It's Raining Cats and Dogs!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Here in Pennsylvania it has been raining non-stop since Friday.  I don’t mean look at the lovely sprinkles kind of rain either, but torrential downpours.

Yesterday, I woke up to water in the basement and spent the next couple of hours mopping up the water, moving stuff around, and cleaning downspouts. I might have also called my husband at work and mentioned downspouts fall into his category of jobs and I really wished he had remembered to do this task.

 

As many people do when it is raining so hard you cannot see out of your windshield, I decided to meet a friend for lunch in another town about an hour away.  In my defense, I had spent five days in the house with a husband on vacation and two large, wet dogs.  I had changed out of wet clothes approximately 12 times in that time period, wiped 8 paws repeatedly, stood in the rain yelling, “Go Potty, Vern!” more times than I want to count, mopped my floors daily, and said, “take your boots off at the door or I will kill you!” about fifty times and heard in response, “please, put me out of my misery,” the same number of times in return.  Even though I could get out, I was starting to get cabin fever and needed a cure.

 

My family has always encouraged me to get out of the house when I am starting to go a little stir crazy and the few times we have been stuck in the house for long periods of time with no way out have not been fun. I can guarantee you had I been stuck in that mine with those Chilean miners; they would have all worked together to push me out within a few days.  The year we got dumped with lots of snow twice in one week, we almost had a casualty when I found out my husband had turned away a guy with a truck and a plow who could have dug out our long driveway quickly.  Up until that point, I had been watching my DH work his magic with our old snow blower with a bad wheel that kept falling off. I was starting to think I might not see a Target store until Spring and I kept repeating, “Why did you turn that guy away?” and finally he said he did not think he had enough cash on hand to pay him.

 

I asked him if he had ever heard of the barter system and I batted my eyes and flipped my hair back to give him a hint what I was talking about.  My husband answered that I sure could give it a try if the snow plow guy came around again, but he seem to remember that I had been yelling that I was banning all personal hygiene products until we got out of here and he did not think that was going to work in my favor. So, I think it is plain to see, that cabin fever does not bring out the best in me and I was willing, yesterday, to put on my raincoat and boots and make a break for it.

 

I started to doubt my judgment the further away I got from home, because the rain was coming down in buckets and the roads were slick. Here in Pennsylvania, even if it is only misting outside, it seems to bring out those drivers that think the best way to get from Point A to Point B is to pump the brakes as often as possible and stop periodically when they get confused or scared, just to keep the other drivers on their toes.  I call it the Rain Makes Me Stupid Syndrome. 

This combined with my friend’s minute by minute updates as to her whereabouts….I am at Costco….leaving Price Club now….4 minutes until arrival.....was making me feel a little edgy and like I was meeting Anderson Cooper for lunch.  My friend also has a tendency to underestimate her time of arrival and I have learned long ago that it is best to add about 45 minutes to her quoted time and bring a good book to read for the wait.

 

Finally, we had our lunch and when I left the restaurant to head home, the skies looked more ominous than they did on the ride up to the diner. I was feeling confident, though, that I would be home in no time and that feeling stayed with me right up until the time the traffic gridlocked.  It took me five hours to travel about 35 miles and twice I had to turn around because the road I wanted was closed due to flooding.  Again, Pennsylvania has their own way of doing things and allowed hundreds of drivers to creep up one street trying to get on Highway 83 only to be told AT the exit that the road was closed. Apparently, it was a secret or some high-ranking official’s idea of a fun prank to play on crazed drivers trying to find a route home. How many times have we seen on the news some driver in their car with the water up to their window stranded and waiting for help?  I used to think “what an idiot” until yesterday. Now, I know desperation drove them to that point.

 

I did make it home last night in one piece and almost kissed the ground when I got there. That feeling of euphoria stayed with me until I went back down the basement to do more laundry and watched a Salamander or something scoot across the basement floor. My screams brought my husband down to the basement. I would like to say he came quickly, but that would be a lie. Later, when I was describing the creature to my daughter and recounting my harrowing experience, he felt compelled to clarify that it was only about 1-1/2 inches in length and more scared of me than I was of it.  I hate when I tell a story and he inserts his own version, because I am telling you the thing was the size of a Gila monster and just as mean.  

 

 

Last night it rained all night. This morning our TV’s and phones are out and we have more water in the basement. My daughter tried four different routes to work and had to turn back each time. We are supposed to have rain through Sunday.  Our kayaks are primed and ready to go and we are not afraid to use them.   If you happen to turn on the news and see a family of three, two large Doodles, and a very unhappy white cat, paddling their way out of Pennsylvania do not be alarmed. It could be worse!  I could be the lady in a blue van with all of the above inside, sitting in a stream of water with a stalled car and waiting for someone to pull us to safety, saying, “Gosh, I had no idea the water was so high! I was sure I could drive right through!”

 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Very funny, but sad too! I feel your pain! I am on vacation in Maine after two soggy weeks in upstate NY and the sunshine never felt so good. I hope the water recedes for you and for Jane in CT really soon--and i am so glad the the tropical storms Katia  and Maria are missing you!

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope the rain stops for you soon.  I've heard a lot about the flooding in PA, and I keeping hoping that all of our DK friends are safe.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Anna, Oh my...raining cats and dogs IN the classroom....NOT GOOD!! Vern and Fudge do not mind the rain or being out in it. It is me who minds the dirty paws and wet, drippy dogs...LOL! We had sun and it was so hot here today, but then tonight more rain. I hope you stay dry and your yard starts looking better.

Linda, Thank you for your support about the Gila monster in the basement....LOL! The rain stopped almost all day, but started up again tonight. We are good here. If you look at our surrounding areas, we were very lucky.

Thanks, Camilla.

Cheryl, You do have a point about those boots and walking Fudge and Vern. If they see a squirrel, we have a problem :) LOL about the kayak and boots. Thanks.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Donna & Laurie--those are some boots!!!  Wow!!  They are hot...but have you asked Fudge and Vern if they'll walk with you in those??  Maybe some off leash training would be well advised before you set off perched. on those.  ;-) (take video)

Oh, and Laurie, probably best NOT to wear them in the canoe or kayak.  Oops we've sprung a leak!...I'm just sayin'...  Prayers for everyone so badly affected by this weather.  Stay safe, all.

And for Kyoko, prayers that they'll get the paychecks out sooner than they thought.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Ah, what a riot. Loved this.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Laurie, that was another hysterically funny blog, all except the part that you guys are drowning!  Gosh, I hope the rain stops soon as you guys have had more than your fair share of weather.  I too, want to see video if you paddle out.  I do believe you about the HUGE salamander in the basement...l guess. Don't drive in that water!!

[Anna and Achilles]

Laurie, how did Vern and Fudge hold up? We got hit hard again. My front lawn was worse than the pictures I posted for Irene. I had to change when I got to school yesterday, the water was so high. Got to school and my ceiling was leaking in my classroom. Picture this 6 huge tubs to catch the water 18 5 year old children only day 4 of school. Not pretty! Tell me they are going to listen to me when it is raining in my classroom.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, I just checked. The basement is dry. Thank you for asking. The sun is still shining :)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Fantastic! As for the kayak I would end up upside down, a canoe is more my speed.

Basement dry?

We had rain all week, nothing like PA though. Like you a little sun yesterday but today it's raining again.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lisa, The sun actually came out for a bit yesterday. We still have roads closed, but for our area, things are looking up. Harrisburg and Hershey got hit very hard. Don't worry about us...we have kayaks and a canoe :)