Unforseen Natural Disasters

Hi everyone! It's been awhile, I know. Electricity sure is nice isn't it?

I have a new found appreciation for electricity because we just spent the better part of 5 days without it! On Friday afternoon, a day which was forecast to be all sun and no rain, a massive storm blew through our area. We realized something was going on when we heard windows breaking upstairs, and our suspicions were confirmed when the top of someone's chimney blew off and hit Myrtle's car. :-( We lost electrical power a few minutes before the tornado sirens started blaring. So that was fun.

Once the storm had passed, we went upstairs to clean the damage and wait for electrical power to be restored. We got out a game of Rummicub, made peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and brashly opened the freezer to get ice cream for dessert. The hours ticked by, and no electricity. I began to worry about my freezer full of chicken, which I had bought at an insanely good price. Finally, as the sun was setting, I called my mom to see if she could find any information. The information she found both shocked and horrified us. Multiple cities in Indiana were without power. Fort Wayne was expected to be restored by midnight Wednesday.

Wednesday. We panicked. Myrtle, having Multiple Sclerosis, could not stay in an un air-conditioned house for five days during a summer heat wave. I, having no money, could not bear the thought of loosing 20 pounds of sale priced chicken breasts. Paul, loving all things Canadian, could not watch Canadian football. The situation was dire.

The next two days were a scramble of logistics, and a fight for survival in a modern dark age. Myrtle managed to find a friend who had air conditioning, and camped out there for the rest of the week. Paul and I invested in a large food cooler and fought the ravenous crowds for ice and flashlight batteries. We battled to save what food we could and, by the end of the week, we had grilled chicken coming out our ears.

The days passed, and we did establish a sort of rhythm. We would spend the days refilling our coolers with ice, we would eat rotting vegetables and grilled chicken, and we would go out each afternoon for overpriced coffee, sitting in the air conditioning for hours while we chatted and sipped our drinks. In the evenings, we would play gin by candlelight, holding vigil for the return of that blessed modern convenience, electricity.

On Monday night, we watched in dismay as our neighbors across the street got their electrical power back, but at our house there was none to be had. Still none Tuesday morning. Finally, Tuesday afternoon, our prayers were answered and power was restored. It felt like a major holiday! Myrtle returned home, we restored things to working order, restocked the fridge, and that evening put on a celebratory feast! Yesterday there was still more restoring of order and still more feasting, and good times had by all.

So, yeah, that's why I haven't posted in awhile. Always coming up with excuses aren't I? ;-)