We went to Ashton Observatory yesterday for a work party with the astronomy club. A quick little rain storm blew through while we were there. Once the sun started to peek through, people hovered near the door, looking for a rainbow. We thought we might not get one, since the sun was still rather high, but soon someone spotted the top of an arc. Work ground to a halt as folks wandered outside to enjoy a fleeting view. (More pictures here.)
In the Bible, of course, the rainbow is the sign from God that he will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. How appropriate is that, as Iowa gets back on its feet after two weeks of floods? We stayed safely above it at both home and work, but we drive through recently flooded areas regularly. The recovery seems to be coming along well, but it still stinks, even in the car, even with the windows rolled up. Out in the country, it just has that fishy river smell, In town, though, it smells like river, and fish... and mold... and people laugh at this, but I swear I smell sauerkraut.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Early morning drive
We got up early so we could see just how much water there was along I-80/35. The answer: Just about as much as there was in 1993.
Turn down the sound if you watch. T & I mutter incomprehensibly, but mostly it's just road noise.
Turn down the sound if you watch. T & I mutter incomprehensibly, but mostly it's just road noise.
Two Way Traffic
This is my favorite photo so far from my flood tours, although it doesn't actually show any flooding. I love the contradictory signs and ominous clouds.
There's now a Flickr group for flood photos. Some of my photos are there, including some I took today after a levee breach last night caused evacuations and road closures just a few blocks from my house.
There's now a Flickr group for flood photos. Some of my photos are there, including some I took today after a levee breach last night caused evacuations and road closures just a few blocks from my house.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Floodwatch 2008
To see how things have changed since Tuesday, go look at this picture of the Simon Estes Amphitheater as it appears today. I also took some pictures Thursday, and they (as well as Tuesday's pix) are on my Flickr. Today, the water is covering the tops of the arches on the bridges,and is getting ever closer to the road surface. The powers that be asked for a voluntary evacuation of downtown and the entire flood plain area. My office is a couple of blocks outside of the flood plain, but I had put in my forty hours, and I was happy to comply.
We are okay. Our house is, we hope, high enough to not be in danger, and we can still get to it by one of our normal routes. The water was pretty high along that route this afternoon, though, and it is just one leaky levee from going under.
We are okay. Our house is, we hope, high enough to not be in danger, and we can still get to it by one of our normal routes. The water was pretty high along that route this afternoon, though, and it is just one leaky levee from going under.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The flood begins
Des Moines is getting ready for a flood. The good part is, we know it's coming and we are getting ready for it. But still, seeing scenes like this just down the street from my office, before the bad part gets here? That's sobering.
More pix here.
More pix here.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Another Iris
It's been a good spring for the irises. Several have bloomed and folded already. As of today, we had four blossoms, and three more thinking about opening up.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Spring blazes forth
Spring reached critical mass a couple of weeks ago. That's the day when I look off in the distance, maybe down the river I cross on the way to work, or at the hills near the reservoir, and I see more green than brown.
Since then, things have been greening up with a vengeance. We have had to mow several times. The lilacs have bloomed and are starting to fade, but every now and then, the breeze still sends a puff of their scent through my window.
A few days ago, I noticed that the irises were budding. They haven't bloomed for a couple of years, presumably because I am a neglectful gardener who never remembers to divide them in the fall. Last night, I had to rinse something off with the garden hose, so I gave the iris a drinks while I was at it. This morning, when we left for church, I saw this beauty.
Since then, things have been greening up with a vengeance. We have had to mow several times. The lilacs have bloomed and are starting to fade, but every now and then, the breeze still sends a puff of their scent through my window.
A few days ago, I noticed that the irises were budding. They haven't bloomed for a couple of years, presumably because I am a neglectful gardener who never remembers to divide them in the fall. Last night, I had to rinse something off with the garden hose, so I gave the iris a drinks while I was at it. This morning, when we left for church, I saw this beauty.
Monday, April 28, 2008
And she reads, too!
When I started knitting, my reading was sharply curtailed. I'm not one of those folks who can read and knit at the same time. Maybe if I had four hands...
However, since my knitting mojo is taking a bit of a holiday, I've been reading a couple of classics from our friends across the pond.
1. The Canterbury Tales, unexpurgated, by Geoffrey Chaucer (translated by David Wright). I knew they were supposed to have their racy bits, but I almost dropped my tea the first time I saw the C word. I mean, this was in the 1300s. On the other hand, this was the 1300s, not that far removed from England's Anglo Saxon past. Now, every time I go to a book store, I check out the passage I just read to see how different translators handled it.
2. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. I've been telling the Pikers for months that we need to commemorate Fleming's centenary in May, and since I've never read any of the books, I thought I should check out the source documents. I'll probably end up writing something for the Piker Press about this experience, but suffice it to say, the Hollywood James Bond is considerably different from the Bond of the books, in ways that surprise me, and ways that don't. They are also quick reads. They look to be about 50,000 words - same as a standard Harlequin romance, or a NaNoWriMo novel.
However, since my knitting mojo is taking a bit of a holiday, I've been reading a couple of classics from our friends across the pond.
1. The Canterbury Tales, unexpurgated, by Geoffrey Chaucer (translated by David Wright). I knew they were supposed to have their racy bits, but I almost dropped my tea the first time I saw the C word. I mean, this was in the 1300s. On the other hand, this was the 1300s, not that far removed from England's Anglo Saxon past. Now, every time I go to a book store, I check out the passage I just read to see how different translators handled it.
2. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. I've been telling the Pikers for months that we need to commemorate Fleming's centenary in May, and since I've never read any of the books, I thought I should check out the source documents. I'll probably end up writing something for the Piker Press about this experience, but suffice it to say, the Hollywood James Bond is considerably different from the Bond of the books, in ways that surprise me, and ways that don't. They are also quick reads. They look to be about 50,000 words - same as a standard Harlequin romance, or a NaNoWriMo novel.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Kitty in the sunshine
Katie came to live with us five years ago today. She celebrated by finding a sunny spot, and reveling in it. I would have taken a video, but her idea of reveling is "lying down and blinking occasionally." And she does it quite well.
As I've mentioned in previous Aprils, we went to the Animal Rescue League that day so April 26 would be something to me other than the day we lost this dear man:
I took this picture of my parents in 1982. I was newly single and visiting friends in New England during leaf peeping season. They were visiting my cousin in Boston. I joined up with them there, and we drove back home together.
Six years on, I'm beginning to think I will never outgrow my need to ask my dad what to do when the car makes a funny noise, or to show my mom something I made with my own two hands. They managed to join one listserv and get an AOL Instant Messenger account, but they missed out on blogging. They would have loved it. Even now, I think my blog is largely stuff they would have enjoyed reading and seeing from my life.
Like this, for example. The weather is warming up and things are greening up nicely, including the lawn. I mowed last week, and as I was checking on the progress of the flowers, I saw this travesty in the day lilies.
The part on the right is fine, but something had a nice lunch on the left side. I suspect it was a deer, since this is a far afield from Chuckie's usual range, but it's hard to say. It doesn't seem to have hurt the plant. It's still growing, just with flattened-off tops.
As I've mentioned in previous Aprils, we went to the Animal Rescue League that day so April 26 would be something to me other than the day we lost this dear man:
I took this picture of my parents in 1982. I was newly single and visiting friends in New England during leaf peeping season. They were visiting my cousin in Boston. I joined up with them there, and we drove back home together.Six years on, I'm beginning to think I will never outgrow my need to ask my dad what to do when the car makes a funny noise, or to show my mom something I made with my own two hands. They managed to join one listserv and get an AOL Instant Messenger account, but they missed out on blogging. They would have loved it. Even now, I think my blog is largely stuff they would have enjoyed reading and seeing from my life.
Like this, for example. The weather is warming up and things are greening up nicely, including the lawn. I mowed last week, and as I was checking on the progress of the flowers, I saw this travesty in the day lilies.
The part on the right is fine, but something had a nice lunch on the left side. I suspect it was a deer, since this is a far afield from Chuckie's usual range, but it's hard to say. It doesn't seem to have hurt the plant. It's still growing, just with flattened-off tops.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Gah, knitting!
I've been wondering why I'm not making any progress on any of my knitting, so today I pulled everything out of the knitting bags and conducted an inventory. I have in progress:
6 socks
3 scarves
3 shawls
1 hat
1 bag
1 sweater
That's fifteen projects, people! Fifteen! Sheesh, how mortifying. There are some people, you know, who are project monogamous, only working on one project at a time, or maybe one big project and something like socks for mindless knitting.
So here's the plan for clearing up some of the backlog:
1) The hat will be quick to finish, so finish it first.
2) One of the socks has barely been started, and is not a special pattern, so rip it out.
