Hi chicks, I feel like a drowned rat, it has rained buckets here all day and I have been out running in it. Just a lot of rain and some wind though, we came across a couple trees down and had to reroute around them. I am on high ground, biggest danger here is the streams flooding out over the roads and trees falling on your head. We had a very sad incident here a couple of years ago where a family got trapped in fast-rising high water in their pickup and drowned trying to get out. Hopefully all good judgement being exercised today.
DD volunteered to help with the Lion's Club breakfast and had to be there at 7. I went shopping and to farmer's market, picked up DS from my parents, took them both to horseback riding, then to the hobby shop to buy birthday presents, and dropped DD at her party. Now trying to do some cleaning and cooking. It's just DS and me tonight, so we've decided to stay in and have a Harry Potter marathon. I've had 2 dehumidifiers running in the basement all day, and we stayed dry until just a little while ago, now it's coming in. I expected it with rain this heavy. There is only so much you can do to waterproof an old stone foundation with dirt floor in the basement, eventually the ground just gets saturated and it comes in. I'll have to go out later and see if I lost any roof slates.

Sometimes you can find groups on www.meetup.com. Just put in your zip code to see the different groups and different interests in your area. I did this with a political campaign, a Maltese dog meetup, and a writer's group. I've made some really good friends from meetups. I think that they might have bible studies. The other thing to look for is BSF, or Bible Study Fellowship. They are all over the world.

I finally have internet again! It's pouring it's patooties off out there, and the field behind us looks like a big lake. Nice and cozy inside, though, and we've gotten a lot of little niggles taken care of, too. The Green Dragon wasn't open this morning, so we stopped at an Amish marketplace instead, where I got a bushel of green peppers, and another one of red. I just finished slicing them all up and they're all nicely stashed in the freezer. I decided to freeze my peaches and nectarines, too, rather than dry them.
My dehydrator sucks. It's a Ronco that my mother gave me since she didn't like it. Now I know why. There's no fan or thermostat, and I have to keep rotating the trays every few hours, plus the fact that it will take 2-3 days of constant running for my tomatoes to be ready. Jake was looking at the Nesco American Harvestor ones on Amazon, and we're thinking of getting one of those before we attempt to dry anything else. While he was looking on Amazon, he found the perfect digital camera for me to replace my broken one, so he ordered it as an early birthday present.

Speaking of birthdays, Cat, do you have a birthday coming up soon? Happy Birthday to you! And hmacneil, Happy Anniversary to you and your DH!
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Schmoodle, try to stay dry! We're pretty fortunate that we've never had water in our basement, good thing, too, because it's finished off. Your Harry Potter marathon sounds like fun tonight, enjoy!

Hey guys.

Found out this morning that SIL's house has some major water damage from Gustav and is being given the runaround by the insurance company.

Apparently after Katrina, the insurance companies were allowed to change their policies so if something like it happened again - they wouldn't be out so much money.

They now have a hurricane deductible and are required to pay for quite a bit of the damages by themselves.

They need a new roof, 6 new interior walls, a new floor and subfloor in 3 large rooms, and a new ceiling in those three rooms as well.

We've been fortunate to have some very generous church members though (we belong to a very small church) and there have been money and time donations coming in all day.

That's really sad about your SIL's home, Zeff, but isn't it good to see so many people rallying together to give a willing hand in time of need.

Zef, if the area is declared an emergency she'll be eligible for low interest loan to fix her house, I had water damage due to ice storm several years back and insurance did not cover it, the loan made it nice and I only paid 3% int!!!! It was through SBA "small business association" (Iknow, wierd, but it was!)
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Belle, I signed up on Meetup, but there are NO bible study groups in area, I tried to start one but they want MONEY to do that! sigh, so I started emailing those "interested" in Bible Study! The other site there were none local! Thank you so much for those!

The area hasn't been declared a disaster area, and probably won't

Her house is rather old, but the water just seeped in everywhere.

Glad you are no longer powerless, Cottage. (I did get your message.)

Came home to a very lethargic dog who won't eat or drink so am rather worried. I've been in touch with the Ottawa vet hospital and will be taking her in there tomorrow if things worsen and definitely have an appointment with Dr. DeMadron the specialist on Monday. When Hershey turns down a ball of ground beef, she's sick! Poor fur baby.

So if I seem somewhat distraught, that's why. I'll be skipping Church tomorrow to keep an eye on her.

Ruth, my deepest prayers are going up for sweet Hershey. I hope she's just having a bad day and starts feeling better soon.

Ruth,
Praying for Hershey. Keep us posted.

Ruth - So sad about Hershey! I hope everything turns out alright. Saying prayers.

Nessa- hope it doesn't get too bad in your area.

Lori- Hopefully you will get a response and can get a local bible study going.

Zeff- glad to hear that your church is chipping in to help out.

Ruth- I hope that Hershey gets too feeling better.

Just got back for Disney on Ice and we all had a great time, now for some quiet time. DD2 saw the rides at the Town Fest, but I am too wore out to take her plus I spent enough on her at Disney event for one day. LOL I put on Disney and she forgot about rides. hehe

How was Disney on Ice? It is coming to my area soon and I was debating taking my 6 and 3 yr old. It seems to get so expensive!!

Hello, everyone. I'm alive, barely. DH got home around 10:30 and took me to the doc, but we didn't get in until 2. Sigh. Sometimes it stinks living in a small town...

Anyhow. I have a major sinus infection, so I was given a steroid shot and a course of antibiotics to get through this. If all goes well, I'll be back at work on Monday. You wouldn't believe how terrible the house looks!

Praying for Hershey, Ruth!

Hope you all have a nice Saturday night!

Ruth - I've said a prayer for Hershey.

My assistant scribe came over last night with her twin 11 year old boys. They hit is off with Brian like they had known each other forever. We ate pizza (off plan) and the boys went swimming and played on the Wii while we worked. It was after midnight when we tried to pry them apart so my assistant could go home. The boys didn't want to stop! But Grace and Brian and I had to be at council offices at 7:30 and we're just too old to stay up that late.

The participant orientation/staff development went really well. I've got a LOT to get done before the course though. We were supposed to go visit Robert in the rehab center tonight but we ended up going out to dinner with my lawyer and a close friend. We'll deal with the visit tomorrow.