There is a modest chance of rain next week, but at least we have fall weather with cooler temperatures. With less need for water, maybe we can extend our water supplies. At this point we don’t need rain, we need snow this winter. Snow that is wet and melts slowly will be preferred.
Talent where you are not looking
Brad Scott just got named head coach at Essendon. He is the seventh player in the 2004 Grand Final to be a current head coach in the AFL. Among the head coaches are his twin brother Chris at current premiers Geelong, Craig McRae of Collingwood, the AFL coach of the year, and three time premiership coach Damian Hardwick of Richmond. Ironically, neither Port Adelaide nor Brisbane, the Grand Finalists in 2004 have a head coach among that group.
When I watched this game at a Tempe bar, I thought there was a lot of talent and skill, but I saw no indication of coaching skill or talent.
Homecoming
Where I grew up,homecoming was in October. Here most schools have already had homecoming. When you only have an eight game regular season, the season ends in October. At least the weather cooled down enough to feel like homecoming in the last week.
Drought is official
Coffeyville city commissoners have declared a drought watch, which asks people to use less water and allows it to draw water from other sources. Coffeyville also supplies water to Dearing, South Coffeyville , and the rural water districts surrounding them. It goes into effect Saturday upon publication in the official newspaper, the Urinal.
Meanwhile Caney is asking the county for help clearing out the remains of an old beaver dam. The county has a price schedule for using county crews and equipment, but beaver dam clearing is not on it. They will figure it out in a week or so.
Caney’s options are more limited. Sometime in November or December they will be out of water, unless we get some rain that is not in the forecast. Clearing the old beaver dam will buy a little time, but without a snowy winter it won’t help much.
According to droughtmonitor.unl.edu, the entire county has entered exceptional drought status, the most severe drought. We are 14 inches short of normal for the calendar year so far, with only three inches this quarter.
Spring has run dry
The spring near my house has completely run dry. Word hasn’t gotten out to everyone as I hear cars pull up on occasion.
Elections are six weeks out..
..But you wouldn’t know it if you read the local papers. This should be the time we have profiles of the candidates for local offices. Since early voting begins in less than two weeks, this is more important than ever. There are some referenda on the ballot as well. Our local media think if they mention the election before it happens, that is election coverage.
Fall has arrived
Temperatures have finally fallen to the 80s with overnight lows in the 50s. It is time to plant fall crops in the overwinter beds. It is time to get on the bike as well.
Back to work
I went out of town for a couple of days during my Grand Final vacation. It doesn’t do much good to take off Friday, because you have to come back to a normal work week. When you take off Monday, you get a short week as a bonus when you come back from vacation. Mondays are great when you have them on Wednesday.
Cats smoke Swans
Geelong won the AFL Grand Final 133-52. Captain Joel Selwood becomes the first Cat to be a quadruple premiership player. Coach Chris Scott gets his 200th win. The Norm Smith medal goes to Isaac Smith (no relationship).
After some early game nerves, Tom Hawkins scored the first two goals for the Cats. After Sydney got its first goal halfway through the first quarter, it was bombs away for the Cats, scoring the next five for a 35 point lead at quarter time. The Swans held their own in the second quarter before Geelong opened the third quarter with four goals in a row to put the game out of reach.
Spring drying up
I haven’t been to the spring in over a week, but I haven’t heard anyone stop there. The spring is in the right of way well within hearing range,, but not within line of sight from my house. I went to get some water and found out why. The spring normally flows out of the pipe at three to five gallons a minute. This morning it was a trickle, about one gallon every three or four minutes.
Footyfried 