What to do when the power goes out
Aug. 15th, 2003 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramosI was relieved to hear the regrigerator running when I woke up at 6:30 this morning. I'm lucky. The province and city are both at 10 per cent power, and only five of Guelph's 48 circuits have been restored so far. The local radio station I'm listening to, CJOY, still doesn't have power and is operating on a gas generator.
I tuned in last night; they said power was first restored to the sewage treatment plant and Guelph General Hospital. Transit buses are running this morning, but most non-essential businesses are closed today.
Some guy in a pickup truck just rear-ended a couple cars outside my window. I can't believe how many people are driving on Highway 7. Everything is closed. Streetlights are out. The police are telling people to stay home. Where are they all going? Why was this guy in such a hurry?
I was writing at my desk when the power went out yesterday at 4:12 p.m. I worked for two more hours, hoping it would come back on by the time I finished. I had tortillas with cream cheese and yellow plums for dinner, then with nothing else to do, I went for a walk.
By that time I still didn't realize the extent of the problem. I thought it might just be my neighbourhood. I walked down to the community pool at Lyon Park to see if I could cool off, but of course it was closed.
So I went and took some photos of the lovely evening.
Walking home along Kingsmill Avenue, I stopped and chatted with an elderly couple sitting on their porch. They told me the news: Ontario, Toronto, New York, the whole Eastern seaboard. I came home, got a book and went back to the park, sat by the river and read in the falling light.
When darkness started to come, I wandered home again. People were sitting on their front steps with candles, chatting with neighbours in the streets. It was cooler outdoors.
The apartment was quiet and dark. I lit a candle and read a while longer. I started to think of places I would rather be, things I would rather be doing. It's lonely when the lights go out.
Finally I went for another long walk, this time to the countryside. I've never gone down Lilac Way in the dark. I expected pitch blackness, but the chemical plant across the river had its own power.
But the stars were still bright, and the insect chorus was symphonic. I stayed out until after 11 when a ruddy moon started to rise over the meadow.
On the way home I saw someone lighting fireworks and sparklers in a nearby parking lot.
At home I opened the windows to let cool evening air into the apartment. I lay on the futon in the living room and listened to the radio until after 2 a.m.
It says to expect rolling blackouts today. I'm going to post this entry now in case I lose my connection.
I tuned in last night; they said power was first restored to the sewage treatment plant and Guelph General Hospital. Transit buses are running this morning, but most non-essential businesses are closed today.
Some guy in a pickup truck just rear-ended a couple cars outside my window. I can't believe how many people are driving on Highway 7. Everything is closed. Streetlights are out. The police are telling people to stay home. Where are they all going? Why was this guy in such a hurry?
I was writing at my desk when the power went out yesterday at 4:12 p.m. I worked for two more hours, hoping it would come back on by the time I finished. I had tortillas with cream cheese and yellow plums for dinner, then with nothing else to do, I went for a walk.
By that time I still didn't realize the extent of the problem. I thought it might just be my neighbourhood. I walked down to the community pool at Lyon Park to see if I could cool off, but of course it was closed.
So I went and took some photos of the lovely evening.
Walking home along Kingsmill Avenue, I stopped and chatted with an elderly couple sitting on their porch. They told me the news: Ontario, Toronto, New York, the whole Eastern seaboard. I came home, got a book and went back to the park, sat by the river and read in the falling light.
When darkness started to come, I wandered home again. People were sitting on their front steps with candles, chatting with neighbours in the streets. It was cooler outdoors.
The apartment was quiet and dark. I lit a candle and read a while longer. I started to think of places I would rather be, things I would rather be doing. It's lonely when the lights go out.
Finally I went for another long walk, this time to the countryside. I've never gone down Lilac Way in the dark. I expected pitch blackness, but the chemical plant across the river had its own power.
But the stars were still bright, and the insect chorus was symphonic. I stayed out until after 11 when a ruddy moon started to rise over the meadow.
On the way home I saw someone lighting fireworks and sparklers in a nearby parking lot.
At home I opened the windows to let cool evening air into the apartment. I lay on the futon in the living room and listened to the radio until after 2 a.m.
It says to expect rolling blackouts today. I'm going to post this entry now in case I lose my connection.
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-15 08:22 am (UTC)Anyway, keep cool in the heat.
PS. Turkey Point sounded like a lot of fun. Glad to hear (reading between the liness) you didn't behave yourselves ....
no subject
Date: 2003-08-15 08:34 am (UTC)