The Big Blow of '06 - The Latest
You should be the first to know that I have decided against turning in my application for the new season of "Survivor". Turns out, I'm a princess. This pioneer/foraging for wood/boiling hot water BS is, uh, BS. I'm so over it. I just don't see doing this on purpose, on a deserted island and having to eat bugs into the bargain. I'm out.
I talked to JP earlier today, while a crew of very nice phone guys started repairing lines. Hope began to spring. The Spouse had also talked to some City Light guys who determined that our lack of power had nothing to do with the Big Ass Tree and was further down the line, so off they went to find the problem. And I suppose strictly speaking there is no reason not to hope that everything will be ok by nightfall but since it is now after 3, I'm beginning to adjust my expectations. (That's right, I'm back in my undisclosed location, writing this post).
Oh, plus the cable guy came out and then came to my door, with a very hang-dog expression on his face, to tell me there wasn't a lick he could do until the power company had dealt with the tree.
The tree. We've been slowly dismantling it ourselves, with the help of neighbors. People are carting off bits of it for firewood, since you can't find so much as an 8 hour Duraflame log anywhere in the city limits.
We had dinner last night at some neighbors about 5 blocks over, who have power. So the steaks, which are keeping very nicely on my KITCHEN COUNTER will be consumed tonight. The Neighbor leaves for Montana tomorrow, which has me borderline depressed because I don't precisely know what I'm going to do without her.
I'm going to complain about one thing. JP mentioned something about being underwhelmed by the response to the situation and I kinda have to echo his sentiments. Holy frak. Leading up to today, we'd had no fewer than 6 people from assorted utility places by. They looked at the Big Ass Tree, held their little clipboards and said, "Golly, we had no idea. We'll make a note of it". When the 6th guy said that (the 3rd person from the same utility, btw) I said, "With all due respect, you're the 6th guy to say that to us. I'm just wondering at what point this information is going to be relayed to some central information center". No, of course he had no meaningful response.
Stuff happens. I get that this is a really, really complicated situation. But holy Mother of God, if we've learned nothing from 9/11 and Katrina we should have learned the importance of coordination between agencies in an emergency situation. Are they frakking kidding me with this stuff? Sheesh, shouldn't there be a giant map or even a frakking Excel spreadsheet somewhere that allows them to collect information from all those frakking clipboards?
Done bitching. I'm still trying to count our blessings, not the least of which continues to be that no one was hurt. The Child spent the night with her godparents last night and is going there again tonight. (She came home for a while this afternoon because she started crying in church, feeling guilty that she was warm and watching movies with her godparents while her parents were huddling for warmth). As soon as she got home and realized that I wasn't joking about the 32 degree temps inside, she was over that.
Gotta go. The Neighbor says "hey". I'll stay in touch with JP and he can let you know when I'm back up for good.
Love you all. Stay warm. And be thankful for it!
I talked to JP earlier today, while a crew of very nice phone guys started repairing lines. Hope began to spring. The Spouse had also talked to some City Light guys who determined that our lack of power had nothing to do with the Big Ass Tree and was further down the line, so off they went to find the problem. And I suppose strictly speaking there is no reason not to hope that everything will be ok by nightfall but since it is now after 3, I'm beginning to adjust my expectations. (That's right, I'm back in my undisclosed location, writing this post).
Oh, plus the cable guy came out and then came to my door, with a very hang-dog expression on his face, to tell me there wasn't a lick he could do until the power company had dealt with the tree.
The tree. We've been slowly dismantling it ourselves, with the help of neighbors. People are carting off bits of it for firewood, since you can't find so much as an 8 hour Duraflame log anywhere in the city limits.
We had dinner last night at some neighbors about 5 blocks over, who have power. So the steaks, which are keeping very nicely on my KITCHEN COUNTER will be consumed tonight. The Neighbor leaves for Montana tomorrow, which has me borderline depressed because I don't precisely know what I'm going to do without her.
I'm going to complain about one thing. JP mentioned something about being underwhelmed by the response to the situation and I kinda have to echo his sentiments. Holy frak. Leading up to today, we'd had no fewer than 6 people from assorted utility places by. They looked at the Big Ass Tree, held their little clipboards and said, "Golly, we had no idea. We'll make a note of it". When the 6th guy said that (the 3rd person from the same utility, btw) I said, "With all due respect, you're the 6th guy to say that to us. I'm just wondering at what point this information is going to be relayed to some central information center". No, of course he had no meaningful response.
