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Wordy Wednesday?

word-cloud-wordy-wednesdayAre you familiar with #Wordless Wednesday?

Bloggers, Twitter users and Instagram aficionados publish a single, captioned photo mid-week. Wordless…as in no words. Hmm.

Either I lack the confidence to post a photo that I think should stand alone, or I simply have too much to say.  I would like to propose a new hashtag called #Wordy-Wednesday.  Of course “wordy” sounds like something my 7th grade English teacher might abhor.

“The rain, in Spain, stays mainly in the plane” would never fly when

“It’s raining in the Spanish planes” is more concise. (Apologies to My Fair Lady)

It could be #Words-Wednesday but that would probably just get shortened to #words. I wonder how many hits the hashtag #words might get in a day?

Okay, I’m back. According to Google, about 2,120,000,000 results (0.90 seconds)

With that, I think I’ve come full circle. If you’ve read this far, you’ll know that I’m just over the 150 word count, and you’re probably thinking “Alys…get to the point!”

The point is, I like to write, and I like to read what you write and I like to read the comments that you write when I write. Here is my #Wordy-Wednesday.

The atmospheric river is back, delivering more heavy rain in back-to-back storms. I headed over the hill (for the appointment I cancelled last month due to the storms) only to be thwarted yet again. The rain cleared for a few hours mid-day and traffic reports said I could get there in about an hour. Crews were clearing a mudslide, with one open lane. Then as I approached the area of the highway without any easy exits, traffic slowed to a crawl and then stopped.

highway-17-mudlside

Stopped in traffic on Highway 17

A second major mudslide lay ahead and there was nowhere to go. Close to an hour later, crews created a turnaround and both lanes of traffic slowly made u-turns going back in the direction we came. Nearly two and a half hours later I found myself back home thinking that perhaps I’ll cancel all of my over the hill appointments until late March. What a slog.

The amazing news is that no one got hurt. The massive slide dumped mud, rocks and trees along two lanes of the highway, lifting a man in his truck up and then over the side rails, dropping the truck upside down. The man walked away from the accident unharmed!

Dozens of people worked over night to try to clear and shore up the area. They expect more slides today. Here is some amazing footage of a mudslide in action, taken from the dashboard camera of a police cruiser.

https://www.facebook.com/CHP-Santa-Cruz-940796342622481/

If you click on the Facebook link, then scroll down to February 7th, you can see the video.

Again, no injuries.

Throughout the Bay Area, massive trees are down, homes flooded and at least one home split in two and slid part way down the hill. I’m grateful for the people who keep showing up for work with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and a can-do attitude.

When it rains, it pours. #Word

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33 thoughts on “Wordy Wednesday?”

  1. It’s all very serious here but in the end, I had to laugh. “When it rains, it pours. #Word”. From my letters (email) to you, you would think I’m very wordy too. But always try to keep my posts around 500 words. Stories go over a bit but I do try. I also have the attention span of a elderly gnat. I like writing without a lot of superfluous words. Someone told me once I was a “Just the facts ma’am” kind of writer. I’m with you on photos that can carry the whole post. By the way, My neighbor directly across from just lost part of her back yard and a large tree down into the creek behind her. I have one behind me at the top of the terrace and am keeping watch. It just keeps raining. 😦 Spring is going to be so confused as I look at the weather across the country. My SIL has 26 degrees tonight and 74 on Saturday! Crazy.

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    • The “attention span of an elderly gnat” You crack me up, Marlene! Now we’re both laughing. I’ve read varying ideas on the “perfect” blog length, but like you, I tend toward 400-600 words. I don’t agree that you are “just the facts”. You have a wonderful style that conveys both the details and the feeling behind them.

      I am so sorry to hear that your neighbor lost part of her back yard. Did it literally slide into the river? Is her home okay? Are you okay? It’s been relentless, hasn’t it? It just started to pour in earnest about five minutes ago and the slides continue. What a crazy winter we’re all having, including your SIL. Warm, cozy hugs, MH.

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        • Good gravy, what a scary mess. Is the sun shining, Marlene? We have blue skies for the first time in days. It drizzled this morning, but it’s now breezy and clear and should stay this way through Wednesday. Sadly, more slides, more downed trees and the highway is closed again as of an hour ago.

