So, here I sit, on a Wednesday evening, merely 48 hours since the coming and going of Hurricane Sandy, as my week long journey without power continues. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “How can the man be posting a blog if he has no power?” No, JCP&L has not fixed the power issue. No folks, Starbucks is not open, and I am not able to warm up with a cup of their delicious dark roast and prey on their wireless. Fortunately, my neighbors are always a step ahead of the game and have a generator. And seeing that they are friendly, (and since their tree fell on my patio table and I am asking for no compensation in return) they have allowed me to use some of their electricity for my fridge and to charge my laptop, as well as borrow their internet. But I thought now would be a good time to share some things that I have learned during this event. I attribute my new founded knowledge to Sandy.
1. It may be a smart idea to invest in a generator in the future. Since we have moved here (which has been less than a year), we have lost power for multiple days on more than one occasion.
2. I will probably be going to school (work) until mid-July.
3. The water in my electric water heater will stay hot for approximately 24 hours. After that, you will freeze in the shower, as I did this morning. Note to self, invest in gas.
4. Apparently, the great State of New Jersey has the ability to actually move the date of Halloween. We will be celebrating festivities on Monday.
5. You might think, with a hurricane-a-coming, you may be in luck for some free tree or old shed removal (providing there is no damage to anyone’s home or car). After all, I do need more sunny areas for my future garden. Nope, every single one of those damn trees are still standing proud. And that rickety, old, horror movie-like shed in my backyard…yep, that’s still standing too. How did they build that thing? I guess with old telephone poles as its structural support, you can’t go wrong. So I will still have to pay to have them removed.
6. A homemade coffee bag does NOT make for a good cup of coffee. I suggest following Cathy’s advice…pour some boiling water through the drip coffee maker. It works and gets rid of any coffee withdrawal headaches.
7. Tea does not take the place of a good or bad cup of coffee…EVER! You will still get withdrawal headaches. To rectify, see #6.
8. The piano can make for some nice entertainment when there is no power. Unfortunately, I only know three songs from memory and I don’t have any music books.
9. The range on the stove makes for a comfortable heat source. Nothing like curling up with a good book next to the oven. Ah, home sweet home. (Exactly how do you have a 100 year old home without a fireplace?)
10. If you are the outdoors-y type, curl up next to the grill for heat!
11. Sometimes sitting in your car just to listen to the radio and keep warm isn’t so bad. It also helps pass the time.
12. No! You cannot use the hairdryer to warm up or dry your hair. You have no power fool!
13. Peeing in the dark does not always work out no matter how much your eyes try to adjust. Sometimes it is just best to let go your pride and sit down.
14. I now know why the Amish go to bed at 6:00. What the hell else is there to do?
15. And finally, Hemingway’s life (my cat) doesn’t really suffer without power. In fact, I think it improved. He is happy to have me home and most of my attention, still gets his treats and nuggets for dinner, and now gets bottled water instead of water from the tap.
So there you have it folks. There is something to be learned in all of life’s events. As far as I am concerned, this is about as close to roughing-it as I would like to get. Happy Blogging and Happy (Pre)-Halloween (I guess, since NJ has decided to move it to Monday…is today Halloween or not?)!
Yours truly,
Kurt
Kurt
