Spring floods bring one question: Why return?

By Jeff Orvis

Most of us have an idea of where we would live if we had our choice. It may be somewhere close to family. It may be a city that offers great shopping and opportunities to take part in great cultural events.

The late great singer, John Denver, convinced many fans that Colorado would be the ideal place to live. But those of us who are tired of snow probably aren't too keen on living in a place where it's still piling up, in the latter stages of April.

I've known people who seem most at peace when they get within a few miles of an ocean. Although it's been more than 40 years, I can still remember how my dad's mood seemed to improve the closer we got to a favorite lake in west central Minnesota where we sometimes vacationed, or north of Minneapolis, as we neared Duluth and the great Lake Superior.

These thoughts came to mind this week as we once again were visited by that nasty visitor who seems to sneak up on us this time of the year – spring flooding. As I write this on a Tuesday afternoon, River Drive in Davenport is under water at some stretches from Interstate 280 all the way to Interstate 74. In Illinois, residents are wrestling with the highest flood stage in the history of record keeping along the Rock River.

Hundreds of people in this area are being forced to leave homes along the area rivers and seek shelter on higher ground. Fifty mobile homes in a park in Illinois have been evacuated due to the threat of a breach in a levee. Rescue workers told the residents that if they didn't leave, their homes might be swept from their moorings and their vehicles could float away.

These scenes are repeated along various rivers all across the country every year. And in a majority of cases, the displaced residents wait for the water to recede and then return to their home, clean up the mess and start again. Only a few who were interviewed on local TV said that after experiencing this several times, they were giving up and making a permanent move to higher ground.

I have to say, it would only take one time for me and I would be looking for a place far away from the river edge. I grew up in the Mississippi Valley. But we lived on a hill, well above the river bank.

I had a brief first-hand experience with river bank dwellers when I lived Independence several years ago. A good friend finally moved out her parents' home and bought her first house a few blocks away, on the banks of the Wapsipinicon River. Much like our flood this year, the Wapsi rose rapidly one evening. I still remember walking hand in hand with her to her parents' house in knee-deep flood water in the dark to check on them. Then we went to her house and along with some other friends, quickly emptied her basement before the water invaded.

I realize that the river is a wonderful place to observe wildlife, to catch fish or watch barges go up and down the main channel. If you are a lover of nature or an avid fisherman, I suppose the idea of being able to roll out of bed every morning to a different view in the river's ever-changing landscape would be a draw. But we 

lived just a short drive down a hill to good fishing along Lock and Dam 14 at LeClaire.

For many people, like my Independence friend, it is a matter of economics. Buying that first house is usually a burden and you take great pride in ownership. But I could never see the wisdom in facing the real possibility that that investment could float away each spring.

Aside from the Boston Marathon bombing and the flood news in recent days, there was another disaster in Texas that boggles the mind. A fire and explosion in a fertilizer plant near Waco claimed 14 lives, injured many others and blew apart half of a small town. There were reports that there may have been more than a half-million pounds of ammonia nitrate stored at the plant, which was within walking distance of an apartment complex, at least one school and a nursing home.

Which brings to mind several questions: Who in their right mind would allow a plant producing some of the same material used in the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City to be built so close to a populated area? If the reporst of the amount of ammonia nitrate prove to be accurate, how many state and federal agencies are to blame for allowing this to take place? Texas is a big state. Why couldn't this plant be built a few miles out of town?

In the wake of this tragedy, there were a few lighter moments for those of who have some familiarity with agriculture as we heard those big city network news types attempt to explain what anydrous ammonia is used for.

But those lighter moments were few and far between as we continued to wrestle with what otherwise was a pretty grim week on the national local news front.

Shock replaced by resolve in the wake of Boston

By Jeff Orvis

Just over 24 hours ago, we heard the awful news of the bombing along the route of the Boston Marathon. And for at least a brief time, the economy, immigration reform, gun laws and all the rest took a back seat as many Americans came together in their thoughts and prayers for the victims and the loved ones of the victims of the attack.

With approximately 27,000 runners in the race, a lot of us knew one or more of the competitors. I immediately thought of a life-long friend who spent many summer nights of his youth running around our neighborhood just for fun. More than 40 years later, he's still running and cycling and cross country skiing just for fun. He is a veteran of the most prestigious marathon this country has to offer.

