I survived 4 days without electricity and phone

[SeaBreeze]

LOL...     
Ya know, I don't know if I've just hit my limit and have gone absolutely insane but at this point I am just 'laughing' at the state of my life...

Last Friday, our power went out due to what has been billed as "The Biggest Ice Storm In Decades"...
I was all wrapped up in the mourning of my kitty that I didn't even know how bad it was until I was in darkness, total, can't see your hands in front of your face darkness... The weather forecasters said the storm may cause some power outages due to ice on lines.... They were way off, I live in New Hampshire and the entire state is/was out, most of northern Mass and southern Maine were out too.  About 1.5 million all together............

Friday night I went to bed after the power went off.  Woke up Saturday to sunshine and blue skies but no power. The main road, is lined with strip malls, big malls, tons of business... Well, combine Christmas shopping with panic to buy generators, candles and batteries, the streets were insanely busy... All the 'money makers' had power restored in short time, groceries and package stores were bustling... Home Depot had to put police out when the 'generators' arrived on Saturday.. It was crazy...

Relatives and friends offered a place to stay, but I wanted to do this, for some reason, I wanted to say I survived the Ice Storm of 2008.  I spent the 4 days, listening to nice music, reading, and in deep states meditation and prayer. I had a dying cell phone, so texting was the only way to go... I missed my kitty, he would have loved 24 hour attention.  Each day was spent 'preparing' for the evening... getting the candles and batteries in one spot etc.  I have a gas stove, so I kept a big pot of water on the stove, it made my place plenty warm and really humid, hot chocolate and soup were staples.

It seemed everybody was in a good mood, I met a lot of neighbors sharing ideas and ways to stay occupied.. God Bless those with children !! You couldn't find a hotel room or buy a movie ticket.

On Sunday, I walked the property gathering the 'greens' from the downed trees and berries and made beautiful arrangements for my tables... I told my sister that I was forced to forrage for berries as food... LOL

So I survived... and I'm glad I hung in there... I needed the peace and quiet to straighten out my thoughts, my goals and plans for the months to come.

The weather is calling for a small, medium and large storms in the coming days, with ice and sleet... should be interesting.. congrats to other survivors, I know I wasn't alone..

[genko_b]

Wow SeaBreeze! What an experience. Sometimes it is nice to have times like that when life is extremely simple and you get to reconnect with priorities. You were fortunate to have a gas stove and a way to keep slightly warmer.

We are having very cold weather for this area (Pacific Northwest), and it is expected to last through Christmas day at least. It is the coldest it has been in over twenty years. The day room at the AIDS hospice today was entirely full of people getting in out of the cold - usually it is mild enough here that folks can find "adequate" (I use the word very loosely) shelter outside all year round. Not true right now. Folks were there this morning I haven't seen in months.

Take care.

Genko

[Cheryl]

Seabreeze,
  It sounds as if the power outage time was really therapeutic for you!  The picture you painted was almost cozy!   I do hope that you don't have a repeat experience, though.  Stay warm!
Cheryl

[Scottietottie]

Hi SeaBreeze   

It really makes you aware of how dependent we've become on utilities working - doesn't it? Hubby was brought up on a highland 'croft' (small holding) and didn't have running water or electricity till he was about 10. water came from a well and as for sanitation - well he used the byre (where the cows were) in the winter and the fields in the summer.

His Dad still lives in the locality and there are a few days every winter that they end up without power due to storms.

Once upon a time if you had gas and electricity, if the electricity went off - you could still use the gas to be warm but now the systems seem to be interconnected.

You sound as though you managed magnificently though and its great how people pull together during times of adversity isn't it?

Take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Sea, I think you will always remember this as something "you survived."  I really admire your gutts and the way you handled things so calmly.  As the others said, it's amazing what we can get along without when we have no choice!  I live in Michigan and we have lots of snow, and this year is being a hard winter from the getgo.  It's been really cold and lots of snow so far!

