- 2023: Ride my see-saw (12/30/23)2
- Five years on: When does it all become ‘enough?’ (6/23/23)3
- 2022: Things fall apart, but they can be rebuilt (12/29/22)1
- Getting at it fundamental to what we do (9/23/22)1
- Getting the hang of a Model T (9/8/22)
- Price: Community buy-in critical for volunteer firefighters (8/30/22)
- If I can be a little more like Ernie Pyle (8/16/22)2
When you've got nothing, double down
Well, we made it. We survived the (first?) "snowmageddon" of Winter 2021. I would say we did so pretty well unscathed, despite the single-digit temps and 10 inches or so.
However, this made for an uninteresting week for me in terms of getting out. Both the Russellville Town Council and North Putnam School Board canceled their regular meetings, though the latter was rescheduled. These two were my only commitments.
Though I understand them being canceled because of the less-than-ideal conditions outside the city, this left me with nothing to report. However, a story will fall into your lap every once in a while; and sometimes it may be more than you would've expected.
I published such a story about the Roachdale and Bainbridge communities trying to conserve natural gas. What I initially thought would be a local story was predicated on a shortage that is now affecting the nation as a whole. I spent the day on Thursday trying to grasp how the state of Texas has been severely impacted by this polar vortex.
The challenge was synthesizing the elements of why this is happening: Texas' power grid going out, natural gas pipelines freezing and why it all was a problem for northern Putnam County. I would say it is ultimately a story of the supply not meeting demand. This is still a great example of a greater issue affecting each of us on the micro-level.
I am no expert on natural gas and how it is transported, but I did my due diligence for a less-than-600-word article. It is always interesting to learn something on a deadline.
Students have been e-learning all this week. The roads in general have been nasty. Salt is still eating at my Trailblazer's rocker panels. Things have seemed to slow way down.
However, next week might provide a reset for us — even if some of the snow remains.
We have temperatures around 40 degrees to look forward to. If we can get some rain to wash the road salt away, this will be a nice contrast to what we've had as of late. It gives a glimmer that spring is right around the corner. It can't come sooner for me.
Indiana weather, though, is always subject to change — whether you love it or hate it. We could go from wearing shorts and a T-shirt to full-on coveralls within four hours.
In the meantime, I will try taking it easy. Not only will I have some bourbon friends over, but I've also got my 26th birthday this Sunday to ponder about. It's a little scary.
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