Don't Go in the Water!

In a recent post, I talked about a horrible storm that passed through and the resulting flooding and damage. I also briefly mentioned that a bunch of sewer water was dumped into Lake Michigan and many of the beaches were closed due to a high level of bacteria found in the water. Well, it gets better.

Brew City Flood: Sewage Dumping Surpasses BP Oil Spill

MILWAUKEE - Just when you thought it was safe to back in the water comes word that more than 2 billion gallons of untreated sewage and storm water was dumped into Lake Michigan.

Many beachgoers at Bradford Beach said they wouldn't ever go back in the lake again.

In fact, the amount of sewage and storm water dumped in Lake Michigan last week is 10 times the amount of oil spilled by BP in the Gulf Coast.

The BP spill is estimated at 94 to 184 million gallons of oil.

The sewage and storm water runoff is estimated at 2.1 billion gallons.

Many beaches were closed for several days over concerns of E. coli contamination. Now, some beaches are reopening, and sure enough, we found people back at Bender Beach, jumping into the water.

Apparently, swimming with urine, feces, and who knows what else doesn't seem to bother some people.

Many were fully aware of the sewage dumping, and said it didn't bother them.

"The water's fantastic and I'm not worried about it whatsoever," said Colleen McCann.

McCann said if tests show the water is safe, she doesn't feel like she's in danger. She doesn't mind that other swimmers are staying away.

"Good, it makes it better for the rest of us to come swimming," McCann said.

The lake at Bradford Beach remains closed to the public, though people are allowed to sit on the beach.

Good for you lady. Enjoy!

--------------

Silly Sign Sunday - A Word of Caution

Really? Say it isn't so!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Have you ever wondered what would happen if 7 to 11 inches of rain were to fall in a few hours' time? No? Well, me either but that's what it did last evening. Here are some of the results.

Car, Driver Tumble into Giant Sinkhole Amid Rainstorm

Huge Sinkhole Forms Between Homes in Milwaukee

Shorewood Roads Become River Rapids

Freeway Closed

People were stuck on the freeway for about two hours due to flooding in several areas.

The Governor declared Milwaukee County to be in a state of emergency this morning in order to receive assistance to repair damage caused by the storm and flooding.

We haven't seen a storm this severe in many years and thankfully, there were no fatalities. There is a lot of damage to homes with some basements being completely washed away and foundations crumbling. Unfortunately, most of those people probably do not have flood insurance.

On top of all that, just recently, several beaches were either closed or had warnings posted due to recent rainfalls and "unhealthy levels of e-coli" being found in the water. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District apparently had to "start sewer overflows into area waterways". Uh, does anyone else have a problem with dumping waste into Lake Michigan? I can only imagine how much more of this waste is now floating around after last night.

And finally, a storm with a potential of another three inches of rain is due to arrive later tonight.

Sigh...

Today is Wish List Wednesday but there will be no post about a product. Why, nobody asks? Because, I just don't feel like it. I have been in a stinky mood for last several days and have no desire to come up with a product to display and discuss. My brain is just not in the mood. There have been some life stresses going on recently and I'm just not feeling it. Boy, what a bummer post this is. Blah.

Let's see. Happy thoughts. I have been doing the whole going back to college after many, many years thing and went through some old emails from the school the other day in an effort to clear out all the junk emails. I was pleasantly surprised to see my name on the Dean's List. Holy cow! My name has never been close to being on that kind of list. Ever! So, I was quite tickled pink about it. Woohoo! Yay, me!! It may be the last time though because my next class that starts in a few weeks (yuck) is going to be a very challenging one.

That's about all I have right now. Time to crawl back in my dark and dreary hole in the corner and pout.

   

Silly Sign Sunday - Party Time

Well, this sounds like an interesting place!

Quit Staring at Me!

Uh, a little creepy.

A Trip Into the Past

I wanted to test out my camera the other day and I figured a great place to go would be the Wind Point Lighthouse. I had been there a few years ago when my husband and I accidentally stumbled upon it. We have lived in the neighboring city for many, many years and had no clue this lighthouse even existed!

The following is posted on a sign next to the llighthouse:

To assist navigation around the point into Racine harbor, the Wind Point Lighthouse began functioning in 1880 with a kerosene lamp, focused and magnified by a third order Fresnel lens. Its light could be seen for 19 miles.

At 108 feet, it is one of the tallest and oldest lighthouses still serving navigation on the Great Lakes. Its fog horns, which last sounded in 1964, could be heard for 10 miles.

I think it's amazing how a kerosene lamp could be seen so far away. I bet they never imagined how much things would change over the decades. Our modern technologies would blow there minds!