Power Strokes

What would you do all day with no electric power?

I had the chance to find out.

Yesterday, Tropical Storm Hermine visited San Antonio on its trek inland. It explored the Missions, the Riverwalk. SeaWorld, of course. On it's way out of town, it knocked out our power.

This occurred sometime around noon - maybe 11:30 or so.

No big deal.

I had a few things to do that didn't require the computer. Lunch time came and went. I read. The soggy, windy weather meant the doggies and I stayed inside for the most part. They did venture off the patio and onto the grass a few times.

I read some more. Then - this is a secret ... don't tell a soul. I dusted. Ssssshhhh.

Dinner time. Live-In Handyman lived up to his name and grilled salmon in the rain. I provided the salad, and we dined al fresco on the patio.

Darkness fell and still no power.

"Now I know why all the old families had so many kids."

"It's only eight-thirty."

Time passed.

"I guess I'll go to bed."

"I'm not anywhere near sleepy."

"It's dark." Live-In Handyman climbed the stairs, light from his flashlight making eerie shadows on the walls.

I switched on a flashlight and opened a book. When I was reading the second page, the power flashed on. Appliances whirred to life. Ceiling fans woke up. A light in the kitchen winked on. I heard footsteps while I reset the oven and microwave clocks.

"Was that the power?"

No. I just found a 100-watt flashlight. "Yup."

"Good. I need to check my email."

I'm thankful we live in a time after Thomas Edison. Otherwise we would have very little that makes our lives easier today. Otherwise Live-In Handyman would've helped create a whole huge flock of Little Live-Ins.

How about you? Would you do well living in an earlier time period?

Comments

VR Barkowski said…
LOL, picturing Little Live-Ins, and they are *so* cute!

Twenty-five years ago, I'd have been fine living in an earlier time period, but it was about that time I started working with computers. Now, even a couple hours without power makes me crazy. No computer is akin to being cut off from the rest of the world.
Writer said…
Hi Carol,
I used to romanticize the 1800s and 1900s, now, not so much. I go nuts when I lose internet connection. When the power goes out for X reason, I don't know what to do with myself. So yes, I'm glad I grew up knowing what electricity was ;)
Laura Eno said…
You dusted?!
I wouldn't do well in a time before electricity (or the internet), but I'd be well-rested.
The power went out for 3 days once from a hurricane here and I lost a few of my marbles, I think. :)
Patti Lacy said…
Now we now why the old-timers say, "It's dark-thirty" when asked the time.

Hmmm. I would be in trouble, especially with no flashlight to read.

Maybe dream...pray...

GREAT POST!
Kerrie said…
I think the idea of living without power for few days sounds appealing. Actually, now that I think about it, we voluntarily do this when we go camping in the mountains. We will go 2-3 days without electricity and I have to say, it recharges me.
Carol Kilgore said…
VR - I feel that same way about being cut off.

Claudia - I've never much wanted to live earlier except once in school when I had a crush on a much older boy :)

Laura - I know. Impossible to believe, even now.

Patti - I've heard 'dark-thirty', too.
Carol Kilgore said…
Kerrie - I think if we're prepared it's easier to accept having no power. But at home with everything looking at you that's supposed to work but doesn't, it's more frustrating.
Talli Roland said…
NOT well! I am addicted to the internet and most of all, I really don't like the dark. I'm constantly having dreams where I wake up and try to turn on a light and... the light doesn't turn on. This is a dream that has plagued me since I was young!
Jan Morrison said…
we often have power outages here in Nova Scotia and had one on Saturday thanks to Earl, the tropical storm formerly known as a hurricane. I LIKE it and wish other than the fridge that it had stayed off for a couple of days. My step-kids lost their tiny minds though. "Wah, I can't use the computer, wah, I can't have a shower, wah..." I read in the afternoon light - we cooked on the bbq and campstove and life seemed nice and quiet...
Nope, I like living in the here and now!
We've lost power a few times due to hurricanes. Boring without electricity. Also very hot and humid!
Jennifer Shirk said…
Electricity is a blessing AND a curse. I probably waste more time with it. Bu I sgill wouldn't want to do without it!
Unknown said…
I don't think I'd miss electricity (or anything for that matter) if I didn't know about it. However, here in Mexico we always lose our power and I realized that I'm addicted to my internet.

CD
Carol Kilgore said…
Talli - I have a couple of dreams that I've dreamed over and over for years, too. I wonder if everyone does?

Jan - I really missed the internet. And TV. I wanted news. And, of course, the fridge. I'm also thankful it wasn't hot - only mid 70s - which is about 20 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.

Alex - Two peas in a pod :)

Jennifer - On the other hand, I had a perfect excuse for not vacuuming!

