Hooyah!

Battle Cry of the Navy Seals and/or others.

Feeling the need to write something even if wrong or ill advised, I will put pen to paper, fingers to keys, or whatever.

In spite of excessive rain and devastating Iowa floods, we thus far are experiencing mild temperatures and surprisingly low humidity conditions.  We could easily reverse things during July, August and September but if so, Summers and  football go fast before we return to ugly.  In fact, football at our state’s universities promises also to be ugly once again.  Therefore our interests and expectations lie with our able 16 year old Olympian gymnast, Shawn Johnson,(http://www.shawnjohnson.net/) from Des Moines, who has us all a twitter.  Stay tuned in Beijing.

At the risk of alienating friends and loving members of my family I will add some comments concerning the campaign and coming election.  So, hopefully no one will be offended.  Hillary has become toast so to speak unless she should become a member of the ticket.  That leaves John and Barack and eventually most likely, only Barack Obama.  I am prepared to accept that eventuality and even look forward to a refreshingly new tack in government.  However, that said, I am somewhat confused as to the sudden somewhat magical rise of the Democratic candidate.  He seemingly just plucked the decision that he would be the best person to be President out of the air and then ran with it.  Picking up his flute or whatever it was that the Pied Piper successfully used to entice the children, Obama, with few credentials was off down the road picking up the support of first the young, and then the crowd who happily joined the parade.  We knew nothing at first and only now begin to see some of his plan for our country.

I recently heard an interview in which Obama was compared to Abraham Lincoln.  It was pointed out that they were both from Illinois, had both served at least one term in the Illinois Legislature, one term in Congress, House or Senate, had both been relatively unknown and both made significant inroads with important speeches.  Another panel member broke in and said “Give me a break, Obama wasn’t even born in a log cabin.”  In defense of Obama, I will point out his birth was in Hawaii and there may well have been a grass hut involved.  ( http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Hula-Dancers-Grass-Hut-Hawaii-Posters_i881076_.htm) and also he has pointed out his youthhood in Kansas, being raised by his Grandparents.  While I have crossed Kansas many times barely seeing a tree necessary for a log cabin, could there have been a “Soddy dug out” in his past with a donkey (or goat) standing on the roof? (http://www.ok.gov/~arts/capitolart/permart/paintings/wcooper/dugout.html)  In any event, we may have covered the deficiency of the missing log cabin.

While I am impressed with Senator Obama, I have had some difficulty accepting some of his former friends from his church or colleagues in Chicago where he apparently worked the streets on behalf of the less advantaged.  Those activities did get him to the Legislature and to Congress and apparently qualify him for the Presidency.  As I see it, Obama could become the modern day  Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor.  That bodes well for me as a non-taxpaying member of the poor.  Good luck to the rest, and thank you very much.   I am impressed by the fact that he has moved somewhat to the center in spite of his label as the most leftist U.S. Senator.  His accomplishments at Harvard won’t hurt him any, although the Ivy League connection at Yale doesn’t seem to have helped our current President.  Perhaps Dubyah should have spent a little more time on the streets of Chicago or Houston.

I am not against Obama, but guess at this point I plan to vote for the man who has no chance.  I thank General Wesley Clark for his service to his country, but now wish he would shut the hell up.  In addition to his five and a half years as a prisoner of war, McCain has a long record of independent thinking in Congress.  In general, he has worked well with Democrats.  Before the campaign at least, he rarely said things for the purpose of winning favor with any particular group.  He has opposed pork barrel legislation with fervor, has refused to accept perks for his own state when he felt it detrimental to the country and just appears to me to be about as honest and sincere as they come.  After all, I voted for him in 2004 by writing in his name along with my choice as a running mate, Joe Biden.  I’m not even sure which one I listed as choice for President and which one, the choice for Vice President, but there is no reason to stop now.  It would still be a great ticket, although Biden would be unlikely to accept, even though the two are close friends.  Incidentally, Biden would be my choice for Vice President with Obama as well. 

Anyway, I expect at this point, to honor Senator McCain with my vote, not really knowing whether or not he would become a good President.  I don’t agree on all points, nor disagree with Obama on all points. So many times we have been surprised and or disappointed by our selection.  Thus, I might well find myself surprised by a strong President Obama and just what the Doctor ordered.

