Friday, March 1, 2013

Livin' Like a Pioneer

So, the big bad snow storm came through this past weekend.  What was originally forecast as slight flurries reared its ugly head as a full-blown blizzard.  We had 13 straight hours of rain followed by 13 hours straight of snow and crazy wind.  Somewhere in the middle of all that, our electricity went out.  It was 1:45pm Monday when they performed their final flicker and shut off.  Mom and I were home alone, but Dad was coming later that afternoon/evening.  It's now Friday night.  That means we are working on the 5th day of no power.  Now, it's really not as bad as it could be.  We have a fireplace.  We have a generator.  What we don't have is lights, hot water, and major appliances used for cooking...oh! and a heater.  The refrigerator is plugged into the generator so as not to lose the groceries.  Being without the "amenities" makes you learn about yourself.  Mom and I didn't have the amenities for the first day.  The following are some of the things I have learned about myself:

1) I am hot-natured person.  Even with no heat, I have only being "freezing" once or twice through the whole ordeal.  {And that may or may not have been while I was running around in the previous mentioned blizzard to a) check on the chickens, b) take pictures of said blizzard, c) put phone on the charger in my car, and d) call the goofball dogs in from running halfway across the property to play in the snow.  Because, obviously, the snow 400 yards away is a million times better than the snow right by the house.}  Anyways...I digress.

2) Mom and I could TOTALLY rough it...{for awhile}.  We had no idea where the generator was.  Even if we did, we didn't know how to run the sucker, so it really didn't matter.  We lit a couple of candles, broke out a package of hot dogs, and roasted away.  We also played UNO until the dimming lights made it impossible to distinguish between blue and green.

3) I am really, REALLY not interested in taking a freezing cold shower.  I have had to do it before.  I lived in an RV for a couple of years and it happened.  But the thought of taking an icy cold shower then having to walk into a severely cold house just wasn't something I looked forward to at all.  So, I put it off as long as I could.  Surprise, surprise!!!!  There was enough hot water sitting in the tank for all three of us to take a hot/warm shower.  {So, I took one.  Now I'm dreading the next.}

4) I'm not a sock-wearer.  One night, my toes felt frozen solid.  When I went to bed I put socks on.  I'm still not really sure where they are.  All I know is they were not on my feet when I woke up.  I think I'm like Pippi Longstocking in that respect.  I like my toes to be free to wiggle and breathe. {I also don't like the covers to be tucked into the bottom of the bed.  Makes my feet feel claustrophobic.}

5) My mom and I are hilarious.  Not just a little funny.  We could have our own comedy routine, and become very, very famous.  Famous like Larry the Cable Guy...or Jeff Foxworthy.  {Or not.}

Anyways, the darkness is closing in and typing is getting a tad difficult.  And I think it's my turn to grab a log for the fire.