My most memorable ice storm was in the winter of 85-86.  In fact it was New Years Eve.  We went to a hockey game with our then teen-age daughter.  Coming home, everything was frozen.  The power went out all over the area.  We were without power for 10 days.  We had a woodburner at the time.  Also a gas cookstove.  We had no water, as we have a well.  We had to haul water in big jugs for an occasional "flush."  We showered at relatives, or at the gym.  I had no power for my curling iron and just took it to work.  Hubby worked from 3-12 at the time, so my daughter and I were by ourself at night.  I worked daytime and she was in school.  Finally, I said "I'm getting a motel room and if you want to come after work, we'll be there."  Daughter and I went to a motel and she went to school as I dropped her off on the way to work.  My hubby stayed home so "he could take care of the homestead."  LOL. 

New Years Eve, the first night with no power, we had one bottle of champagne at home.  I thought our daughter could do a toast with us as she was 18 and I'd never given her anything to drink before.  Well, after the toast to a new year, she barfed in the bathroom sink.  Here I was with no water, a sink full of puke, no power and about to pull the hair off her head.  Somehow I managed with paper towels, snow and cleaner to clean the mess up.  Normally, I would have made her do this, but I was afraid she's make it worse.  So, there is my "icestorm" story.  I doubt it'll ever be that way again.  We have a generator now so we're covered for the basics.  Lucy

[Pooh]

I think you did fantastic Sea.  Those ice storms are real doozies when they hit.  We had one (can't remember the year exactly) but we were without power for about 5 days.  Being in the country everything we had was electric so I cooked on the woodstove.  We brought all the mattresses into the livingroom and closed off the bedrooms.  We kept the woodstove in the basement and livingroom going so we were all warm.  Evenings were fun, because we talked and remembered times gone by. (No TV)

Shortly after power was restored from the ice storm, we were inundated with 4 1/2 feet of snow and drifts up to 12 ft in places.  So we were home bound again.  I'm pretty sure it was back in 1978.  I got pretty good at cooking on the woodstove.   Hubby was glad when the power came back on.  I don't think he ate stew or soup again for a year.   

Take care and always remember "You Survived The Ice Storm of 2008".   BRAVO!!

Pooh

[Lacey1981]

wow don't think i could have done it. back in 2006 we were w/o power for 10 days. we had to stay w/ relatives b/c we had a newborn at home so didn't want to risk having him in a cold house. glad your power is back and you're doing good

[SeaBreeze]

Thanks everyone...
It was a nice couple of days actually.  Its funny how in 12 hours one can go from log cabin livin' right back into the madness.  I think I'd be happy somewhere in the middle... I survived the storm of 1978.  The only vehicles allowed on the roads were National Guard and plows. I worked in a hospital, word got out they needed us, so my father walked with me up to the main street, the national guard truck pulled up, I hopped in the back and waved at neighbors like Florence Nightengale as we drove off... I was 'stuck' at the hospital for 5 days.... and PAID around the clock !!!!!!!! we had fun..

[Linda196]

We do occasionally need to prove to ourselves that we are a "hardy bunch" and our pioneer spirit is still alive and well.

Ice storms seem to be the order of the day here for the past several years. The worst recently was in 1998, 10-12 cm (about 4 inches) of solid ice on everything, cutting a path of powerless darkness through Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick with slightly less (but still impressive) amounts in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Every year brings at least one icy adventure, so most of us live in preparedness...generators, wood heat, stored water, and collections of candles. I know of neighbourhood watches strictly for power outages, neighbours checking on each other, and their houses if they have had to leave them; gathering places that are better equipped to keep people comfortable, like a central apartment in a complex, or one home in a given area that opens its doors, and many community centers are drawn into service, too.The Canadian Government even has a prepared list for an emergency kit, what you need to stay safe for 72 hours without depending on intervention while the emergency services are dealing with more needy people, like the elderly, disabled and institutionalized.