Flood Crest Receding

Our river apparently has crested and will be holding at high levels for several days before returning to normal. We have escaped the worst. As critical as we all sometimes become of our city and state officials, we should give credit for handling the flood crisis of 2008 at least for our community. Iowa could blame George W. Bush, I suppose. We all know how he caused the hurricanes, but maybe he’s had enough blame, probably for two lifetimes.

Sparing the worst for Ottumwa isn’t because we didn’t get the water. Preparations and continued diligence (hard, hard, work) so far have prevented the catastrophes that have hit so many other Iowa cities and towns. The crest was about a foot below the 22 foot crest expected, but the 20.8 foot crest was the second highest ever. Even higher than the 1947 flood that devastated Ottumwa from one end to the other. The 1993 crest was 21.8. Flood stage begins at 10.0 feet. City workers, many hundreds of citizens, and about 300 Natl. Guardsmen all contributed. Even mentioned was a group of Amish from Davis County who came to help fill sandbags.

Nevertheless, we have had a fair amount of non-compliance and un-cooperativeness from some citizens. People have insisted in going around barricades, interfering with operations, and even using the river for entertainment and sightseeing (flood watching) which resulted in 8 adults being dumped in the river. The four men were able to grasp a bridge before being rescued. The four women were nearly lost, being saved only by extensive rescue efforts by the Fire Department, National Guard, and even Coast Guard units that are helping with the flood. Many men were diverted from regular duty to address the rescue efforts. Two rescue boats were destroyed and lost, one owned by the Fire Department, and one by the National Guard, and who knows how many additional lives could have been lost. Idiocy is alive and well. Future trespassers in the off-limit areas have been put on notice.

I-80 and I-380 are again open. The railroads are not yet running. Our own Market St. Bridge remains closed, but slowly Iowa will return to normal. The unfortunate thing about containing the river in one place often means that you merely send the water on down to the next community or open farm land. Eventually, somebody gets it and now the Mississippi River towns must prepare not only for the water coming down their own river but that which will be dumped into the Mississippi from all the tributaries. Good luck Burlington, Keokuk, Hannibal, Quincy, and St. Louis, etc. And so it goes.

Father’s Day

 

Thanks to both my adult children who remembered me this Father’s Day.  The day started well, when on my morning walk, the first person I met (a lady and her dog) greeted me with, “Happy Father’s Day.”  Then soon after arriving back home, I had a Father’s Day call from son Tim.  Next, I turned on the computer to be greeted by daughter Julie, with a picture of my two children when they were small, and myself enjoying a happy time together.  Then, good wife Pat, after sleeping in on Sunday morning greeted me with, “Happy Father’s Day.” Looks like the Day is good, successful, and all I need.  Thanks.

“Happy Father’s Day” to my Dad, who is no longer with us;  to Steve, Joel, and also son Tim, who would make a great Father, as well.  While listening to some of the tribute to Tim Russert of ‘Meet The Press,’ who died this week, I was most impressed by his love for his child.  He wrote a wonderful book honoring his Dad, but his remarks about the responsibility and wonders of being a Dad were wonderful, as well.  While I could not possibly measure up to those remarks, I do now believe that the real meaning of Father’s Day includes the Gift of being a Father.  Again, to our two children, your Mom and I thank you both for the gift of being your Dad and Mom.  This includes, as well, all the grandchildren, and their families.

Flags, Floods, & T.R.

FLAGS

Today is Flag Day. Fly em’ high and proudly. I’ll not go into the origination of Flag Day. It might as well be called Constitution Day, Patriots Day or whatever. Yes the flag means different things to different people. I am always hurt by protesters, American or foreign, burning or otherwise desecrating the flag. I am equally hurt by those from either the Right or the Left who mock the Constitution or choose to only honor a small portion of it for their own selfish wants. When others’ rights, color, beliefs, backgrounds, lifestyles, politics or whatever don’t fit with their own, then they sometimes choose to burn the flag in protest disregarding the lives and sacrifices that made their right to do that possible. Many, who would do this, would just as quickly burn the Constitution itself, or all that it implies, to exercise their right to express themselves. Yes, it is just a flag, a piece of cloth, but isn’t it beautiful?

