Stormy Weather -- OR -- Queen Defeats Rising Waters

My household came through last night's big storm in good shape, thanks in large part to the little pump the ex bought me late last winter and the valiant job _storyteller_ did making the correct tubing actually fit on the connector.

As I mentioned last night, I came home from work to find the water level dangerously high in the drain. And when the rain started coming down harder, I went into proactive water resistance mode for the first time: getting the pump out, attaching a garden hose (per the Ex's instructions), and then retrieving Mr. Shop Vac from the shed -- all in pouring rain and gusts of wind.

I felt so strong out there in the elements taking action to protect my home.

Unfortunately, although the pump did turn on, it didn't actually get the water to go anywhere, and I wasn't entirely sure why: if the engine was going but drawing the water up, or if the hose was too long or going up at too steep an angle. So I started Mr. Shop Vac and pulled up the water that was threatening to spill over the doorsill.

_storyteller_ got there a little later, with the plastic sheeting I had requested. There had been water coming in from above my porch (overspill from the gutter? I couldn't see) and I thought we might rig an awning to divert water down into the lawn. By the time he got there, however, that water had stopped coming down -- but the water in the drain and in my porch was already rising to threatening levels again.

Together we made the pump work. I had the short clear tubing the Ex had bought to go with the pump, but which did not have the right threaded head to fit. _storyteller_ found the right connectors to make it work. He also removed the garden hose and we watched the pump create a fountain, proving it was actually working. Once the shorter hose was in place, it started moving the water off my porch and out into the lawn.

But there was still the issue of the probable loss of electricity later due to the high winds. So then he used the plastic and duct tape to seal the bottom edges of my door. We then retired to the Cave for chicken fajitas with the Daughter.

The storm was bad. There have been several deaths, including one woman who drowned in her basement utility room. Three bridges were closed and remain closed. My office building is closed today because there is no power. But my house still has power, and no water got in.

These periodic winter floods have been the bane of my existence for years now, as most of you know, and I've always felt helpless in the face of the elements and my own lack of capabililty to solve the problem, to do anything more than clean up after the damage, or struggle through the night in the face of overwhelming conditions. Last night, I stood up to my nemesis, and I won, and it felt so good.

That's why I'm not using one of my rain/water icons for this post.

This is the post of a Queen who marshalled her resources -- including her loyal, powerful allies -- and was able to protect her realm from danger.

Last night, I won.