Power is still out at work... I spent sixteen hours on the job, much of it spent in a building without heat or electricity. The sky has finally cleared up a bit, and a lovely waning moon illuminated the landscape quite fetchingly. I think spending so much time in the dark has left me acclimated to the poor lighting conditions. I'm not Ginger's equal, but I'm coping pretty well. Sigh, if only Lamarck were right.
Being cloistered at work, I have been largely ignorant of the true extent of the storm's damage (even though I have been sitting in the dark for a week). I drove home past a bunch of gas stations which have the pumps roped off and festooned with "NO GAS" signs. I passed a half-mile gas line, a line in which one of my co-workers had been waiting for three hours before the "NO GAS" announcement was made. I'm still doing okay- got a quarter of a tank left in my small car. Hopefully, after I pull another sixteen hours, fuel deliveries will have been made, and the darkened gas stations will have the power restored. The only reason I came home this morning was that I needed to recharge my cell phone and, more importantly, the company cell phone. I have the luxury of camping out on the job tomorrow, having recharged devices and all that. If I can't refuel, I may do just that.
I have to say, I am grateful to my family for dragging the family to a rustic cabin every summer. I know how to prepare for "primitive" conditions, I know how to prepare, I know how to conserve limited resources. It's not so comfortable doing it in a blustery November week, but I have the skill set which allows me to pull through. Still, I'd like to have my nice, heated, well-lit office back.
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I've always had a bizarre fascination with tiny portable stoves. I've had primus stoves, tragia alcohol stoves and currently am deeply enamored of my Zip stove.
So a part of me is jealous that you have a perfect opportunity to load up your stove, some tea, some beans, maybe some good drinking chocolate and play post-apocalypse survivor for a while. Maybe (if you can set up a good fire ring) try some of your fire starters, steel wool and a 9v battery, cyanoacrylate glue and cotton balls, magnesium striker (I've got one on the lanyard of my mini maglight).
So hang in there - civilization will return soon enough...
All my camping, I learned in the Boy Scouts, and later the Explorers.
It's been a while, though!
Good luck, B^4.
~
civilization will return soon enough...
"Return"?
Each winter it seems we have a big storm or winds that cut our power, and we get used to spending a couple of hours coping. We are lucky that it's just a couple of hours each time, though.
We lost power for 24 hours, with generator keeping our heat/stove/refrigerator and bedroom lights going. I feel positively spoiled. My heart goes out to people STILL dealing with being powerless. It's not the end of the world, but I'm sure it's an ENORMOUS inconvenience.
Maybe (if you can set up a good fire ring) try some of your fire starters, steel wool and a 9v battery, cyanoacrylate glue and cotton balls, magnesium striker (I've got one on the lanyard of my mini maglight).
It would have been a good time to use my Swedish firesteel, but we have butane lighters on the job. I made do with dried sausages, canned fish, and layered clothing. The workplace lanterns came in handy, and my little hand-cranked radio/LED combo was invaluable.
All my camping, I learned in the Boy Scouts, and later the Explorers.
You do pick up some useful skills there... too bad the BSA is now a reactionary organization.
"Return"?
Now, now, I was on the job, there was no beer.
Each winter it seems we have a big storm or winds that cut our power, and we get used to spending a couple of hours coping.
This was the worst I've experienced- six days without power at work. I lucked out, never lost power at my home.
I feel positively spoiled. My heart goes out to people STILL dealing with being powerless. It's not the end of the world, but I'm sure it's an ENORMOUS inconvenience.
Yeah, they're lucky compared to the people who lost their homes.
Or loved ones.
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