We left Val hobbling around her garage (TWICE) over uneven bricks and lumpy gravel, to gain access to her electricless hillbilly mansion.
I had no doubt that my power outage had been caused by those cable company linemen! That's the only explanation. The winds were much slower than the previous two days, when we hadn't had an issue. Only gusting to 14 mph, rather than 30. You can't convince me that our electricity was randomly disconnected while a man in a lift was mucking about with wires.
Once inside, I checked my phone to see what that email was about. It was from the electric company! Saying a potential outage had been reported in my area, with a restore time of 6:45 p.m. The time of the email was 3:48. It had been sent in the middle of my 10-minute drive home. I'm sure that cable guy had dis-electrified me just as I was leaving town. Nothing to do now but gather up flashlights and wait for Hick to get home to start the generator. It was going on 4:30 by the time I got things situated. I had about a half hour of daylight left.
I settled down at the kitchen table with my scratchers. Trying to stay out of trouble and not flush or run water or open FRIG II. I had washed my hands in oatmeal water! Meaning I had used the water I'd run into my breakfast oatmeal bowl to soak in the sink.
Hick was home shortly before 5:00. He immediately went out to get the generator going. I could hear the one running at the neighbors, but no sound from ours. That's not true. I could hear puttering. Sputtering. Light ceased coming in through the miniblinds. I turned on a flashlight. Scratching lottery like the pioneers had to do, heh, heh! FINALLY, after 20-30 minutes, I heard the generator start, and the lights came on. Hick came inside.
"I thought I'd never get it going. Now I have to go to town for gas. I don't have enough to run it long."
Off Hick went. At least I had lights and flushes. Meantime, I had another email from the electric company, saying that the cause of the outage was equipment damage, and they couldn't provide a restore time at this moment.
When Hick returned, he said there were no crews working on the electric lines. What with it being Veteran's Day, perhaps the electric company had trouble getting an on-call crew that was nearby. Hick said that I could use a burner, but not the oven. So I fried him a couple hot dogs for his supper.
I continued scratching, and Hick watched TV. Of course I was freezing to death, though Hick said it wasn't even cold outside. It sure LOOKED cold! Had only reached the 50s, and supposed to go below freezing overnight. My hands were like ice. I could hardly grip my lucky quarter. I have no idea of the actual temperature inside. It might have only dipped a degree or two below the 70 it had been set on. I just knew that right now I had no heat, and I was FREEZING!
At 6:30, Hick went out on the front porch to see if our dusk-to-dawn light had come back on. IT HAD! At the same time, I got another email from the electric company, saying our power had been restored. You don't know how ecstatic that made me. Not only would I have heat now, but I COULD USE THE OVEN TO WARM UP MY BONUS REUBEN!!!
Hick went out to shut off the generator. I was standing at the kitchen counter. He said, "Stay right there, just like that! It's going to get really dark." So I did. Then Hick came back in with the flashlight, to go to the breaker box and hook us back up to regular electricity. Oh, and on the way through the kitchen, he said,
"I guess I need to get a new battery for the generator."
Which resulted in a whole new annoyance, one of Hick's "Who's on First" explanations. Or as I've come to think of them: Hicksplanations.
Still, it's times like these that I'm glad I have a generator. AND a Hick.
It was exhausting to read about life with Hick. We lost our elect. on the farm, and it took two days for the REA to reconnect it. Life went back to dark ages for two days. Do you still collect coins? I haven't heard of any finds lately. Pennies will change things.
ReplyDeleteIf you think reading about it is exhausting, be glad you're not LIVING IT!
DeleteOur electric was out about 10 days when we had an ice storm many years ago. The boys and I stayed in town with my mom, while Hick stayed out here using a kerosene heater, making sure nobody was looting. The Pony still complains that his back hurts from sleeping on Grandma's pull-out couch!
You haven't heard of any coin finds lately because I stopped collecting them two or three years ago!
Knock wood, we have been extremely fortunate with quick restoration when our power goes out. We get our power from a cooperative, and the power comes from all the acres of solar panels that line the highway. I keep telling my husband that we should at least get enough solar to keep the lights on. We have a gas heater that we can use if the electric goes out and with a gas stove, I could cook up a storm! We also have a generator, but I would be willing to bet it wouldn't start up!
ReplyDeleteWe have an electric fireplace in the living room, one in our bedroom, and one in the basement. They can be run with the generator if we turn other things off. So we won't freeze to death, even if we might not be comfortable. Same with the microwave. Hick knows how much power they need, and tells me what I can use. Lights and TV and the well pump are the basics we must have!
DeleteI am so glad your power came back on, not just for the Reuben, but because I hate that being-cold-and-not-being-able-to-get-warm feeling. I am cold myself right now, it is only 20C (68F) inside but sunny and warm outside so I don't want to turn on any heating. I'll have a cup of hot tea, that will help.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting the generator gets a new battery before T-Hoe gets new oil. Hick shoud be ashamed, he is risking your life. What if T-Hoe's motor dies on your way to or from anywhere and there is no one to help you and it is freezing weather out there? Do you need to throw a screaming tantrum to get that oil change?
Yes, winter is coming on, and T-Hoe must be reliable to get me to town and back. It's not like I plan to drive from coast to coast. I just need 10-mile-round-trip reliability.
DeleteHowever... there has been a recent development in the T-Hoe situation.
A generator is on the list of things I want. But, it has to be a whole house one. At least, it cannot need anyone to go out. Tommy is not able, nor am I. It is good you have Hick to work with the generator. We have a gas heating and cooling system that needs electricity to run. We are rewiring house now to rid it of aluminum wiring. So, often the electricity does not work in rooms they have now rewired. So, it is dicey as to what will work.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good plan. You won't have to lift a finger, or know how much power a generator provides, and which appliances you can run at the same time.
DeleteHick has talked about an automatic whole-house generator, but I don't really want to spend that much. Of course Hick will probably spend it on other frivolous things like another outbuilding, or a third tractor!