Johnson County, Iowa
Last week Dubuque Street opened and this week the Park Road bridge opened, this means two of the main city infrastructure arteries that I use are no longer water clogged. Life is starting to feel normal again. Instead of flood pictures, the papers now have articles on FEMA and SBA loans. So, it's not completely back to normal.
Normally, one of the perks of living in Iowa City is the lack of depressing news. One of my favorite things to read in the Iowa City Press Citizen is the Johnson County news blurb. The other day's headline was, "Sheriff seeks owner of rescued heifer." A couple was boating on the Iowa River when they discovered a calf stuck between two trees in the water. They didn't have enough fuel in their boat to return with the calf, so deputies were called in. No tags were on the calf, so it has found a temporary home with a couple in Lone Tree.
Here's a Johnson County news blurb that could be considered tragic, "Man hospitalized after shooting self." But, after reading it, it's not. A man was "jumping on a bed with a .40-caliber handgun either in his pants or his waistband when it accidentally discharged..." He shot himself in the thigh. And, yes, his name was published. Imagine living that one down. Another example of why gun laws would be good. I do believe it is our duty to protect people from themselves.
Back to the flood. I get a weekly news e-bulletin from the UI. Click
here for a link to photos taken by the UI News Service. They show various stages of flooding on campus with some good aerial photography.
More
We are having another storm tonight with flash flood warnings. I read the weather forcast earlier today for strong winds, rain and hail.
The 500-year level of flood waters fell pretty fast (about a week). So, Hwy 6 in Coralville was open last night. I was invited to have cake in Coralville for Oliver who turned 5. My first time venturing outside my little part of the universe on the Northeast side of Iowa City.
As I drove down Hwy 6 through what used to be the vibrant Coralville strip, it really hit me. Looking at these vacated businesses--restaurants, hotels, strip malls, small businesses with large FULL dumpsters outside and no other signs of activity. When I drove back at 9:30 PM, it was completely dark. This was the part of town that was always lit, always active. Words really cannot describe.
Cedar Rapids is the same on a much larger scale. I read in the newspaper that half the homes that were flooded will need to be demolished.
Just unreal, but it is real.
Sending the Sandbags South
Last week was filled with anxiety and this past week was filled with relief. The river crested earlier than originally predicted and that was very good. The headline on the newspaper earlier in the week announced that we are sending our sandbags to those that live south of us. Hopefully they won't get flooded as bad.
Tow Zone
I've been getting calls and emails from family and friends who live outside of Iowa. They want to see if I'm okay and if it's as bad as it looks on the news. Yes to both. Over 3/4ths of the state has been declared a disaster zone. Recently the Federal declaration went through. This means FEMA can start giving financial assistance to those directly affected.
Cedar Rapids, just 30 miles north of Iowa City has been devastated by the flood. So, we've been monitoring what has happened up there. The local TV stations have been covering the flood by interrupting regularly scheduled shows. I find that there is only so much of this coverage I can watch because it can be overwhelming.
Around 4PM yesterday the tornado sirens went off. I had seen the clouds roll in and was monitoring them from home. The TV news weatherman assured us that the clouds are too high to produce a tornado. I think people are overly cautious right now because there are thousands of people volunteering to fill and stack sandbags.
Fortunately, I live on high ground. So my stress is just what is going on around me and preparing for the possible residual affects that can happen to the city--loss of power, and ironically, loss of water.
I live 2 blocks east of the University of Iowa campus and four blocks from where the Iowa River has flooded. My neighborhood these days is like a ghost town because most of the traffic has been cut off.
Yesterday afternoon the river flooded the UI power plant. This means that MidAmerican Energy is now powering the UI in addition to Iowa City. On my street MidAmerican has put up "Tow Zone" signs as they are working to lay pipe to the UI campus. They will be working on this for the next two days.
Architecture Quote
"Modern architecture had two reasons to exist. One is the desire, on the part of the architects, to be different. And the other is the desire, on the part of the builders, to be cheap."
Mathematician
Benoit Mandelbrot, in an interview with MoMA's Paola Antonelli archived in
seedmagazine.com
Riders In The Sky
On May 7, I saw Riders In The Sky perform in Fairfield, Iowa. I wanted to see the show in Pella, Iowa instead, but it was on a weekend that I was in Illinois.
It was such a joy to see them perform. The last time I saw them perform was at
The Grand Ole Opry. The Fairfield venue was a more humble one. The
Stephen Sondheim Center for Performing Arts IN FAIRFIELD, IOWA. According to the entry in Wikipedia, "The center is the first one in the United States named after
Stephen Sondheim."
So, there you go. Don't get me wrong, Stephen Sondheim is very deserving of the honor. Just seems strange that the first theatre is in Fairfield, Iowa. I think the Riders were a little amused by this as well. The show was fun, the sound system was frustrating. This means we didn't understand some of what they said and sang.
Prior to the show, I bought a CD, a DVD and a pin. The CD is "Riders In The Sky Presents A Pair Of Kings". The CD is pretty fabulous and features Woody Paul and Joey The Cowpolka King. A fiddler and an accordian player--both with fabulous voices.
As usual, I have my iPod playing tunes as I type this entry. Last I checked it had 2500 songs on it. The song that just came on is the "Hoop--Dee-Doo Polka" from "Frankie Yankovic and Friends Vol. 1 CD". This song features Riders In The Sky and the CD is produced by Joey Miskulin (aka Joey The Cowpolka King). It trips me out how this happens when I am typing blog entries--not the first time.
Back to subject. I was in line after the show getting my CD autographed by the Riders when I couldn't help telling Joey that I think he is a great producer. I mentioned the afforementioned Frankie Yankovic CD. He smiled and said to Woody Paul, "she knows my stuff with Frankie Yankovic!"
My friends tell me I scored real nerd points with this one.
An Anniversary of Sorts
On March 21, it will be 2 years since I started this blog at the nudging of my friend Bob (check out his blog at the Piran Cafe link to the right of this page). Back then I was a heart-broken person who had returned to Iowa from Atlanta after a failed relationship. I am grateful to say that I am no longer heart-broken. It took some time, but hearts DO mend. Really, if mine can mend, anyone's can mend.
Part of my inspiration for the title Open Dialogue is my idealistic fondness for the Chicago song "Dialogue Part I and II". And, of all things, that song is coming of my iPod as I type this entry. Another example of music playing out my life's story.
One of my first entries was a tribute to my father. It is the best thing I have written on this blog. Click on March 2006 under Archives and read "NPR on AM".
