Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Flooding Thoughts
Our levees have broken. The river is seeping into the freshly-planted fields. One of my dear friends commented this morning, "You'd think it would gush and come in with a huge flood. Instead, it just quietly seeps. A few hours later and parts of the field have little lakes." She also later said, "You just sit there and watch your year's income soak away." Her husband is a commissioner with the Lima Lake Drainage District. That levee failed at 1 am today. He came home at 3:30 am and left again at 6:30 am within the past 18 hours. These pictures were taken with my camera phone atop a bluff in Riverview Park about 7 am today. We heard on WGEM-AM radio that the Indian Graves Drainage District levee failed at 6 am. It's thought that the levee break is a quarter-mile wide. National media has shown videos of that break throughout the day.
When we returned from vacation last Saturday, we were shocked by how high the river was. The national media wasn't doing anything with coverage. We had no clue how bad it was. Apparently sand-bagging started in earnest Friday, June 13. Officials closed our oldest Mississippi River bridge at midnight on Saturday, June 14. The approach is rather low. Our other bridge was built from Illinois levee to Missouri levee. However, if the Missouri levee breaks, then the bridge is of no use for that road is not above flood stage. Ironic, huh? But we would not be completely cut off from the world - after all, this is western Illinois. There's a road network to the north, east and south.
My 6-year-old was concerned the flood was going to "hurt us" and "carry us away." I had a difficult time calming him. I reminded him again and again that our town sits high on the bluffs; that the river is only spilling over little breaks into the low ground beside it. I need to find out how high the bluffs are. He was also concerned that the crest will be 32.2 feet (ties the 1993 flood record). He's only 54 inches.
There are different reports about when the "crest" will arrive. The crest is the highest point the water level will be (in simple terms). You can follow the crest as it passes through official water level markers along the Mississippi River. On Monday it was reported we'd get a crest of 31.9 feet on Friday, June 20. Tuesday, the crest forecast was 32 feet on Thursday, June 19. Today the prediction is 32.2 feet on Thursday, June 19. The height would tie the 1993 record set. Ironically, with a levee break, pressure is taken off other levees. It also drops the river's water level. Overnight our town's river level dropped from 30.8 feet to 30.4 feet.
During the 1993 Flood, I threw sandbags on the Sny Levee in southern Adams county. It was hot, sweaty, buggy work - nasty flies and gnats. This time the weather is cooler, but, I have young children. Though I know I'm doing the right thing keeping them occupied, I still have guilty-pangs about doing more. The older child might actually enjoy helping, but the 3-year-old is a handful. He'd only get in the way. One of my friends took her 3-year-old, 5-year-old and 7-year-old to fill sandbags. She said the 3-year-old was running all over the place; playing King of the Mountain on the big sand dunes from which they get the sand to shovel in the bags. I was told this morning they've asked people with little children to please stay away from the bagging sites. My husband and his friends went down and sandbagged for a few hours after work today until the site closed.
It wasn't until Cedar Rapids, Iowa, flooded that it seemed the national media diverted its attention to the Mississippi River. Now our town is crawling with helicopters, small planes, plus lots of rental cars from St. Louis, Missouri, etc.
The funny thing is the comments we're getting from friends not in the area: "Wow the National Guard is in your town. Does this mean you're in trouble?" "How close is it?" Luckily most of them remember what we told them 15 years ago (about the town is high on the bluff). This time, however, officials are really concerned about the city's water treatment plant, which is at the river's edge. It remained unscathed during the last flood. They are praying it stays for this one, too. A large sandbag pile has been built to protect it. Officials are cautioning people to stock a little water, just in case.
Furthermore, law enforcement officials are now guarding the levees for unintentional or potential sabotage. I can't believe some idiots are actually toiling around walking around on top of the levees "sight-seeing." Come on people! Don't add more stress to the poor earthen mounds topped with white plastic sandbags.
When we returned from vacation last Saturday, we were shocked by how high the river was. The national media wasn't doing anything with coverage. We had no clue how bad it was. Apparently sand-bagging started in earnest Friday, June 13. Officials closed our oldest Mississippi River bridge at midnight on Saturday, June 14. The approach is rather low. Our other bridge was built from Illinois levee to Missouri levee. However, if the Missouri levee breaks, then the bridge is of no use for that road is not above flood stage. Ironic, huh? But we would not be completely cut off from the world - after all, this is western Illinois. There's a road network to the north, east and south.
My 6-year-old was concerned the flood was going to "hurt us" and "carry us away." I had a difficult time calming him. I reminded him again and again that our town sits high on the bluffs; that the river is only spilling over little breaks into the low ground beside it. I need to find out how high the bluffs are. He was also concerned that the crest will be 32.2 feet (ties the 1993 flood record). He's only 54 inches.
