It’s an ongoing process, this clean-up work.  Here’s a shot of the backyard/patio along
with a fish I found (not an everyday occurrence).

As you enter the back/kitchen door, this is what you encounter: Dining room and living room:

So the bottom line is, it isn’t as bad as it could have been – no, seriously!  Lots and lots of mud, but no structural damage (a neighbor had part of the foundation collapse – our foundation is poured concrete with the thickness of a bomb shelter).  We’ll see what can be salvaged from the basement stockpile (not much, I’m afraid) – another buying opportunity!  Here’s a final shot of the stack of wet RRs that were expiring Saturday- used them to buy Wags paper towels and toilet paper (this is a shot taken at the Wags beauty counter).  A sad day when I have to actually BUY this stuff at Walgreens!

Thank you all SO much for your kind words, emails and calls – I’m exhausted as hell (as are we all), but it still makes me feel better.  Maybe it’s just being in a dry house! We’re told by the emergency evacuation/boat people to take medicine, extra clothing, you know, the necessities.  FirstBorn is standing here in shorts and a pair of sandals with a hole in the sole.  Where are your pants?  I didn’t bring any…I’m almost afraid to ask what he considers a necessity!  PITA?  Three pairs of pants, about 150 pairs of underwear and two pairs of socks.  Oh, and a shirt that reads “Let it Snow!”  Naturally I was the one who brought the toothbrushes, deodorants, etc.  But then I couldn’t get to my phone charger and all the cheapie deals on Focalprice won’t help me now – it’s full boat time!.  Note to self:  When DH unplugs the printer and computer and keyboard and mouse and brings them upstairs, make sure to grab that charger.  But it reminds me that the car charger in the glovebox won’t work on my i5, so toss in one of those, too.

I’m grateful to be clean and dry and able to grab a Diet Coke or cup of tea, but it’s funny:  Even though I grew up here, it’s not home anymore and I want to get back to mopping, laundry and tossing (oh, the pain that will be tossing) when the waters recede.

If you’re looking at photos of the flooded areas, check out all the Lisle pictures on the Chicago Tribune site  –  scary cruise time!

We’ve been forced out on a mandatory evacuation, so posting will be extremely limited for at least the rest of the day.  The rain water physically removed our entire front porch and we were taken out in boats (dogs included!).  Naturally we kept our suitcases, etc. in the basement…sigh.  Hopefully we’ll get back within a day or two.  I’ll have to push back the Almay coupon giveaway (and hope that the water, which was already a foot into the first floor, or about six feet above from the ground, doesn’t go up any further and wipe out all the inserts!).  This picture  is actually not as bad as it got – this was several feet earlier!