I am in awe of the great times he continues to post each year. One of the first pieces of tape I saw when I learned of the attack showed an elapsed time clock at the end of the race. I immediately wondered if that would be close to the time Terry would have posted. I owe him an apology. I underestimated him. When I hadn't heard that he was safe for a couple of hours, I decided to go on to the marathon official web site. I checked for his name. Not only did he finish, he apparently finished about 30 minutes before the bombing.

Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, his friends learned later last night that he was shaken, but okay.

More thoughts came to mind as I remembered several folks from Belle Plaine who are dedicated road runners. From contacts with a friend there, I learned that one of those men had not entered this year. But another young man, a member of the Iowa State Running Club and a Belle Plaine grad, was entered in the race. He had sent word back to his family that he was also okay.

This afternoon, Ryan was interviewed by a central Iowa radio station. The interview was posted on Facebook. The other members of his party had also finished well ahead of the blasts.

As local, state and federal officials begin their investigation on who may have committed this crime, one theory is that the person responsible was attempting to cause widespread doubt and fear in the hearts and minds of Americans. How misguided can a person or group get?

First off, what I've noticed about dedicated road racers is that they have tremendous determination. While they most certainly would mourn those lost and have concern for the injured, for many of them, it would only strengthen their resolve to run faster and stronger, perhaps as a tribute to the victims.

If the perpetrators thought they had an easy target in downtown Boston, they again were sorely mistaken. Almost every news report commented on the heroic efforts of emergency personnel and volunteers as they went to the aid of the victims. Government officials were quick to go before the media. Their set jaws showed the world they would not rest until the people responsible for this were brought to justice. You just don't mess with the people of Boston or the residents of Massachusetts.

Incidents like this remind us that this country is like one huge small town. We may be a diverse populace, but harm some of us and the rest of us take it personally.

Baseball questions on an off day

By Jeff Orvis

We're a couple of weeks into the new Major League baseball season and while I try to watch at least a little bit of every televised Cubs game, I'll admit that their slow start has caused my brain to wander a bit. After all, there's only so many bases-loaded, nobody out futile innings even a diehard fan can stand.

Even though we're only in the first month of the season, we've already had one ugly brawl incident that has prompted an eight-game suspension for one of the combatants and a lengthy stint on the disabled list for a high-priced pitcher.

One of the most enduring things about baseball is tradition. I suppose ever since the first guy picked up a ball and pitched to a guy holding a stick, there has been the potential for a brawl. The pitcher hits the batter, the batter somehow knows that the pitch was on purpose and suddenly, we have 40 or 50 guys spilling out of the dugout proving just why they chose baseball instead of pro boxing as a career.

In this most recent incident, everybody on both teams, even the relief pitchers, bullpen catchers and coaches jogged to the center of the field for the melee. Generally, these things are limited to heated words, pushing and shoving and finger-pointing. Sometimes, somebody gets hurt when the dust settles. That was the case this time, when the injured party, the pitcher who was attacked, broke a collarbone. But unless there was some way to determine he was the instigator of the fight, he will still get paid during his recuperation. This guy is one of the highest paid pitchers in the game. How would you like to be the general manager trying to juggle this budget?

I suppose there's no easy answer on how to curb these childish outbursts. But this is a different era. With the amount of money in salaries being floated around these days, something has to be done.

The thought of baseball tradition and practices brought to mind some other questions I've been pondering. Maybe it's because I never quite understood the intricacies of the game, or maybe it's because I'm sometimes a stickler for otherwise meaningless detail.

Have you noticed how, in the past few years, it seems like whenever a pitched ball is thrown into the dirt, the umpire hands the catcher a new ball? I understand that you don't want a dirt spot on the ball, since it might give an advantage to the hitter. But in the old days, the ump would simply rub the dirt off the ball and keep it in play. Time was when each of the balls was rubbed up with a specific mud from the Delaware River before the game to get the shine off it. Is that still being done? I wonder how many balls are used in a game on the average?

