Long Hollow

Oil and diesel won't hurt a pond, will they?

They asked. We said no. They did it anyway, accompanied by giggly snide remarks in Spanish.

Rudeness transcends the language barrier, did you know that? I'm sure kindness does too, but unfortunately, that's not in this story. But not by my choice.

We weren't surprised they did it anyway. That's been their method all along, to just do what they wanted to do, damn the permits, damn the inspectors, damn the effect on anyone else. And would you believe they blame us for the money in fines they've had to pay, because we reported them? Uh, how about doing your homework and making the right phone calls yourself... get the right permits to begin with... then whaddaya know? No fines!

It wasn't enough that we had to put up with the road near our house being piled with dirt and rocks (even if unintentional, it was still thoughtless!) and to watch this wall of dirt climb higher and higher - they even drove cedar posts in the ground and ran an erosion control fence between them at one time to try to hold more dirt. (The day after a confrontation with us, the posts and fencing suddenly vanished and permits were posted in the proper method. I'm sure they thought we were calling inspectors again. I'm guessing the posts and fencing weren't condoned by an inspector or engineer after all, as they told us.)

What's that saying about character? Oh, yeah. "Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching." Ahem.

Anyway, one day last week, one of the workers, in the sticky-sweetest not-even-remotely-snide voice you can imagine, asked me if they could pump water from their pond into ours (Ours was still on the dry side, but theirs had a lot of water for some reason, perhaps filled up from sprinklers they used to water the grass seeds.)

I said, "I'll ask my husband, but probably not because I think he has some projects planned for our pond while it's low like this".

The worker went on to explain that an inspector had told them they had to slope the inside pond wall more, but they couldn't with the water in it. (Another instance where a little homework and the proper planning and pre-inspections would have helped... although, actually, you'd think they could have figured it out themselves that a vertical wall wouldn't be as strong as a sloping wall when the force of all that water pressed upon it.)

Anyway, two days ago they asked Tom himself about pumping the water and he said, "No, that water is dirty and I don't want it in my pond." As he walked away, they smarted off to him in Spanish, laughing. I guess they knew they were going to ignore his wishes and do it anyway. Yes, rude is rude in any language. It needs no translator.

Tom's point is that the dirty water gets filtered by the caliche ground and earthen dam before it reaches our pond. We didn't want water that had bypassed that natural purifier.

But then they got the bulldozer stuck in the water and tried to get it out with a couple of Bobcats. We have a backhoe, and we know how heavy machinery leaks oil and diesel. Yuck! Talk about dirty water. We for sure didn't want that water in our pond after that! (Taken with a zoom lens - boy, it comes in handy!)

 

Despite telling them no, Tom wasn't surprised when he heard the pump running this afternoon. By the time he got down there, they realized he was home and had shut it off, but the water was still running through the culvert down into our pond where a green glob was forming. Did they think we wouldn't notice?

It looks a lot like a big loogie, doesn't it?

They have a hose from the pump going into a culvert on their side (thank goodness again for that zoom lens!) The water comes out of the culvert on our side, flows along the erosion control fence (I wondered why they had straightened it up again) and then out into our pond.

So now I've had to spend my evening making phone calls, sending emails and photos to different agencies, filing environmental violation reports, hoping someone in Texas cares about these little pockets of nature that spill into Lake Travis (our drinking water!) before it's too late and they have to spend fortunes trying to clean up what they could have prevented in the first place with a little more diligence. Don't they realize it's these little spots that are the heart of the environmental issue? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?

I guess it would be easy to assume that someone who bought acreage out in the country like this cared about natural resources, about the waterways and the animals (including my dogs) who drink from them, as well as the frogs, the birds, the fish, the lake. Obviously not. Perhaps they just don't see the connection. When they toss a stone into the water, they don't see the ripples rolling away from it, on and on and on.

I'd feel sorry for them, except it's already late and now I need to start on what I needed to do tonight in the first place. And my pond is filled with a big green loogie of diesel and oil. My pond is probably dying.

But before I got to work, I needed to get this out with another request - if you have any information or know of any resources please let me know. If you have any connections, please forward this. I do know the agencies overseeing these things in Travis County, and perhaps all over Texas, are all understaffed and underpaid - please speak up to our representatives to get this changed.

And please say a prayer for our pond.

 

 

 

 

Question #1 - Does Texas care about its land?

I received an official letter from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality today.

