misc. & birthday & water

Today, September 15, my wife's birthday.  She was born in Levelland (TX) six weeks before I arrived in Oklahoma.  I am not sure, but I think she may have been the first in her entire family to attend college.  Her parents - pre marriage - moved to Levelland sometime during the 20-30s, went to and graduated from LHS, met had 2 children and so forth.  I would tell you how old my wife is, but you can figure it out on your own in six weeks when I announce my own birthday.   Never ever thought I would hang around with an old lady as much as I do.
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It may never rain again in this part of the country.  Our lake is going down inches daily.  We are told that it is 10 ft below normal.  Folks, that is a lot of water under the bridge.  From our house looking north, we can see land moving our direction.  The cows from the other side of the lake are starting to move down our shore and eating our weeds.  Not that I would complain.   The rancher rode down last week and had a round up.  On his horse?  you may ask.  Nope, apparently, the four wheeler has taken the place of the rancher's horse.  Sorta sad really.
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This too shall pass.  All things, if left alone, will return to their normal state.  Of course, it could be that the normal state is 15 ft down - and we have just been having a rainy several years.  That's sorta like global warming.  Just a few years back they were crying about global cooling - this has been during my adult lifetime.  This too shall pass - hurricanes will come again - the snows will once more bless the highlands - glaciers will begin to grow instead of shrink - Republicans will return to office.  You name it.  It will evolve.
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So we pump water out of the lake to water our yard.  We paid a one time fee, and we get get free muddy water if we are willing to pay for the electric pump to shove it up hill.  We did & we paid & we are willing.  But the lake went down so far that our inlet valve is out of the water. We paid a guy to extend our line somewhere around 400 more ft into the lake.  We pump again.  It was interesting seeing this kid walk out into the lake 400 ft pulling a plastic pipe to be buried in the mud.  We will have water for a while, but without rain, even that pipe will come out of the water. Whatta ya gonna do?
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I'll tell you.  I have so much influence with all things religious - I have been praying for a hurricane to hit Houston, hit Houston hard, and then, come right up I-45 to my house, replenishing the lake. I know that some of you will find this to be ethically incorrect - known in the world as  E.I.   Sure maybe hundreds or thousands of people will lose everything they own and a few relatives.   But our lake will refill.  And, if you think about it, bus companies will make more money busing people out of the lowlands to west Texas...gypsy roofers will have a great new area to fleece...politicians will make hay from all the visits and concerned looks.  Hurricanes create a whole new world of making money - take house repair - shovels - soap - new cars to replace the drowned older models  (which will be dried off and sold south of the border to unsuspecting Guatemalans - the funeral industry - so many things.  C'mon Hurricane.   I hope it will be named after some female and not one that is hard to pronounce or spell.
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or we will just wait for the spring rains.
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Meanwhile, I haul water hoses all over the yard on Thursdays and Sundays sprinkling away.   The Tarrant County water district limits us to Th & S.  Soon it will be limited to one day.   It really is an interesting feeling to look north and see the edge of lake moving - no marching steadily south.  It is almost like Sherman's March to the Sea over Atlanta.  And all those fish are being squeezed south - hungry and confused.
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A little side note:  the guy fixed our water on a Friday about 3 weeks ago.  He has yet to ask to be paid.  At the time I offered.  He said he had to go home and figure it; call me back Monday.  He didn't.  So I wait, cash in one hand a water hose in the other and a longing eye poised towards any cloud that drifts my direction.
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Back to birthday.  Did I mention my trip to Walmart where I bought her a black T-shirt with the words  HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY emblazoned across the front?
later,
m