I suspect that some of the hardest workers on a team on game days are the bat boys. You usually see at least a couple of youngsters, ages 12-16, hustling new bats out to a hitter, etc. Do these guys ever travel with the team? I suppose that most teams who are on the road use bat boys from the city they are playing in, assigned by the home team. But maybe when school is out for the summer, at least some of the home team bat boys would also get a chance to travel with the team. And in this era of six-figure minimum contracts for the players, I would hope they would remember the guys who did the dirty work for them all season and tip them generously at the end of the season.

Speaking of road trips, I wonder if players still share hotel rooms on the road, or do they each get their own room? I suppose a few of the stars get their own room, or suite. But what about the guy who has just been called up from the minors?

When that pitcher I mentioned earlier in this piece is rehabilitating and getting ready for action, one of the exercises the trainers might put him through is something called a “simulated game.” You hear it all the time. Joe Blow looked good in his simulated game today and will be back soon. Does he face simulated hitters? Does he have to go through simulated plays when opponents are on base? Does a starter have to play a longer simulated game than a short reliever?

I'll bet that many fans haven't paused to consider some of these questions. Maybe when my Cubbies start winning, I'll tend to focus on the action on the field and not attempt to find something else to think about.

In closing, maybe these baseball thoughts are especially relevant today, as we observe the 65^th anniversary of the first day that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and became the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues. By all accounts, it was a tough road for him for at least a few months. But there are undoubtedly thousands of pro players of minority races at the Major League and Minor League level who owe him a debt of gratitude.

Dodger team owner Branch Rickey may have been the greatest visionary the sport has ever known.

Celebrating the anniversary of the cell phone

By Jeff Orvis

Forty years ago, a man was seen walking down a downtown New York street carrying a strange looking two-pound device close to his ear. And the first cell phone call was made.

I wonder if he could have envisioned what that device, developed by Motorola, would become. Those first models cost upwards of $4,000. Today's cell phones weigh just ounces and some can be had for under $20.

Pick any four adults, or teens out of a crowd and it's a good bet that at least two of them are carrying a cell phone. It would be impossible to determine how many lives were saved by people who had a cell phone and could instantly make contact with emergency personnel in the event of a traffic accident, stranded motorists or a passerby helping someone on the street with a medical emergency.

For many of us, it has been a necessary annual expense to belong to a motor club, such as AAA. It is a good added insurance policy. But when I had a flat tire four miles north of Marengo one afternoon, it was a cell phone that save me from a lengthy walk.

Cell phones are certainly handy. For instance, when you have a loved one in the hospital, you don't want to leave their side to go searching for a pay phone to alert relatives and friends about what's happening. In fact, with the abundance of cell phones, you might have a hard time finding a telephone booth.

Have you noticed how many people, especially men, walk around the grocery store while talking on their cell phone? They either refuse to write a list or simply have forgotten some things and contact whomever is home to check on what else to buy. I'll admit I've done that a few times. But I still think it's strange when I walk up behind someone and suddenly hear them talking out loud. I quickly check to make sure they are talking on a cell phone so I don't seem snobbish if they are talking to me!

As the technology has advanced, people don't even have to talk to the person they are attempting to contact. Texting is all the rage, with many texters using their own version of typed shorthand.

I know several devoted texters and they have tried to explain to me the value in being adept at flying their fingers over the tiny keyboard on their phone to communicate with someone else. But just as I have never smoked, gotten pierced or tattooed, I have so far steadfastly refused to text anybody. I figure if I want to talk to them, I'll give them a call. Most cell phones have good answering systems, so if a person can't talk at that moment, they will get the message when they can.

Just as the availability of cell phones have saved thousands of motorists, they have also been the cause of many fatal accidents. A lot of people don't realize that they need to concentrate on the road ahead instead of chattering or texting. I may not be a texter, but I will admit to talking on the cell phone while driving at times.

I remember one sunny Saturday morning. I headed east from Belle Plaine for a shopping trip to Cedar Rapids. Since much of the drive is a straight shot on a county road or Highway 30, I decided it would be a good time to call Mom in Davenport to check on her. I got a good signal and we had a good talk and suddenly, I was on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids. It was scary that even though a part of my brain was concentrating on the road, I had no immediate recollection of the trip. It was as if I had gone into a sort of light coma for a half-hour.

