Whew!

Hey everybody... good news.... the town did not get washed away in the flood, but we did get 477 mm of rain in three minutes.... the dam at Rafferty was so close to breaking open that it was bowing in the middle and had actually moved 17.2 feet down stream... fortunately it didn't burst but that was only thanks to the 50 holes where the water broke through.... those holes would have been a huge problem except Rafferty has these big fish in it (something about water from Boundary being pumped in there and we all know that Boundary Dam contaminates that water so it creates mutant fish that are the size of Cadillacs) and the fish plugged the holes as they were getting sucked through thus preventing the rushing water from eroding the dam too much.... then someone saw Godzilla knocking over the smoke stacks at the power station while King Kong attacked from the north and climbed the water tower... fortunately they were both stopped by the alien invasion that took place at 3 pm.

Ok - you may have figured out that the truthful part of this report ended at the "but" in the second line. However, the paragraph above does give you a sense of the conversations that have been taking place around town this past week regarding the flood. Every story is bigger and better (which actually means "worse" in this case) than the last.

Now, don't get me wrong, the flood has been terrible for some... many people have lost their homes completely (water right up to the eavestroughs and higher in some cases) but the thing is.... most of us haven't lost anything (or very little by comparison)... yet people are losing their minds!!!!! It has been absolutely bizarre to watch. Normally rational people have said and done some very odd things in the last week.

Anyway - the good news - outflows from the dams are down - the water is receding and there is at least some hope that this will end soon.

As long as there are no "Sasquatch" sightings in the next few days I think we will be fine!

A Dream come True - sort of

Be careful what you wish for.

For years I have been saying that I would like to get the experience of "sandbagging". I am not sure why.... I understand that sandbagging means you are in big trouble... but none the less it looked like something that would be.... memorable. Part of the team holding back the water, etc.

It is not so much fun after all!

I got to experience it today and it was simply a lot of hard, wet work. Don't get me wrong. I was glad to do it. It was fun being "part of the team" - but after more than a month of flooding.... we have all just about had enough now thank you!

I can't even describe what it is like.... my garage has about 10 feet of available space as we have stuff from 3 families (Including most of our basement stuff) out there. I am not complaining.... just stating the facts and how things are.

I said something to one of the guys about the rain suit he was wearing this morning and he replied, "I think I have been working in this thing all month" and I believe him.

Everything is good overall.... no one has been hurt... things can be replaced... but especially for those who homes have been completely flooded - it is hard.

Who woulda thought?

Flood Update

Joel and Amy are now living at our house after they and everyone else in "Willow Park Greens" were evacuated late last night. Flowed from the dams are reported to be at 650 cubic meters/sec and may still increase. Highways 18 and 47 on the south side of the city are closed. It is unreal.

So we are going back to pioneer days..... now that we do not have a basement to use we have two families (not to mention a dog and a cat) all living in 900 square - and sharing one bathroom. It is like camping.... only not. :)

I am not complaining, it is just absolutely bizarre. I just hope the water plant, the sewage plant and the power plant (they are getting low on coal b/c they cannot haul any to the plant) keep going. Things would be a lot worse if we lost one of those.... oh - and more rain on the way.

And I am not writing this to be a "fear monger" - it is just unbelievable - that is all.

Water Wa?

We live in on the dry dusty prairies. I count on summers filled with 40 + temperatures, blazing sunshine that will burn your skin in 23 seconds and wind so dry that you only have to mow your lawn once all year.... in the spring right after the snow melts.... a week later it is so hot that it all turns brown and your mowing days are over.

So what is up with this???????


That is what 400 cubic meters of water per second (twice the previous high amount) being released from Rafferty Dam looks like (these pics are from Paul Quilliams.... he Dennis Jocelyn and I rode motorcycles to Weyburn to a car show and stopped at the dam on the way home. I have some video that I may post tomorrow so you get the sound).

The valley that was flooded is super flooding now. The trailer court in town is on evacuation alert. The village of Roche Percee has been evacuated (from what I hear) and Minot, North Dakota is not going to be pleased about this (They are flooding already). In Weyburn, we saw manhole covers being held down with sandbags as water shot out of them like a fountain.

And the worst part.... rain water is still flowing in and the dam is right at the top.... who knows what will happen next.

Dry prairies, right?

A quick catch up

So it has been a while.... lets see - what has happened......

- On Saturday June 4th we had a memorial service for my Grandma who died in December. I was really close to her so I thought that the day would be hard when it came - but it wasn't. In fact, it was a nice celebration and a good time with the people that she loved. It was a good day after all.

- And now for something completely different: We had the city back sewage up into our basement again (2nd time in 8 years). Lift station quit again (2nd time in 8 years) and now we have to completely redo the basement (2nd time in 8 years). It is not all bad - insurance pays for everything - but, believe me, that is not the way you want to get a new basement.

- As a side note, both times it happened we were away at church. Kinda makes me wonder if it is a sign that we should stop going. :)

- The girls (including Sari) are counting down the last days of school (I keep reminding them that not everyone gets the entire summer off and that - for the good of their health - they should curb their enthusiasm - but they don't listen) :( Year end exams and reviews are part of the household right now

- We are planning a trip to Dauphin as soon as school is out to see Sari's parents and siblings (most of whom will be home - sorry Joel - but we see you all the time anyway). That will be fun. Hoping for nice weather and a good Canada Day at Clear Lake

- Then (if we ever get all the little things fixed on the van) we are planning to head to Oregon for 10 days or so. Why Oregon? Why not? Actually the kids have never seen the ocean - we have never been to Oregon - so that is why. And besides, if the van is going to break down why not be in a foreign country several thousand miles from home, right?

- We may be purchasing a new vehicle (see above)

- Speaking of new vehicles, I have put almost a 1000 kms on my new bike in the last couple of weeks. Ordered saddlebags for it last night. Should be fun for a trip (Speaking of that - Jeremy - how did your Newtown ride/sleeping in the field behind the Casino go? I have been wondering) :)

- In between storms (meaning for about 5 minutes in the last 6 months) Sari got out in the yard, planted flowers, etc. She should get a summer job doing that - I don't think she is ever more happy than when playing in the dirt.

- Sari has a new job in fall. She will be at the same school but she will not be the secretary anymore... she is becoming the "School and Community coordinator". It is a new position designed to support the kids, promote stronger families, give kids the skills to use their talents, etc, etc (Basically - she gets to make it up as she goes - just anything to help the kids be more confident and stronger). She was not technically qualified for the position (as per the job description) but her boss told her to apply b/c she loves the kids so much and was already doing the things that the job would require anyway. Being the "Mommy of Hillcrest" has become not only her mission but her paid job now - so that is exciting for her.

- Katie continues driving lessons... you have been warned.

- Megan has begun drawing everything in sight. She gets that from her mom - I can't draw anything - but she is getting really good.

Ok - that is a bit of an update. I will try to be more consistent about writing here..... if the city keeps it lift station working I may have more time. :)