Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Random post-Ike bullets

  • We're still fine, with electricity, good water pressure, and plenty to eat. Thank you, God.
  • Our only problem right now is scarcity of gasoline. The few stations that are open have extremely long lines most of the day. Early this morning I did slip into a station where I only had to wait behind one other car. There was a $20.00 limit, cash only, but that brought me up to about 5/8 of a tank. When the Scientist went by there later in the morning, he was only able to pump $5.00 worth before the pump ran dry! But we both should have enough for the rest of the week.
  • My supervisor has no power at home, and brought his sweet Cavalier King Charles spaniels to work yesterday and today. They follow him all around the building, and their tails wag in unison.
  • Our pastors came for the early service on Sunday, and then had to head home to deal with storm-related problems. We had a nice do-it-yourself 11:15 service, with about 40 people. We kept it short. Our deacon was the man of the hour, showing up with a cooler full of iced drinks. Most of our church friends still don't have electricity.
  • Reluctant to waste the water with which we had filled the tub, the Scientist brought my favorite 3-quart saucepan into the bathroom and turned off the water to the toilet. Yes, we've been bailing the bathtub to flush the toilet. He said, "The engineer in me wants to see how long the water lasts." It lasted until tonight.
  • Favorite Lurker spent two nights with us. Her deadbolted French doors flew open in the middle of the storm, and she sat on the floor in the dark with her back against them for more than two hours. She was exhausted when she got to our house on Sunday, bearing the contents of her refrigerator. After we ate her goat Brie and homemade date bars, and drank a bottle of wine, she had a hot shower and a good night's sleep in an air-conditioned room. Much better.
  • We went to the Scientist's lab on Saturday and Sunday for "mouse duty". The lab mice are in special sealed cages with filtered air, and can only survive for a day if the power is off and the lids are on the cages. They were all fine, and we moved them to another room where we could remove the lids and leave the cages open on top (they don't try to climb out, but busily scurry around the cage and through their little "enrichment" tunnels). Nocturnal creatures, they were quite active and seemed to be enjoying the extended "night".
  • 1.5 million people in metro Houston are still without power. Tens of thousands along the Texas and Louisiana coasts are suffering. Remember them tonight.

12 comments:

Jody Harrington said...

Glad to have your report! Portia and DK have moved in until their power is restored.

Give my regards to Favorite Lurker.

DogBlogger said...

I love the bathtub/toilet/saucepan bit. (The Alpha would totally do the same thing.)

Lori said...

Glad you are all right. Thinking of Texas and Louisiana every day.

Mary Beth said...

I woke up that Friday night/Saturday morning as the storm was coming in and realized I'd forgotten to fill the tub! I ran into the bathroom to do it!

Ken came in after me and said, "What ARE you doing?"

I had forgotten where I was. That we were highly unlikely to need to bail the toilet as in days of my past. Old habits die hard...

Phew!

I love your Scientist's inquiring mind!!!

Terri said...

Many prayers for all of you...now and in the days ahead.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Glad you're doing well. We've been remembering your region in our prayers.

Unknown said...

Bless you and all around you.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Thank you for posting the update. Praying for you.

Anonymous said...

it's hard to imagine being without electricity for so long. The last time I experienced that was a long time ago in an Indiana ice storm. Prayers for you and your neighbors.

Stratoz said...

hope the recovery is beginning for all those in need. thanks for the news.

Jan said...

My daughter-in-law's parents still don't have electricity in their house in Tomball. Glad you're doing okay.

crosswick said...

You put flesh on this thing. The toilet experiment brings new meaning to BOhemian. I wonder how our mission friends in Vancleave MS are doing? We actually got quite a wind storm here in NE Ohio, damage and power outages, nothing compared to you. Will remember you all!