Make no mistake. I am amazed and grateful for much of the technology we have today, such as the cell phone. In fact, one of my favorite dreams is what it would be like to possess the laptop computer I'm using right now and my cell phone way back more than 40 years ago when I was in elementary or junior high school. I could be the only person with access to today's internet. I could get straight A's and my teachers would never understand how I could do it!

But just as that wouldn't be fair, cheating never is, so today we need to remember the right way to use things like our cell phones so we don't put ourselves or others in jeopardy by texting while driving. Turn off your cell phone while in church, at the movies or in class and be aware of who is around you when talking on your cell phone so others won't think you're crazy!

Is a call center job my next stop?

By Jeff Orvis

As my search for employment continues at a snail's pace, I've been trying to open up my mind to more possibilities. For nearly 40 years, the jobs have come to me Rarely have I had to beat the bushes looking for my next paycheck. I've had five jobs in media and in each case, it's like the old saying that when you find a job you truly enjoy, you don't feel like you've worked a day in your life.

With the ever-changing ways we receive news today, I realize that the days of those totally enjoyable media jobs may be a thing of the past.

As I've tried to determine what my next step should be, I realize that one of the things I most enjoyed about the news business was talking to people. In a couple of those jobs, I tried selling advertising. But I soon learned that despite having a few victories, where the potential advertiser agreed to buy, there were probably three rejections for every success. And I soon found that I'm not too good at accepting rejection.

Still, keeping in mind that I apparently enjoy helping people, I am exploring a couple of opportunities at call centers in this area. There are some things I really don't want to do, but we will see what may be available and what any potential employer might think I could handle.

These past months living in Mom's condo, I've been the recipient of countless calls from solicitors of all sorts. I learned that my mother contributed to several causes over the years, both when she operated a business and even after she retired. She was a proud registered member of a political party (not the one I'm affiliated with) and as you can imagine, the weeks leading up to the last election were a nightmare. I had the pleasure of hanging up on numerous political candidates as their robo-calls attempted to sway me to vote their way. After awhile, I started talking back to them, even as I realized that I was talking to a recording.

Even months after the election and months after Mom passed from this world, I am still getting calls from this particular political party. When I explain that she has been gone for several months, most of the live callers apologize and promise to remove her name from their list. Then, several days later, I get another call.

Some callers may not be connected with a political party and some don't even tell me who they represent. I got a call the other day asking for Mom by mispronouncing her name. When I asked who was calling, the reply was “This is Sherry. This is a courtesy call.” My response was, “Well, that's not very courteous, since she's been gone since September!”

But as I've indicated, the time may come soon when I could be on the other end of a call like that. While I realize that my potential employer has a certain way of doing business, I would hope that my recent experience, both as the recipient of these calls and in calling various businesses in my role as executor of Mom's estate, would enable me to be a good fit for a position.

One of my goals if I am hired for a call center position is to SPEAK UP! Nothing bugs me more than calling a company (or its designated call center) to ask a question and hear a faint voice on the other end. You don't have to shout, but speak clearly and loud enough so the person on the other end can hear you!

Another thing I would bring to this position is the knowledge that the only dumb question is one that is not asked. A newspaper editor told me that one time. So that would go both for anyone who might call asking me a question or for me attempting to find an answer. I would hope that my training would allow me to know most of the answers, but if I don't, I want to know who I can ask at my workplace to find the answer as quickly as possible.

There have been times when I've called a company or government entity looking for answers and have been put on “hold” for 20 or more minutes. Since most of the numbers I've called are toll-free, apparently some companies don't think the caller is being inconvenienced. What particularly irks me is the standard recording while I am holding, “Your call is important to us. Please stay on for our next available agent.” I want to shout, “If this call is so important, why don't you have enough people on the other end of the line to help me sooner?!”

And yet, I think I am basically a patient, slow-to-anger person. If I get an interview with a call center, I hope I can convey this attitude and see what happens.

I remain confident that God has a plan for me. I would appreciate it if the folks from Publishes Clearing House would pull up in the driveway later this month. But since I don't see that happening, I'll keep looking and maybe, when I least expect it, one of those jobs that don't seem like a job at all will come up again.