When the whole damn dam issue first popped up (for background info, click here and here), and I was desperately trying to find some city, county or state agency that gave a hoot or had jurisdiction over issues like this, I spoke to a man there, Joe, who was sympathetic but admitted his agency probably had no jurisdiction because of the height of the dam and of what was downstream...or rather, what was not downstream. He gave me some other names and numbers to try, wished me luck and said to call back if I felt he could help.

So, on a long shot, when the dam kept growing and growing, well above the 6 foot mark he gave me, I gave him a call. I might have sent him photos, but I've contacted so many different peoples and agencies, that I really can't be sure. Anyway, last week he called to say he was going to be in this area and planned to stop by our neighbor's property and take a look for himself. Tom and I had reached the point of resignation - the dam is built and we really don't expect anything to be done about it. But...the mention of this visit out of the blue was like one little flickering flame of hope. Surely, he would see for himself this towering wall of top soil just waiting for the inevitable Big Rain and Flood that always follows a drought to come tumbling into our pond-bed (this isn't just random paranoia, but actual fact-based dread based on facts from "Ponds - Planning, Design, Construction" published by the United States Department of Agriculture. Another outraged neighbor who has lived along this creek for more than twenty years loaned us a copy, and then we found it online.)

Well, we should have known better than to light that little candle...

"Dear Ms. Shallue,

On September 21, 2009, members of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ's) Dam Safety Program visited the dam under construction on the property own by Mr...., adjacent to the north of your property. The investigation was conducted in response to your complaint." (yeah, about six weeks after the fact!)

"Based on field measurements, additional information supplied by Mr. ...'s engineer, Mr. ..., (I think our neighbor hired him from the always amazing Craig's List! I saw his listing!), and our hydraulic/hydrologic analysis, it appears that this dam is not under the jurisdiction of the TCEQ because the relatively small amount of water impounded (and the height of the dam) make it exempt from TCEQ Dam Safety jurisdiction. Should this dam breach (should? This should read "when"...see above about the US Dept. of Agriculture's standards), the effects of the breach would not adversely impact any roads, residences, or buildings downstream.

We appreciate your contacting the TCEQ concerning this dam. Please let me know if you have any additional questions..."

Well, I realized I do have several additional questions...

Question #1: Does Texas care about its land?

Question #2: How high is too high? Tom (look hard - he's in the green) is 5'9". Joe told me anything over 6" is in their jurisdiction. I wonder where they took their measurements?

Question #3: Why is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality concerned about roads, residences and buildings that are downstream, and not a natural creek and the land surrounding it?

Questions #4, 5, 6, & 7: Did you notice the trash that is strewn all over our neighbor's land , that has been there over a month, and that he is aware of and yet hasn't bothered to clean up? What about that whole "Don't Mess With Texas" thing? Isn't this an Environmental Quality issue? Wouldn't you have concerns about living downstream from someone like this? (photo taken in August...thanks to wind, rain, wild animals, etc. it's really spread out now.)

Question #8: Is there any agency in Texas with jurisdiction or concerns over the environment - one that is concerned about a natural creek and the land surrounding it, since obviously it isn't the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality? Hello? Anyone out there? That's what I was afraid of...

You know, I used to be proud of being a Texan.

Now I'm just going to put that candle away and stick my head back into the ground. Even knowing we'll be able to say "We told you so!" one day doesn't help this time. The saddest thing is knowing we'll never really be "neighbors" in the true sense of the word - not without a miracle, anyway. And I do believe in miracles, so I won't totally rule one out.

Several of you sent me information about how your state protects its natural beauty and handles environment concerns like this one. Would you please give it to me again? I realize it won't help us, but just knowing there are still some states that protect the natural environment (without involving lawyers) will help.

Hope

    No, I didn't vote for Obama. But that doesn't mean I can't be caught up in the wave of optimism that seems to be swallowing our country today. I don't believe a President by himself, no matter who he or she is, can do ANYTHING alone, meaning he/she shouldn't get all the blame or credit for anything, but I do believe Americans working together can accomplish a great deal, even if they disagree on some issues, and although I don't agree with all of his political views (which means I do agree with some), it's obvious Obama has a gift for inspiring people to get involved, to care, to have hope, and to draw together in a way I haven't seen since 9/11.

    I do worry that people expect him to do everything that THEY want, and to do it all by himself - that's a pretty weighty load to carry. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few months and years bring.

    But for today, at least, I'll try to tuck my cynicism in a drawer and drape myself in patriotism - it really is a great system. Maybe people will believe in it again. I know I do.