There are different reports about when the "crest" will arrive. The crest is the highest point the water level will be (in simple terms). You can follow the crest as it passes through official water level markers along the Mississippi River. On Monday it was reported we'd get a crest of 31.9 feet on Friday, June 20. Tuesday, the crest forecast was 32 feet on Thursday, June 19. Today the prediction is 32.2 feet on Thursday, June 19. The height would tie the 1993 record set. Ironically, with a levee break, pressure is taken off other levees. It also drops the river's water level. Overnight our town's river level dropped from 30.8 feet to 30.4 feet.
During the 1993 Flood, I threw sandbags on the Sny Levee in southern Adams county. It was hot, sweaty, buggy work - nasty flies and gnats. This time the weather is cooler, but, I have young children. Though I know I'm doing the right thing keeping them occupied, I still have guilty-pangs about doing more. The older child might actually enjoy helping, but the 3-year-old is a handful. He'd only get in the way. One of my friends took her 3-year-old, 5-year-old and 7-year-old to fill sandbags. She said the 3-year-old was running all over the place; playing King of the Mountain on the big sand dunes from which they get the sand to shovel in the bags. I was told this morning they've asked people with little children to please stay away from the bagging sites. My husband and his friends went down and sandbagged for a few hours after work today until the site closed.
It wasn't until Cedar Rapids, Iowa, flooded that it seemed the national media diverted its attention to the Mississippi River. Now our town is crawling with helicopters, small planes, plus lots of rental cars from St. Louis, Missouri, etc.
The funny thing is the comments we're getting from friends not in the area: "Wow the National Guard is in your town. Does this mean you're in trouble?" "How close is it?" Luckily most of them remember what we told them 15 years ago (about the town is high on the bluff). This time, however, officials are really concerned about the city's water treatment plant, which is at the river's edge. It remained unscathed during the last flood. They are praying it stays for this one, too. A large sandbag pile has been built to protect it. Officials are cautioning people to stock a little water, just in case.
Furthermore, law enforcement officials are now guarding the levees for unintentional or potential sabotage. I can't believe some idiots are actually toiling around walking around on top of the levees "sight-seeing." Come on people! Don't add more stress to the poor earthen mounds topped with white plastic sandbags.
There's many good volunteers helping in addition to sandbagging. The Salvation Army is feeding and providing water for the volunteers. The Quincy Humane Society has opened extra branches to shelter people's pets (and I think some livestock) when people are evacuated from their homes.
And then there's the icky, smelly, mucky clean-up...but that's for another time.
**I apologize for any inaccuracies. If you find some, please tell me.
And then there's the icky, smelly, mucky clean-up...but that's for another time.
**I apologize for any inaccuracies. If you find some, please tell me.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Disneyland in June
Went to Disneyland yesterday. Of the five other times I've been there, this was the most crowded: many school field trips and grandparents with grandchildren. Naturally the little one didn't want to ride in the rented stroller we obtained to help his stamina for the day. The older one rode in it to show him a stroller is cool. He didn't buy it. He wouldn't meet any of the characters after the Main Street Parade. Instead he stood to the side with his arms folded over his chest, pouting. The older one was slapping high five's with the characters.
After riding the Matterhorn, the oldest told me, "That's not much of a roller coaster, Mom." I thought the younger one would pass out after riding the swirling tea-cups. We lunched at Pizza Port, just missing Buzz Lightyear. Captain Nemo's submarine adventure has been updated to include scenes from the movie "Finding Nemo." The kids enjoyed driving at Autotopia. The younger one, however, informed me that the "NASCAR track at Legoland is better."
We spent a lot of time in Toon-town. The boys patiently waited in line to meet Mickey Mouse. I was amazed some of the parents' rudeness. Disney allows line-cutting for handicapped people. I think that is a wonderful practice. Since Mickey Mouse's house is handicapped accessible, line-cutting is not allowed here. At least two families left angrily saying, "This is not worth our time." Would it really hurt them to stay in line for a little bit. Please note there were other wheel-chair bound people in line who thought it worth the wait.
We wandered around the park on our way to our favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. It, too, has changed a little - adding more movie characters and voices.
We were trying to decide what to do next when we arrived at the Indiana Jones ride. Since the younger one was too short to ride, the operator gave us a switch pass, even though there wasn't a long line (ahh, Disney, master of line trickery - Dad and older son waited 20 minutes - but it could have been 60 minutes without the pass).
While we waited, the Indiana Jones actor finished his outside exhibit. As he was running toward his stage for his next show, I told the youngest, "Ian, turn around and look." The actor stopped and patted Ian's head, saying, "Hi Ian. Are you having fun?"
