I just received a phone call at 1:30 from Mike Putman (the guy that was driving the little wide-track dozer) to see if we got everyone out. I assured him that all bodies were out.

He told me that the rain started last night about 3am. It started raining HARD. It rained HARD all night. It rained HARD all morning. It's rained HARD all afternoon. It's raining HARD out there right now. He estimated they've had something like 8 to 11 inches so far.

He drove down 49 toward Avinger form Hughes Springs and took a look. He says that the water is at about the level of the headlights on the fire truck. Yes, you read that right, the level of the head lights on the fire truck. It's also up to the rail road tracks.

The 100% Evacuation call on Monday may have been a little heavy handed when it was made, but pulling cars out of a foot a mud is a lot easier than pulling them out of 3 feet of water.

Katie and I changed our minds and instead of trying to get out for food, then get back in for the night, then get back out again to come home in the morning, we just packed and got the hell out last night as well. I'm sitting here at my computer, dry, mostly clean, with a big cup of coffee, damn glad I'm not there right now.

Words cannot express the relief I have that every single body was off the property last night, no matter what it cost physically or financially to do it.

We'd like to thank everyone that was out there this weekend. As wet and muddy and sloppy and cold and just generally nasty as the weather was this weekend, you guys were "responsible for your own experience" and seemed to have a great time. I'm not sure that I actually heard anyone seriously complain the entire weekend. Katie is aglow from all the smiling faces, love, and friendly attitudes.

There's too many of you to thank individually, but there are a few I would like to point out specifically.

The LLC for making it happen,

All the Rangers and MEATS for keeping the event together.

All the Leads for doing what needed to be done.

Shadow and the Temple of the Steaming Pot. The gods know that we would not have made it if it hadn't been for you guys down there making your magick.

All the various people that fed us over the weekend. What can you say? Everyone wants ESEs meat in their mouth.

Speaking of which, ESE. When it came to exodus time, you threw down and became the man. You are a gentleman and a scholar, the envy of all men and the desire of all women.

Boarhead and crew for an ass-kicking FEG burn on Saturday night. (Damn it guys, aerials are supposed to go up!) :)

Demon Monk and crew for an ass-kicking FEG burn on Sunday night. (Bet it felt good to see that pile of ashes in the morning.)

All the people that kept slipping us cash to help offset the unexpected expenses.

Financially it was not the boost toward the shower houses that we hoped, but our hearts are full and life is good. We love all you freaks and if we had to bathe in mud with anyone, we were glad it was you.