Reply #249: Got power back around lunchtime today. [View All]

About 36 hours without power, but at least we still had running water, lamps, and the ability to cook hot food, so it wasn't too bad. We got a little flooding but it dissipated quickly because the ground and drains were so dry. We got some wind damage, though; I just filed my first-ever claim with my homeowners' insurance, for roof damage (peeled my shingles off in a dozen spots). Also lost part of a picket fence. I wouldn't have expected that from a category 1 storm, but I think it was the sheer duration that did it. T-mobile's cell network went down just after the storm passed, so we were thrown back to the days when the only connection you had with the outside world was a landline and a radio. And you can't text on a landline, dernit.

On the upside, it lasted long enough for me to discover that I like bacon-flavored Spam, slow-cooked over Sterno since the camp stove requires more ventilation than the weather permitted at times. It's hard to find that out any other way...

Spent this afternoon cutting broken branches off our pecan tree and cutting them up for disposal, and cut some for my neighbor across the street as well. Definitely got my money's worth out of the chainsaw this time.

I always have mixed feelings about hurricanes now...I want them to put on a good show, but I want them to be over quickly and not do much damage. Those things are kind of mutually contradictory. :D