Where’s My Rainbow?

Two years ago: HISTORIC FLOOD IN AMERICA’S THIRD WORLD COUNTY!

Not so “historic now. Last time, for example, flood waters rose two feet on our basement walkout door, resulting in ~3” of water in the basement. This time, water was came up to about five feet on that door, but still, only about 4”-4.5” inside.

Main Street “nearly historic” WPA bridge in downtown Third World County Central still (JUST) standing, BUT the creek it once straddled has a new bank, and the bridge is detached from the street. Bridge built better than the land it was attached to? *huh*

Here’s a pic of the bridge before the high water hit, and several hours before it receded and the street washout could be seen.

Had a LOT of flotsam come OVER our 4′ tall fence and into our back yard, including a completely sodden, very heavy heavy bag (for boxing training). Most of my “tire garden” washed up against the far south boundaries of our yard (fence caught that), though four “tire-garden” lil planters with plants stayed put, and the plants look to be OK (some tomatoes and peppers, none bearing, and no longer flowering, *sigh* though the one surviving squash plant has hung onto a flower). Yes, as noted, a bit more water in basement than 2 years ago, but with the HUGE additional surge in water, apparently my mods at the basement walkout served to effect some moderation. Probably have to rent a “destruction dumpster” and just toss MUCH of furniture, etc. from downstairs.

Actually, this is probably all for the good. I may be able to save a couple of the pieces of furniture downstairs–or at least usable portions, like cushions?–or at least abate any water damage/mold issues and donate them, but the rest? Like I said, rent a dumpster and have it hauled off, then get everything down to bare walls again.

Was talking with a (sort of former) neighbor this AM, after he checked out a large storage building he owns that sits just west of our property line. Explored the idea with him of tearing down my fence and replacing it with a stabilized rammed earth wall, about 2′ wide by 5′ tall. *heh* Maybe taller would be better. Have to check that out. That’s a HECK of a lot of tamping of sand/clay/cement mix. . .

Oh, but FIRST I have to repair a leak in a water fitting just south of our water heater. Yes. Water’s been turned off since Saturday afternoon (and no, we don’t stink. . . now. Spent the night at an Econolodge last night. Rates aren’t all that economical, but the amenities are. *heh* No, seriously, they were good folks, and the room and amenities were OK. Certainly better than camping out here with no water and no power. And yeh, the power was off until today, too). Gonna try something fun on the very minor leak at a plumbing fitting, ‘cos major repairs to plumbing ain’t in the picture until all the flood stuff’s dealt with. Check out the YT video below. The best mini-infomercial I have seen in a long time.

Honey, I’m Home!

(Do read that title in the iconic Jack Nicholson tone. *heh*)

Well, after some time off–and discovering a login issue (and having Vishmitha with BlueHost discover it was a WP version issue ‘n’ fix that), here I am again. No world-shattering observations right now, but I’ll have something up shortly for both of my readers. . . 😉

The Joys of Low-Carb Eating

Peanut butter. Love the stuff, but so many “store-bought” peanut butters are unreasonably high in carbs. . . because of added sweeteners. Sure I can buy a peanut-only, no additives, peanut butter, but NOT adding anything to peanuts is more expensive than adding crap to peanuts. Oh, and I have made my own in the past using a food processor, but I’m too lazy for that now, so. . .

Cashew butter. ~1/3 the carbs, and tastes just as good as peanut butter to me. Yep. Tried that and like it. Or, freeze-dried peanut butter powder. Just add a lil water and stir. Also 1/3 the carbs, and tastes really good. Like it. No more expensive than ordinary peanut butter, either, so winner? Yeh, but not available in crunchy. *sigh* Oh, well.

(Still, over six inches in waistline reduction with no significant weight loss. Means losing fat and retaining muscle. A good thing.)

Not a Pet Peeve, but. . .

. . . it definitely encourages me toward peevishness. *heh*

People who say “jewry” for “jewelry” are even more irritating than people who say “jewlery.”

#gagamaggot

Note well: if ya wanna say “jewry” you’d darned well better capitalize it (I know, hard to do with speech, right? 😉 ) AND be referring to Jews as a people, mmmK?

The Fly in the Ointment

Internet-capable appliances that can, say, forward you grocery list to your phone sound great for folks who seem to misplace grocery lists regularly, but. . . can folks who do that be relied on to actually have their cell phones with them when they need ’em?

Fast Work, eh?

Well, we’re well into our 20th year here at Third World County Central™, and today I finally installed the last shutoff valve on lines serving plumbing fixtures. Yeh, yeh, I know you think I should have done that within at least the first year living here, but no, not me. Finally had to replace the longest-lasting toilet tank valve, so that line in finally got its own wee shutoff valve.

Of course, I had both the valves handy–the one for the tank and the one for the line, because. . . well, I knew the tasks had to be done sooner or later, so why not have the parts (and tools, of course) on hand, hmmm?

The only little wrinkle was that the shutoff valve for the house. . . didn’t, completely. *sigh* I do NOT want to replace that, so. . . I won’t. Besides, we have planned (and semi-scheduled for Spring/Summer this year) to have the whole line in from the water meter replaced and have it tie into the house at a different place, anyway, so a new whole-house shutoff valve will come there, anyway.

Little things.