Clarissa - Yes, addicted. But didn't miss it before it came along.
Mason Canyon said…
I usually think I'd like to live in early pioneer days without all the fuss and technology taking over the world and then the power goes off and I realize I was just having one of those 'senior, blonde moments.' LOL

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
You are hilarious!!! And I can't believe you dusted. Okay I can. I probably would've too. It sounds like your day was quite enjoyable.

I like my technology though and while I might enjoy a little time off once in a while, I couldn't have lived in earlier times. =D
Nikole Hahn said…
Laura Ingalls Wilder in her books would describe evenings with her Pa playing the fiddle and reading the Bible as a family together.

I think their mindset in that day and age was different. They didn't have what we have and what they didn't have they couldn't miss, but us on the other hand, well, we stand at a loss when the power goes out.

Of course, there's playing cards by candle light. That's always fun. You can use cookies for money or coupons. Oreos are worth more than shortbread by the way.
If I had nothing to compare it to, it wouldn't matter. Could I go back and live now? Nope.

I laughed out loud at "Otherwise Live-In Handyman would've helped create a whole huge flock of Little Live-Ins."

Glad you survived.
Ha! That's exactly what I do when the power goes out--I go to bed at like 8:00!

I don't think I could go *back* in time and be a good sport about it. :)
One looooong snowy week when my two kids were home from school and the novelty of playing in the snow had worn off, we were all getting on each other's nerves, I declared a "no-plug-in" day. They moaned and complained, but soon we were playing board games and reading books.
If it takes a hurricane to do it again, well...on second thought...no hurricane, but it was worth the day.
Carol Kilgore said…
Mason - There are days I think I have blonde roots.

RaShelle - I like my technology, too.

Nikole - Of course Oreos are worth more...they're chocolate :)

Words Crafter - Me, too!

Elizabeth/Riley - If I went to bed at 8, I'd be up at 2. I don't think I'd be a good sport either.

Gretchen - I think a day of your choosing makes it different. Like going camping.
Colette Martin said…
Oh I had the same experience a few weeks ago. We lost power and cable. And yes, I had the flashlight out to read my book.
Arlee Bird said…
I've experience some of those power outages and there can be an upside, but I sure hate going without the computer. I used to do a lot of camping and that could be enjoyable. But I don't want to be camping when I haven't planned to go camping. And I don't think I'd want to go camping for the rest of my life. But I guess we can adapt to anything.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Carol Kilgore said…
Colette - I'm so happy to have had power all day today :)

Arlee - I agree. We don't know what we're capable of until we have to do it.
Since I grew up on a farm in Illinois during the 40s and 50s, we often were without power during and after bad storms. Luckily, we had a heating stove in the living room and in the kitchen that used fuel oil, so we didn't freeze to death. Did a lot of reading by kerosene lamp though.

Yes, we can adapt, but we're a spoiled lot and expect our food to get trucked in on schedule and our water to be safe. I still believe in being as prepared as I was back in hurricane country, even though I now live in Colorado. You never know.

Patricia
Helen Ginger said…
I dusted last week! The bedroom looked beautiful. The only downside is that the dust comes back.

No, I would not have wanted to live in an earlier time before electricity, indoor plumbing, central heat & a/c, and computers (okay, I was around before computers came on-scene, but don't want to go back).

Helen
Elana Johnson said…
Wow, I'm glad the power came back on. I would definitely NOT do well without running water. I must bathe everyday, and the toilet situation? Uh, yeah. Running water is my friend.
Carol Kilgore said…
Patricia - Exactly so. I'm such a city person, I'm probably more spoiled than most.

Helen - Oh yeah...indoor plumbing! And what is it with those dust bunnies?
Carol Kilgore said…
Elana - Oh yes. Definitely running water.
Lola Sharp said…
I like my comforts, thanks. I like dishwashers, AC(!) and Tivo. I could live a few days w/out the TV and laptop...but I MUST have AC in the summer.
I don't know how people did it.

But, I do love writing on stormy days. (If I know a storm is coming, I make sure I charge my macbook's battery all the way.) Even if it means pen and paper. I guess the moody weather inspires my writing.

Glad you have power.

Oh, and my daughter was born in Sept.--we have big snow storms. ;)
Diane said…
We lost power here once recently and it made me feel like just going to bed too even though it was way too early. I guess that's how they got all their chores done in the olden days. :O)
Carol Kilgore said…
Lola - I can barely function without AC. We use it about nine months out of the year here in San Antonio. Snow storms in September! You must live on the tundra - LOL

Diane - I hope I never have to find out :) Thanks for commenting here at the Tiki Hut.

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