FLOODS

All but the northwest corner of Iowa has been declared a disaster area. The floods and weather are truly affecting many throughout the country. Any state with a river or creeks and clouds overhead have been affected. I’m sure Cedar Rapids is having its own Katrina feelings. Any place having to endure these difficult times, including floods and earthquakes in Asia or elsewhere, as well, know the feeling.

I am always overwhelmed by the united efforts that go into fighting these things. No one sandbagging cares whether the person next to you is white or black, male or female, rich or poor, young or old. They are all there. The NCAA Track Championships are at Drake University this week in Des Moines. Team after team from South Carolina to Oregon, shared in flood duty between events. The 833rd National Guard unit I welcomed home from Iraq last Saturday, is, this week on flood duty here in Ottumwa working around the clock to protect this community.

A levee was breached last night in Des Moines after days of effort by thousands, spreading the water into new neighborhoods. Cedar Rapids has lost their battle. Iowa City and the University of Iowa are at break point. Here in Ottumwa, our Market Street bridge is at water level. It and down town are still closed, as new levees are built and old ones raised and strengthened. We had a four inch horrendous rain, just at the wrong time, on Thursday evening, but a week earlier, the town of Creston had 10 inches. So it goes. City officials remain confident that we will be able to withstand the worst that is coming, although that is little comfort to the people in outlying and low areas already flooded. This will be, most likely, a month long fight, and then years long recovery for some communities.

T.R.

T.R. No, not Teddy Roosevelt, as greatly as he is regarded. This T.R. is Tim Russert, another great American. We are shocked by his untimely death. All you had to do was look at him and his smile and hear his comforting voice and you liked and respected him. He has been part of my Sunday ritual of watching the news shows, which good wife Pat, sometimes (always) finds irritating. I go to all the networks, one after another, cable shows and public TV included. Meet The Press with Tim Russert was always part of that ritual. Maybe unfairly, I have been more critical of him the past couple of years. I felt he had become a little more interested in creating sensation and carried some questioning far beyond what was necessary without letting the person being interviewed express his own opinion, unless it was going to come out as Tim wanted. But that’s the way it works. However, always fair, probably as fair as they come and truly one of the great ones. Before Meet The Press he worked for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In my imperfect list of greats since WWII, Moynihan was at the top, and oh how I wanted him, before his death, to be our President. Russert was a part of that. Sunday mornings, and political campaigns won’t be the same without Tim Russert.

An Update in general

I will use this blog to provide an update to a few things going on in our lives here in South Iowa. As I write, things are deteriorating rapidly in our state pertaining to the flood and weather situation. Mason City and numerous other communities are without water due to flooding of city water systems. Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Iowa City downtown’s have been evacuated. Nine rivers (they may have said nineteen) are currently above flood stage. Our river was at 12 feet at noon. (10 foot is flood stage for minor flooding). They are now expecting 21 feet on Saturday which is still a foot less than 1993. Extensive sandbagging began today and the trucks are starting to roll with dirt for a protective berm around our water works. Des Moines downtown is flooding. The problem is that more heavy rains are expected tonight and the next few days. We are under a tornado watch again but all looks well now. A tornado has struck a boy scout camp in NW Iowa killing 4 and injuring 40 this evening, with ambulance and rescue efforts being hampered by heavy rains and winds. I’m repeating some of this news from the TV as I write. 28 highways are now closed and hundreds of lesser county roads. We’ll be staying home.

On a personal note, my new found satisfaction after 23 years of discomfort from nerve damage due to spinal tumor removal surgery continues to amaze and please me. Doctors had convinced me that it was not really pain, just nerve damage and one had to live with it. As if being awakened every 1 to 2 hours with the feeling that a car had just run over my right foot, or a circus elephant had just managed to step on it was not painful. Those feelings would also occur several times throughout the day, but walking and daily busy things would give some relief. My Veterans Admin. Dr. which I have been seeing once a year has been on medical leave and finally they suggested I come in and see a Nurse Practitioner about three or four weeks ago.

