Pioneer Spirit, More or Less
The good news: City Light crews were out restringing wire this morning. The Spouse is calling the cable company. The light guys said that we should have our power back by 11 tonight. They are my new favorite people evah. Depending on what the cable folks do, I may still not be operational for a bit but given that I will have power, I'll cope.
I am not at my undisclosed location as The Neighbor is now safe and warm in Montana. (Never thought I'd say "warm" and "Montana" in the same breath, especially in December). But as I was preparing to get in my car and drive around to charge my cell phone so I could call JP, a good friend who lives down the way happened by. And she ordered me to get some clean clothes, come shower at her house and use her wireless connection. Wasn't going to say 'no' to that.
So here are some observations on day 4 of the Big Adventure:
You can fry tater tots in a skillet. They will be very tasty.
You can make a salad at 2 pm, while it is still light. It will stay crisp on the counter for 5 hours. No one will eat it. Turns out cold food in a cold house on a cold night is not a big seller. People will, however, dip tater tots in the bleu cheese dressing.
Battery radios will keep you sane. Please get one. It keeps you connected to the world. It brings you music to soothe the savage breast. It also provides perspective. Whenever the news came on we'd expect to be the top story. We weren't. Usually it was about Palestine or Iraq. And no matter how crappy our situation is/was, we were reminded that at least bombs weren't going off. We know our situation will be resolved by Christmas.
We live in the best damn neighborhood in Seattle. We're chopping firewood for each other. We're making coffee for each other. We're gathering on corners and porch steps to share information, trouble shoot and offer encouragement. That's what neighbors do for each other. It rocks.
Keeping your humor is vital. There have been moments when we teetered a little too close to despair and we'd bring ourselves back with a joke. The fact is, there's nothing to be done about it and sitting around pouting won't make us feel better.
I am way too reliant on electricity for my amusements. But in my defense, I could play solitaire or read but both of those things require a measure of dexterity and it is hard to be nimble while wearing gloves. And that's why we'll be purchasing a generator when this is all over (and generators are again available within city limits).
Cute story. This morning I saw a city truck and ran out to talk to the guy. He was great. He himself has been without power for 5 days. We felt each other's pain. He also gave me more information than I'd had all week. I thanked him for his service. And as he left he said, "You look beautiful in your coat. Take it easy, Miss America". That was a very generous thing to say to a middle aged woman who was wearing 4 layers of clothes, a bulky coat and scarf, who wasn't wearing make-up and hadn't showered since Thursday.
Yesterday was "Gaudate Sunday"; the pink candle on the Advent wreath was lit. Pink represents the light at the end of the tunnel, our Advent fast is coming to an end. The word that repeats in the liturgy is "rejoice".
Yesterday I greened the wreath with bits from the Big Ass Tree. It seemed appropriate. Last night I lit the candles on the wreath, something that's been neglected since all this hooha got started. And we sat down to our hot dinner and wine, held hands with The Neighbor and gave thanks.
Also, I've lost 5 pounds.
I am not at my undisclosed location as The Neighbor is now safe and warm in Montana. (Never thought I'd say "warm" and "Montana" in the same breath, especially in December). But as I was preparing to get in my car and drive around to charge my cell phone so I could call JP, a good friend who lives down the way happened by. And she ordered me to get some clean clothes, come shower at her house and use her wireless connection. Wasn't going to say 'no' to that.
So here are some observations on day 4 of the Big Adventure:
You can fry tater tots in a skillet. They will be very tasty.
You can make a salad at 2 pm, while it is still light. It will stay crisp on the counter for 5 hours. No one will eat it. Turns out cold food in a cold house on a cold night is not a big seller. People will, however, dip tater tots in the bleu cheese dressing.
Battery radios will keep you sane. Please get one. It keeps you connected to the world. It brings you music to soothe the savage breast. It also provides perspective. Whenever the news came on we'd expect to be the top story. We weren't. Usually it was about Palestine or Iraq. And no matter how crappy our situation is/was, we were reminded that at least bombs weren't going off. We know our situation will be resolved by Christmas.
We live in the best damn neighborhood in Seattle. We're chopping firewood for each other. We're making coffee for each other. We're gathering on corners and porch steps to share information, trouble shoot and offer encouragement. That's what neighbors do for each other. It rocks.
Keeping your humor is vital. There have been moments when we teetered a little too close to despair and we'd bring ourselves back with a joke. The fact is, there's nothing to be done about it and sitting around pouting won't make us feel better.
I am way too reliant on electricity for my amusements. But in my defense, I could play solitaire or read but both of those things require a measure of dexterity and it is hard to be nimble while wearing gloves. And that's why we'll be purchasing a generator when this is all over (and generators are again available within city limits).