I Have a Similar Dream

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. (Martin Luther King Jr., letter from Birmingham Jail 1963)    

    When Daniel was a high school senior, he applied to five or six colleges, public and private. He had worked hard and was accepted into all of them. He received large academic scholarship offers from each of the private schools...except for one. His first pick. He was disappointed, because there was no way we could afford it otherwise, and at this particular school, academic scholarships are only offered to incoming freshman. If you don't get it then, forget it.

    His disappointed turned to frustration and anger, though, when through the grapevine of our small school, he discovered that two of his friends, both smart and gifted, but without Daniel's level of academic achievement, had each been offered large academic scholarships to this same college.

    At the urging of the boys' moms, friends of mine, I contacted the admissions counselor. In a nutshell, she conceded that the boys' African-American heritage played a big role in the scholarship offers. They ended up offering Daniel a smaller scholarship (they had run out of scholarship money), but by then he had a bad taste in his mouth for the college. Instead, he went with his second pick - UT - which he absolutely loves. So it worked out.

    Except...I grew up in the sixties and seventies witnessing the Civil Rights struggles, sympathizing and getting angry about injustices, gaining inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches, agreeing that all men (and women) are created equal and should be treated as such.

    I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I angrily castigated some welders years ago for bragging about harassing African-Americans they saw walking down a sidewalk. I worked with and made friends with people of all different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. I had worked hard to bring my children up to be color-blind, and had done a good job. 

    But this experience left a mark on all of us. Obviously, there was still discrimination and racial injustice in our country, and not just against minorities. My son became a victim of it, too, only how could we protest without being labeled racists ourselves? 

    And then, after this election, I was reminded of it again when it became obvious by the news coverage and interviews that many (not all) voted for Obama because of his skin color. I'm sure many voted against him for the same reason (although obviously not as many), and it just makes me sad, either way, especially when King's "I Have a Dream" speech was being quoted along with the admissions...

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

   I have a dream, too...that someday soon everyone will be judged on a level playing field, with no consideration at all of the color of their skin, their religion, their gender, their heritage, their eye color, height, weight, or anything else. I hope Obama's election helps make this come true, somehow.

   I don't think King's dream will be fulfilled until mine is.

Yes, He Did!

    It wasn't really a surprise, Obama winning the election. I'm curious to see if things change as promised...I've already heard him say something about 'maybe next term'...

    I also wonder how long this honeymoon period (when everyone in the media wants to be his best friend) will last?   

    But life goes on...one change for me is I'm playing my drums again...two days in a row for about five minutes each. Yesterday it was to Boston's "Don't Look Back" and today to "Sandy" by Bruce Springsteen. That's more than I've played in a good six months.

   (I use the term "played" very loosely - mostly it's just a lot of noise. If someone listened from outside, they'd think "construction project", not "rhythmic music." That's why I can only play when I'm alone. But it's a GREAT stress-reliever!)

    Another change for me...with any collection, there comes a time for culling, and that 's what I've done with my job collection. I'm down to just two - I had to let my subbing jobs go, at least for now. It's one of those weird things...I'd go months without working at either one, but now that I have an almost fulltime job, I'm getting called all the time.

    Ah, Brucie's singing "Rosalita" right now...I know what I'll be playing to tomorrow...

Election Day AT LAST!

    First of all, if you haven't voted, DO IT NOW! I was an early bird this year - I didn't want to take any chances. My day can take twists and turns I never anticipate, and I couldn't afford to procrastinate on this.

    That being said...I am SO glad election day is finally here. By this time tomorrow we'll know who won. No more campaigning for at least a few months.

    I'm an independent - a liberal conservative or conservative liberal, I haven't figured out which. I voted McCain-Palin because of the issues...not because of race as I've been accused (as a group, not individually.) I would have voted for Condoleeza Rice in a heartbeat. 

    If Obama wins the election, I'm not going to wail and cry and pull out my hair and leave the country. I think it's great that so many Americans are passionate about this election and seem to be embracing their role in the government by voting, but I worry about tomorrow. I hope the passion stays in the right place, and it isn't wasted on anger, hatred, or fear. We should be passionate about being Americans and draw together, move forward no matter who gets elected, because it doesn't end with the election. I hope everyone continues to stay involved and be informed and passionate and outspoken on all levels of our government - from local to national. 

    The President isn't the government. We, the American People, are the government. It's in our power to make this country great...or not.

Ode to Girl's State

     Pom-poms, signs, funny hats and pins, cheering, chanting, and crying...these party conventions  remind me why I'm not a card-carrying member of either one.