For a couple of our more memorable storms (our "Groundhog Day Storm" of '76 was particularly destructive) I, too, found myself stranded at the hospital, and worked or was available in the hospital for 72-96 hours, in a generator lighted, water rationed, grinding to a halt hospital. Once, having left after nearly 4 1/2 days, it took me another 8 hours to make the 1 hour drive home because of roads closed by washouts and debris.

These forces of Nature bring distruction, injury and even death, and are nothing to trifle with, but it does feel remarkable to be able to say..."I survived". And it's also a good break from technology, and a chance to get to know ourselves better, without the distractions of TV and the computer. My "kit" always has a good book that I haven't read, but I admit to getting into it many times and having to replace the book...I've started picking up 3 at a time at the used book store, and when I get down to one, I go get 3 more!

Good for you and all the other survivor, and bless any who suffered loss because of this storm and power loss.

[Liz D.]

Hi Sea,

I live in the south of Massachusetts so was spared the horrible ice storm, but have full coverage of it round the clock on our news station.  I kept feeling so fortunate we were spared the whole ordeal, but I must say you made it sound so therapeutic!!  I am going to remember how you handled it so when the inevitable hits the South Shore of Massachusetts, I'll know how to handle it properly!  Good job!

Liz D.

[Bucky]

SeaBreeze . . . woohoo . . you did it!!!     Sounded like a mini-vacation.   

The longest I can remember being without power is just over 24 hrs.  I can't imagine being without power for four days or longer. 

What a coincidence you post this now as we here in the midwest are getting ready for some of that nasty weather to come thru here tomorrow afternoon into Friday.     We've gased up our vehicles, got groceries, will draw up some water tonight and then sit back and see what happens.  We have on occasion lucked out and the predicted storms would go north or south of us . . . lately though, they come right thru the middle - right where I'm at.  Just think - winter doesn't "officially" arrive until this Sunday, the 21st!!!  Oh my, I can only imagine what is in store for us for the winter of 2009!!   

Everyone, please take care if you have to venture out in the elements.  Make sure you have a supply of your medications on hand too so you don't have to try and get some in the middle of a storm.  Be prepared for the worse and hope for the best. 

Bucky

[Tinker]

Sounds like our Hurricane Ike!  What a nightmare!  It was so hot and humid that we took a tip from the beagle and spread out on the cool (but hard) ceramic tile floor in the kitchen. 

Seabreeze, I can't imagine being in total darkness.  But sounds like you made the best of it.  I know I will never take a glass of ice water for granted again. 

[wen.uk]

Seabreeze, wow what a girl, I'm soooo proud for you - the way you describe it makes it sound like a huge treat!!, though I'm certain it wasn't.

Takes me back to the time here in the UK when there was a general strike, the electric would go off every night at around 7pm until about 7am the next day.  We treated it as a huge adventure, we would get wrapped up warm, get in bed ready for the switch off and spend the evening making shadow pictures with a candle. Ah those were the days!!

[Bucky]

Seabreeze . . . you came to mind first thing Friday morning at 3:20 a.m. when we lost power due to the freezing rain / ice.  My first thoughts were "oh boy, here we go . . hopes it's not for days and days".  It did get a bit nippy in the house, but not too bad.  Had two pairs of jeans on, t-shirt, sweatshirt, coat & vest, hat & gloves and covered up with an afghan.  Sure wish we had a fireplace or wood stove.  Luckily, we invested in a generator this summer and cranked it up once hubby got home from work.  We only turned it on twice to conserve the gas since we had no idea how long we'd be without power.  We were gearing up for a cold evening Friday night when we turned the generator off and whalla . . the power came back on at 11:20 p.m.  WOOHOO . . .

During the day out came the board games . . Monopoly Here and Now and Scrabble.  Then my son (13) and I would sit there and talk about all kinds of things . . . places we wanted to visit,  favorite experience, most scarey experience, etc.   Actually, the day went by pretty quickly . . all things considered.

We're not out of the woods yet . . more "weather" is due here this weekend thru Christmas Eve . . . . the joys of winter.

Be safe everyone.

Bucky