More Crazy Ass Weather Courtesy of Living in the Midwest!

I took these pictures before Father's Day, but I've worked an average of 50 hours a week since then and it's taken me some time to get them uploaded. First, the flooding. I'm sure you all (all 3 of you who read this) have seen the images on the news or YouTube and here's another.

That's the on ramp to a local highway. The river's edge is supposed to be on the far side of those trees. The cars parked along the on ramp belong to the homeowners who can't access their driveways anymore. What I didn't take a picture of (and I should have) is the National Guard truck stationed along the ramp day and night that has ATV's parked outside the truck that the guardsmen use to ferry the residents to and from their cars and homes. My brother's house is on the river and he no longer has a backyard, has sandbags stacked 4 high against the back of his house, and had to destroy the recently placed ceramic tile in his basement in order to place 2 water pumps to keep the water out.

And then, the wind.


That's a giant tree, had to have been at least 50' tall. The wind completely uprooted it and two others in this cemetery about 1/4 mile from my house. That was a big surprise for me driving into work one morning.

The weather has been great for the past few weeks, but the water has barely receded.

Work and Weather

Now that school is finished for the summer, I'm tackling what many students my age deal with: two summer jobs. My first job is an office job which I work 9-1 every day. Not bad, I agree. Then I drive 40 miles to my second job, which is retail, and don't get home until 10. I know I have it a lot better than others, but sometimes you just have to whine, just to get it out. The stress comes from the retail job. I hate dealing with bitchy, stupid customers. The easy solution would be to quit, but I enjoy the income. Plus, I'm saving for my long postponed return to England. So, bearing that in my mind, I will suffer through the summer.

Speaking of summer, it sure as hell is not looking like it. While the east coast sweats it out and the northwest bundles up and shovels snow, the poor midwest is getting battered with rain, wind, and tornadoes. I'm thankful to be in an area that has not been hit by a tornado, but the rain is creating very dangerous situations. The local river is supposed to rise to a record level, the highest since 1914. After the winter we had (record levels of snow), I think I'm with the rest of the midwest when I say: Mother Nature, please give us a break.

And Finally From the Newspaper of Record...

Unbelievably Happy!!!!!!!

THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cried. I'll admit it. I'm so happy it is ridiculous. I locked myself in my dorm room's bathroom and sobbed when Bush got re-elected in '04, so it's nice to shed tears of happiness for once. Bring on Angry Old Man McCain!!!!!