Nature Songs ~~~~
AUGUST, 2002 ~ continued
August 17, 2002 ~ A Thimble Full of Water ~~ Two days straight we have made contact with rain. What a rare sight! Whereas a few areas got up to three inches from the downpour of thunderstorms, according to my rain gauge the total was less than a half inch. A farmer in Iredell County was quoted as reporting that the three inches he received would be like using a shot glass to fill a swimming pool. In comparison to that, we only got a thimble full of water to fill up the shot glass that would fill up the swimming pool.
Along with the rain that fell yesterday, there was also storm damage. Lightening strikes played havoc as it caused damage to some structures, trees, and loss of power to many electric customers in nearby counties. The months of dry, searing weather have caused the roadways to become encrusted with a buildup of oil and grease. With the rains, there has been a rash of accidents as vehicles hydroplane out of control with a mere tap of the brakes or swerve of the steering wheel. La Nina is only prolonging the dryness throughout our area. As the upper air layer of the jet stream is pushed along in a pattern not inducive to allowing the normal development of summer storms in the Atlantic Ocean near Africa, conditions around here only worsen.
Water levels of the local lakes have dropped drastically during the past several weeks. Duke Power Company who maintains them for producing electricity has made an announcement of closing boat ramp access areas because the ramps are now out of the water. Lake James, the uppermost lake has only one ramp usable. Our water source comes in next, as Lake Rhodhiss continues to drop. Our water system has two pumps for pulling water out and sending it through the cleaning process for our use. One of those pumps is now above the water and not usable. As the rains this week have raised the level of Lake Rhodhiss a little, it has not raised the level of the next lake down the stream. Lake Hickory actually dropped more. Mandatory water restrictions are being issued all through this area as it is directly in the worst affected section of the drought zone.
Last summer was the worst dry spell on record as far back as anyone can remember or that has been recorded. This summer is making that record look a bit puny compared to the way things are happening now. No relief is in sight since we need a tropical storm to bring in enough rain to make a difference. Someone mentioned that it would take 18+ inches of rain over the next three months to bring relief. The weather mapping that has been done does not show any promise of that relief coming anytime soon. We seem to be promised more hot dry days with a haphazard pattern of thunderstorms thrown in here and there. As the yard dries out more each day, the cracks deepen and open wider. The grass swivels into nothingness and the red clay peeps through, giving the surroundings an eerie appearance.
August 19, 2002 ~ Drought Zone ~~ Oddities do happen. One of those oddities did happen yesterday. Tbird called sort of late last night to check up on things around here (Oh, all right! On me....) She asked how much rain we got here - which was about 0.3 in. They got four inches at their house which was badly needed in the pond. Hopefully, it brought up the water level in the pond. The water is so low that there has been no runoff and the 45ft. waterfall that carries the water from the pond into the Fork River has been bone dry. But, that’s not the oddity.
That same storm surge continued on its path over Hickory and released four inches of rain in an hour’s time. What with the dry weather, one would not consider a sink hole appearing, but not just one appeared. There were two as a result of the downpour. The largest one was first reported to be about 80 ft. deep, but today that was downsized to about 50 ft. The two holes continue to grown larger and no one is brave enough to get very close for the time being. The large sink hole is about 40 ft. or so wide with about twenty foot cracks radiating out from it. The other one is around 25 ft. across and 40 ft. deep. It is also getting larger. There are two other oddities besides the force of the rain water raging underground sucking all above it down and away.
When the parking lot suddenly sank into nothingness, it took along with it a $50,000 Chevrolet Corvette - 2002 model with only 4,000 miles showing on the speedometer, and a few motorcycles. Somewhere in the bowels of the huge crater now resides the Corvette buried under the mud and water. It’s owner has already got a new one on order to take its place on the roads again. No plans are in the future to search out the one buried. I can see the resale offer if it were recovered. “New Corvette, low mileage, been in storage, great bargain!” I do wonder if it would be possible to get all the mud and water damage removed from a vehicle when it has been soaked and covered ...
