Yes, I thought I had everything under control! The presents sent out to various and sundry family members. Decorations done for awhile now. Even some food shopping done on Friday.
Yesterday was Sunday, and I sit down bright and early at my home office with my computer to do some heavy duty work on my business websites. Yes, this is why I'm up here, to get away from the hoopla of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I need to do a pile of work that takes time and concentration. Inspiration flows, and my new main website for www.RothwellRealty.com is taking shape. No, no don't go there yet, there is much to be done. And then,
THE POWER WENT OUT!
As you may know from reading my blog, I drove to northern California and am tucked away here in the Northwoods for Christmas, surrounded by many trees, massive trees, including Redwoods that are known for their shallow root system. And it's been raining like crazy for a couple of weeks, a foot or so just in the previous couple of days! So what happens?
ONE OF THEM FELL DOWN ON A POWER LINE
And it's amazing that only ONE fell down, frankly. Well, maybe they came down in a group at one spot. It takes a lot to bring a power line down. I won't find out what exactly happened, because the TRIPLICATE NEWSPAPER only comes out THREE TIMES A WEEK up here -- so tomorrow, Tuesday, I will get the skinny.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN A LITTLE HAMLET WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT?
What I probably should have done is pile my computer into my car and drive into town where the lights were on. But I might have met up with another tree about to fall down, plus that defeats the whole purpose of GETTING AWAY. Also, one is optimistic that power will come on within a few minutes.
So what are my choices to be connected?
THE CELL PHONE
Although we have Charter as our provider up here for our Internet connection and cable, when the power goes out, say goodbye to all that.
But, aha, I have a HOTSPOT on my iPhone that usually is a great backup. But, no, it showed
'NO SERVICE"
That tree made the cell tower stop functioning? Yes. So, being cut off from the world (who has land lines these days?), it became quite challenging to continue. At first, I just did some writing on my computer for my websites because my computer still had a good charge on it.
But the QUIET around me actually got to me.
TRAMP IN THE WOODS
Armed with an umbrella and galoshes, I started to walk around the property, checking on all the places where water was running off from the hill behind me. Because I am in a forest, those gullies can get clogged up with debris and the water will go into directions that will flood areas. That was actually a lot of fun, making new little Smith River tributaries. I kid, but it all ends up about a 1/4 mile away in the www.SmithRiverCalifornia.com - which probably was close to CRESTING yesterday. And that's a whole other story, which I will read about in tomorrow's newspaper. Me? I was not leaving the comfort of my little getaway.
READING A BOOK
Next, I have an extensive library in my office/cottage, so pulled out a book that I could get behind for a few hours until it got too dark to read by daylight. A little eggnogg at my elbow helped. In the meantime, we had found out that the electricity was not going to be back on until 10:30PM (and this was the SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR so it started to get dark about 4:30PM), we had to do something for light. And, yes, we pulled out some lanterns that use heavy duty batteries from past power outages, a couple of them strong enough to read by.
TALK ABOUT DARK OUTSIDE
Slogging across the super soggy lawn from my detached office/cottage to the "cabin" for the dark night hours, I realize how completely still it is outside. No breeze, just a slight drizzle at this point, and utter QUIET and DARKNESS. Bit spooky, even. The wreath and outdoor lights that we have strung around the property are out. The sky is dark. No moon, no stars, just darkness!
The cabin is cozy, it has a wood burning stove at one end and a propane 3-burner cooking stove at the other, plus a couple of lanterns, and we are set for the duration. The dogs are stretched out, totally good; guess the bear, deer and other animals that live in the forest behind us are tucked away as well. Normally the dogs clamor to go out at this time of night because they smell the animals nearby. "No creature is stirring..."
SO WHAT TO DO?
Tired of reading and certainly no creative juices flowing, I went for a VERY early night, of course. And, yes, the electricity came back on the the middle of the night, but I couldn't have cared less. Got the best night's sleep in a long time until 4:00AM.
Today, all is right with the world. At least, so far...
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