Cute story. This morning I saw a city truck and ran out to talk to the guy. He was great. He himself has been without power for 5 days. We felt each other's pain. He also gave me more information than I'd had all week. I thanked him for his service. And as he left he said, "You look beautiful in your coat. Take it easy, Miss America". That was a very generous thing to say to a middle aged woman who was wearing 4 layers of clothes, a bulky coat and scarf, who wasn't wearing make-up and hadn't showered since Thursday.
Yesterday was "Gaudate Sunday"; the pink candle on the Advent wreath was lit. Pink represents the light at the end of the tunnel, our Advent fast is coming to an end. The word that repeats in the liturgy is "rejoice".
Yesterday I greened the wreath with bits from the Big Ass Tree. It seemed appropriate. Last night I lit the candles on the wreath, something that's been neglected since all this hooha got started. And we sat down to our hot dinner and wine, held hands with The Neighbor and gave thanks.
Also, I've lost 5 pounds.
Labels: Big Blow, cheese, coffee, JP rules, The Neighbor, The Spouse
cobbled together by Moi at 1:34 PM
15 Comments:
5 POUNDS??!!??!!
That's the "non electricity" diet, right? See ya later - I'm going to call the power company to shut me off!
yeah - right!
It's wonderful to hear your beautiful perspective on your current adventure. And Utility Guy is totally on point:
You ARE Miss America!
I'm amazed that I am the first to comment!
So...still no power. That's pretty remarkable. Tell me, do y'all have fireplaces in your neighborhood, hence the use for firewood? I mean, up here, in the Great-White-North-Pert-Near-Montana, well lots and lots of us folks HEAT and COOK with wood full time, but you city folk, well we figgered y'all only bought firewood fer looks, not to akshewally burn for heatin' or cookin' or nothin' like thet.
Salad in winter rarely sounds tasty to me. Lentil soup, big seller, salad, not so much. Tater tots in bleu cheese.... drool!
It really is amazing, isn't it, how neighborhoods pull together when stuff like this happens? When we had the big ice/snow storm in 1996 at Thanksgiving, people were getting stuck on flat roads in the ice and frozen slush. Folks were coming out of the woodwork to help. Power was out in some areas for 10 days! If it weren't for neighbors with chain saws, many folks would not have been able to get out from even typical neighborhoods in town, let alone those out in the more remote areas.
Glad you see a light at the tunnel's end. As for things making headlines besides Seattle's power problems, the one catching my attention is the hikers on Mt. Hood. I burst into tears when I heard yesterday that one had been found dead. I have been praying so hard they would all be okay.
Well, back to work. Glad you were able to post. Still praying for life to return to normal ASAP for you all, and getting ready to tape BSG for you.
Well, there were no comments when I started mine. Sheesh. And I agree with JLow - FIVE POUND! Awesome! And yes, you ARE Miss America. The guy's no dummy!
WOW! You're back in business...and thank goodness for it!
I'll just bet Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't get hit on by a cute service person during the Long Winter whilst wearing layers upon layers of clothing...har har. YOU GO, PIONEER GIRL!
I hope you are happy, warm and comforted at home. No more leaving Omaha steaks out on the counter.
here`s to hoping for electricity...
Tater tots in the frying pan are Da Bomb!...with a little seasoned salt and chili powder..Then you can dump 'em on a plate and cook your toasted cheese sandwich in the same pan.
Kudos to the neighborhood,the power guy,and the missing 5 pounds!
Oh, nuts. I just realized the Christmas card I mailed you last week (1) is probably not going to reach you on time, and (2) will seem really, really, lame after this Thoreau-at-Waldenish experience.
I wish I had neighbors like yours. That's gotta warm your heart, even if your @$$ is freezing off.
Gotta go grab some dinner. I'm thinkin' fried tater tots this evening!
I don't know that I've ever heard the concept of fried tator tots dipped in bleu cheese dressing linked together with a 5 lb weight loss. I wonder what Weight Watchers would have to say about that one.
I'm glad you're hanging in, glad you're still finding a way to blog.
This will be a Christmas you're not likely to forget.
Nice post. Welcome back to the world, Miss America.
I shall resist the urge to make a pervy remark about the swimsuit competition.
hugs
Where are you?
Don't let Gina fool you...she is NOT a cord of wood, log splitter kind of girl! she turns the thermostat up....but we both know a few people that could have helped hack that Big Ass Tree! Hope your hoildays are better than the pre holidays.
Hope you have things under control and hope they get back to normal for you. Thanks for sharing your extraordinary stories of survial with us.
Just as an FYI to all. We got our power back about 7:00 PM Sunday but the cable is still down as a major trunk line went down wiht the tree. Spent yesterday sawing up the logs left after City Light came throuh and cleared the road. Lorraine has a lot of pix and as soon as the cable is back I am sure she will be posting them.
From us to all of you Thanks much for your prayers and well wishes.
Eric
Post a Comment
<< Home