Round Robin: Inside Out

For the Round Robin Challenge: Inside Out, Outside In, I asked to see stuff outside that you would normally find inside, or stuff seen inside that you would expect to see outside. My first post tonight (scroll down) was of outside stuff seen inside recently, namely critters. For this post, I'd like to show you the consequences of leaving inside stuff outside.

It was late September, 2011. John thought the monsoon was over. Tucson's rainy season officially runs from June 15th to September 30th, but is by no means that predictable. But John was anxious to start organizing stuff in the house, and to do that he needed the space. So he took a chance, and took many boxes of stuff in storage - books, magazines, papers, collectible figures, part of John's vintage and not-so-vintage Star Trek collection, our college films, old electronics, etc. - and put them outside temporarily. You can guess what happened next.

It was a major, major storm, with lots of rain and flash flooding. Water on the concrete slab in back was about two inches deep in no time. John was at work, so it was up to me to salvage what I could.

I spent a lot of time that afternoon moving boxes near the wall to help protect them from the elements, and stacking them to keep at least some of them from sitting in the water on the ground. Unfortunately, wet cardboard doesn't stack well.

I also managed to bring in a number of things, but nothing was completely undamaged. I spent several days sorting through the rest, saving what I could. And yes, it rained at least once more as I worked. What a disaster! Seeing so many irreplaceable bits of our past either damaged or ruined was truly heartbreaking. But on the plus side, it did motivate us to sort through our junk and get rid of many boxes of less important items.

That's it for me for this week! Let's check out the other Robins' entries:

Linking List
as of 8/25/2012, 3:05 PM

Karen - posted two entries!
Outpost Mâvarin
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/mavarin
@mavarin

Jeanette - Posted!
Net On The Net
http://netonthenet.blogspot.com

Jama - Posted!
Sweet Memories
http://mummyjam.blogspot.com

Sue - Posted!
A picture is worth 1000 words
http://susiesphotospace.blogspot.it/

Sinder Ella **Welcome, new participant!** - Posted!
"A Modern Day Cinderella"
http://sandysinderella.blogspot.com/

Rita - Posted!
Cashjocky and the "Old Salt"
http://cashjocky.blogspot.com/2012/08/inside-out-or-outside-in_25.html

Carly - Posted!
Ellipsis
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com


And don't forget: everyone is welcome to join in on the Round Robin meme. Click here for details!

Karen