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          • I’ve been watching your weather news too. We had enough of a break this morning for a short walk up the hill to the mailbox. 🙂 Hadn’t been in a couple of days. It’s only half a mile each way but a good hill. Have finally started my exercises again so now my legs are sore. 😦 We has clear skies through Tues so I can get out and walk the hills. Makes me very happy. What is someone who is solar powered doing living in Oregon? 🙂 Spring is coming!

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  2. Oh my goodness Alys, I told you to stop doing those rain dances! But really, this sounds a nightmare – isn’t it scary when you really have to think twice about going somewhere because of weather and road conditions. I suppose this is what happens when long droughts break – the ground is so hard and dry and the water starts to wear everything away. Add in more rain, a bit of wind, I am assuming there is quite a lot of wind really, and bingo = chaos! Please, don’t go over that hill again until you have the all clear. The rescue workers are giants aren’t they. When everyone else is going home glumly they are heading in determinedly! Inspirational!!

    I know about ‘Wordless Wednesdays’. But like you I like to spell it out for everyone and I like words and I like comments and I like to interact – for me it’s the whole point of blogging. I can be silent when I’m here alone doing something – er, silently. Or walking alone (well, with Siddy, but he doesn’t chatter unnecessarily)

    Go on Alys start off on Twitter with ‘#Words Lots and Lots of Words on Wednesday’ craze. Two billion folk will be following you in no time 🙂 xoxo

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    • I’m looking for the reverse button, Pauline! The rain stopped today, with a dry spell between Friday and the middle of next week, but the ground is still shifting. Sadly, two workers were run over this week by a truck backing up as the crews worked to shore up the hillside. One of the men died and the other is in hospital. What a devastating blow. The slides continue today and will likely continue for days to come. And yes, wind and rain and hills damaged by fire. It all adds up.

      Thank you for your words of encouragement regarding my wordy posts. I’ll be sure to let you know when I hit my first billion followers. [snort] xo

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  3. Still, at least you don’t have to water the garden….
    How about going all Transylvanian about it, and having ‘Verbose Vednesday’? ‘Wednesday’s Wonderful Wordiness’? ‘Wednesday Witterings’?
    BTW, that link doesn’t work for me. Is it just me, or are others having the same problem?

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  8. Stay safe hon ! No appointments worth getting swept off a highway in a mud slide. We were watching news this morning about a spill way to a Dam in Northern California at risk of failing. The amount of water rushing over was fierce. I hope everyone will be safe but my heart aches for nature and all the wild life at peril. The gentle souls that have no way of knowing the danger or peril that may come their way. I’m trying to keep my thoughts positive that the lake will recede enough to man the repairs and every living thing will be safe xo ❤ ❤ love you xo K

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  9. Oh, Alys! I think of you every time I see the news reports about the relentless rains! The thought of mudslides is so frightening, and you were so close to the scene. From extreme drought to extreme precipitation ~ it’s all too much! Hope you, your home, and those you hold dear are ok. Know that we are holding you in our thoughts!

    I’m definitely a ‘wordy’ writer. I always begin with the intention of writing a short note or blog post, but by the time I share what’s in my heart the words are many! So here’s to many more ‘Wordy Wednesdays,’ sweet friend! Sending sunny hugs! ♡

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    • Thank you, Dawn! I’m feeling incredibly lucky as I seem to arrive just before or after another small disaster in the making. A large palm frond crashed to the ground in front of us today when we were walking my friend’s dog. They can weigh upwards of 100 pounds, so you would not want one coming down on your head.

      One of our busy freeways is blocked today with downed power lines across all lanes. It’s just non-stop. The good news is that they seem to have stopped Lake Oroville from overflowing it’s banks once again. Earlier this week they evacuated 180,000 people. Can you imagine? I have a friend living there, but she’s above the river. Still, it was surreal for them sheltering in place, worrying about losing power, listening to all the helicopters overhead dropping boulders into place for repairs. Spring will be more welcome that ever this year.

      Three cheers to wordy writers! You’re heart is full, so you need to let it out. We’re here with you. xo

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