Looking out the front door
Ice cocksIt started Friday night, January 12.
crappyCrappySHITTY weather - rain and cold.
Saturday it was still rain and cold and getting colder, the rain turning to ice.
The ice began to set ... setting on things like satellite and television dishes, on streets, on sidewalks and on power lines.
The power went out.
The entire house is electric.
By Sunday morning, the storm was over and had left its damage with 4" to 5" of ice on anything left standing.
It was one of the most beautiful sites I have seen - one I hope never to see again.
and still no electricity.
Finally at 18:30 the power returned. After 20 minutes of this, it had me tuned back in and feeling all safe, secure and WARM. Then at 21:30 it went out again.
That was January 14.
I did not see power again, in this house, until late yesterday, January 20.
I hate living here.
However, there was a blessing in all this mess.
I found out my neighbor's last name and how truly wonderful they are.
The very first morning when he-neighbor realized no lights came on at my place, he came over with a thermos of coffee and offered full use of their kitchen and to come over and get warmed up.
At that point I declined.
As the day went on, I realized that I probably would not see electricity in this house for days and all the hotels and motels between here and a 75 mile radius (those that had heat and electricity) were full.
I took the neighbors offer to get warmed up.
I sat down on their couch and proceeded to get acquainted with the two of them. It was so warm and comfortable at their house, and I felt right at home. They offered their spare bedroom until the electricity could be restored or before their son arrived home from his work week - whichever came first.
I didn't refuse, and spent 5 nights with them. They made it so easy to be there.
I will never be able to fully express my gratitude to these 2 people who opened their home and their lives during this winter disaster. Their generosity was unconditional and I realized, this is what the real Midwesterners are about.
Thank you God for making people like this.
Their son was coming in on Friday night. The morning of, I packed up and headed out so that he could have the spare room back. Thousands had their power restored by then, so I assumed there would be some hotel rooms available at that point.
I assumed correctly.
Not the hoity-toity ones though. Those rooms were all taken.
A one-night-rendezvous-romp hotel was the best to offer --- but hey! it had working heat, electricity, cable, frig, microwave AND internet access. What more could a girl ask for?
One night was enough.
However, they did have the best coffee I have had in a longLongLONG time -- well, since visiting my cousin's in
Around 9am on Saturday, the call came from the he-neighbor. He could see lights on at my house.
I am ecstatic - but leery. I decide to stay in the city for a few hours more, and see if the power is a sure thing.
An hour later, he-neighbor calls back and says now the entire subdivision is without electricity, which included them.
fuck! I hate living here.
I go shopping.
I shop for the next 5 hours.
I decide that it's time to reserve another room for the next night or two ... in time to get a nicer hotel.
I am all locked in on the reservation. I feel safe knowing this.
I stop at the bar and have a drink before heading to the hotel.
The annoying cell phone goes off - it's the he-neighbor.
My hopes go up.
The power has been completely restored. The entire subdivision is back on.
A total relief comes over me, as I feel that it is completely restored this time and I can return to my own surroundings.
I get to sit in my own chair,
I get to soak in my bath,
I get to sleep in my own bed,
I get to clean out the stinking refrigerator of the spoiled food.
But, it is my spoiled food and it is my domain.
