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An Interesting Evening
Jan. 9th, 2011 11:52 amStayed home from gaming last night, due to ice on the driveway (there's still a long patch of one shoveled track with significant ice, right on the steepest part, after that has had all the sun it's getting today).
Just about 9:00 last night the power went off. Now, this isn't all that unusual in my neighborhood, though less common than previously after some upgrades to the infrastructure about four years ago. However, when I looked outside everything I could see was black except for a neighbor's solar-powered walkway lights, a distant glow beyond the hill across the river, and the stars.
Neighbor's son showed up after a bit and said a major power station blew.
I already had candles burning, my computer off, etc. I had fluorescent lamps going, connected to two of my UPSes, with two more of the battery backups keeping my video equipment alive. I got more candles, an Aladdin mantle lamp and kerosene heater out, as well as lighting the gas mantle lamp in the basement (indoor safe) and preparing a small backpacking stove. I also got my cell phone out of my car.
I got the kerosene light and heat going, then started making calls. My Mother's power was also out, but my sister's (in Woodford County) was fine. Also called the hosts of our gaming, and they said they hadn't even known there was a problem here.
I was already planning to leave the kitchen faucet dripping and open the cabinet under it. Went ahead and did so.
I spent hours tinkering with light and heat, listening to battery radios (no mention of the blackout anywhere I found). After about an hour and a half the two UPSes the video equipment was on started dieing, so I shut them down. Shortly after a third - which normally serves my cable modem, Ethernet router, one desk lamp and a timer with a light on it - also went south. The final one - which serves my computer, continuous backup drive, and some other equipment, plus the other desk lamp, went. After that my illumination was by combustion only. (I have lightsticks, but with all the candles and the - by now - two Aladdin lamps going and several flashlights didn't need them.)
Around eleven thirty - using the hiking stove - I made a big mug of hot green tea and had a snack, also taking my evening prescriptions.
The power finally came back on here around 12:30. Called my Mother, hers was still off. It came on later, not sure when. I didn't go to bed until I knew she had heat back. My temperature never got below the mid-sixties. Hers was in the fifties.
The cable modem and cable TV were still off when I went to bed a bit after 3:05. Frustratingly, so was my backup dial-up connection, which is through a different company! Local landline phones were out the whole time until just about 2:50.
This morning, everything seems back to normal, except my Sunday paper isn't here.
Just about 9:00 last night the power went off. Now, this isn't all that unusual in my neighborhood, though less common than previously after some upgrades to the infrastructure about four years ago. However, when I looked outside everything I could see was black except for a neighbor's solar-powered walkway lights, a distant glow beyond the hill across the river, and the stars.
Neighbor's son showed up after a bit and said a major power station blew.
I already had candles burning, my computer off, etc. I had fluorescent lamps going, connected to two of my UPSes, with two more of the battery backups keeping my video equipment alive. I got more candles, an Aladdin mantle lamp and kerosene heater out, as well as lighting the gas mantle lamp in the basement (indoor safe) and preparing a small backpacking stove. I also got my cell phone out of my car.
I got the kerosene light and heat going, then started making calls. My Mother's power was also out, but my sister's (in Woodford County) was fine. Also called the hosts of our gaming, and they said they hadn't even known there was a problem here.
I was already planning to leave the kitchen faucet dripping and open the cabinet under it. Went ahead and did so.
I spent hours tinkering with light and heat, listening to battery radios (no mention of the blackout anywhere I found). After about an hour and a half the two UPSes the video equipment was on started dieing, so I shut them down. Shortly after a third - which normally serves my cable modem, Ethernet router, one desk lamp and a timer with a light on it - also went south. The final one - which serves my computer, continuous backup drive, and some other equipment, plus the other desk lamp, went. After that my illumination was by combustion only. (I have lightsticks, but with all the candles and the - by now - two Aladdin lamps going and several flashlights didn't need them.)
Around eleven thirty - using the hiking stove - I made a big mug of hot green tea and had a snack, also taking my evening prescriptions.
The power finally came back on here around 12:30. Called my Mother, hers was still off. It came on later, not sure when. I didn't go to bed until I knew she had heat back. My temperature never got below the mid-sixties. Hers was in the fifties.
The cable modem and cable TV were still off when I went to bed a bit after 3:05. Frustratingly, so was my backup dial-up connection, which is through a different company! Local landline phones were out the whole time until just about 2:50.
This morning, everything seems back to normal, except my Sunday paper isn't here.
