It's Hard to be Entertaining When Your House is Flooding

I'm staring at my laptop, then glancing anxiously at the rising level of water in our backyard.  Our grass is flooded, our patio is flooded, rising water is threatening to come into our house, and a portion of our palm tree fell onto our neighbor's lawn yesterday.  I haven't seen rain like this since El Nino  ever!  The weather people tell us it will get worse before it gets better, with Wednesday being the most intense day of all.

How can more rain possibly fall from the sky than what's falling right now?

How can my outdoor/backyard drains handle more, when they so clearly can't handle the rain that has already arrived?

Yesterday I woke up before dawn and made the trek to LAX airport again.  It was my second trip there in four days.  This time I drove in low visibility and heavy rain to greet my daughter.

Southern California freeways are not designed for weather of any kind.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that "car accident" whispers in the back of my mind whenever I drive in treacherous conditions.  Perhaps that's the case for everyone who has ever been in a major accident?  The damage to the psyche is sometimes as permanent as the damage to the body.

I made it to LAX and back safely.

All of my kids are now here, gathered under one roof, for the holidays.

I'm grateful.

And yet ...

I keep glancing, anxiously, at the rising water level outside my door.

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[unmitigated me]

You don't see one of your neighbors making a really, really big boat and lining up animals, do you? That would be bad.

One inch of rain = about seven inches of snow. If it were cold in the OC, you'd all be buried! Drive carefully, miss, and line the inside of those patio doors with towels. Don't you have a brick first floor? At least carpet is safe!

[karen]

YEs, the Ark thing... that would be bad. Make sure you're on it! Seriuosly, though, I hope it lets up soon for you California folks. Make sure the outside drains aren't clogging. What we do in New England is exactly what you described in your earlier posts. I will say, our road crews are used to bad weather though and things are managed pretty well.

[Erica]

I really hope you don't have to use sand bags. Good luck.

[Jan]

My daughter arrived last night, and when she called home to let her boyfriend and know she'd gotten here safely, he told her that there are flash flood warnings in Las Vegas, too.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the inside of your home remains dry!

[Pam]

OMG! It's so hard to think of all of that rain, then having to drive to LAX in it! Sorry to hear it, but so glad your family is home safely! Hang in there 24!

[Jenny in MN (now AZ)]

Mother nature seems VERY crabby lately! I hope you don't end up having indoor damage to deal with. I finally got around to updating my twitter account and started following you last week and when you said you were driving in the bad weather I got tensed up for you!

I had a spinout on the ice in MN about 5 years ago and ever since I can't stand driving on snow/ice. I took out a mailbox post and no injuries, but the feeling of no control freaked me out. Although before that incident I was completely fine with bad weather. In fact, the first time behind the wheel at age 15 - was at night, in the snow. The lasting twinge of anxiety while driving in the winter weather sometimes though = ugh! So much so - I moved to Arizona this summer. :)

Enjoy your family time and BEST of luck with the water! So frustrating and scary when all you can do is wait and see if it will get worse.

[Judi]

Sandbags might not be a bad idea, unfortunately. I arrived at my office this morning to find leaky ceilings and one computer that was all wet. The amazing thing is that we are on the second floor of a three-story building! Why is all this water coming through my ceiling? I'm about to drape all my computer labs in plastic sheeting.

Very glad you made that drive to LAX safely. On the plus side, if/when this rain ever stops, I bet the mountains will look magnificent blanketed in snow.

[sandi]

Why don't you fly those kids into John Wayne? I HATE LAX!!

[Amy_in_Stl]

Maybe you should buy some tubes of sand (do they have those where it doesn't snow?) at Home Depot or Lowes and lay them across the thresholds so that you don't get water inside if its that bad.

[goodfather]

I'm very glad you made it home safely. Here's hoping you stay above water!

[Jason]

I'm glad they're all home! That way you'll have more people to help bail the water out of your house, if it comes to that.

[Jane]

It's flooding in southern Utah too. Rumors are that the dam down by St. George is in danger. Suzanne, really, buy those sandbags. They could save the inside of your home.

[vodkamom]

I am so thankful that all is well, and that you are wrapped in the comfort of love and family. happy happy Christmas.