Sunday, July 23, 2006

Powerless

Almost 24 hours since my power went out and guess what? It's still out! I'm not complaining, mind you. After hitting Starbucks last night to upload yesterday's post, I went home and read a book with a flashlight as I sweated myself to sleep. It was a good lesson.I don't read enough books. But without the distraction of TV and the internet...

The continuing power outage has made me realize how spoiled I (we) really am (are). What is a minor inconvenience for me is a daily nightmare for a lot of less fortunate souls here and around the world. Plenty have people have no power...ever. Think about it. I'm not going to mention any of them here because it's too depressing and the list is too long. Make your own list and appreciate all the conveniences you don't have to live without.

Of course, I'm also lucky I didn't have to sit in my house all day. Last report, it was 96˚ inside my house. I have spent the whole day at my over-air-conditioned Starbucks, doing a little work, helping a friend with her short film script and generally chit-chatting with the regulars and meeting a few new people.

And just when I put down in the old blog - which I liken to setting in stone - that I never recognize anyone...an actor walks in here...I look at him...and immediately recognize him. Any of you watch Crossing Jordan? It was Steve Valentine, the English guy that plays the the morgue doc who mans all the cool scientific gadgetry. Okay, not such a big star but, come on, I recognized him all by myself. Probably 'cause he's tall and English. I hope I haven't reversed my affliction. I don't want to have to book weekly appointments with my chiropractor.

One last thing...anybody know how long the food in my fridge and freezer will last?

6 comments:

Kirsten said...

First off, do NOT open either one unless you are doing it to put ice or dry ice in there! You lose a lot of the cold buy opening the door even briefly.

Here are the USDA guidelines for food safety after a power outage.

Chesher Cat said...

Thanks, Kirsten.

"Here are the USDA guidelines for food safety after a power outage."

But what do I do during a power outage??

Kirsten said...

Either leave them both closed and hope that the power comes on within the timeframe specified on that page that the food can survive, or move everything inside close together and put some ice or dry ice in there to keep everything cold if that's an option.

Chesher Cat said...

No worries. I woke up this morning to a big puddle on the kitchen floor. Stuff melted. The food is all gone now and I continue to be powerless.

Thank God for my Starbucks that provides me with electricity, air conditioning and coffee.

aggiebrett said...

It's wild, but after last year's hurricane debacles, there have been a LOT off folks locally adding hardwired backup generators to their homes. I'm not talking the little potrable Honda generators that look like lawnmower engines in a cage-- I mean the big hardcore units that look like A/C units and are hardwired into your main breaker panel and are fueled by natural gas direct from the curb. When the power trips, the generator powers on and you have enough juice to handle the necessities of life on the Gulf Coast (fridge, A/C, etc.)

I'm starting to laugh less and less at the folks who drop coin on such beasts.
.
.
.
B

Anonymous said...

I would be leery of anything more than 2 days old myself. Can you take it all out, put it in boxes, rent a portable freezer and a huge grill, throw a barbecue somewhere there is power, charge for the food, then use the proceeds to restock when your power is on? Ha, in a perfect world I know