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!