The other peculiarity for an area in the midst of a severe drought is the restaurant belonging to the parking lot. This is a new place that has only opened this summer. The larger sink hole is at the front of the restaurant and comes very close to the sidewalk. In fact, the joining cracks of the cement walkway are pulling apart. The second hole is more to the back of the restaurant. Sounds of splashing and moving echo out of the holes as they grow larger and come nearer to each other. The City Building Inspector has predicted that the new restaurant can easily be taken in by the holes, especially if another storm comes along with a hard rain. No one wants to take responsibility for the old water pipes running through the ground that has led to this problem. Therefore, no one can make arrangements for solving the problems. The owner of the restaurant is trying to get cement brought in to fill up the holes and make the foundation of the business stable to save it. Wonder what the next step will be ...
I actually got back into the water today. When I entered the pool area at Quest this morning everyone was already working out, but took time to clap and welcome me back into the folds of the crowd. Some new members have joined our group and the pool was full. I took to the deeper end and worked more on going through the motions in the deeper water without stretching and straining. This time I did not overdo like the last session I attended. I felt good after a twenty minute stretch in the steamroom following exercise. I went shopping at the drugstore since I had to pick up some prescriptions and was feeling good.
August 23, 2002 New Horizons ~~ Necessities cause me to take giant steps into the unknown at times. This happens to be one of those times. For a week now I have looked at the new laptop, but haven't dared begin using it. All that changed yesterday. When all else is not working or within reach, one has to depend on the unfamiliar and foreign grounds. Thus, I took fears in hand and began using the new laptop.
Having a wee tad of information on the addition to the family would help tremendously, however there appears to be no option in that category. Just like babies and many pets, it arrived with no directions attached. The keyboard is a mite different to work with, but much easier to use, once I get accustomed to the changes from the smaller one. The screen is larger and I like that detail. The overall size is more streamlined and less cumbersome. Yes, I an growing fond of it already.
The one item that is the most unusual for me is the word-working section. This newfangled machine has Lotus installed on it. I have heard some wonderful comments on using Lotus from those that would use none other. I can see why they toot its wonders. It is so much more interactive as it covers a broad range of choices to work with. It took me a while to figure out how to do what I am doing now - typing. The programs I have used since beginning work with computers have been Microsoft Works. Guess it was time for a change. One mustn't get into a rut using the same ol' things throughout life. After all, who would have ever thunk that I'd be a'doing this when my working days were behind me ?
My HP sidekick is now in that great electronic hospital awaiting surgery of a sort. My attempts at home remedies were not exactly what was needed. I was told that it would be best if I didn't use it any more until it was fixed, so Tbird loaded it up in her pony express to make the trek to the hospital. There are several good places around town but I've worked with these folks in Morganton who do a terrific job and don't cost an arm and a leg to boot. The pictures I took of the back before I unplugged the lifelines, are not to be found around these parts. I must have left them with what I sent over with the modem. If I don't find my diagrams to follow that means a call to Wes for his expert help in attaching all those strange looking wires of all sorts and colors back in the right places. Gee! I was hoping I could figure it out for myself with the help of the photos ...
Thought I would go online using the telephone line and check the e-mail, but the number would not go through. It just dawned on me that maybe the "one" was not included in the program. I'll wait until tomorrow and check it out. In fact there should be a place on this instrument for me to put it in if that is the reason for the error. I'm thinking of checking with the Pipeline and see what would be needed for me to hook it onto my existing server. That should be better in the long run .
Decisions, decisions, decisions ... Always things to be sorted out ....
August 25, 2002 ~~I took that giant step last night and connected to the Internet by telephone. First came the call to the Pipeline to see if I could connect through my modem, but only one computer is allowed. I used the Msn., which came on this laptop, but as I went through the different stages it never gave me any idea of pricing or what to expect for the first month. I would suspect that there would be some free time, but rather than take a chance I canceled the program .
This morning my Sunday paper had an AO L disk offering over a thousand hours within 45 days for free. That is more than enough time to get my other computer up and running and the port I ordered for the laptop to arrive. I can connect to the Internet through that from home. I may shop around and check some prices for future use in case I should need to get online when I'm away from home. By lunchtime I was signed up and ready to roll across the great web with AOL. Two hours later, I had not yet made the right connections for checking e-mail with the Pipeline. Back to the ole drawing board and reading between the lines. I think I may need to download something on the laptop to make it compatible with the Pipeline .
