Saturday, June 20, 2009

The things one learns when the power goes out

Last night we were travelling home from a nice belated birthday dinner, and when we came to the light at the top of the mountain, it was out. We subsequently discovered that all of the traffic lights were out on the south end of town, going towards our home. Here are some things I learned about power outages:

1. The majority of people do not know how to handle a stop light that is not functioning, especially when there is not a policeman directing traffic. It becomes a 4-way-stop, people!!!!! I'm impressed we made it through 5 intersections without dying--both from not getting hit by another car, and not having a heart attack watching other cars get through the intersection safely.

2. When it's been 95+ degrees all week long, it makes for a warm house when the power is out. It was after 7:00 p.m. when we got home, but the upstairs of our home was already like an oven. Naturally, all of the bedrooms are upstairs.

3. My children do not like changes in their routine, even if it is as simple as brushing their teeth by candlelight.

4. Said children depend on both a nightlight AND a sound machine (aka an air purifier in our house) in order to go to sleep. Oh yeah, and they also like to not be sweating to death while trying to go to sleep. 8:00 bedtime became 11:00 because they could not sleep.

5. Apparently I sleep better before the power comes back on than after it is restored. As I was finally cooling off at midnight, I continued to stay awake for half the morning.

6. When the kids are awake until 11:00 p.m. they sleep in until 8:00 a.m.! This is a good thing.

7. There are so fewer distractions when the power is out. I didn't have to think about whether or not to prime the walls, get on Facebook, play the Wii, talk to my husband, do the dishes, etc. The choice was simple: hang out with husband, pray the children go to sleep, and go to bed early!

God Bless when the power is restored!!! My exact words when it came on: HALLELUJAH!!!!!

3 comments:

Steph said...

Certainly makes you appreciate the finer things in life... like electricity! :-)

Ginny! said...

Yeah, we had to survive all that then hurricaines (can't spell) come through. We ended up playing a lot of board games and sweating a lot. We even left the front door open all day, just to get the air moving. :D

Hillary @ The Other Mama said...

Halleluiah and AMEN were my exact words! I agree whole heartedly!
Luckily my kiddos were plum tuckered from a long day, but Jason and I stared at each other for a while by headlamp that he has for working under sinks and such, but he looks like a coal miner. It saved the day!