     In high school I joined over a hundred other girls at Texas Lutheran College for ten days of an intense live-and-breathe lesson in the Texas political process: Girl's State, sponsored by the American Legion Women's Auxiliary (boys go to Boy's State at the University of Texas.) It was a great experience, even though I was a little shy back then, not very ambitious or self-confident, and only aspired to being a council member for my little City 'F'. I even ran unopposed.

    But I met some wonderful girls - we swore we'd be friends forever, but then lost touch after high school graduation. I wonder where they are, what they've done with their lives? There was Vicki Brumley from Anahuac - we met at Galveston a couple of times after returning home. And Laurie Engle from Clear Creek - her dad was an astronaut; rich, pretty, talented, friendly and down to earth - she was one of those girls you want to be jealous of, but just can't; my gynecologist was friends with her little brother (discovered during pap smear chit-chat. It's such a small world!) Then Cindy Reid from Dripping Springs, who was a cheerleader, newspaper editor, plus I don't remember what else, and in training for the Junior Olympics in track. I ran with her every afternoon. I was from a big school and couldn't fathom being involved in so many things. I saw her a few years after high school in Gruene. I was there for the weekend with Tom and a group of guys I worked with (and some wives), eating at the Grist Mill. She was our waitress. She was still in college, still a cheerleader - either Southwest Texas or UT, I can't remember which. I was a drop-out - making good money and a homeowner, but still a drop-out. Seeing her was bittersweet...we lived in different worlds.

     Those ten days in 1976, however, we were all best friends...sitting together at the sessions, eating, passing notes, campaigning for each other, eating, laughing, talking about boyfriends, eating (Texas Lutheran has, or at least HAD, great food!) We all agreed the conventions were, well, a little silly. I was a member of the Red National party (as opposed to the Blue Republican party) and as such, I was expected to cheer and scream and hoot and holler fanatically for our platform and our gubernatorial candidate. But the platforms were almost identical, and to be honest, the Blue party candidate was the best. So, yes, I voted for her. (Annette Lyons - I wonder what she's doing now?) I've been an independent ever since.

    Here we are in the House of Representatives in the State Capitol...Laurie, Vicki, Cindy, and me.

 

Look familiar? The Red Party Convention... Go RED!! 

 

City 'F' - the Founding Fathers...I'm the last one on the right on the top row, Cindy next to me, Laurie and Vicki in the center sitting down.

On my soapbox, counting sheep...no, make that seagulls

     1am - Woke up and looked at the clock. Rolled over. Back to sleep.

     2:30- Repeat

     3:30- Repeat

     4:45- Repeat, up to the 'Back to sleep' part. Immediately upon waking, my mind filled with thoughts of things I need to do, and things that are bugging me, and sleep just ran away.

     I don't like feeling this stressed - this clenching of teeth and hyperventilating and walking in a daze not knowing what I should work on because it all needs to be done NOW! There's only so much "now" to go around. 

    But last night it wasn't my classwork or bills or even the youth retreat I'm organizing that kept me from a sound sleep. It was irritation caused by politics - specifically, the media claiming McCain made a mistake by choosing Sarah Palin. I think it was a great decision - I see her as a breath of fresh air - actually blowing away my cynicism like so much dust during a good spring-cleaning. (Well, some of my cynicism - it's a pretty thick accumulation.)

    Her daughter's pregnancy doesn't affect how I feel about her doing the job, but according to the media, it does...they say the "American Public is concerned." Well, hello...I'm the American Public. I'm so tired of the media supposedly speaking for me - the "American Public" - when they are just expressing the opinions of SOME of the American Public, or perhaps their own.

    I'm also tired of hearing both parties talk about how catastrophic it will be for our country if the "other" candidate wins. I suggest taking a refresher course in US Government, like I did two years ago. Despite my cynicism, I trust in our Constitution. I believe our Balance of Power system really works.The founders were geniuses. 

     The other bug crawling through my mind last night, keeping me awake, has to do with our little Peyton-Place-town. Our school district superintendent has committed plagiarism (no, really - it's not disputed); yesterday I heard a rumor that the school board might not call for her resignation (in Lago Vista a rumor has a surprisingly high truth ratio.) A woman with a doctorate in education, at the helm of our school district, might just get a slap on the wrist for plagiarism? Give me a break!! What kind of message would that be sending to our kids?

     I sent emails to the school board voicing my opinion (one of the great things about being an American, right?) There's nothing else I can do about it, so maybe I'll be able to get some sleep tonight. I need some rest!

    I'm so grateful that in just a few weeks I'll be able to escape to the coast for my annual women's weekend, and for a few days at least, forget about all of this.  Till then, if there are any more sleepless nights, I'll just start counting seagulls...or jumping dolphins...or margaritas...