3) One of the scarves is a pattern that is not showing the yarn to good advantage. Rip it out and find a better pattern for the yarn.
4) Two socks are right at the heel turn. Turn the heel and get them back to the easy part.
I'm off to the frog pond, and then outside to do some yard work. The sun finally came out, and I think the lawn needs more mowing that Chuckie is able to give it by himself.
6 socks
3 scarves
3 shawls
1 hat
1 bag
1 sweater
That's fifteen projects, people! Fifteen! Sheesh, how mortifying. There are some people, you know, who are project monogamous, only working on one project at a time, or maybe one big project and something like socks for mindless knitting.
So here's the plan for clearing up some of the backlog:
1) The hat will be quick to finish, so finish it first.
2) One of the socks has barely been started, and is not a special pattern, so rip it out.
3) One of the scarves is a pattern that is not showing the yarn to good advantage. Rip it out and find a better pattern for the yarn.
4) Two socks are right at the heel turn. Turn the heel and get them back to the easy part.
I'm off to the frog pond, and then outside to do some yard work. The sun finally came out, and I think the lawn needs more mowing that Chuckie is able to give it by himself.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Poem In My Other Pocket
Yesterday, I shared a poem that was brief and charming (and hott, as Sand noted in the comments.)
However, the poem I shared in my Piker Press article, linked yesterday, is one I have known longer and felt more deeply. I first read it when I was in college, on a greeting card, of all things. My life to that point had been mostly tragedy-free, but I understood that all of the trials mentioned in the poem would probably happen to me, and happen over and over, and that I could get through them with the help of friends.
Sadly, these words came to mind today when I heard of the sudden, unexplained death of a friend, and when I talked to other people who remembered her.
However, the poem I shared in my Piker Press article, linked yesterday, is one I have known longer and felt more deeply. I first read it when I was in college, on a greeting card, of all things. My life to that point had been mostly tragedy-free, but I understood that all of the trials mentioned in the poem would probably happen to me, and happen over and over, and that I could get through them with the help of friends.
Sadly, these words came to mind today when I heard of the sudden, unexplained death of a friend, and when I talked to other people who remembered her.
Sonnet XXX
William Shakespeare
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear times' waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow,
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,
And moan the expense of many a vanish'd sight:
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor'd and sorrows end.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Poem In My Pocket
In the US, April is National Poetry Month. This year's program to bring poetry to the masses is Poem In Your Pocket Day on April 17 (today!). I challenged folks at The Piker Press to share a poem with someone today, so I'd better come through with one myself. This one is small enough to write on the back of a business card, short enough to memorize in one sitting, and irresistibly romantic.
A Drinking Song
William Butler Yeats
Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.
William Butler Yeats
Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Shameless
Last Friday, when we were knitting at the bookstore, Amy found that "More Big Girl Knits" was in stock. We all thumbed through it, and everyone immediately fell in love with the cabled cardigan hoodie. However, since Amy found the book, she had rights of first refusal - and she did not refuse.
So yesterday, I was pouting and stalking the book online, and found a contest on Cassknits blog that was giving away a copy. Hot dang! Full disclosure: You get more entries if you blog about the drawing. So here 'tis.
I'm shameless, but I want that sweater!
So yesterday, I was pouting and stalking the book online, and found a contest on Cassknits blog that was giving away a copy. Hot dang! Full disclosure: You get more entries if you blog about the drawing. So here 'tis.
I'm shameless, but I want that sweater!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Spring, part 2
I'm in ur backyard, huntin ur wormz.
See there on the upper right? We still have a little dab of snow. Don't know about worms, though.
Since I got a super-sekrit LiveJournal account, I've pretty much stopped putting memes on this blog. This one was a little more thoughtful, though, so I thought I would share it here. I don't tag. If you like it, swipe it. It's a free internet, mostly.
Open the drawer closest to your computer, pull out 10 things, and say what they are.
1. Small Fiskars scissors with super-pointy tips.
2. Some cash that needs to go to the bank.
3. A Cross pen and pencil set that T gave me shortly after we got married, so I would have something with my new name on it.
4. A tiny sculpture of two old Chinese men playing what is supposedly Chinese Chess, although it looks more like Go to me. I purchased it a porcelain factory near Guangzhou during a whirlwind tourist visit to Southern China 20+ years ago.
5. A promotional giveaway calculator with my dad's name on it.
6. A promotional ruler from the Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas CowBells. I probably got this at the Kansas State Fair when I was a kid in 4-H.
