Today they are saying that over 800,000 people are still without electricity due to Ike. Makes our little ordeal seem rather paltry by comparison. We didn't lose any food. Our weather then was much cooler than this past week has been. We survived quite well. But, it is now 10 days since he blew through and all those people are still trying to deal with life without power.
Back in the early hours, my mother mentioned that she grew up without electricity. It was normal for them.
Just thinking about it. I don't know how many times I flipped up a light switch, knowing full well that it wouldn't work, but completely bound by habit. We stayed outside a lot. We charged the cell phones in our car. (Another thing my mother grew up without.) We read books -- of course, we do that anyway, but since we couldn't do things like laundry and vacuuming, we just sat and read. Hummmm -- guess it wasn't all bad!
We dined on a time-table determined by the light outside. Yes, we had lanterns, but I didn't need or want to cook by lantern light so I gathered up our evening meal while it was light outside. Then we dined "al fresco," on TV trays on the driveway. We didn't lose our gas stove top or our water. We were "rich" according to some people's normal standard of living. I had prepared extra food to tide us over the time when we might be without power -- meatloaf and fried chicken -- both good cold (or cool.) I also cooked rice and found out that warming things up without a microwave is much more difficult. Mind you, all this "suffering" only lasted 15 hours and part of it we were asleep! (It all reminded me of our camping trips.)
What did I miss? Instant news updates! Sweetie dug out his old Walkman and I listened to it for a while. Were there hurricanes when my mother was growing up. Who knows -- they certainly didn't. The news didn't travel with the speed of light and sound back then, and people living out in the country didn't know what was happening 100, 200, or farther away.
ICE! We had ice but I didn't want to use it because it was keeping our refrig cool enough that things didn't spoil. I am spoiled, however, so when we went out to survey the damage I bought a large iced drink. It tasted like heaven! (That is what I missed when we visited Mexico -- very limited ice.)
My computer! Contact with the outside world. Our cells worked and we checked in with people (we used texting, mostly, because it takes up less of the power grid (or something like that) but my computer is a real link with the world. (Besides, I type MUCH faster than I text!)
What would you miss the most if you lost power for 10 days? Think about it.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Just a note
I've added a "gadget" to my blog -- a slide show. I chose my pictures of the Painted Churches for my first slide show. These are located in Fayette County, TX, and are just lovely. Many of these churches are very old -- they have withstood fire, rain, and hurricanes. The art work that dates back decades is still very beautiful -- still in the original colors and designs. I hope you enjoy seeing these.
We have been working on hurricane damage (yard) for two days. It is looking much better but little fence is still leaning. We (Sweetie) are using the wood from the wind-damaged trellis to restore the fence. Waste not, want not!
If you are a new reader -- welcome. Please feel free to comment.
We have been working on hurricane damage (yard) for two days. It is looking much better but little fence is still leaning. We (Sweetie) are using the wood from the wind-damaged trellis to restore the fence. Waste not, want not!
If you are a new reader -- welcome. Please feel free to comment.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Beautiful Day
Slept with windows open last night -- air cool enough that Sweetie pulled on extra cover.
Awoke to sunshine and cool breezes- a beautiful day to celebrate another year of life!
Age is funny -- I can remember thinking my mother was "old" when she was only in her 40's.
Now I'm waaaay past that and I don't feel "old." Oh, of course, there are a few mornings I awake feeling just a little older, but for the most part I just feel like me.
How does "old" feel? Is it arthritis? I think I have a twinge of that from time to time.
Is it gray hair? Thanks to Clairol, I am not too bothered with that, but does covering it up mean I'm not "old"?
Is it remembering lots of changes in the world? Well, I do remember them.
I remember when TV wasn't. Not where I lived, at least.
I remember when Kathy Fiscus fell down the well in 1949. (I was visiting in California.)
The rescue attempt was the first "live" coverage of a news event that was watched from coast to coast. We watched it, too, on the tiny TV's that my relatives owned. Tiny screens with big magnifiers in front, to enlarge the picture. Kathy Fiscus died in that well and songs were written about her and laws passed to try to prevent that from ever happening again. Didn't work, Baby Jessica still fell down the well many years later!
We didn't get TV for several years after 1949. Did we suffer the lack? No, you see, we had RADIO. Oh what fun -- we gathered as a family and listened to shows together. Lux Playhouse of Stars was on Monday nights. We loved it. The big console radios held "pride of place" just like the TVs do today. Usually a family had just one radio and it was shared and families were together. Today, we have multiple TVs and we are more separated from each other. Not an improvement!
There were the old shows like "The Great Gildersleeve." "Boston Blackie," "Gang Busters," "The Shadow," "Fibber McGee and Molly." "Stella Dallas," "Amos and Andy," and many others. We listened when we traveled late at night. My grandmother listened as she did her housework.
Her morning shows were a prelude to later soap operas.
In the evenings the fathers and grandfathers gathered around the radios and listened to newsmen like Gabriel Heater. We weren't allowed to talk during these broadcasts. It was serious stuff! I can still remember his voice!
