Into each life must fall...a little rain

It's been raining for quite some time now. My concern will be the wind, the water has it's damaging effect and we can prepare for that - sometimes it's just too much too fast. Rivers are overflowing, flooding is starting, but me I am thinking "Wind." Wind after all this rain would be very damaging, adding insult to injury would be trees dropping power lines. 

Then the power goes out.

The cold cup of coffee in my hand will not warm in the microwave... I am distressed.

Power outage requires dropping the Stop Signs and lighting flares.

 
Nearly immediately my cell rings, a generator nearby is being called to action and there is a fuel question and could I help? I answered with "Oh my god." The out of breath voice on the other end agrees, this is getting nutty.

  

After a little fooling around and a few short starts and stops the generator is purring. We run to grab gas for the back up can and of course - hot coffee. This all started at about 5:45am, so work timing has not been impacted yet, but it will . A quick shower in the dim light with a flashlight for shaving, dressing in relative darkness and of course as I hit the door to leave... the lights go on.

Side note: I was not getting any satisfaction on my light switches through out the house...I laughed at every muscle memory flip of the switch in the dark... a routine not easily altered (apparently). As I put on my jacket to leave "Every light in the house goes on..." My bad...I secure the lighting and move out to the great unknown.

There are times when the commute has a numbing effect.

See the sign behind the car?

I bring the camera along for what turns into a rather interesting commute. I took my alternate high traffic volume route - which works quite well... there is water around. I have chosen wisely, yet I do get trapped.   Apparently some people cannot read signs and drive thru deep standing or moving water. My first delay is just driving on the beaten trail. I make it to back streets only to be foiled by water babies wreaking their cars. The towing process blocks some roads as the effort is underway. My road clear, but a county truck is holding traffic to allow for a safe extradition.                                                                           

It's just after the county truck moves I decide I will follow them, they have to know the route clear ahead, right? Well a mile or so later making handsome progress we stop.

 

 

The road ahead is a "wash." The slough has topped the road and it will be impassable in the near future. I have no height so I have decided to once again reverse course. And the signs come out.

The road is closed! I will find my way. I am close enough to the office that I can taste it. As I return to Rt 83 and head south I am immediately greeted with brake lights. It seems only two lanes (really one) are open. The water is too deep for my conservative comfort and I would like to turn around (and I think - So this is how people drive into deep water...). I press on, lucky to have followed a large delivery truck into the melee. His "Duel"  rear wheels make a great wake and clear much of the deep water from my path. We head south on the northbound lanes. Thank you Mr truck driver.

This high clearance van sloshes along the deep south lanes ahead of our little parade.

 Up until now the weather has been relatively warm, lending a hand to the monsoon like rains, the subsequent thunder and lightning. I make it to work a little late and check under the car and the hood for water - none found high...good.

As the day progress's and we watch the radar with our full attention, the cold front passage - as forecast - comes into stellar view. I of course grab the camera.

 

I think this could get interesting. Well it really became apparent that the cold front was passing - the wind picked up and yes it got quite cold!

I thought there might be a larger event associated with this shelf or roll cloud, but we were spared too much excitement. Honestly the "Barrel" was literally overflowing by now anyway.

Once this wave passed, things calmed down and since we were sitting on the front line, it drifted north and we were back in milder air by the end of my work day.

  

 I decided to recheck my route to work, knowing full well the road would be completely covered, and it was. A few of the neighbors and I stood watching these three approach from the hill. The young dog is showing it's trepidation at the prospect... crossing deep still water. The young lady is laughing at her escort playing gleefully in the water... and that young man... well he is doing what young men do in water... laughing splashing running and jumping. It's ok mom, he took off his shoes...

For the drivers - look at the driftwood in the second water over the road (top right of picture). That says it all... don't even think about it. 

Steady as she goes....

Jay