This morning was the day for WS to go to work. I stayed home to babysit the generator and move the food from the deck to the freezer. Tomorrow, I will go to work and WS will stay home to babysit.
WS had set the alam to a battery operated clock, so he got up on time. The house was still warm from the heater (downstairs) and the woodstove upstairs. I got up shortly after WS did and turned on the TV to listen to the news (the picture was so fuzzy that it wasn't watchable). Sitting on the couch, I looked across the room at where the cable enters the room. It has a filter attached at that end, which is plugged into a socket. My brilliant thought of the day; plug that into the surge protector that the TV was on (and in turn, eventually connected to the generator) and maybe the picture would improve - and it certainly did!
After WS left, I turned off the electronics upstairs and rummaged around until I could connect the modem, network router and laptop computer to the generator, and like magic I was on the internet. After going thru about 15,000 emails (4.5 dyas worth), I got dressed and started shuffling stuff off the deck and back into the freezer. it was already inb the 40's, so the stuff definitely needed to be moved. Then I beat the ice of the deck and steps, using some of it in the coolers for "refrigerated" food (still on the deck).
So here I am, sitting in the near dark (it is very cloudy but not dark enough to start oil lamps up), with the Weather Channel on the TV, writing a post on my blog, listening for the phone to ring - all without any outside supplied power.
we could learn a lesson over this side of the pond from you guys, you are so resourceful.
Posted by: bod | December 15, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Hang in there.
And be sure to check the oil in the generator the next time you refuel.
Posted by: Bruce | December 15, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Bruce - this generator is new-fangled (even if it is 7-8 years old), it shuts itself off and refused to start when it gets low on oil. Does the same thing for gas ;)
Bod - you guys would do just fine, you just do what you gotta do.
Posted by: bogie | December 16, 2008 at 03:56 AM
Good morning, Bogie. There was no doubt in my mind that you and WS were taking it all in stride. My only question was (and I wrote a whole posting on your weather and your survival skills; but, TypePad is acting up on me and I couldn't get it to post, properly, so I finally killed the piece) how many people were bunking in with you. Evidently, there are no extra feet in your turf.
Tried to call your landline and got a busy signal. Wasn't sure whether it meant that you or WS was on the phone or whether it meant your phone service was down. Didn't want to run your cell phone battery down, so didn't call it.
Thanks for the report. I'll forward it to your dad.
Posted by: Cop Car | December 16, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Glad to hear all is...well...SORT of well. Hope they get the power back up soon.
Ya know, there have been times I've thought about investing in a generator. Still have to convince myself though.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | December 16, 2008 at 06:35 PM