Raindrops slow, but don't stop, outdoor work or play

When you work outside, you just make do -- no matter what the weather is.

If you mow lawns for a living, you tighten your grip on the mower and walk through the rain drops. Remember, there are other customers who want their grass just as short. Taking a rain day would throw your landscaping firm off schedule and put you in hot water with other customers.

If you're a lifeguard, you watch people swim in the pool and listen for thunder.

"We've only been closed one entire day this year (at Dolphin Cove Aquatic Center)," said Kristine Pizzolato, acting aquatic supervisor for the Dundee Township Park District.

"That was Sunday (Aug. 19). It rained pretty much all day."

The pool closes during thunderstorms. But on Monday, no lightning was seen nor thunder heard. The pool was open under a cloudy, muggy sky. Four people swam and more than a half-dozen lifeguards either watched them or mopped up after the previous night's storm.

"The days go slower when we don't have many swimmers," she said.

"This year hasn't been so bad. This month has been rainy, though."

And so has this week. More than 4 inches of rain fell throughout Sunday night. That's on top of the 6-7 inches of rain that have already fallen this month in Dundee Township.

But people still come out and play in it. Across Route 25 from the aquatic center golfers were still teeing up at the Bonnie Dundee Golf Course.

"We only have nine holes open because the rest of the course is too wet," said John Timmerman.

As course starter, it's Timmerman's job to make sure players start on time and keep a steady pace so they don't delay other golfers. But not many golfers were on the course at the start of this week, and the ones who were couldn't ride carts. To save the course, they had to walk.

"We still have people playing," he said. "They are getting their nine holes in."

And if you're a public works employee in East Dundee, you don't let the rain or high water level of the Fox River stop you from trying to figure out how to dislodge a fallen tree from under the footbridge that runs to West Dundee.

First, you have to wait for the river's level to go down and the current to slow. Then, you have to figure out who's responsible for taking the tree out.

The river's banks are the village's responsibility. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the river itself.