7. A USB number pad to use with the laptop. Extremely useful when preparing taxes.
8. A picture of our late cat, Zeb.
9. Two canisters of film.
10. A little plastic doohickey that holds a roll of stamps. I rarely use stamps these days, and certainly not often enough to justify buying 100 at a time, so I threw it away, and selected...
New 10. A pocket magnifying glass purchased when my eyes went all wonky a couple of years ago.
Nothing Beats BEEF.
Of course, whenever there is a photo shoot, Katie wants to get in on the fun.
Action shot!
See there on the upper right? We still have a little dab of snow. Don't know about worms, though.Since I got a super-sekrit LiveJournal account, I've pretty much stopped putting memes on this blog. This one was a little more thoughtful, though, so I thought I would share it here. I don't tag. If you like it, swipe it. It's a free internet, mostly.
10 RANDOM THINGS FROM YOUR DESK DRAWER
Open the drawer closest to your computer, pull out 10 things, and say what they are.
1. Small Fiskars scissors with super-pointy tips.
2. Some cash that needs to go to the bank.
3. A Cross pen and pencil set that T gave me shortly after we got married, so I would have something with my new name on it.
4. A tiny sculpture of two old Chinese men playing what is supposedly Chinese Chess, although it looks more like Go to me. I purchased it a porcelain factory near Guangzhou during a whirlwind tourist visit to Southern China 20+ years ago.
5. A promotional giveaway calculator with my dad's name on it.
6. A promotional ruler from the Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas CowBells. I probably got this at the Kansas State Fair when I was a kid in 4-H.
7. A USB number pad to use with the laptop. Extremely useful when preparing taxes.
8. A picture of our late cat, Zeb.
9. Two canisters of film.
10. A little plastic doohickey that holds a roll of stamps. I rarely use stamps these days, and certainly not often enough to justify buying 100 at a time, so I threw it away, and selected...
New 10. A pocket magnifying glass purchased when my eyes went all wonky a couple of years ago.
Nothing Beats BEEF.Of course, whenever there is a photo shoot, Katie wants to get in on the fun.
Action shot!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
We're melting! Melllllllltinnnng!
We've had three days of temperatures in the 50s, and finally, we have some serious snow meltage. The driveway ice is gone. The huge bumpy spread of ice near the storm sewer on the corner is gone. Sidewalks are mostly clear. The sun has been shining. When I left tai chi class tonight, it was warm enough that I didn't even wear my coat.
So naturally, rain and snow are on the way for the weekend.
So naturally, rain and snow are on the way for the weekend.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Three years of blogging fun
It's been three years since I started this, the blog I never wanted to have. Whadya know? It turns out the hedge shaman was right, and it is fun to have my own little public corner of the web.
Despite spurts of warming, winter is still dragging on. Occasionally, though, I see a bright flash through the window.
Katie keeps things lively inside, always surveying the environment...
She even gets brave and ventures into scary places from time to time.
In totally unrelated news, I have the Peek of the Week in the Piker Press this week. It's a picture I took of Fleetwood, Oklahoma, a now-defunct town where my dad grew up.
In other unrelated news, Happy Birthday, Bubba.
Despite spurts of warming, winter is still dragging on. Occasionally, though, I see a bright flash through the window.
Katie keeps things lively inside, always surveying the environment...
She even gets brave and ventures into scary places from time to time.
In totally unrelated news, I have the Peek of the Week in the Piker Press this week. It's a picture I took of Fleetwood, Oklahoma, a now-defunct town where my dad grew up.In other unrelated news, Happy Birthday, Bubba.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Not a photojournalist, part 2
More pictures from the cell phone...
They remodeled the men's room at my office, and for a few days we saw this first thing when we got to work.
When you go grocery shopping after and ice storm, you may have to beat the ice off of the shopping cart.
The view from my office window. Melting snow and a degree of shelter makes this rooftop an irresistible spot for pigeons. The pigeons are not actually blurry in real life. These two gray ones are Fred and Ethel. They act like they own the place.
They remodeled the men's room at my office, and for a few days we saw this first thing when we got to work.
When you go grocery shopping after and ice storm, you may have to beat the ice off of the shopping cart.
The view from my office window. Melting snow and a degree of shelter makes this rooftop an irresistible spot for pigeons. The pigeons are not actually blurry in real life. These two gray ones are Fred and Ethel. They act like they own the place.
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