My lab work turned out well and I met the Nurse Practitioner. Bless that lady. She could not believe that someone had not suggested that I try Neurontin. While I had found that drug in on-line search for help and discussion of neuropathy, I had not really asked a Dr. about that specific thing because of some of the side effects that I read about. Anyway she said those side effects were more likely to concern those taking the drug for epilepsy and seizures, etc. and felt that I should try a fairly low dose to start with and go from there. The very first night, I enjoyed the first night of sleep without being awakened and having to get up, spend a half hour or more of walking, etc. and then repeating same every 1-2 hours. While I still feel a mild stinging and awareness that my right foot is not the same as my left, it is many times over, an improvement. No more traffic running over my foot, or lost elephants tromping my foot. And thus far, no side effects. I feel like I have my life back, although I guess I had grown somewhat used to the way it was. We will see what develops, but so far I am happy. And, hooray, the drug, is available in generic and is a $4.00 monthly prescription on our medi-care plan.

Also, we old folks, who fit the low income group and contribute no income taxes, received the minimum economic stimulus payment, (thanks to all of you I guess). We plan to stimulate Wapello County by using it for partial payment of our property taxes. Whatever, it will help. I hope y’all get to stimulate somebody also.

I still attend the YMCA Silver Sneakers class, which our Humana Medi-Care Advantage plan provides for us as an extra benefit (Gram has been unable to participate because of health conditions). The instructor, which has been with us since inception has left, and we have a new one, who has introduced new routines, and I find new bones and muscles that I had forgotten about - and new soreness. She is good, and (has really nice legs), but unfortunately she will also be leaving soon, and we will have another new one.

Also, I will mention, that I decided to send a letter to the editor about my recent attendance at the return of our National Guard unit from Iraq. It is pretty much the same thing said in a recent blog, but HERE is the link anyway. I was pleased that a few friends have mentioned seeing and approving the letter. I didn’t really want to invite “hate” mail or adversity which so many well intentioned letters generate.

Lastly, I want to give good wife Pat, credit for the beautiful picture of our basement accompanying my last blog. She found it, and called it to my attention after our attempt to seek shelter after last Sunday evenings tornado siren warning. We had a good laugh and I asked her permission to use it. Take care, all. More later.

Cellar Dwellers & Sandbags - Shades of 93′

Our state has been wracked with tornadoes and heavy rains, something not uncommon for those in Florida and Texas and elsewhere. Our immediate area has been fortunate up to now, but our turn appears to be coming. I am reminded of 1993 which has to be one of the worst years of my fairly long life. I weathered the Depression as a child, WWII as a teenager, my years in the service and several lean and difficult years economically for our family. 1993 was the year of the 100 year flood (meaning we shouldn’t expect another like it for 100 years). It is now 15 years and we may well be experiencing another in many areas. We were in the Laundry and Dry Cleaning business with two locations within the flood prone area. The rains started in June, and the flood arrived on the Fourth of July night and both stayed with us for about 6 weeks.

Our town is a river town and floods have always been a threat and I have filled sandbags as a volunteer on a number of occasions but had not had our business locations seriously threatened. The whole town became a war zone with trucks hauling soil night and day for a week to build berms and levees. Several locations were stocked with sand and bags and nearly everyone worked daily to fill bags for their own use or to help others needing assistance. We sandbagged our own businesses daily and at night had to bag the drains and prepare for the time we would not be there. In the morning we would remove the bags so that customers could have access.

The reward for the hard work in our case was that our businesses were the busiest ever in our 16 years. It seemed the whole town had flooded basements, etc. and had to use our services. As well, we worked at least 2 1/2 shifts until nearly midnight doing laundry for the packing plant whose normal source for laundry was flooded, and other commercial businesses needing service, as well as the Red Cross. Our machines were busy all day by residential customers and we provided the commercial business at night. I’m sure that good wife, Pat and I have remarked many times that those 6-8 weeks were the hardest we worked in all our lives. With the 15 years added to our bodies since then, we could no longer begin to do what we did that year.

As mentioned, our town has been fortunate up to now. However, the rains and flooding up stream will now be coming our way and the call went out today for volunteer sandbaggers. We have two lakes and dams protecting us up river. Saylorville lake will be overflowing within 24 hours at a level equal to 1993. The city of Des Moines is closing all bridges tonight and expects downtown flooding from overflowing Saylorville thereafter. Further downstream, Lake Red Rock will begin releasing additional water tomorrow to make room for the water coming from Saylorville. We have been warned to expect flooding soon as the river is already over flood stage.

