It was a bad one tonight, folks. A real bad one. It was about 10:30. I was just sitting on the sofa, enjoy "Louie" and getting ready for bed during commercials, when Direct TV told me that the satellite couldn't be found. Well, crap. In the past, this has been a fairly consistent indicator that there was a flood on the way. And boy howdy, was there ever.
This flood was epic. I mean, into the kitchen, the bathroom, and the laundry room. Almost into the bedroom, but for a clever towel blockade. Gushing in through the windows. Literally pouring in through tiny holes in the solid cinder block walls. There are no pictures. Just a 40 second video of water coming in between the floor and the wall, with me, towards the end saying "ooookaaaaaay..." as the panic starts to set in.
I called emergency after hours straight away, and it went right to voice mail, saying in case of medical emergency, fire, or flood I should call 911. But this wasn't like a life threatening flood, so I held off while I splashed in tiny circles in the middle of my apartment. I called again; no answer. Almost immediately after hanging up, they called back.
When the guy got here (unfortunately, it wasn't the regular maintenance man; he's kind of dreamy, so I like it when he comes to my rescue...alas), he took one look and said "You win" and then he took off. I thought to myself I win? I don't know what that means. The water was about two feet up the windows, so I think their priority was to drain the window well. About 20 minutes later, he came back with the shop vac and set to work. Another 20 minutes and an additional man later, they left. Now, I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the fact that these guys came and saved me from going down with the ship at 11 pm, but I do wish they would have helped me put my furniture back. I may have broken the top off of my DVD cabinet when I tried to move it by myself.
I guess I wasn't the only one with flooding tonight, though. As they left, I heard them talking about next door. I am oddly pleased that I won.
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Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
-Mary Oliver
-Mary Oliver
Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idley spread, --behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadow, o'er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idley spread, --behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadow, o'er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley
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