Talk about missed camera shots! They were too close to my lens for a proper photo! However, it totally changed Ian's demeanor. Like a chameleon, he went from moody, pouty, tired toddler to star-struck fan. "Mom, Indiana patted my head!" he said dreamily. The rest of the day was heavenly thanks to that pat from Ian's new hero.
After we arrived home, when people asked Ian who he saw at Disneyland, he would say, "I saw Indiana Jones...oh and Mickey, too."
After riding the Matterhorn, the oldest told me, "That's not much of a roller coaster, Mom." I thought the younger one would pass out after riding the swirling tea-cups. We lunched at Pizza Port, just missing Buzz Lightyear. Captain Nemo's submarine adventure has been updated to include scenes from the movie "Finding Nemo." The kids enjoyed driving at Autotopia. The younger one, however, informed me that the "NASCAR track at Legoland is better."
We spent a lot of time in Toon-town. The boys patiently waited in line to meet Mickey Mouse. I was amazed some of the parents' rudeness. Disney allows line-cutting for handicapped people. I think that is a wonderful practice. Since Mickey Mouse's house is handicapped accessible, line-cutting is not allowed here. At least two families left angrily saying, "This is not worth our time." Would it really hurt them to stay in line for a little bit. Please note there were other wheel-chair bound people in line who thought it worth the wait.
We wandered around the park on our way to our favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. It, too, has changed a little - adding more movie characters and voices.
We were trying to decide what to do next when we arrived at the Indiana Jones ride. Since the younger one was too short to ride, the operator gave us a switch pass, even though there wasn't a long line (ahh, Disney, master of line trickery - Dad and older son waited 20 minutes - but it could have been 60 minutes without the pass).
While we waited, the Indiana Jones actor finished his outside exhibit. As he was running toward his stage for his next show, I told the youngest, "Ian, turn around and look." The actor stopped and patted Ian's head, saying, "Hi Ian. Are you having fun?"
Talk about missed camera shots! They were too close to my lens for a proper photo! However, it totally changed Ian's demeanor. Like a chameleon, he went from moody, pouty, tired toddler to star-struck fan. "Mom, Indiana patted my head!" he said dreamily. The rest of the day was heavenly thanks to that pat from Ian's new hero.
After we arrived home, when people asked Ian who he saw at Disneyland, he would say, "I saw Indiana Jones...oh and Mickey, too."
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Weather IQ
Last night we had some horrible storms - lightning, hail, wind. I dreamt I heard the tornado sirens about 2 am. I slightly opened my eyes, listened sharply; then decided it was just high winds whirling around the house. I turned over my pillow and went back to sleep. Today I found out it was, indeed, the tornado sirens. The sirens alert people that a tornado has been spotted and to take shelter in the lowest part of the basement immediately.
I've been away from Tornado Alley for far too long.
I've been away from Tornado Alley for far too long.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
Today we honor the veterans who fought hard to continue our American freedom. In this spirit, I honor the memory of my grandfathers who participated in World War II. They taught me about our freedom and respect for the American flag.
My paternal grandfather landed at Omaha Beach two days after D-Day. He fought under Gen. George Patton, who he respected immensely. He never talked about the war until after I telephoned him after having watched "Saving Private Ryan." My grandfather helped build roads and bridges and also participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He said Gen. Patton was rough and gruff, but he made everyone participate in religious services on Sunday. My grandfather and grandmother were active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Eagles and their church. We would sometimes accompany them on Memorial Day as they made their rounds of the cemetaries, putting flowers on the graves. He was also a member of the Color Guard. One of my favorite pictures of him appeared on the Omaha World-Herald's front page Memorial Day 1987. He was standing at attention, holding the American flag with the color guard unit during a ceremony at one of the local cemetaries. My maternal grandmother sent it to me as I was away at college. It crushed him when he could no longer participate in the color guard: He was hooked up to oxygen because his lungs were failing - from a Camel cigarette habit developed during the War. (When he first went on oxygen, he used to unhook himself and walk outside for a smoke. Eventually he had to quit as he couldn't do much without the oxygen.)
My maternal grandfather was embarrassed about his war participation as he never saw overseas combat. He felt he wasn't as worthy as the fighter pilots he trained. My family often teased him about being a "chicken colonel." In my naitivete, I thought it was because he wasn't able to go overseas. I only later found that was actually the slang term for colonel - that "chicken colonel" stems from the eagle that represents the rank of a full colonel. Unfortunately he died when I was 19-years-old. I was never able to fully question him about his experiences. He participated in the Army reserves for many years after his WWII service. I also heard my uncle mention that my grandfather was asked to help during the Korean combat, but he refused. I don't understand that - how can one refuse military orders? My favorite picture of him is in his lieutenant colonel's uniform, sitting on a cannon overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Bless our troops! Without them, we would not have this great land.