We all have our weather. We worry about hurricanes and fires in Florida for Tim and Merry, and now we can add concern for Joel, Blake, and Zoe in Houston. Steve, Julie, Jenna, and Ali, in Dallas, have tornadoes, flooding, and heat. We expect our home to be safe and hope Merry’s Mother’s home in Ottumwa, will be safe as well. Merry has a sister living in an area that will require evacuation. Hopefully all of us will endure. Stay tuned.

Gram and I were forced last Sunday evening to Dive! Dive! Dive! after tornado warnings were issued and finally the area sirens sounded the order to take cover. About 25 minutes later we received the all clear. The city was largely spared with the exception of numerous uprooted trees, downed wires, power outages, etc. A couple of homes received damage. Getting Gram to the basement was an experience in itself. Interestingly, it was the first time she had seen our new furnace, installed about a year and a half ago. Hence, the following depiction:

Johnny Comes Marching Home — Again

Today, I attended the Welcome Home Ceremonies for our local National Guard Unit. The 833rd Engineers were coming home from their second deployment to Iraq. They were to arrive at Indian Hills Community College Hellyer Center Field House between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. As expected they were about 45 minutes late. We were kept in contact with the 2 buses carrying the troops and the accompanying convoy of 24 motorcycle riders from the “Freedom Riders” and numerous auto’s by the local radio station who had joined them a 100 miles out or so. The route in town was decorated with yellow ribbons and many welcome home signs. Individual soldiers on the buses were allowed, if they so desired, to speak by radio to loved ones at the packed field house. As we had considerable time to wait, the radio station also serenaded us with every country western patriotic song ever recorded, which I might add was entirely appropriate.

Generally speaking, the War isn’t the center of conversation any more. Most people, now are far more concerned about their economic hardships and inconveniences (or illegal immigrants). The only feelings about the war are negative at best, and one sees fewer flags and Support Our Troops signs. But for today, we in attendance and the community in general were all emotional, flag waving, red-blooded, South Iowa redneck patriots, with lots of cheers and tears. The songs before their arrival about the Stars and Stripes, the Red, White, and Blue, Eagles, Pride, and Daddy coming home made those cheers lift the decimal meter. They may have equaled those which were surely heard in the years when the field house was home to three consecutive National Championships in Junior College basketball as attested by the hanging banners.  At last the troops marched in.  We then listened to short remarks from our Democrat Congressman and our Democrat Lieutenant Governor who thankfully did not trash the war. The best part was when the troops and families were quickly allowed to reunite. It all made old Grumpy feel good. Joel and I didn’t have ceremonies. We just came home - to loving families.

While the accompanying link is not the best video, it will have to do. The lights were darkened as they marched in for some reason and then turned on, making the video difficult to view.  Also provided is a link to story from the Des Moines Register.

http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/ottumwadailycourier/mediacenter/LocalNewsContent/2008/2008060708833rdHomecoming/Video.html

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080608/NEWS/806080334

Later, this day good wife Pat and I watched the Belmont Stakes and hopefully the next Triple Crown Winner. It just wasn’t Big Brown’s day and Gram was very disappointed. Well we’ll get em’ next year!

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Oh no! That’s Submarine talk. Fire in the paint locker! Abandon ship! No, that’s not it. Evacuate! Evacuate! Take Cover! Take Cover! Never mind. This is a drill. Just trying to get my Florida family members ready. Today marks the beginning of Hurricane Season. While I know there are certain advantages to living in South Florida, you can rest assured that we are concerned about you having to endure the fire season, drought, tornadoes and water spouts, the alligator and bear season, other creepy crawly critter season, certainly the hurricane season, beach erosion, and the dreaded snow bird and impossible traffic season. Incidentally, we turned the furnace off a couple of days ago, and other than our own state’s frequent tornadoes this season, we are having a beautiful day should you choose to vacation Iowa this year.

Further, after my last posting and defining those times when Grumpy’s Rules take precedence, I felt compelled to address son, Tim and his good wife Merry. Merry, you were the first addition to our family and immediately seemed more like a daughter than an in-law and it has always been such. Therefore, by Grumpy’s rule, we are privileged to call you daughter whenever we wish. There now, I feel better. I didn’t want anyone left out. We have been privileged and blessed. We are proud and love the whole darn bunch of you.