Stuff happens. I get that this is a really, really complicated situation. But holy Mother of God, if we've learned nothing from 9/11 and Katrina we should have learned the importance of coordination between agencies in an emergency situation. Are they frakking kidding me with this stuff? Sheesh, shouldn't there be a giant map or even a frakking Excel spreadsheet somewhere that allows them to collect information from all those frakking clipboards?
Done bitching. I'm still trying to count our blessings, not the least of which continues to be that no one was hurt. The Child spent the night with her godparents last night and is going there again tonight. (She came home for a while this afternoon because she started crying in church, feeling guilty that she was warm and watching movies with her godparents while her parents were huddling for warmth). As soon as she got home and realized that I wasn't joking about the 32 degree temps inside, she was over that.
Gotta go. The Neighbor says "hey". I'll stay in touch with JP and he can let you know when I'm back up for good.
Love you all. Stay warm. And be thankful for it!
Labels: Big Blow, JP rules, The Child, The Dog, The Neighbor, The Spouse
cobbled together by Moi at 3:28 PM
13 Comments:
You must know how relieved we all are that everyone is safe,and unharmed,and we're hoping the powers that be pull their heads out of their dark spots long enough to get you up and running soon...In the meantime,rest assured that I've been blogging for you,and am now off to leave comments in your name on other people's blogs...Well,...See ya! ;)
..just kidding :)..about the comments part I mean..
I find it completely adorable that The Child felt so guilty ... and beyond adorable when ... not so much. She's totally a Diva waiting to happen. Love that.
AND ... love that you're okay. DON'T love the fact that you were forced to return to your undisclosed location; I want to know when I visit in future that you're blogging away in a comfy, heated home.
I'm with you on the whole emergency response thing. What a disaster.
On the other hand, there is an upside to all of this (aside, of course, from no one being harmed), and that is that real firewood smells real in a way that a Duraflame log just never will.
(Gotta count your blessings where you can find 'em.)
It IS crazy that in this modern age and especially after Katrina, that it takes so long to get power restored to people!
I'll put in a word for you with the big man (or woman, or non-gendered being) upstairs.
Glad to hear, though, that you're all safe!!
Take Care,
MHP :)
You expressed all of the reasons why I hate camping..it is housekeeping in dirt, mud, leaves and on the ground in the cold at night. Good luck with the Big Ass Tree and will say a little prayer that power comes back soon...I know Gina.
Hang in there, we are still praying for you!
That's it! I'm taking my electric socks off and going on a pie strike until your power is restored.
Glad to read that the situation's improving. Thinking of you and hoping life goes back to normal before too long.
So glad everyone is safe and you have a place to vent
so change the world and run for a local office!
I am so glad you all are ok and I sooo hope that they get your power up again soon.
It's very cute that the child feels guilty about being warm. It just goes to show what kind of person she is going to grow into.
As far as the emergency response goes. It's just horrible. It's always horrible. It's enough to make one think we can't in anyway depend on the government for aid.
I wish I could give you all a hand with something..
I turned on our air conditioner last night in a gesture of solidarity. (It had nothing to do with the fact that it was 70 degrees outside and 88 in the house.)
Much relieved to hear your voice on Saturday night. I'm sending up prayers that SOMEBODY in Seattle gets their collective stuff together to get your power, cable, etc. back up and running.
(BTW, Hubby accidentally deleted your cell number from caller id before I could write down. Please email it to me next time you check in.)
Love ya!
Wow.
Thanks for the reminder to cut down our giant tree with branches hanging over our power lines. I don't think it will survive a big snow storm.
Also, prayers.
Drat! I had hoped to find several blog updates, not just this one from your secret CIA location. Boo hoo! So sorry to hear you're STILL without power. Damn that Big Ass tree all to hell! Yes, The Child is growing up to be a very good person, with just the right touch of Diva. Awesome! I guess I'm not really surprised your power isn't on yet. Despite Katrina, 9/11 and every other disaster, it still takes humans to actually do the work, remove fallen trees, put up new power lines, phone lines, etc. and that takes time. The Son-in-law works for Verizon, so I know what it's like for those guys when a natural - or unnatural - disaster hits and they have to be out 'til all hours repairing stuff. It's time consuming work, and no amount of technology or previous disaster experience makes the actual physical work go faster. Hopefully, they'll get the power on sooner than later, and you return to a nicely warmed home! I'm so with you on the Survivor thing...
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