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ARCHIVES: September 8-15, 2004

Ivan the Terrible is on the Way

Frances just barely missed us, but our local weather forecasters say that Hurricane Ivan will bring a lot of rain to us and my sister in Atlanta. So much so, that flooding is inevitable. Schools all over the state (even the northernmost section where we are located) are closed the next two days because of flood concerns.

It is a bright, hot sunny day today. I went about town doing errands and marveling that the next few days after this will be miserable, yet today is so nice.

Our creek has flooded horribly in the past. We will be watching it closely. The city has made improvements to help prevent flooding (we had to abandon our home due to flooding a few years ago and lost much). If it rains steadily and slowly, then perhaps we will not flood because the creek is swiftly-flowing. If it rains too much at once, then we will flood. We are insured to the max and we are experienced from our previous flood. We are probably not going to sleep the next two nights to watch the creek and move things as high as we can in the house.

My father has already sandbagged the lower part of his yard. I do not look forward to the next two days. I will keep my cell cam charged up -- if we do get flooded out, I will be broadcasting photos to my photoblog at BamaPhotos.com even if I can not write here for a few days. My blog server is located in Massachusetts and my photo blog server is in California, so the site should stay up no matter what happens here.

Go Vote Today

(If you live in Huntsville, be sure to vote for Mayor today. It's a runoff election and what they say is true: every vote counts.)

While it is important to vote, an intelligent vote should be made, not just a stab in the dark or a vote for whatever person has posted the most signs along the road. (I have to chuckle at myself -- one friend hates the signs so much that they make a point of not voting for those folks -- not a great reason, but it was funny.)

We are in the projected path of Ivan (again). I hope he slows down a lot. A friend in Florida sent a photo of a boarded up place that said, "Lighten Up Frances." The same thought is true for Ivan.

Funeral Potatoes

This popular dish is often served at funerals in Utah and other areas. I think it is becoming a national trend. From the KSL-TV Cooking Show. Potatoes are well-liked in our family. My husband loves potatoes in almost any form and grows them every year, but then he is from Idaho and Utah borders Idaho which might explain their love for this dish.

Wal-Mart

We thought we'd be clever and go to Wal-Mart at 8 a.m. to avoid the crowds. Apparently a lot of other folks thought the same thing. Oh well, at least it was not too hot at that hour. Wal-Mart was sponsoring a reception for hunters in their sporting department. They had plenty of fresh donuts for anyone passing by. It looked like a success due to a good turnout.

I've had several debates with folks about Wal-Mart. One friend complained that Wal-Mart is destroying Mom and Pop stores. I agree, but if not Wal-Mart then I think Target, K-Mart or whatever would do the same thing and well, the large stores do create more jobs. People have voted with their money that they prefer the larger super stores. While I am sorry to see Mom and Pop stores going, I am glad for lower prices, more jobs and convenience. I wish both could exist side-by-side.

Another friend pointed out a study that Wal-Mart employees have to take second jobs to survive. Since Wal-Mart and many other stores hire part time or pay minimum wage, I can see how this is true. I think it is not nice to hire someone and work them just under full-time to avoid paying health benefits, etc., but I can not see Wal-Mart doing any differently than other similar companies, big or small. I bet everyone can think of another company that avoids hiring full-time workers.

So, I don't see Wal-Mart being any worse than other companies and well, the prices are lower, thus I shop there. I don't think Wal-Mart is perfect, but I like the prices and large selection all in one place. I go to competing stores, too. Can we arrange a perfect world where Mom and Pop stores survive, where there's less stupid outsourcing, everyone who needs it gets hired fulltime with health and retirement benefits and where companies stop laying off someone to avoid paying retirement? (While we are at it, could someone please invent a way to eat all you want of anything you want without gaining weight?)

Bad Drivers Revisited

The very same day that I complained about weaving drivers, on the same road, comes this accident! I feel like finding someone and saying, "I told you so." (Fortunately our paper reported that nobody was hurt.)

A couple of friends saw the accident and said it was an amazing sight. Several emergency cars were rushing to the scene, probably called in from witnesses with cell phones who thought something that looked like this had to have hurt.

Patriot Day is Today

Federal law has designated September 11th as Patriot Day. I just found this out even thought it has been in force for two years. This is a day I will never forget. It's one of those moments in time that I will always remember what I was doing, the shock I felt, and the phone calls to my sisters wondering if our country was going to war.

Bad Drivers

I was out running errands yesterday when a driver suddenly pulled in front of me then glided very close in front of someone else in the next lane. I wish they had signaled. I believe in signaling lane changes, especially if you are doing it while very close to other cars.

I was startled by the sudden nearness of the other car. I fervently hoped this driver knew what they were doing, because an error at that close of a range could be disastrous for several people. People who do this assume that everyone around them has perfect reflexes and would not overreact, causing an accident in itself. They are wrong. Other drivers could have an accident due to the startled effect this person causes.

I understand having to merge in heavy traffic, but at fast speeds, it is truly a naive and impatient person who weaves back and forth repeatedly.

Digital Blasphemy Art

My daughter told me about Digital Blasphemy. This site features amazing computer artwork in several sizes, perfect for desktop wallpaper. While a membership is required to access most of the art, there are many free offerings with new free offerings being added constantly. (Click the "free sample" link.)

I have downloaded and used nearly all their free stuff including the most recent free item (pictured here). To get the full-sized photo, click on it to go to the site and download.

Today is Cinnamon-Pecan Day

Alabama Bread Company here in town makes different kinds of bread on different days of the week along with a regular selection of fresh bread. (They were formerly known as Great Harvest before they became independent. They still operate like a Great Harvest company, though.)

One of their secrets is to grind their own wheat flour. The fresh-ground flour tastes so much better. They offer a white bread and white-blends, but most of their stuff is 100% whole wheat. It is absolutely delicious, full of fiber and nutrients -- and often fat-free.

Our current favorite is cinnamon-pecan wheat bread which comes out on Wednesdays. I can almost taste it right now. I will be there this morning to stock up.

In this photo, the front is cinnamon-pecan wheat bread and the back loaf is their regular honey fat-free 100% whole wheat bread.

Frances Update

As for Frances, the storm only brushed by us. Being on the very outer edge, we got about a half inch of light rain lasting yesterday and on into this morning. It was a gentle rain with a little wind. My two sisters in Georgia (one in Atlanta and one nearer the Florida border) were hit harder with many downed branches, power outages, etc. My sister, Bonnie, posted photos of their mess (click on the photo, then select "next page" to browse through the aftermath pictures).

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