I’m baaaaack!  Why?

“It is the year, 2019” (said in Morgan Freeman voice) and I have my first EVER laptop.  No more stressing over my keyboard vs blue tooth connections – no more trying to tap out a post like morse code.

I, am at home and able to type this on an amazing machine.

Oh what a relief.  I have so very much missed writing.  And talking to you Soupers!

This post contains graphic anxiety so if you have triggers – stop reading.  Also, if you have rain, flash floods, commute or coyote phobias – not the one for you.

I’ll begin repeating myself shall I?

I moved to a very rural area and have a long commute now.  But, the land, the man and the hiking is worth it.  I am very grateful and know how blessed I am.

It’s ours.  Okay, it’s the bank’s – but, we’re not renting.

Here’s the deal though.  We live on a ‘Turn around don’t drown’ road.

This has mostly not been an issue.

We have monsoon season, which has kindly occurred mostly on weekends in the summer.  (Shout out to those storms dodging work days!  Whoop!)

But then came ‘the day’.

It was before the day I’m going to talk about.

Our neighbor gave me a map.  How very mysterious.  But, actually, he was looking out for me.  ‘Back Road Map’.  When would I use this?  When would I need this?   I was fine with my route.

Oh lord.  The day I first used it I figured all of that out and was so VERY grateful.

I’ll now just leap into what happened the other day shall I?

It was a foggy morn’ … arrived at my turn onto the highway with almost zero visibility.

(This is where I reiterate how this commute on a GOOD day is scary for me.  I have literally driven shaking, almost losing my vision, heart pounding, can’t feel my limbs, feeling ‘out of self’.)

I watched for headlights – waited – saw an ‘in’ and pulled out.

AND – some asshat didn’t have their headlights on.

They braked, I almost had a heart attack.

Going forward – heart pounding – and next fear comes true.  Coyote crosses road.

I safely navigated it and kept on going.

Long story short, I made it to work, going 45-50 in a 65 zone.

Rained ALL day.

We are … um, the ‘rain catchers’ of the area.  The mountains above us drain on down.

So, when my honey told me, rain is stopping, you should be okay, I believed it.

What I didn’t take into consideration was how long it takes for those long showers to make it down.

Here’s video one.

At this point I’m thinking, “Well, I’ve gunned it through heartier.  But, after seeing trucks turn around, I’m nope to the nopety nope.”

I first text my boss who asked me to let her know when I got home.

“I’m stuck on my road and shaking.”

I then call my husband.

“OK. I’m coming down.”

“You made a very good decision not crossing that.”

Great.

He can’t save me.  So, I turn around, ready to do the ‘back roads’ with that map in my 4 wheel drive amazing truck … wait …

Off road car YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not.

Then, this …

Remember, I’ve come this far right? I can go back, do the highway, take those back roads.  So, I turn around Aaaaand ….

I am now stuck between two washes.

I just want to go HOME!

I DID gun it through that one.  Shamefully I’ll admit, wasn’t the most dangerous decision I have made, but completely stupid.

I got to the highway and THIS highway (as if I haven’t made it clear enough) is so super dangerous.

I need the next left for my ‘map’ directions.

Almost got nailed doing that.

Next part, I’ll be the first to admit was fun, if danger was not a factor.

I slid, I slid and slid and … learned to get out of past tracks.

My poor car lol!  It’s not built for that.

Good thing it is a shift – and I could downshift.

And, that last track home made me smile.  (Only, I wish it happened in a jeep lol.)

I made it.

Now, here’s some pics of what the rain does to our land.

Yeah, roses are pretty watered.

The morning ‘weather is going to suck’ fog.

There used to be mountains?

Our parking area today.  (Yes, I’m lucky.)  But, you can see the wetness,  I share this post knowing my husband will be in Chicago soon and I can’t even imagine being there during adverse conditions! Me: Boo! Look what the rain did!

Him: (I’m making this up) I can’t feel my fucking face here.

So! There you go.  Stay warm.  Stay dry. Stay a Souper!