party like it’s 2019

i almost wrecked the van yesterday trying to see it…

…but admitted defeat before i did.

it was about 11:30am and i’d heard that, for the first time since 2019, the flood gates on mansfield dam would be open. i’ve never seen them open, so i wanted a gander. but i was on 620 northbound, which meant it was a bit outta view. i tried to almost stand in the van to see, but that’s when i almost had an issue, so i resolved myself to the fact that most i’d get out of the experience was the view i had down river, where things were noticeably more turbulent and swollen, as one would expect with open floodgates.

but i’ve since found out that what i saw was the result of only one floodgate being opened, because apparently that wasn’t doing the trick. imagine my surprise when, almost eight hours later, i drove back by on the southbound side, when i figured all would be all closed up and sealed again, but instead…

they’d opened a second one! no idea how much more swollen and turbulent that made things, but it was enough that they forbid all watercraft and lake and river usage, a warning that was promptly ignored by most because it was hot as balls yesterday and apparently we have our share of residents that want to give floridians a run for their money. so we’ll see what news stories come out of that lil’ wet act of civil disobedience – so far, so good!

(written at 1pm sunday – no fatalities seen in my feed by 11pm monday)