What a Mess!

Flooding has subsided but not completely gone.


Fargo and the Red River has already crested a second time, started going down and now they are removing the sandbags and dikes. I would like to take a moment to step on my soapbox yet again. Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady/man.

I believe, that the rest of the Nation can learn a valuable lesson from the city of Fargo. A lesson of pride in what you have, neighbor helping neighbor, stepping up and doing yourself what needs to be done, instead of sitting back waiting for someone else to do it and then crying when it's not done the way you want.

Come on people get with it. The city of Fargo, battled the worst flood in history, and they did it with their heads held high, optimism, a fighting pioneer spirit and a belief in themselves that by damn, we will get this done. If it turns for the worst, we aren't giving up, we are going down swinging.

Kudos to you Fargo, you give me faith and hope in mankind again. In a city with a population of less than 100,000 people, 80,000 people sandbagged. Yes, some where National Guard, but none the less those are some impressive numbers. Way to step up, Fargo. For being an implant you make me proud to say I'm in North Dakota now.

That said... I am really tired of water. I have known water, as in the salty oceanic type. I've seen the power of hurricane and waves. Holy cow, is overland water a destructive force that should not be messed with. In a matter of overnight, no water can go to five feet at your doorstep and it can have some pretty strong currents too.

Example A





That is just plain overland flooding, that's a field, there was no creek or little river there, it was NOT somebodies small pond. That is a corn field that is now 4-5 feet deep.

Example B

That's my road about 2.5 miles to the west. On either side is also supposed to be fields. Once again, just fields... not creeks and rivers. Amazing huh. Scary too. Pictures just doesn't show how deep a hole that is and how wide that road is washed out, all the little whirlpools in it and just how blooming fast that water is running.

Example C

Yes, this is minor, but close to my heart. Why you ask...because that's my barn in the background. These are all examples of why I have to drive my son back and forth to school everyday because the buses are not aloud to run on gravel roads as well as why 150 roads in my county are closed.

We will survive this, we will clean up and hold our heads high that we fought the Flood of '09' and I did it on my own. My soldier honey has been gone on Flood Ops since the 3rd week of March. They called "Send in the National Guard!" and away he went, looking pretty hot in his ACU's I might add.

Welcome to my world...A military wife and a married single mom.

Stay dry. ha ha ha.

Hooah ~ Cowgirl Lady

Flood '09' and Spring '09' Continues

I think I'm beginning to cave under the stress/pressure.

It has been 9 days since I've been flooded in and in those, usually not a problem being a married single mom 9 days, I've had Cowboy in Cammie's go to Fargo to assist with the Red River flooding, I've had two snow storms, every exit route (meaning dirt roads) from my house have been either flooded over or washed out, my oldest cowboybaby has missed school the whole time,my beagle keeps getting out of his kennel no matter what Gerry rigging or attempted carpentry I do and the guy who usually comes and pushes the snow out of my driveway so I can get out, his tractor broke.

I think I've done really quite well being flooded in. I've had the supplies I've needed. We have had to... stretch milk a bit, I've been baking all the bread and I am out of body wash and shampoo, but bar soap and baby shampoo works too. I'm counting my blessings, I have toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes and bottled water left. My house and truck isn't flooded, the sump pump is hooked up and ready to go for whenever the frost decides to let loose and my basement starts flooding like crazy, and my boys are happy and playing like nothing out of the ordinary is going on.

Today, after I thought I'd successfully fixed the beagle getting out (he'd stayed in all day yesterday) I heard my big lovable Vizsla barking and sure enough my fat little rolly polly beagle is out running through the snow drifts. At that point when my heart started racing and I could feel the tears starting to well up I realized... I'm not super woman after all.

Once again pep talk to myself again time...Cowgirl's don't cry, the boys can't see you cry, keep the attitude at the house positive, you can't fall apart..it's forbidden, you're the mom, the wife, you must keep it together at all times. Sigh! and I did, not a single tear made it's escape down my cheeks from the pools of stress and frustration that had puddled up in the corners of my eyes.

I hate ego busters. Not like I go around bragging what a great military wife I am or anything. I don't walk around with a chip on my shoulder, but that is the one aspect of my life I'd believed I'd kept on a path of continued success since I'd married the barrel chested love of my life in early 2000. For pity sake I've been through 2 deployments, too many to count work ups, schools, and training that left me waving goodbye with at least one babe on my hip.

I prided myself in knowing that when my darling had to be away, he wouldn't have to worry about back home He'd have the assurance that I could and would handle anything that was needed of me. A distracted soldier is a dead soldier. Yeah, I know, but something you have to learn.

I wasn't issued in his duffel bag, it's country and state first and we get him the leftover time. Come on woman pull yourself together, you've gone through surgery, a move, hospitalized children, house repairs, and family issues while he's away.

I've excepted where I rank, I'm fine with that. Oh but, a newly found weakness in myself had me ready to drop to my knees in the 12+ feet of snow throw my hands up and cry that I want my Cowboy!! I can't do this anymore, I can't be the housewife and mom, as well as the muscles and handyman. For once could the planets line up that when shit happens it's not while he's away. My answer was a blast of arctic wind on my face and a snotty nose. I get it! I know! Cowboy up, soldier up. That which does not break us only makes us stronger.

What's the point of my whining and slight pity party. I really don't have one except that...Men are always known as the stronger sex, but when you step back and look at the big picture who's really holding the rope of life together... frantically running to mend it whenever it tries to frey, slipping, falling, unable to cry through our calluses and never letting go for fear of it will never be picked up and too many depend on us. Our men depend on us and the Country depends on our men. A Little bit of responsibility for a 5'6 fluffy housewife.

There's my one moment of Mars vs Venus. I'm sure I'll be back to my chipper, doot de doo attitude tomorrow. We all have bad days, I just so happened to share mine.

Stay Warm

Cowgirl Lady