torrential rain drawbacks and benefits

drawbacks

1) not being able to ride my bike for days at a time

2) getting head to toe soaked before a date i was really excited about. like, to the point where i was bringing out water from my wet shirt. my jeans felt/ possibly were about 3-4 lbs heavier, and my shoes squished out water with every step i took. the poor guy looked stunned to see me. i had to try to dry my hair in the bathroom under one of those hand air blower machines. and he kept asking me if i was all right as i sat shivering uncontrollably next to him--the shivering didn't bother me because i couldn't control it, but he looked pained watching me. my lips were purple by the end of the night.

3) having my top window collapse, creating a huge gaping hole directly to the outside world. of course, the day after this happens the rain came. when i got home the first night trout was screaming in misery and my bed was soaked halfway down (from the rain, not my cat).

4) my phone getting water damage and doing bizarre things...like calling friends randomly about a dozen times in a row. two friends called me in a panic asking me what was wrong. other people probably thought i was stalking them.

benefits:

1) crazy flooding stories from friends (i won't get into them here, but some were horrifically good)

2) having rock creek parkway closed to cars but not to pedestrians and cyclists. i rode my bike to work on tuesday and ventured down rock creek parkway to see the damage between woodley and georgetown since that's the route i take to work. it was overcast and still windy. i was speechless. it was empty. completely. and all i could hear was the muddy, wild creek that was many feet higher than it should have been. parts of the bike/jogging trail were under 8 inches of sand, some parts of it were completely under water. i saw the end of a car sticking out of the creek and wondered if i should tell the cops in case it was an accident and someone was still trapped in the car...

it was one of the eeriest and most fantastic rides i've ever taken to work. it reminded me of the start of 28 days later. i actually got a little scared at certain points because it was so absolutely deserted. it was just me. and the rushing sound of the creek.

i rode home at last night and it was equally incredible. it was dusk and although i don't take rock creek park at night, i did that night because i could ride on the road. i saw a lot more people--joggers, walkers, cyclists, families riding around in the tunnel before the zoo..and everyone seemed so giddy and excited. it was completely surreal. people waved to each other, people called cheerily out to you as you rode by...it was crazy.

i wish they closed rock creek to cars forever. i have never been in such a good mood coming into work. and my mood was heightened even more by getting 2 lbs of blueberries for $6. sweeeeeeet! but that had nothing to do with the rains. i just wanted to throw that in there because i love blueberries.