nerodia paucimaculata)? An imperiled snake species endemic only to a small distribution range in streams and riparian habitats near the confluence of the Concho and Colorado rivers in the savanna and prairies of the Rolling Plains ecoregion of West Texas between San Angelo and Killeen? The snake that famously angers oil and gas corporation executives of West Texas?

The Concho watersnake was formally listed as a threatened species in 1986, apparently in large part due to devastation of its riparian habitat; the snake was removed from the list of threatened species in 2011 (to the celebration of land developers).

On how artificial dam infrastructure degraded the snake’s habitat:

“Historically, the Concho Water Snake occurred over about 276 river miles of the Colorado and Concho Rivers in central Texas. [...] The Concho Water Snake is endemic to Texas, which means it lives nowhere else in the world. It has one of the smallest distributions of any North American snake. [...] The Concho Water Snake may once have been more widely distributed, but the E.V. Spence Reservoir upstream and Lake Buchanan downstream have inundated many miles of river habitat at both ends of the current range. [...] Larger trees and shrubs, such as pecan, cedar elm, and willow, with limbs that hang over water, provide basking sites for juveniles and adults. Common bank and shoreline vegetation used for cover and basking sites include switchgrass, devil-weed aster, greenbrier, poison ivy, willow, saltcedar, button bush, hackberry, pecan,cedar elm, and mesquite.” [Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.]

Sorry for bad quality of the map:

Ulmus crassifloia, the cedar elm, an important species in the watersnake’s habitat:

Excerpt from: “Rally puts spotlight on impact of listing lizard as endangered species.” Mella McEwen for Midland-Reporter Telegram. 26 April 2011.

[The president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association] called the issue [of potentially halting some fracking to save endangered reptile habitat] “one of the most important issues facing the oil and gas industry and West Texas.” [...] The stakes are also high for the nation, he said, because the listing would eliminate oil and gas operations in the nation’s most prolific oil and gas producing region. [...] J*mes B*auch*mp, president of the Motran Alliance, worked for Rep. Ch*rlie St*nholm when the Concho water snake was listed, an event that almost ended efforts to construct Lake Ivie. “Had it not been for construction of Lake Ivie in 1995, we [humans? resource extraction lobbyists?] might be the endangered species.”

Five population units of the species [“Population Dynamics of the Concho Water Snake in Rivers and Reservoirs.” Martin J. Whitting, et al. 2008.]:

From Texas State Historical Society: “The O. H. Ivie Reservoir, once called Stacy Reservoir, is impounded by the S. W. Freese Dam at the Concho-Coleman county line. It is located in Concho, Coleman, and Runnels counties. In 1938 the United States Army Corps of Engineers expressed a desire for a reservoir site near the confluence of the Concho and Colorado rivers. An agreement was finally reached in 1985, when the Texas Water Commission granted permission to impound 554,000 acre-feet of water on the Colorado River at Stacy, sixteen miles below the confluence. The project was delayed by negotiations to preserve the endangered Concho water snakes [...].“

More fun ecology, from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department:

Historically, the Concho Water Snake occurred over about 276 river miles of the Colorado and Concho Rivers in central Texas. The snake was first [described by Euro-American taxonomists] from the South Concho River and Dove Creek, which are tributaries to the Concho River west of San Angelo, Texas. When the subspecies was described in 1961, these records and one other on the Colorado River south of Robert Lee in Coke County were the only known localities for this snake.[...] The probable historic range of this snake is estimated to include, at a minimum, the Colorado River from Spence Reservoir down-stream to the vicinity of Lake Buchanan, Elm, Bluff, and Coyote Creeks (Runnels County), and the entire Concho River (Tom Green and Concho Counties) and its headwater tributaries. [...]

Large snakes consume mosquitofish, channel catfish, flat-head catfish, gizzard shad, and several species of sunfish. The bullhead minnow, sheepshead minnow, and bigscale logperch were found to be the dominant prey of snakes in Ballinger Municipal Lake. [End excerpt.]