Here is the definition of irony.
In 1993, during Burllington Steamboat Days, Reo Speedwagon was in the middle of "Riding out the storm", when the rain came. We never heard another note that night! Like the snap of a finger, we were standing in 6 inches of water. That song, for us here in Burlington Iowa, ushered in the '93 flood! It rained for weeks! The entire middle west was r
so ravaged by the flood, Noah would have been proud. For the next several months, we sand-bagged, cried with our neighbors, and fought that flood. But we made it!
The next year Reo came back, and began their concert with "Riding out the storm", as if to give the '93 flood the mighty finger. We went billistic! They rocked for two hours! I will never forget Kevin Cronin, after singing "Can't fight this feeling', and shouting: "to hell with that, let's rock and roll!". It sent the sorrow of the '93 flood packing; we were all so happy that night.
So today, I am at a motel in Pella Iowa. The entire state has been savaged by an ice storm that put over 500,00 people powerless! In this motel alone, there are 30 guys from Kansas City Power and Light trying to get the surrounding area towns back up, and running. 130,00 in Des Moines were without power and ...
The forecast for tonight is for freezing rain! I have flashlights and candles for the children and I tonight, just in case!
My two little grandaughters, Ashleigh and Kayleigh, have their own storming raging. My son Jeoff, and his ex-wife are in a custody battle for these two wonderful kids. I am caught in the middle, having to sit with them every other week, until a decision is made. This old man is learning a great deal by this experience. I haven't had to get kids ready for school in over thirty years. During this painful period, I am loving them all the more. They have this great humor, and intelligence. They are riding out their own storm, and I am so priveledged to be with them in this. I tell them about the other times, but they can't know now,that life will come out okay, and they can laugh again, with Mom and Dad. Right now, they only know the anger between them.
I only hope someday, when they get married, they will remember me and this period of their lives, and how we rode out the storm together. I love them so.
Everybody, no matter what happens, it's going to be okay.
Have your greatest day ever, I love you guys,
Joe

I came upon a man who was bright;
though his politics were certainly 'right'.
He accosted me for my leftly lean
and became, himself, immediately mean.
“Friend, why do you think I’m an enemy;
aren’t we all the same, and free?”
“Freedom hell, you want to give
all that we have so the poor can live!”
“But aren’t we just a whistle away
from being busted, the same as they,
who struggle to gain their wealth of few;
you can’t deny a human his due.”
“Bull shit, I had to make my way;
I always had little, the same as they.
Now I have whatever I need;
let them earn it; I say, make them bleed!”
“But this is a different world my friend;
the Unions, for the people, are at an end!
They can’t afford the commonest things.
Can we forgive and let them have wings?”
I came across, in liberal jest,
his rightful place among the rest.
He said “you’re covert in spinning tales”,
the sooner his loss, the more he wails.
“Take a jar from the Irishman,” I said.
It’ll make you calm down, and cool your head.
There now, doesn’t that feel better?”
His nose was red, his mouth even wetter.
“I’ll have some more, that’s good!” he said
“Go easy brother, or you’ll soon find your bed.”
“Say, you know, I’m beginning to believe
that I was wrong in my recent bereave.
I think I’ll change my strategy.
I’ll kill you, instead, better you than me!”

As "Chigger left the bar, he vowed,
in a voice that threatened, indecently loud:
"If we're hit again I'll start killing a few.
I'll get my gun, and start with you!"

I'm okay, so far,
Joe

I'm back again, from Pella, land of the Dutchmen. I'm helping my son move back to Burlington. My wife got a call from her mother at 5:00 am that she had her hip go out, so I'm heading for the hospital to retreive her. I'm tellin' ya' when it rains, it pours. Wiat a minute; when it snows, it blows, big time. The wind, coming home, was blizzarctic! So, I made up a word; sue me!
Everybody, have a better Sunday than I'm having,
Joe

We were at the tavern one night. (Haller's of course).
I had eaten an Enchillada, and had been drinking the night before. I needed cigarettes, so I walked down to the station and got a pack. On the way back, I had to fart. Hey, I'm out in the air and won't offend anyone so I let it rip.
Oh, the humanity! At first, there was this warm in my underwear; warm and wet! And, IT KEPT COMING! I got the immediate sinking feeling of doing something against the laws of man. Oh no, it was loading my leg, seeping, and winding down to my lower extremities. My immediate thought was going back to sit at the table, and having that hellish squish of sudden odor, infiltrating 'our group'. I went straight to the rest room, at Haller's and pulled my jeans down.
Oh, the humanity! It had nearly reached my socks. I made it just in time, to toilet paper the dreaded brown away. I had to take my boots, and underwear, off. As I walked by patrons, with my soiled underwear, I heard someone say: "Geez Joe, you shit your pants!"
It was a joke, but he didn't realize how true his words were! I shit my pants! I ran to the car and threw the underwear in, hoping I wouldn't have another episode!
No one smelled anything odoriferous at the table so, I was safe for the night. But there was a little on my jeans that occasionally, reminded me of how close I came to sheer disaster.
Hey, I'm human. It happenes; it really does happen! I am living proof that shit happens!
Joe

This is my new novel. It is about a broken, alcoholic, journalist named Eddie Carter, who stumbles upon "the story of a lifetime". It is also about John "Morning Sun" Gall, a Lakota Sioux Indian, who is governor of Nebraska. He is revered by his people, as a prophet for turning Nebraska's economy inward so the people of Nebraska have their own independent government within the state. Of course, Washington DC frowns upon people who are doing their own governing, and wants the rebel governor 'eliminated'.
Hopefiully, it is a good read, and humorous. The incompetence of the US government is exposed by Eddie. Then, he becomes a messenger to the prophet.
And, as icentive, any one purchasing the book gets a genuine, Ogallala tee shirt.

$3.00 shipping and handling to:
Ogallala
PO Box 6
Burlington Iowa 52601
Well, I'm trying anyway!
Joe

To all;
The price on Amazon is $18.95 + $3.00 shipping and handling. Barnes and Noble also has it.
Now, I have requested they put my tee shirt offer up but don't know if they've done it yet. If not, $3.00 to
Ogallala
PO Box 6
Burlington, Iowa
52601
Gets you the tee shirt. I don't sell the books, but would be glad to send you the tee shirt.
Thanks for the comments, Have the best day of your life,
Joe