Wind Power

Fortunately, the flood waters are going down. Last week was a rainy week, but it didn't make anything worse than it already was. Today it is just windy. So windy, in fact, that I played a game on my way back in from the stable called "how much can Robin use her tailwind instead of her gas pedal on the drive home without actually dipping below the speed limit." I enjoyed the game, and was quite astonished by the long periods of time I could go along with my car out of gear, rolling up and down hills. One or two cars behind me seemed not to enjoy the came quite as much as I did. But like I said, I never went below the speed limit, so in my view they had no right to get fussy with me.

The Sun's Come Out

Although we currently live in an official presidential disaster area, I must say we had a very relaxing weekend. The river, for the time being at least, has stopped rising, and a couple of bridges across town even re-opened. However, the water has not yet receded significantly - so much of the city remains shut down and in disarray.

Until the water goes away, however, there is very little that can be done to repair things.

So, Brian and I spent much of the weekend with Steen. There are some new photos and another short video on Steen's blog to prove it.

The last few days it hasn't even rained. The sun has been out, and the thermometer has been reporting temps in the 70's. Better yet, these idyllic conditions are supposed to continue for most of the week.

Brian's new job is already full of perks - like getting a whole week off since the university is closed due to flooding. (For those of you who didn't know Brian has a new job, you can read more about his decision to leave the literature PhD program to become a professional adviser here.) I recently completed and launched two complete websites so have a lull as far as that work-load goes, and since summer means slow at the gallery, I won't exactly be tied to a grind-stone myself. We have plans to relax with a vengeance.

Enough Already

As many of you may already know, we are having a rainy season here in Iowa. My general weather strategy consists of trying not to worry about it too much and making the best of things even when conditions are not ideal. I don't always succeed in doing this (I did occasionally burst out this winter, "I am not leaving the house today," when things got too cold), but I do try.

I have likewise been trying to ignore the rain. It could be worse, afterall. We could be having daily tornadoes. Still, the wet can be irritating, particularly since Steen takes a childish joy in finding any mud available in his pasture and rolling in it.

When the Iowa River got so high it overflowed and blocked off the road I usually take to the stable where I work, I found another (albeit significantly slower) road to take. When Brian called me at work to let me know Black Diamond Road, my route to Steen, is likewise closed, again I took another way around.

But things have finally gotten out of hand here. The day before yesterday, the dam above Iowa City filled to the point that water started gushing over the spillway - meaning we no longer have any control over the river. Yesterday, they announced the river was going to continue to rise by many feet until June 20th and then slowly start to recede - if we didn't get any more rain.


But this morning, guess what we woke up to? That's right. A raging downpour.

You may all rest assured in the fact that at least Brian I are in no danger of having to leave our home as we are on high ground nowhere near the river. All of downtown Iowa City would have to flood before our house started taking in water, and if that happened we'd probably leave anyway. Steen is likewise quite safe.

However, many people who would not have been considered in the flood zone are evacuating their homes today.


As you can see, there is water in all sorts of places where water should not be.



I just hope things start to dry up soon.

Photos from The Press Citizen.

Fuji Gran Tourer SE

I can't help but notice an awful lot of people come to my blog from google having run a search for my town bike. I have no doubt they are not searching for my town bike in particular, but rather some broader information about its kith and kin.

Unfortunately, I know little about the Fuji Gran Tourers beyond my own, but I thought I should at least have an up to date photo of mine available for these weary internet travelers.


This is my daily bike. I ride it to work and around town in all kinds of weather. When it came to me it had all its original parts. Since then I've converted it to a single speed, replaced the pedals, seat-post, seat, handle bars, brake levers, grips (and cables, housing and chain, of course) and added fenders. In return it has carried me safely to my destination time and time again.

If you see this post and have a Fuji of your own, please leave a comment telling me about yours, and link to a photo if you have one.

To the Leader of the Ant Tribe that Regularly Attempts to Install an Occupying Force in Our Kitchen

Dear Sir or Madame,

Although I seriously doubt your actions are actively designed to incite a state of open warfare between your people and mine, I must advise you that the increased number of your agents in our territory is making it difficult to avoid carnage. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the death or injury of your subjects brought about by our mundane kitchen tasks - including but not limited to those involving water, heat, and frequent relocation of objects such as utensils and crockery.

Furthermore, I would like to alert you to the fact that when your soldiers deliberately breach all known forms of good-breeding and etiquette and raid our food stores while we are using them to cook, it cannot be held against my people if they sometimes retaliate with violence.

Since such trespasses seem to occur with steadily increasing frequency, at this juncture we must gently recommend that you withdraw your soldiers from our kitchen for the good of everyone involved. Every other insect society seems able to function quite happily outside of our walls, and please be advised you are more than welcome to forage in our garbage can and compost heap.


All the Best,

Someone Who Could Squash The Likes of You With One Finger but Doesn't (And Frequently Even Rescues Your People When They Wander Into Dangerous Situations) Due to a Ridiculously Overblown Sense of Compassion

P.S. Conscience also compels me to mention there are sects within our highest orders who do not entirely accept my ideals of tolerance and nonviolence. Should your selfish behavior continue unchecked, other ways of thought will inevitably gain ground. Our current "Clean A Lot and Try to Avoid Them" policy might soon be replaced with the increasingly seductive "Kill. Kill Them All" alternative commonly enacted in nearby homes.

Friends With Benefits

I've been stretching whenever I think of it lately - pseudo yoga type routines crammed in quickly here and there to help my back heal from the bucking episode and also in an effort to get rid of the ongoing plantar fasciitis issue in my right leg. But this morning I had a little more time and decided to do a light version of a proper yoga workout. I haven't done that since before my life was hugely (but gloriously) disrupted by my new status as horse owner.

So, for about half an hour I contorted myself around on the office floor, and I discovered a few astonishing things. As I said, I haven't done any serious yoga for a while. I also haven't been riding my bike any more than usual, doing calisthenics before bed, or anything like that. And yet, as soon as I got to some of the more demanding bits of my routine, I noticed my balance has improved dramatically and my ability to hold core-strengthening poses (I have always considered my abs the weak link in my muscular chain) vastly increased. Also, my plantar fascia causes me only marginal discomfort, even in the deep stretches (it still twitches a good deal though).

Of course, it all made perfect sense as soon as I stopped to think about it. In giving Steen a thorough workout 5 days a week this last month, I've been giving myself a bit of one too. As an unexpected bonus, the downward thrust of my heel when my foot is in the stirrup is identical to the stretch I'm supposed to do all the time to help the plantar fasciitis. I've been doing all sorts of healthy things for myself without even meaning to. I suppose that's really the greatest thing about riding a horse. It feels a good deal more like hanging out with a friend than consciously maintaining a healthy body, but if you do it enough it produces the same results.