My paternal grandfather landed at Omaha Beach two days after D-Day. He fought under Gen. George Patton, who he respected immensely. He never talked about the war until after I telephoned him after having watched "Saving Private Ryan." My grandfather helped build roads and bridges and also participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He said Gen. Patton was rough and gruff, but he made everyone participate in religious services on Sunday. My grandfather and grandmother were active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Eagles and their church. We would sometimes accompany them on Memorial Day as they made their rounds of the cemetaries, putting flowers on the graves. He was also a member of the Color Guard. One of my favorite pictures of him appeared on the Omaha World-Herald's front page Memorial Day 1987. He was standing at attention, holding the American flag with the color guard unit during a ceremony at one of the local cemetaries. My maternal grandmother sent it to me as I was away at college. It crushed him when he could no longer participate in the color guard: He was hooked up to oxygen because his lungs were failing - from a Camel cigarette habit developed during the War. (When he first went on oxygen, he used to unhook himself and walk outside for a smoke. Eventually he had to quit as he couldn't do much without the oxygen.)
My maternal grandfather was embarrassed about his war participation as he never saw overseas combat. He felt he wasn't as worthy as the fighter pilots he trained. My family often teased him about being a "chicken colonel." In my naitivete, I thought it was because he wasn't able to go overseas. I only later found that was actually the slang term for colonel - that "chicken colonel" stems from the eagle that represents the rank of a full colonel. Unfortunately he died when I was 19-years-old. I was never able to fully question him about his experiences. He participated in the Army reserves for many years after his WWII service. I also heard my uncle mention that my grandfather was asked to help during the Korean combat, but he refused. I don't understand that - how can one refuse military orders? My favorite picture of him is in his lieutenant colonel's uniform, sitting on a cannon overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Bless our troops! Without them, we would not have this great land.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Herding sheep (the follow-up)
By the following Thursday, we had 65 yeses, 18 no's and 44 no responses. The movie theatre manager told me that even if we had the 100 people necessary, she doubted the producion company would allow it. Apparently the production company is approving midnight showings on May 29/30th at select cities around the US. So now we're going on June 3rd at 7 pm - earlier time and free popcorn. I just thought I'd post what happened. It was a fun idea, but I doubt I would have stayed up that late, quite honestly.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Herding sheep
During a girls' night out a few weeks ago, we decided we wanted to see the movie, "Sex and the City" when it hits theatres on May 30th. After we looked at our calendars, June 3rd was the night that would work. When I talked with the local theater manager about tickets, she mentioned we could fill out a special screening request to see it May 29th. The clincher is we need 100 people minimum to fill out the request. Then we have to wait for the production company to approve it. We live in a small town. 100 people means a small effort.
I sent an email to about 93 of my closest friends. I have more friends, but I don't have their email addresses. As you know that many emails takes less time than dialing(and my youngest thinks a telephone by my ear is the signal to talk to me). I sent the detailed email at 5 pm Friday. By Saturday noon, I had 35 positive responses and about 8 no's due to vacations and one child's baseball game.
So where are the other 57 people? Did the email get stuck in spam/junk account pergatory? Do the people assume I will include them? If the production company approves our special screening request, I don't want to get stuck with $1568 theatre bill (224 seats at $7 each). One gal had the nerve to ask who was "in" so far. As if!
Speaking of if's...if it does happen, then....
We're also planning a Cosmopolitan party prior to the movie. We're also planning to dress the character you're most like (go to ivillage.com and search for the Sex and the City character quiz). It'd be really cool to have limos transport us from the party to the screening.
All this so we have the golden opportunity to see a movie prior to it's official release date. And only if the production company approves.
I hope so.
I sent an email to about 93 of my closest friends. I have more friends, but I don't have their email addresses. As you know that many emails takes less time than dialing(and my youngest thinks a telephone by my ear is the signal to talk to me). I sent the detailed email at 5 pm Friday. By Saturday noon, I had 35 positive responses and about 8 no's due to vacations and one child's baseball game.
So where are the other 57 people? Did the email get stuck in spam/junk account pergatory? Do the people assume I will include them? If the production company approves our special screening request, I don't want to get stuck with $1568 theatre bill (224 seats at $7 each). One gal had the nerve to ask who was "in" so far. As if!
Speaking of if's...if it does happen, then....
We're also planning a Cosmopolitan party prior to the movie. We're also planning to dress the character you're most like (go to ivillage.com and search for the Sex and the City character quiz). It'd be really cool to have limos transport us from the party to the screening.
All this so we have the golden opportunity to see a movie prior to it's official release date. And only if the production company approves.
I hope so.
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