Seriously, and most certainly, I hope that all of Florida, the Gulf States, and the East Coast avoid serious hurricanes this year and that we can still make light of it in November, but I will weather watch anyway. That’s what I do best.

June bugs & “Grumpy rules”

May was a definite improvement over the previous months, weather-wise, but nevertheless we have only been totally without the furnace for about three days and we haven’t yet used the air conditioning. No doubt we soon will be using it and complaining about the heat and humidity.

But this is mostly about the upheaval at Daughter Julie’s home. Talk about empty nest. Usually things kind of progress toward that state over a longer period of time and there can be a gradual adjustment. This time it looks like there will have to be a more sudden adjustment.

First, our love and congratulations to Granddaughter Ali for her third place academic standing in her graduation class of over 500. And for my money, she was so close to second that it could be called a tie. Grumpy (grandfather) rules are always used in these cases. She will be going to Northwestern University in Chicago in September. Way to go Ali.

Secondly, Granddaughter Jenna is to be congratulated for being accepted at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Tx. and will be simultaneously fleeing the nest in September. She also finished high in her high school class a couple of years back and has been attending classes in the Dallas area and earning spots on the Dean’s List while living at home. Way to go Jenna.

Third, Fourth, and Fifthly, concerns Grandson, Joel, his wife, Blake, and Zoe, our first great granddaughter. We regard Blake as a granddaughter, (again Grumpy rules prevail). I guess granddaughter-in-law would be the correct term. They have been living nearby the nest for the past year and Joel has been working in the family business from his office within the nest and Zoe has spent much time with Daughter Julie while Granddaughter Blake (Grumpy rules) worked at her job in preparation for the next move. The family will be leaving the nest for Houston this month. We congratulate Blake for her acceptance into medical school at Univ. Texas at Houston. This will be a challenging move for them, but after the challenges they have faced during their six years of successful Army life, they will make it. Way to go Blake — and Joel and Zoe too. I forgive you, Blake for the addiction I have to Sudoku, which causes me to waste several hours weekly.

Sixth and Seventh, finds that Daughter Julie, and Son Steve (Grumpy rules), (technically son-in-law) have unveiled nest emptying plans of their own. They expect to sell their beautiful home by the creek in Garland and make a new apartment home in nearby Richardson, TX. I know the move is a practical thing, but for whatever reason, I feel somewhat sad that they will be leaving such a loving, beautiful place that the entire family has enjoyed so much. Way to go, I think.

Eighth. Can’t forget the animal members of the family. Cats and Canines have always had a place in the Watt’s household. Some will need new homes and some may be fortunate to also make the move. Way to go Phoebe, and others to numerous to remember (no slight intended). I’m 78 and don’t have to remember pets names or eat broccoli. (Grumpy rules)

Thus, in a few months, if plans proceed as expected the nest will be completely empty, awaiting a new family, The new nest in Richardson will always have a place for the departed one’s occasional, but temporary visit back home. That will never change, and hopefully there just might be space for a Gram and Grumpy visit sometime. We always know we’d be welcome. Also, with a scattering of the birds, it is important to mention, that so far there is still a nest that can be visited in Iowa by one or all. We love you all.

Remember The Alamo, and Grumpy Rules.

Memorial Day

We had a bad storm last night and have been without cable for about 12 hours.  I’m sorry this is a little late being submitted.   I just wanted to mention this special day, and hope you all have a nice barbecue and good fellowship with family and friends.

On Memorial Day we pay tribute to the well over 1 million Americans who have given their lives during wars and conflicts.  Also we give thought and respect to the many millions more who served and survived, and certainly for those serving today.  Also it is a time to remember those no longer with us, who have served our country in ways other than the military.  As well, we remember and honor our family members and fore-bearers who have given for our well being.  These are all thoughts that deserve our attention on this most important Holiday.

There is a request to pause and observe remembrance at 3:00 P.M. on this day.  Most won’t, but some will.  It can’t hurt.  Our nation has engaged many times, sometimes in necessary wars and sometimes in those not perceived as having been necessary.  It matters not for those who have put themselves in harms way.  They lived or died in both and deserve our respect during and after their service.