Woe

March 23, 2007 at 1:49 AM

My favorite fishing deck’s gone, washed out by a broken ice dam that flooded the Kenai and caused 2 million dollars worth of damage. It’s stupid; I feel like a low budget country song, bawling over something as trite as a missing fishing hole. I guess it’s not just the deck that's got me down. It’s everything adding up: my sick husband, my knee injury, my nonexistent spring, and my sore bow arm that’s keeping me from practicing. It all adds up to a spring break full of nothingness, plus a little less to look forward to this summer.

I guess there’s only one thing to do when the negatives add up. Find the positives and add them up until they outnumber the negatives.

(That’s after taxes, of course.)

I’ll be back with my happy list soon. Everyone needs a happy list. Hmm... sushi ...fresh strings ...silver white winters that melt...

From Laurie Niles
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 4:09 AM

And there are the silver white winters that meld into spring...

From Emily Grossman
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 5:06 AM

Ha, thanks for the laugh, Laurie!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 5:11 AM

That wasn't two million dollars of damage; it was two million dollars of help.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 5:13 AM

You have absolutely no clue.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 5:22 AM

Basically, when the ice came down the river, it actually took out about $6-7 million in habitat projects, private property, and infastructure that had been placed there to help maintain a healthy bank environment. It also carved out large chunks of bank, destroying salmon spawning grounds and clogging the river. We're not sure how extensive the damages are yet, since everything's still frozen. However, we are sure of the fact that Soldotna thrives on the business that the river brings, be it sport fishing or sight-seeing. Without river access, the town shuts down. In response to the flooding and ice jams, the borough mayor declared a disaster emergency for the city of Soldotna.

Calling such an incident a help is about as tactful as saying the same of Katrina.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 6:04 AM

You always see the negative side. Maybe Aaron Neville will be on TV again.

From Neil Cameron
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 10:45 AM

Not to minimise the immediate effects, but nature does have a remarkable ability to recover from its own disasters. Just may take a while. :)

Hope George and your knee and bow arm all feel better soon.

Now if you want truly depressing - our lovely snow here in Ottawa is all but gone and the temps are in the 50s and 60s. My first winter here and it only lasted just over two months!

Neil

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on March 23, 2007 at 10:51 PM

I hope all your problems resolve quickly and well.

From Michael Schallock
Posted on March 24, 2007 at 4:08 PM

It's spring fever, Emily, I've got it bad. I want to go fishing and it is sooo cold and when it isn't cold it is windy. I'm going to take my family out for Saturday breakfast! Maybe even eggs Benedict..and lots of hot coffee!
Hang in there....
I'll see you in April for the Verdi.

From Keith Laurie
Posted on March 24, 2007 at 4:50 PM

I see it as Nature's way of reminding us who's the boss.

No doubt the $7-8 million disaster funds will be used to rebuild the river-walks, fishing decks, boat launches, etc. Then 4 or 5 years from now, the next lake dump up in the mountains will once again wipe out all these expensive "enhancements". It would be nice if some of that money was spent figuring out how to live with the river instead.

When is it going to warm up?

(Good luck with the bow arm.)

From Emily Grossman
Posted on March 24, 2007 at 10:48 PM

Michael, who makes good Hollandaise sauce in Homer? Mmm, the last time I had eggs benedict was Christmas two years ago.

Keith, I don't know when we'll see breakup. The great thing is, we can count on more sunshine every day! :)

From Michael Schallock
Posted on March 25, 2007 at 3:21 PM

Good Hollandaise? Besides me?
We go to Duncan House. They are very good for breakfast. Mot a fancy sort of gourmet breakfast. Just a very good standard one. Lots of omelettes too.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on March 26, 2007 at 2:26 AM

I'm still looking for the restaurant where Adam works. I hear he makes killer sauces, but don't ask him what's in them. ;)

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Woe

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