If any of you have been wondering...no I did not fall off the face of the earth, get sucked into the time warp continuim, or even been committed to a much needed stay in the loony bin (although I could use it now!)
Monday, one week ago today, there was a buzz in the air......about the weather.
Let me explain. I live in Southern Indiana, or what I have coined lovingly as the Arm Pit of America. You have a little bit of everything here, sometimes it gets hairy, sometimes stinky, but we serve a purpose - much like an arm pit.
Monday, the weather forcasters were doing over time, warning us all of impending doom. We scoffed, yea whatever, an inch of snow is cause for alarm, and even enough to shut schools down. So while we were concerned....we weren't. Our Winter Weather Watch, went to a Warning, and while we have had those before, again.....no worries.
So Monday, 6pm was doom time, when the 12 inches of snow were supposed to start falling....well folks, nothing happened. Then the weather man said NO - 9 is when it is supposed to start....so 9 came....and no snow...BUT we had tons of ice, sleet and freezing rain. Enough that at 10:11pm, my son's school called and said there was no school.
Really?? Ya'll have hours to get it gone...but ok.
Tuesday we awoke to 3/4 of an inch of ice on everything, power lines, trees, sidewalks, roads - all of it. Ok - good reason to cancel school...but the worst wasn't here yet, we were told...yea right, was all I could think....I did work from home, getting reports done.
One pressing thought was we were almost out of firewood.
My husband went out to check on his grandparents who weren't answering their phone....and in search of more firewood.
Grandparents were doing great - and he found firewood. My smart thinking, law abiding husband noticed that when he went by the gas station the first time there were 3 stacks of wood left. When he got back to the gas station he noticed that there was only 1 stack left. So BEFORE paying, my husband loaded up that last stack of wood - so that his family could have warmth and fire to cook food....and it was that moment when he closed the hatch of his Durango that a man walked up to him and asked these fateful words:
"Dude, what are you doing?"
"Um....getting fire wood."
"But they are closed."
Now the man had a point.....the gas station, like many places, were indeed closed. People were buying gas of course, which made it look open.....um......oops.....
So my husband comes home with stolen firewood.....yup...he did....and we used it...
Wednesday, the power went out about 2 am and came back on around dinner time. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, but then silently cursed it as I found out our cable, internet and phone were still down.
Ok - I can handle that, at least we have heat and our house isn't 52 degrees anymore. I learned that I can finish a big book in 24 hours, and also had the ability to start a blanket - which I am still working on. I found that I do not have to HAVE the internet to entertain myself. I can have hobbies...although I really do like talking to other people.
Hubby got a Family day that day, and we lie in bed thanking the lord we have heat. Until 1 am that was.....when it went strangely quiet again. So Thursday morning, we lost power again....
It is very hard to sleep when you are wondering if your children are freezing in their sleep. I got up many times that night to check on them, and of course they were snoozing away!
Hubby got up on Thursday morning, allowing me to stay in the warm bed. He climbed back in when Andrew went down for a nap, and he was FREEZING!!! I got up to keep the fire going, and it was so cold downstairs. I snuggled in blankets with a book and read away.
Our power came back on a little after 11 am. Still no cable, internet or phone, again, no complaining....as of right now, my sister is still living with her in-laws, so really, no complaining.
Friday, we had my husband's Grandparents come over to take showers. It had been a few days and they were still with out power. We asked them to stay but they said they didn't want to impose....we told them that was nonsense and they had an open invitation. They left, and about 20 minutes later, they called, they were on their way back. Apparently Greatpa Frank took about 5 steps into the house and told Greatma Doris to gather her things, there was no way they were going to be miserable.
It was awesome to have them over, as I learned alot more about their lives and heard some really awesome stories. The power went off and on all day, being out for hours at a time.....but we managed. That night, I went to bed early. My eyes were itching and I needed to get some sleep. I had two nights before where I just didn't sleep that well....I was more than ready.
What I didn't know was going on was that my son was watching a movie with his great grandparents....and when it was time for them to go to bed, the greats weren't able to due to Kujo lying in our bed. Now Sparky was glad to have the greats over, but when they went to sleep in our bed, it was a NO GO. They asked him NICELY to move off the bed, and when he growled and beared his teeth, they went and got John. John had to tell Sparky 5 TIMES (as he reiterated to me over and over again) that he needed to get down. Finally, John took him by the collar and took him out of the bedroom. Again, glad to know that my doggie knows his place and who is and isn't supposed to be in the house.
That night I slept in Andrew's room, hubbs slept on John's bed and John slept on the floor in front of the fire place.
With the blessed help of Benedryl, I slept somewhat ok. Hubbs got home very late and slept in that day.
