The Power Company did say that, due to the fire danger imposed by heavy winds, we should expect power outages off/on.
They did not say it would be more off than on.
We had that outage on Tuesday that sent me down to the Community Room for respite. Power was restored in the late afternoon, long enough to power up the cellphone, little portable power station and post about the vision boards.
It was just seconds after posting that everything went dark. So, dark that I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face.
It pays to be organized.
I knew exactly where the matches were located, carefully felt my way through the dark to the drawer, struck a match to light my way to the candles.
I decided to sacrifice Tiger Joe.
So, between Joe Exotica, and the flashlight I dug out of its drawer, I made it through the night.
I awoke the next morning, Wednesday, to still no power and a message from Trainer that the studio, and the entire mini mall was shut down due to lack of power.
As the day went on, I learned every apartment building, shop, store, business in a three-mile area, was closed due to the outage.
Street lights were out and even the market was shut down that first day, as was the gas station, but both were up and running the next day.
The guy at the market, I later spoke to, said something about they got a generator or the generator kicked in. I’m not sure which.
So long story short, we’ve been without power since Tuesday.
Fortunately, I have a gas stove. The oven was inoperable but I was able to get fire from the burners with a match — make coffee with my 20+ years old percolator.
Again, it pays to be organized. I knew exactly where it was.
I also managed to survive by making soup, oatmeal, eggs ……… That is until the eggs went bad and had to be tossed, along with a lot of other product.
Speaking of eggs, make it make sense that I paid $9 for a dozen Eggland’s Best at the market, but a carton of eighteen organics at Sprouts went for $6.10.
No matter, half of the Eggland’s and all eighteen Sprouts had to be tossed because they were not safe to eat with no refrigeration for days.
The outage wasn’t all bad, as Friday’s bingo got cancelled, and there was enough sunlight streaming in during the day that I was able to work on that never ending needlepoint project.
When the light dimmed, I used a booklight to get some reading done, and I was able to entertain myself late night by watching TikTok on the cellphone — sound silenced with Beats by Dr. Dre Bluetooth earbuds so as not to disturb my downstairs neighbor.
The worst was all the product from the fridge I had to toss, no garbage disposal, no paper shredder, no vacuum, too cold and windy to put in any walking miles.
We received notice power would not be restored until Monday …… something about having to check every wire.
I emailed back, "Check faster".
The powers that be must have heard me, because power restored, and I’m back online as of 3:30 this afternoon, blogging and furiously charging everything that needs to be charged just in case we’re off again.
All in all, it was an interesting adventure and good practice for when you know who starts a war with Greenland or Canada or Panama or Mexico, or all four, and the power grid is attacked/gets taken out, resulting in no power for any of us in the Americas.
I wondered if your power went. You went quite so I figured such. I have a huge stock pile of candles so much so, that I could light the whole house in every room...but one candle I won't use yet is my Amy Winehouse prayer candle. I love that thing.
ReplyDeleteI hear you. That's how I feel about pretty much all of the others. I'm also going to buy the Luigi Mangione candle to add to my never use collection.
DeleteIs there one???? I want one too!
DeleteThere are many, but I'm not sure the sources are trusted, and I don't like the photo used. The one I want is selling on the Tic Toc store, but again, I'm not sure I trust that source. I'm waiting for it to pop up on a source I trust. If power doesn't go out before I can post again, I'll post a photo of the candle I want on a seller I trust.
DeleteI'd like one too! And I LOVE your candle collection!
DeleteI'm all for a Luigi in every home.
DeleteWe are so, SO dependent on the power grid for our modern lives, aren't we. This was a very instructive post about how to be prepared. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHappy to be of service.
DeleteI'm surprised that you had the power crisis so far from the SOCAL fires. I have a friend that has a home in Pacific Palisades but so far it has been spared though he was mandatorily evacuated. All in all, better no power for a few days than the tragedy south of you.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I said every time someone complained. That it was better no power as a preventive measure than end up with a fire like in LA.
DeleteIt is amazing what happens when the power goes out and how helpless we fell; we have a set of battery operated candles that we use to adorn the mantle with garland at Christmas and they get hauled out when the power fails. No need to start a fire, you know!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back up and running and hope everyone stays safe!
Thanks, friend. It's been a time, but nowhere near the horrible time others are having in LA and the Palisades..
DeleteI'm glad that your area has not seen the fires. We are having a cold snap where I live, and your post was a good reminder that I should have every device charged up. Although I would be searching for a hotel because I don't own a generator and couldn't make it that long without heat.
DeleteNina
Having a gas stove made conditions tolerable. I could cook and heat the unit. But for that, I would have gone to a hotel where at least I had a microwave and tv.
DeleteGlad you were organized and prepared. Such a shame about the food. I would have sacrificed Tiger Joe, too. Maybe sooner.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're not a fan of Joe Exotica, LOL.
Deleteto put it mildly
DeleteThat is a long time to be without power. Throwing away food is a difficult yet necessary thing to do. We have a generator, we have a well, which has an electric pump which doesn't work when power is out. I think you will likely be experiences this power shut down for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYou called it. Just received notice power expected to go out for another three days, beginning Monday, maybe sooner.
DeleteWell, you answered my question. Glad to know you are safe. I'm sure the power lines were shut down due to winds and the danger of sparking.
ReplyDeleteWe can see the devastation just one spark can do. My heart breaks for the Hollywood/Altadena/Pasadena/ Palisades residents. And, you are also correct that we need to be ready at a moment's notice to MOVE.
I remember watching the people walking with all they could carry after Hurricane Katrina. That's when I decided we needed passports, to keep the car gas level near full, and have cash on hand. Also to have food that needs no cooking or refrigeration.
All the necessary paperwork is in one place, ready to grab should we have to go. Now, though, my big concern is the cat colony. We don't have enough carriers to get them all out.
We've been advised Round 2 of days without power coming up. I'm looking all over for a generator, but can't get one, either pick up or delivery, until long after needed. I may order one anyway, just in case.
DeleteFirst off, I'm glad you're OK and not caught up in those awful wildfires! We get occasional unplanned power outages here, though thankfully, not usually in winter. I have a rechargeable headlamp (the type hikers wear) that's paid for itself many times over and eliminates the fire hazard of using candles. Any outdoor sporting goods store such as Cabela's or L.L. Bean carries them.
ReplyDeleteThanks and good to know.
DeleteOh man I hate it when the power goes off. Sorry to see in the comments that the power is going to go off again.
ReplyDeleteAgain and, from the looks of the wind out there now, sooner than expected, but we're so far in good shape as opposed to LA and the Palisades. So, no complaint from me.
DeleteI'm so glad you're safe!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We've been lucky.
DeleteI live in fear of power outages. I guess I'm getting lazy in my old age. I don't want to have to go to the trouble (or expense) it causes.
ReplyDeleteExpensive and time consuming it is. Making me think back on when I was a kid and we didn't have cool refrigerators. We had some kind of contraption that needed the ice man to make deliveries. We also didn't have vacuum cleaners. We swept the floor and what carpet we had with a broom. No TV back then, no cellphone. I don't remember if we had lights, lamps or used candles. I do remember heating the house by turning on the gas stove. Same thing as I did during the outage. Maybe that's why I'm handling it so well .... nothing I've not experienced in the past.
Delete