Big Bang

December 8, 2006 (12:05pm)
17º F, Windy clouds, W wind 13 mph, gusting 23mph, 2º F wind chill.

Good afternoon,

Another pair of pictures were taken yesterday of Margriet for the Immigration Services. One thing about the pictures - they don’t have a number on them like those at the postoffice, but they don’t look as good either. Margriet figured out that this is the 12th time she has had pictures taken. The price has substantially increased since the last time too - by 60%! I also was surprised to see them use a digital camera too. The image on digital can be manipulated, not like paper photograph from a Polaroid camera as used in the past. Hope it works.

The pictures were the main focus for the run into Green Bay yesterday. I don’t think there is a photographer in Kewaunee any more to make the pictures here. He retired. When I checked with him when I got my passport pictures, the cost then was about $35.00 and a week wait. Figured it was a bit high and long. He told me that too and suggested I get them at a discount store or some such. I did and we have since.

While we were in Green Bay, we did have a couple of things to pickup. Some were for Christmas presents, others for our normal supplies. A couple of things I discovered which I needed were boots and insulated work gloves. The day before, I found that I would only work outside for about 20-30 minutes and my hands were so cold I had not feeling in them. Not something you want when working with power tools of any kind. I did find a pair rather cheap. The company is in Missouri, but the gloves were made in China. Surprise! Hope they will do the job. Normally I don’t like to use insulated gloves when using power equipment. I use just unlined leather work gloves - until now. As long as I was moving and using my hands, I didn’t have too many problems with cold hands until the temperature got below zero. Guess I spent too many days working under race cars in snowbank a long time ago. Things catch up.

The other need, boots, also surprised me. Getting ready to go outside a couple of days ago, I noticed that my "dress" winter boots were cracking. I like to wear Wellington style slip on insulated boot when not working or knocking around. They are rubber up to about the ankle height, then leather for uppers. I bought them while working at Dale’s and were more comfortable than the normal pacs. I did expect them to last a lot longer than this. While at Fleet Farm earlier I looked for replacements but they only had "gun-boats" (size 11 and bigger). Looked again yesterday and there they were. The price tag said about $25.00, $10.00 less than I paid for the old ones. After checking out, I also discovered they were on sale, so saved more, paying only $18.00 for the pair. A better deal than I thought. If these only last 5 years, they still will be a bargain.

On the return home, Margriet forced me to stop at Otto’s to pick up some meat. We did, so we can eat like royalty for a while - leberkase, potato sausage, liver, soup bones, and kraut. Some of the potato sausages are out for supper. Should be a good meal a-coming! Otto’s was the busiest we have seen it - two other customers when we arrived. Usually we will be the only folks there. Margriet also intended to pick up a roulade for Christmas dinner, but they didn’t have any this time. That means we will have to go back another time. Such a rough life we have.

Wednesday morning there was a huge explosion in Milwaukee. Falk Corporation had one of their LP tanks explode. They have several tanks of LP to use as a backup fuel if the natural gas is shut off for some reason. From what we have seen/heard, they were testing the backup system when a leak occurred. The maintenance folks found leak and started to evacuate the employees from the plant (covers 67 acres of land). That action saved untold lives. As it is, at last word 3 people have died and about 40 +/- were injured and there are still several missing. Don’t expect they will be found alive if ever. The tank which exploded contained 170,000 gallons of LP, obliterating one building completely and, looking at the pictures (http://www.jsonline.com/site/photographerphotos/gallery.aspx?catid=343

and http://www.jsonline.com/site/photographerphotos/gallery.aspx?catid=344), probably a half dozen more will need to be taken down. One picture showed a fire truck’s boom ladder supporting part of the structure of one building to allow firemen to inspect the ruins.

The real kicker is that we were literally in the neighborhood the day before while going to immigration. We had taken a wrong turn, one we couldn’t make, and drove right past the plant. The viaducts we crossed, 16th Street and 27th Street, were both closed so folk would not be in the way and the viaducts could checked for damage. The sound could be heard and felt 20 miles away from reports. Looking at the pictures on the web, it sure is a scary sight. Brought back memories of the fireworks factory explosion near Margriet’s house in Enschede and the train wreak in Weyauwega a few years ago. We were very lucky to be out of the way for all three of the explosions. As with the Enschede and Weyauwega situations, there was also a lot of damage to the surrounding area. Really happy we were not around on Wednesday.

While waking around the yard, I found some fox tracks. First time in several years. Also finally found some raccoon tracks, but on the neighbor’s woods. Hope they stay in that area. There are a huge number of deer and rabbit tracks all over the woods. Guess I had better switch my trapping efforts from raccoons and opossums to rabbits. At least we might be able to have a good stew. We continue to see the flock of about 25 wild turkeys every once in a while too. On the way to Milwaukee, we saw a flock of about 50 south a ways along the roadway.

The last couple of days have been cold. Temperature about 3 or 4º F after sunup. The real cold comes with the wind. Very strong and very cold. But fresh. Sure am glad to have the woods to break the wind. A lot warmer than the old house I had in Weyauwega in the open fields.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><