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Wed Apr 16th, 2014
 | 08:23 pm - Stygian darkness again
So that bright light last night that plunged us into darkness was a pole getting too close to a power line. (I won't try to explain how two power companies with supposedly distinct turfs managed to get in each other's way so badly.) Very disconcerting to find oneself in pitch blackness; groped my way down to the kitchen where there are 1) matches (which I couldn't find), 2) a gas stove, whose burners provided enough light to locate 3) the candle on the windowsill. Lit 3 at 2 and went looking for those flashlights that I keep in every room. Keep, yes; keep handy, no. Finally found my little camp lamp in the front room and my portable reading light on the kitchen table. Then looked out at the street. Every house plunged into darkness except next door bro (of course) and Prof&Mrs Islamic Studies from Iraq. The 92 year old en face was lightless, so I took the camp lamp over there and found her sitting philosophically in the dark. 'I expect it'll be back soon.' She too has a sizable camp lamp, bought after I forget which summer outage; but, natch, she couldn't locate it without light.
In the end she was right: our neighbourhood was out for only thirty minutes, unlike some people who were in the dark and cold for two hours, while visions of last December's three day outage undoubtedly fleered and gibbited at them.
On a lighter (ha-ha) note, there was the fortuitous coincidence with Passover seders and a host of twitterers: 'Power goes out across the city, Jews everywhere yell "IT'S ELIJAH!"' I'm with that one poster: "power out through Christmas, power out during Passover. I assume Eid is gonna be the next target, I'm on to this Toronto"
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(snickers)
I keep my matches and candles on top of a shelf in the kitchen/lounge area for emergencies - they're out in the open, but at least I know I'll be able to find them if I need them.
I do remember the time when I was at university, in a hall of residence, and we had a power cut in the middle of the summer term, in exam season. Everyone's room lights were out, but the emergency lighting was on in the corridor. Cue a sudden emergence of people sitting or lying in their doorways along the length of the corridor with their textbooks open, getting in that last bit of revision. Out in the open is the best place. My big flashlight wanders from bedroom to back, if I need to notify the raccoons in the trees that I'm aware of their presence. I need to go back to 'candles and matches' on the bedroom table, and to check that the downstairs flashlight on the fridge has working batteries.
These days I fancy most people read by the light of their cell phones, or rather, read their cell phones- except prudence suggests being chary of using something that may not be rechargeable for days. ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/11690011/1379663) | | From: |  mvrdrk |
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| Date: | April 17th, 2014 09:09 am (UTC) |
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That's why the spouse keeps small flashlights dangling from all key interior doors and a big one under his side of the bed. He checks to make sure they have working batteries, too. Personally, I love power outages. You don't realize how much noise the modern world makes until you have no power. LOL! This is my notion of male thinking, which is why no surprise next door and next-next door were illuminated. Goes double for the working batteries. I had a large camp lamp but when I needed it the batteries had leaked and corroded the whole works. -_- |
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