Inmates

There are convicted-freaking-criminals in my backyard.

Two weekends ago the gulf was hit HARD with rain. We had 5 inches an hour coming down at one point. Enough to turn my front yard into a literal lake. With waves when cars drove by. Idiots.

As we can see here, around 8 am you can still see my tree. But the water is on it's way up.

 So here's photo #2, around 9 am a car got stuck in the rain. Again, Idiots. You can the sidewalk still. About this point I decided we needed out, before the water stranded us indoors. So I called a friend who started the long drive to us.

As my friends helped me carry Emily and her carseat down two blocks to the only place they could park close enough (on someone's lawn), we saw my neighbors out enjoying the rain. They're my new favorite people.

The water did not enter the house. Thank god. We were safe and dry with a friend overnight. David was in NC at the beginning of this for training, and was home by the next day to help. I love him.

Unfortunately, the water did create a giant problem. This hole appeared when the water receded.

And it began to grow. We called the city. After a few experts it was determined that we did not have a sinkhole, yay!, just erosion.  After 14 inches of rain a pipe burst as it took the water run off to the drainage place behind our house. (And such a crappy job it did).

The water released took a chunk of dirt with it and caused the top layer to fall in.  This created a lovely 10 foot hole in the yard.

Yesterday the city showed up to fix it. With inmates.

So long as they fix it, the orange jumpsuits don't bother me. Plus, they waved back to Emily when she yelled "HI!"

Today is round 2 of "construction." There are three or four trucks parked out front mostly blocking the street, and a huge backhoe helping them dig.  Emily is fascinated.

I'm hoping they'll fix everything today, but it seems to be a bigger job than anyone expected.