Face to Face.

Discovered a very, sad... and ugly thing, yesterday morning, as I was rushing to The Rabbit Hole, to meet with Folks.

I looked up, as I was heading up the stairs, and noticed what I thought... was a spider web.

Grabbed the broom... to quickly knock it down...

but, to my horror, it wasn't a spider's web.

It was a Crack.

A Huge... Long, Crack... in the ceiling.

: ( : ( : (

It's on the East side, {Highway 151 side}

Then... spotted another, on the East side, of the addition, on the north end.

My Heart... Sank.

: (

Since the Highway 151/Fairfax Bike Trail Project, this house Shakes.

Especially... when Semis roll by.

{I know which loads are 'Heavy'... don't need a scale}

Guess... House's are much like people.

You get beaten long enough... eventually... you're probably gonna Crack.

Sent an e-mail to our Lawyer... sounds like I'm going to have to hire an engineer.

: (

Never Ending...

Pal, Steph... called me shortly after the 'Folks' left.

We hadn't visited for a long time.

I was sitting beside the Fish Trough, at The Rabbit Hole.

Steph asked me what's been goin' on...

I... uh, Melted.

: ( : ( : (

Sobbing.

: (

{I... 'Cracked'... a little, too. : ( }

<3

Steph walked over... after she was done at work.

{Steph's Store, {Frond Design Studios'} is about a quarter of a mile away from The Rabbit Hole.}

We sat under John's Old Oak... and visited.

 Took Steph through the House... and showed her the cracks.

: (

{ I was going to write about it yesterday afternoon, but... knew better.

 I...was too Crushed, too raw, to write about it.}

<3

Miss. Peanut.

Steph... knows better than most anyone, what This... Room... means to me.

; )

It's been the One Place, I could find Shelter, and lock the world outside.

The 'Wrongful' IDOT/Fairfax... messes, hadn't touched it.

now...

it appears, it has.

: (

Have to hire an engineer.

: (

{and... Never Look Up, in this room, again.}

Friend, Jodi...was telling me today... about her horrific ordeal with IDOT, not long ago.

: (

She had so much damage to her Home... from the recent Highway 30 Construction.

When she pointed the issues out, to IDOT...

well... they basically laughed at her.

: (

Told Jodi, I... sadly, learned... a lot, back in the 1990's, with our First...

IDOT

Condemnation,

 here.

: ( : ( : ( 

you have to take

'Before' Pictures.

Many... Many... Many...

'Before' images.

otherwise...

They'll laugh at you... and walk away.

: (

Again...

Rule #1. 

{when going against Iowa Department of Transportation...}

Don't talk to them.

{I, initially tried to, both times. What a MISTAKE.

 'I' was... 

the 

'IDIOT'.}

Rule #2.

Get a Lawyer.

The Best... You can Find.

; )

{You're gonna Need One. 

The IDOT... has unlimited resources... 

Lawyers, and Engineers at their disposal, 'We' are paying for.}

Rule #3.

Capture 'Before' 'During' and 'After' Images.

Videos.

Record Everything.

Everything.

Every Conversation... 

Every Meeting...

Every Step.

how incredibly...

 sad.

: (

What I find... so laughable...

 {SAD!!!}

 had...

 IDOT simply....

 Not Intentionally Breached... our Recorded Settlement Agreement, that our

 Amazing Lawyer negotiated, and finalized... with IDOT...

I, wouldn't be in a pool of tears, far too often.

: (

The heartbreaking damages... keep mounting, day after day....after day.

: ( : ( : ( 

It's time I start knocking on doors.

{If our Amazing... Lawyer approves. 

That's actually Rule #1. Listen To Your Lawyer.}

This is an Election year.

It's Time... some of the Folk's who are 'Handling', 'Distributing'...

 IDOT's Funds, 'See'... how 'Our' Money is being Spent.

I want to Visit with Them...

Face to Face.

Eye to Eye.

Documents in Hand.

Not... through an 'e-mail'.

So Grateful... for Steph.

: )

<3

Yesterday... was a very, very... very...

Bad Day.

: (

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Sadly... it appears to me, 'Law' and 'Recorded Agreements' Mean Nothing to

  The Iowa Department of Transportation.}

uh... oh.