Today we see more than we listen. I don't regret that -- I love watching TV, but I am no more entertained than I was back then.
Well, my little visitor wants to go to the library so we'll go and than I'll take myself out for lunch. Tonight, Sweetie and I will dine out at a place of my choice. But just to keep myself from being completely spoiled, I fixed my own breakfast! ha ha!
Still lovely out -- just 73 degrees and it is almost noon. What a beautiful day!
Awoke to sunshine and cool breezes- a beautiful day to celebrate another year of life!
Age is funny -- I can remember thinking my mother was "old" when she was only in her 40's.
Now I'm waaaay past that and I don't feel "old." Oh, of course, there are a few mornings I awake feeling just a little older, but for the most part I just feel like me.
How does "old" feel? Is it arthritis? I think I have a twinge of that from time to time.
Is it gray hair? Thanks to Clairol, I am not too bothered with that, but does covering it up mean I'm not "old"?
Is it remembering lots of changes in the world? Well, I do remember them.
I remember when TV wasn't. Not where I lived, at least.
I remember when Kathy Fiscus fell down the well in 1949. (I was visiting in California.)
The rescue attempt was the first "live" coverage of a news event that was watched from coast to coast. We watched it, too, on the tiny TV's that my relatives owned. Tiny screens with big magnifiers in front, to enlarge the picture. Kathy Fiscus died in that well and songs were written about her and laws passed to try to prevent that from ever happening again. Didn't work, Baby Jessica still fell down the well many years later!
We didn't get TV for several years after 1949. Did we suffer the lack? No, you see, we had RADIO. Oh what fun -- we gathered as a family and listened to shows together. Lux Playhouse of Stars was on Monday nights. We loved it. The big console radios held "pride of place" just like the TVs do today. Usually a family had just one radio and it was shared and families were together. Today, we have multiple TVs and we are more separated from each other. Not an improvement!
There were the old shows like "The Great Gildersleeve." "Boston Blackie," "Gang Busters," "The Shadow," "Fibber McGee and Molly." "Stella Dallas," "Amos and Andy," and many others. We listened when we traveled late at night. My grandmother listened as she did her housework.
Her morning shows were a prelude to later soap operas.
In the evenings the fathers and grandfathers gathered around the radios and listened to newsmen like Gabriel Heater. We weren't allowed to talk during these broadcasts. It was serious stuff! I can still remember his voice!
Today we see more than we listen. I don't regret that -- I love watching TV, but I am no more entertained than I was back then.
Well, my little visitor wants to go to the library so we'll go and than I'll take myself out for lunch. Tonight, Sweetie and I will dine out at a place of my choice. But just to keep myself from being completely spoiled, I fixed my own breakfast! ha ha!
Still lovely out -- just 73 degrees and it is almost noon. What a beautiful day!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Morning reflections
The Sweetie and I took our little visitor to Big "Donald's for breakfast. It was packed, of course!
Many places are still closed due to storm damage. When people find a place open they flock in.
As our visitor played I thought about the changes I've seen through the years.
First of all, Dads and their children.
I see Dads picking their kids up from school. I see them shopping together. I see Dads taking one or two children out for breakfast or lunch. Didn't happen in my childhood.
I NEVER remember going anyplace alone with my father. However, I did go shopping with my Grandfather a few times. He would take me to the feed store with him, and got to pick out the chicken feed since the bags it came in would become a skirt once they were empty. It was wonderful to have two bags in the same pattern -- they would make a really full skirt.
I think it is sweet to see a Dad and a child having breakfast together -- especially if he is listening to what the child has to say. What a special thing, to have that togetherness.
Has the whole world changed? or is it that fathers have a different view of their child responsibilities now. Is it all fathers? If not, what makes the difference -- education? Economic status? Perhaps some Dads were that way back (way back) when I was small, but I didn't see it.
Many places are still closed due to storm damage. When people find a place open they flock in.
As our visitor played I thought about the changes I've seen through the years.
First of all, Dads and their children.
I see Dads picking their kids up from school. I see them shopping together. I see Dads taking one or two children out for breakfast or lunch. Didn't happen in my childhood.
I NEVER remember going anyplace alone with my father. However, I did go shopping with my Grandfather a few times. He would take me to the feed store with him, and got to pick out the chicken feed since the bags it came in would become a skirt once they were empty. It was wonderful to have two bags in the same pattern -- they would make a really full skirt.
I think it is sweet to see a Dad and a child having breakfast together -- especially if he is listening to what the child has to say. What a special thing, to have that togetherness.
Has the whole world changed? or is it that fathers have a different view of their child responsibilities now. Is it all fathers? If not, what makes the difference -- education? Economic status? Perhaps some Dads were that way back (way back) when I was small, but I didn't see it.
Thinking About It All
HOORAY! My daughter has walked me through the set-up process and I think I have a blog
This will be my first entry!
I've got my fingers crossed
This will be my first entry!
I've got my fingers crossed
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
+copy+(18).jpg)