We got up Saturday morning, and had breakfast. My children enjoyed their great grandparents visit. I had to go to work on Saturday to get some things done.....and that night I took John to his first basketball game.
Ahhh.....Cub scouts, with popcorn, cracker jacks and soda.....so if I didn't need a straight jacket before, I really needed it after that.
I explained what was going on to the best of my girlie girl ability....and he seemed interested....
He asked to leave after half time.....and talked me into some Dippen Dots.
He had never had Dippen Dots before and said that what I had given him was NOT ice cream.....I explained to him needed to trust his momma...and he took a bite....and waited....and realized it INDEED was ice cream......
And he was in heaven.
And when he was asked what was his favorite part - his hormones kicked in and he said 'When the girls were dancing.' Um....what about all the action packed basketball, the fouls, the crowd, the popcorn? Nope - all of it hinged on the girls, dancing in tight black pants....I explained to him that if he liked that the best, then he needed to go to dance compeitions, not basketball games....and he agreed....
One more night of sleeping in our odd places really wore on us.....what got me was the sheer JOY of my baby at 2:30 in the morning when he realized not only was his momma in his room, but so was the DOG!!! After 45 minutes of, 'Lay down Andrew', and 'Stop kicking the bed Andrew', and 'Andrew - Shhhhh' he finally went back to sleep.
At 8 am - he was handed off to my husband and I went back to bed.
Later that day, by the hard work that the utility workers that were here, my grand parents in law's power was restored, and they were glad to go home. I am happy they stayed with us....I know it made me feel better knowing they were warm and cozy and safe.
So - what did I learn for my days with out power....
I learned that you can cook by campfire in your own living room. Chicken breasts take about 45 minutes to cook in foil. However, if you leave potatoes in there for 2 hours, they turn to little bits of charcoal and dust and the alumnium foil desinagrates. It is pretty cool.
I found that you will have to thaw wood before burning it. I have a stack of it that I stole from my neighbors garage (HI JILL!!) that was covered in snow like ours was. And we made sure we thawed it before burning.
I learned that people are creatures of habit. When you have the power go out you will turn on light switches automatically with out thinking about it. However, you don't turn them back off. So when the power does kick back on, you have a house lit up much like a Christmas tree (or leave a pot of soup cooking).
I learned that 2 nights is about all my son can take of not sleeping in his bed. He was physcially ill Sunday night and went to bed early. I am jealous. I can make it about 7 before it wears on me.
I learned you can crochet TOO much. I have a blister on my finger where the yarn was rubbing.
I have learned your husband can have 2 days off and even though you are living in the same house, you don't see each other.
I have learned, you never know what time it is when the power goes out....and it drives you nuts.
I have learned the sound of tree limbs falling can sound like gun shots....and keep you awake all night. And it is when the tree limb falls on the fence between your house and the neighbors is when you figure out whose fence it really is....that means, whose home-owners will pay for it (for the record, it wasn't ours)
I have learned that I should keep a stock of Marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars. If we are going to have to have a fire - by golly we are having smores....
I have learned that when we have a state of emergency, my corp office still wants to know why we weren't seeing patients.
I have learned that my baby can still wear the hat he was given in the hosptial at his birth....and he looks like an elf. He is also very entertained by the flash of the camera. He also has learned how to say 'shhhh' for shoe. He also thinks it is funny to pose for pictures......
See what I mean....
giggling like a little girl over the whole thing....Probably more like Beavis and Butthead actually - Cool...guns are cool....shoot...yea....lets shoot.....
giggling like a little girl over the whole thing....Probably more like Beavis and Butthead actually - Cool...guns are cool....shoot...yea....lets shoot.....
To say I was proud was a huge understatement. I was beaming. And while other wives and families felt the same, this was my man, my hubbs, my hero, who did a great deed. It was bittersweet, as we learned about why these officers were being honored. To go above and beyond the call of duty, usually meant hard circumstances, things people don't want to think about - things these officers would wish away instead of earning awards for. But that is the definition of true hero - someone who rises when the call is given, not someone who waits for the other person to take action. For every person who needs a hero, there are family members who are grateful for those heros. Family members who were able to say goodbye to a loved one. Family members who were able to have closure to a tough call. Family members who, despite the pain they are going through, are thankful for the heros too. 
After his friends arrived at the rock climbing place, they were all soooo wonderful. They all listened intently to the rules. John was determined he was going to climb to the top of the wall and then let go and pretend to sky dive.....um.....yea.....about that. We will get to that in a minute. 
Soon he was off....and climbing like a fool...Until his dad said something and he turned around to ask him what he said....And the realization of how far he was up kicked in and so did the fear. He started yelling 'LOWER LOWER LOWER' and we tried to talk him out of it...but we got him down. He came down looking a little scared and unsure....but went back up....
