Water, water everywhere!

Today was a fun day -- NOT! I had a planners meeting in Des Moines. To start with I was hoping to take Friday off and spend some time with my families in Des Moines. Friday is Jim's birthday and Barb's is coming soon. Thought maybe we could go out for supper either Friday or Saturday and just hang around for part of the time. I want to spend some time with Charlotte. She's growing so fast! Some plans just aren't meant to be!! My boss decided that we just can't run without me being there on Friday so plans were changed and I came home.

It was the trip home that was eventful!! I drove down in rain all morning. I left here around 6:30 a.m. with the rain. It got harder as I continued west. Thank goodness I had my car checked Tuesday and some work done on it. I'm glad I didn't get stranded on the road in this kind of weather. When I got to the Public Works building it was just spitting so left my umbrella in the car. Our meeting was informative and not real lengthy! Nomination of officers is in October and I can get rid of my job as secretary of the group. I think I've been doing that for about 5 years now. I'm ready to give it up. They did, however, ask if I wanted to be chairperson. I said I would, but only if I had a co-chair. That's what we've been doing the last few years. That way one person doesn't have all the responsibility of the group. I'm sure there's others that would like the job to -- I will graciously give it to them!!!

Since I wasn't staying with the kids for the weekend I decided to skip my lunch break and drive straight home. In the rain!!! Some times it was so hard you could hardly see. Bet there's some fog tonight -- there was this afternoon. I was cruising right along and heading into Monticello when all the traffic in front of me started slowing down. Figured there was an accident or something. Just outside of Altonna a semi obviously ran off the road early this morning or during the night and they were pulling that out of the ditch when I went it -- coming home they were cleaning out the trailer and only had one lane open. That slowed everyone down. The back axles of the truck were missing so that probably was quite a ride!!

Anyway, back to Monti -- I stopped. Didn't have much choice. I could see lights flashing up ahead but nothing was happening to the line of traffic. People were pulling out of the right lane and turning around and heading back toward Anomosa. Or at least back west. Eventually we moved a car at a time. Noticed that some cars and semis were driving on the shoulder and turning up a county road just before you get to the bridge. I was following a Dubuque County car so figured they were heading back this way also. A lot of trucks headed back west. I had KHAK radio on from Cedar Rapids and they were announcing all the road closings in and around CR. Finally mentioned that the water was over the bridge just outside of Monticello. That particular creek is named Kitty Creek. Didn't know the name before but surely do now. Finally I moved into the left lane and followed a bunch of cars and semi that were taking the county road. It wasn't the best. Gravel with lots of soft spots and water running in the ditches on both sides. But at least I was moving. I was so glad I stopped for gas cuz I don't think I would have made it sitting there all that time. Basically we went around a country block and ended up back on a highway of sorts. The water was running through the underpass into Monticello but they were still driving through it!! I got back on 151 and headed home. Took Y21 (you pass Timberline Golf Course) on that highway and got back on 20 at Peosta. Was real glad to get home. I hate water.

When Harry and I lived in Platteville the trailer court we were in was evacuated because of high water. Our home was okay, the water moved our gas tank and some of the blocks under the trailer but nothing we couldn't fix. We did have to leave. One of our neighbors at the time lost their car. The water came up real fast and they didn't get it out in time. Down the creek it went. Water can certainly be scary!!

One of the other planners was mentioning that they had a basement full of water. The rain gauge had over 4 inches of newly fallen rain in it. Parts of this country are so dry and we get all this rain. Saw some hay down -- that'll be a while before that gets put up!!

I am glad to be home. I didn't come close to going into water or anything, but I know I'm glad it was still daylight when I came onto that bridge. You know what they say about water on the roadway -- turn around, don't drown!!

Gotta run. I'm hungry so think I better find something to eat. Have a good weekend!

Duh!

I couldn't think of any other title so Duh will have to do! I really haven't been doing much lately except working. But if I don't work I don't get to do anything!!

Marilyn and I have been checking out the paper on a weekly basis and looking for new places to check into. When I do find something that sounds good it's awful when you get there, or it's two stories and the renter is responsible for lawn mowing and snow removal. What a bummer! We really did have a good time last Sunday. We drove all over Dubuque and found streets we'd never been on before! I'll find something one way or the other!!

Spent the last couple of days in Cedar Rapids. We had a workshop on Financial LIteracy that was very interesting. Horizon's put it on, or rather hosted it. Our state association put the workshop on. They've just recently got back into their building as they were flooded out last year. They have a great place. The outside looks pretty awful but once you're inside it's pretty awesome! Spent some time with co-workers I'm not with very often. Parts of the two-day workshop were good, some a little boring. Sat and watched a 'scary' movie with some of them Thursday night. Has anyone out there ever watched or seen "The Strangers"? It's a little on the scary side. Ekk!! That's for my friends I watched the movie with!!

Got back Friday night around 5:00. Boy was I tired. I'll take my own bed any day. Got up this morning and did some actual cleaning. My bedroom looks pretty good for once. Now to tackle the living room and my craft den (or cell, or whatever you want to call it). I've been working on a book for Jim & Mandy about Charlotte, but have come to a point where I need some more pictures. I have a great idea on how to make up a small album with the creek party. Got some great pictures of that event. (I do get out occassionally!)

Race on tonight. I didn't even check as to who's on pole. Guess I'll just watch it and find out.

Have a great weekend!

Fantastic Party!

The newest addition to the campsite.

More wood!!

Jackson and his new friend!!

Glee readying the 'potty sign'

Campfire.

This is the employee of the month taking a nap!

The Sass Farm employee of the month with his favorite niece.

Charging up Barb's cell phone.

Golf anyone??? Barbie trying it!

Unloading the truck.

It was a great weekend for the creek party! Got a little chilly toward the end of the evening but we had a huge fire and that kept everyone warm!

I don't have any of these pictures in any kind of order but as you can see, we had a great time. I got to Glee & Ron's a little after 9 (I think). I watched Glee get some stuff ready to take down to the campsite. Barb got there around 11:30 and we loaded up the truck with the majority of the goodies. Ron followed us down later in the mule. Good thing we had a cell as we ended up calling him to bring a few things forgotten. Barb also needed to charge her cell phone and the mule works great for that!!

We went down around 1:00. It's so beautiful down there. You can sit and hear the water running over the rocks in the creek. It's so peaceful. The outdoor smells are wonderful. No traffic! Mike had his tent up but wasn't there when we first got there. Too bad we didn't know there was going to be a tent (with air mattress, etc.) because then Jim & Mandy could have came and brought Charlotte. The little ones played in the tent for a bit of the time and it certainly would have been a place for anyone to nap, etc. Maybe next time.

We had all kinds of food! We had brats and hot dogs but I noticed hamburgers and chicken on one of the grills too. I saw a lot of people I don't normally get to see. That was great!! We had a huge campfire going and as the evening got cooler we just drew up the chairs a little closer and put more wood on the fire! That was cool. The party eventually broke up just before midnight. We spent some time this morning picking up the campsite and bringing back the table, cornhole game and other odds & ends that were left when we came home. It really was a great time. I hope we can do this again -- maybe even this fall yet. It must be really pretty down there when the trees start to change!!

It was a fun weekend. Good to get away from the city and enjoy some natural outdoors!!!