Mother Nature lets us know we're not in control

bj · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 09:08 AM

I took these photos yesterday.

Easton PA flood June2006

Our water treatment plant is . . . under water. We have water rationing going on. Does anyone else see the deitic irony here?

I'm up on the hill. I'm one of the lucky ones.

timmathews.com · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-2006, 07:07 AM

Wow bj...
That is wild.
I really liked the McD pics... I don't think people will be dining there for quite some time.
You are smart for living on the hill.
:)
Good luck, and keep up the good, positive attitude.
Yes, it is ironic that the water treatment plant is under water.

Don't drink the water... Drink more BEER!

Tubby · #3 (**permalink**) 07-04-2006, 07:46 AM

bj · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2006, 09:01 AM

Now we just have to get through the usual 4th of July madness. My neighbors, the same ones who have ignored the water rationing by watering their gardens, using the hose to squirt the urban terrorists (aka kids) and fill the kiddie pools, are now going to do their absolute best to burn us out by shooting off illegal fireworks in this 100 year old woodframe built neighborhood. I just hope they don't succeed and the fire company doesn't run out of water putting out the fire.

timmathews.com · #5 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 02:42 PM

LOL!
That is just great.
How did you fair on the 4th? Were your neighbors hellish?
Talk to us!

bj · #6 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 02:53 PM

We've survived . . .

Of course the dog and cat spent the whole extended holiday weekend after dark hiding under the bed with all the noise and flashing going on.

bj · #7 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 02:59 PM

oh, and did I mention also that my neighbors have just as much of a fondness for drinking alcohol as they do for shooting fireworks? At the same time?

Well, I'm safe for another year anyway . . .

JustinL · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 04:34 PM

Wow! Those pictures are crazy! Does this happen every year?

bj · #9 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 04:48 PM

It happened in 1955, only worse. Then it didn't happen until Hurricane Ivan, approximately a year and a half ago. Then it happened again last spring. And now this spring.

I live in an area that, though once rural, is now becoming bedroom community for NYC, Philly, and all the industry in NJ. The builders are buying up woodland and farmland and tearing out all the trees to build McMansions. This changes the ecology, since there is nothing to soak up all the water when we get lots of rain, since a lawn is a poor substitute for thirsty trees- so it all runs off into the feeder streams and rivers. Used to be that only a hurricane would cause this sort of thing. Now all bets are off since humans are stupid. The changing weather patterns haven't helped either, since we're getting a lot more rain than we used to.

timmathews.com · #10 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 06:41 PM

Booz and boom sticks... Man, what FUN!
:)

bj, your point on the ecology is well noted and taken seriously. how very true you are!
What can you do about it? Lobby congress and ask to protect our undeveloped lands?

I am not sure what we can do about it, but I do know that at the current rate of development throughout the US, my grandchildren probably wont know the land or see the lands as I have.
This makes me sad.
:(

bj · #11 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 07:36 PM

Lobbying doesn't work, it's just an exercise in frustration, especially with the party who right now controls congress. What needs to be done,and the only thing that works, is to vote out the b*stards who refuse to take the long view for short term gain (read campaign contributions from polluting corporations-- like the oil industry.) The congressman I love to hate, Charles Dent, just voted to drill for oil in Alaska (and to do away with network neutrality, but that's a different rant.) He is not a friend of the environment. So he will not get my vote. The local state-level honchos who vote against the environment are also assured that come November they won't see this vote, no matter which ticket they're running on.

There are other local things that help. What our town is doing (but it also needs to be done upstream and along feeder streams) is to turn properties which have become problem properties due to flooding into greenspace, with lots of trees. There's fed grant money to buy out the owners, who at this point can't insure their properties and are happy to bail (pun intended.)

Re booze and boom sticks. Wanna trade homes next fourth of july?

timmathews.com · #12 (**permalink**) 07-06-2006, 08:19 PM

Firstly, NO TY ON THE TRADE NEXT YEAR!
I am good, thank you very much for the offer though.
:)

As far as lobbying congress, I know that will do nothing.
I meant it as sarcasm.
I can feel your frustration and convictions in your typing... I can see you really care for the environment, and are a solid person.
2 thumbs up to you bj
:)