Episode 3

Notes From the North IF, Part the 3rd

So we have learned a good deal since my last NFTN. The lake that formed across from us came about as a deliberate effort called "flood irrigation", and had nothing to do with our (still ongoing) water pipe break. The City of Ammon has marked out parts of our lawn and the street with a brilliant patchwork of chalk and spray paint lines and flags - all indicating utility lines of one sort or another. The crew which came out this morning was as appalled by the volume of water apparently escaping as was the first charming gentleman, but no digging has yet begun. They refused to believe that we were not using any water, that all the gushing and rushing they detected was from a broken pipe - but once they went over our house inch by inch they were forced to concede that it is all due to multiple fractures in their piping.

The apologetic utility worker informed me that there are likely additional breaks on our side of the water line, and went into a long explanation of what would need to be done in that case and the expense involved. I gratefully informed him that it was an issue for the property management company not us.

The washer/dryer we purchased are antiques - if we wait another couple years a museum may want them. The dryer, while clunky is operational, but the washer leaks profusely. Our calls to the vendor went unanswered until this morning when I took over communicating from Dustin. Mr Dxxxx called back immediately after I left a message letting him know my calls would be unrelenting until he got back in touch. He has now promised to come out today - cross your fingers for us.

After the long, dreamy sunshine of San Diego we are getting used to weather again - it alternates here so far between hot and muggy on one hand, and black clouds, continuous flickering lightning and sudden squalling downpours of rain on the other. Last night a blackish subcontinent of rainclouds shoved its way into the grayish mass of clouds filling the rest of the sky - and lighting illuminated the entire edge where the black clouds intruded into the gray - a crown of ionic thorns. Dustin and I watched, listening to the continuous roll of thunder as a laurel wreath of lightning illuminated the entire edge of the intruder. I have never seen anything like it before.

We have also discovered that there is a recycling program of sorts - you must purchase the recycling barrel, then take it to the recycling center yourself. Since we are on a thin budget until our income starts to flow, we cannot purchase the container yet, and without a vehicle we have no way of taking it to the center yet. But at least they do have some sort of program.

The thing that throws the worst monkey wrench into our plans is the LAWN. This forbiddingly lush and vast expanse laughed at our first mowing and returned in 3 days to it's full luxuriance - coming from a neighborhood where everything was sand except that which we ourselves planted - the lawn represents the most intractable dilemma for us. I never before realized how futile and pointless lawns were - such a vast expenditure of time, energy and effort is needed to keep it in check. Luckily it will go to sleep for the winter soon - but at this rate we will somehow have to mow it 5 or 6 more times before then. We are now waiting for the friendly neighbors to mow their lawn as a signal to borrow their mower again.

Idaho Falls is having its first gay pride Celebration this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. We are already putting together our festive costumes and have arranged for a ride to the celebration. I'll have a report on that for the next installment of NFTN!