Episode 2

Notes From the North IF - Part the Second

One odd thing we noticed when we were in our vast tool/utility room was the continuous sound of -something- flowing. We speculated about what it might be as we stumbled through the house with boxes and furniture, bringing some order from the chaos of transplantation. Was it gas? If so to what? Was it water? If so where was it going? We were as disorganized as anyone whose belongings are in boxes, have been on the road for parts of 3 days, packing frantically for days before that, now plunged into an unfamiliar environment would be. We did return to the question periodically over the next 2 days. Finally our next door neighbors told us that since the house was put on the market for rental the Rainbird(TM) irrigation system had been on automatic, even though this contravened local ordinances about watering (permitted on Mon, Wed, Fri - and Sunday is a free day for everyone).

I located the Rainbird(TM) system and set it to "OFF". Thinking that was the end of the problem we slogged through our sodden lawn for 2 days mowing, edging (with items borrowed from our most beloved next door neighbors). Since the days were hot, sunny, practically windless, we were confused as to why the lawn would still be wet.

With a feeling of dread in my heart I returned to the tool/utility cavern. There it was, undiminished - that damnable, inexplicable sound of -something- flowing, flowing.

It was then that we noticed the vast yard across the street from us. When we pulled into our street with the truck, a gentleman was mowing it on his riding mower. Today, it was a beautiful mirror of water - reflecting the fleecy clouds in the azure sky - and spreading ever so slowly to engulf the property.

The next day it had become a shady bayou, threading with waters' natural disregard for property lines over several yards - attracting passing waterfowl and becoming the 3rd largest body of water within the Idaho falls City limits.

Since today is Labor day I began with low spirits but a sense of fatalistic determination to call for help. Would we be billed for the fantastic amount of water released since we moved in? Were we funding an aquatic avian refuge?

A call to the rental company of course got me a recording. In a voice I hope was calm but urgent I stressed that they should call me immediately, giving them just enough details to raise alarm in their hearts if anyone listened to the message. The outgoing message gave me a number for after-hours maintenance emergencies. I called it next.

The lady who answered there listened to my issue, had me walk around the house (again) to find the water shut off valve which I could not locate. I gave her my address and she was prepared to send someone, but discovered that i was not on her list of managed properties! She was also confused about where we were - was about to send someone to Salt Lake City. I dragged her back to Ammon (a tiny suburb of Idaho falls) and she told me she would call the rental company, then the city, then call me back.

In the meantime it was the day and hour to return our rental truck. Dustin's father Glenn followed me in the rental car as Google's directions took us both into the charming countryside surrounding Idaho Falls. Grimly we fought our way back to the city and found the rental lot - re-refueled the truck and returned it.

In the meantime I spoke by telephone with the City of Ammon, the county Sheriff Department and finally a City of Ammon representative arrived. We explained the situation to him - showed him the vastly expanded new lake (by this time it was also raining) and took him into the basement. When he stepped into the tool/utility cavern and heard the sound of -something- flowing he gasped. Then he said "Oh My!"

He also searched outrside the house for the water shut-off but could not find it. Dustin, who had found it during the epic 2-day mowing of our yard directed him to it and after he tried to shut it off but could not. The charming representative told us that the City of Ammon would be out in the next week to repair the line as the break was on the City's side of the line.

Now neighbors returning home from their long weekend began to see the new body of water uniting their properties. The After-Hours emergency maintenance company called to let me know we would not have to pay for the new Lake Surprise currently spreading itself over our neighborhood.

Still, standing in our tool/utility cavern - I hear the sound of -something- which is water - flowing.

End part the Second - stay tuned for the next installment of Notes From the North.