There is a manual of sorts here on the laptop, but it doesn't address many of the things I would like to know. I.e.: How long it takes to recharge the battery? I found out by trial and error that the battery recharges while I'm hooked online. I wonder if this is one of those batteries that has to drain down fairly low before recharging, or can it be recharged at anytime without harming the life within. I would have appreciated knowing more about Msn and what it had to offered? I did find out the kind of computer I have after scanning around the different corners.
When all else fails turn to those who know. I finally sent an email to the Pipeline to inquire about retrieving my emails from my account. I know that the guys that worked on the computer when I joined the Pipeline told me I could get to the email and it sounded easy. Sure! I could remember that. But, did I ..... ?
August 26, 2002 ~~ 8/26/02 Mon. Beautiful Rain ~~ For the first time in ages we got enough rain to make a small difference. Two days have been cloudy with some rain. For the first time in two years we are supposed to have some rain off and on all week. Whee! It really is wet! It's too late for some of the trees and bushes, but others may have a chance to hold on and live. Those tiny acorns covering the oak trees stayed just that - tiny acorns. They have not grown and developed any at all. They are falling and being blown off the oak trees. Guess no little oaks will be sprouting come springtime. Guess the squrrels will need to be fed this winter since their source will be badly deflated. An interesting fact I just learned: an oak tree can grow for fifty years before it has acorns.
An update on the sinkholes in the parking lot of the new resturant in Hickory, compliments of Tbird and others. The two holes are growing daily. You can heard the dirt falling into the depths of the mammouth pits as the 2002 Corvette is forced deeper perhaps never to be seen again in our lifetime. Tbird called last night and said since they ate at the Cracker Barrel which is nearby they decided to stop and take a peek at the damage. It was much worse than she expected. The small plot of dirt between the two holes now has a huge crack breaking it apart. The curbing and some of the shurbs and flowers next to the building are now devoured by the larger sinkhole. Long streaks are also opening up as they inch toward a car sales lot nearby. Looks like the owners of the car place would move his merchandise before it is claimed by the sinckhole. A chainlink fence has been hastily placed around the damaged area to discourage folks from coming too near the dangerous site. Moving up on the hill beside the site and looking down, Tbird could see that the dirt under the pavement was gone along the edges. So far the Building is still standing, but it is unsafe to attempt entry and no one wants to attempt to work on anything at this point and time. In fact, as the hole creeps toward the five lane highway, word has it that it was mentioned that a bridge may have to be erected for the highway through that section.
A family had gone together to purchase the land and build the resturant. They invested all they have to get it going and it was well received. Now they stand to lose more than they invested as things stand now. All responsiblity is being placed on them as the sole owners of the land. One has to wonder though. It has been rumored that another person considered buying that plot of land. He had an engineer there to check out things for him. The engineer was quoted as saying that no way would he buy or build on that land because it had some major problems and was unsafe. The past owner surely heard that report ... And yet .... He sold it ... Makes one wonder!
The rains we got here yesterday and the other days since the disaster at the sinhole have been nothing compared to the four inches in one hour that dreadful day. A slow gentle rain for four or five days would be neat. With the inch of rain Saturday, the mulch was dry just under the surface of the flowers plants along the front of the house. I reached down to pull up a weed and as it came out of the ground it brought with it nothing but extremely dry soil. Now would be a good time for pulling up more weeds that have crept into the flowers being that the heatwave has taken leave for a week. I'll think about it.
Since all this drought has taken so much of the water from the pond over close to Tbird's house, instead of a seven acre pond, it is probably less than three. Her hubby has been taking his tractor down to the pond and scooping up some of the top soil settled along the bottom now exposed. He is bringing it back up to his garden when he will spread it out to enrich the soil. Being top soil washed into the pond fortified by the fish and other critters of the water, it should be great for growing things next season. This is a wonderful time for someone to bring in a bulldozer or front in loader and remove much of the dirt that always fills in much of the depth of ponds. It could be brought back to its original depth while it is low enough to work around. It would be the time for hubby to build a pier or deck out over the water back in their little cove hidden from view. Then they could have a picnic table, a good place for fishing and with supervision the kids could swim there once the pond fills with water again.
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Lenoir,NC 28645
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copyright © 2002 by Stormy Jeanne
