Thursday, March 9, 2017

Stormy weather

The rain and wind commenced Wednesday, early.  It seems I'd only just heard Laura leave when a clap of thunder rattled everything. I looked at the clock to see if I should get my sorry self up to the bus stop, but, fortunately, it was 6:40, and the bus better have left.

I got to work early, to get payroll done, the rest of the bills paid, and everything in order for the night's board meeting. I had a project to finish at the house before the 1 pm knitting group meeting. That project did not happen because the electricity went out. It had stopped raining, so we neighbors commiserated up and down the street about the state of utilities, until the chilly air drove us in for warmth.

But, there is no warmth inside with no electricity to circulate it around the house. I decided to go to work to keep warm. Kendall Road, down into the valley, was closed near the top. Not a good sign. I turned around and went down SR 303.

The first clue was there at the bottom, in Peninsula. The traffic lights were swinging wildly in the wind, and not working. Most of us were politely making a four way stop of the intersection, but in waiting my turn, I counted more than a few had no idea why the car in front stopped, and went on through the intersection with them.

At the town hall, at 303 and Riverview, Riverview was closed. There was no problem apparent in the few hundred feet to the town hall drive, so I squooze the car past the barricade and went on down. One garage door was open, so I moseyed on in there to hear the latest. The road crew was just in from clearing roads of fallen trees, and it did not look good.

I came home and took a nap until time to pick up Laura from book club. The power was on in Hudson. I think the sun was shining, too. Laura and I went to a restaurant for supper, because you cannot cook in an all electric house with no electric. 

My neighbor texted me; the power was back in my little house on top of the hill. I texted the road super, expecting the same. However, no power in the valley. No word from the powers that be cancelling the meeting, though, and I went back down.



Our meeting was not cancelled, though it was among our shortest in my thirteen years. This morning the road super texted me, "Don't rush down here. Still no power." I didn't rush, but I did go, to get the bills in envelopes and mailed while there was sunlight to see. I still had to rig up a flash light to see well.



On my way home, behind a county road crew. The fellow by the middle truck swore at me as he waved me around. Road crews probably have not been to bed in the last 36 hours. That middle truck lifts tree trunks up and off the road.



Like this one, further up the road. Look at all the scrape marks across the pavement, to the other side. The winds were up to sixty mph, I read in today's paper.



29 comments:

  1. The weather is becoming scary here too.

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  2. When the power goes out I learn to appreciate electricity. At least I have gas for the stove and auxiliary heating from a fake fireplace, plus hot water. Stay safe!

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  3. Hari OM
    We just had a big one too. They're everywhere, these large weathers. They are becoming 'the norm'. A camping stove might be a good thing to have in the cupboard... just glad you were safe. YAM xx

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  4. Two years ago we had a bad winter here in DFW. No power for hours. Really cold in the house. We have a gas furnace, but the igniter is electric. Really smart thinking on somebody's part! My fragile Old Man was really suffering. The situation was much worse because of no hot water for tea. Soon afterward I bought a small propane heater that is used in RV's, and a one burner butane stove. Next time, we will have a little heat and some hot water. Then, wouldn't you know, not a cold spell since!!! Still, a little security is nice.
    Do hope the cold and wind is over for you, Joanne.

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  5. As usual we had the high winds before you did. The original "watch/warning" was for about 36 hours/ We had three days of high winds. Now snow is on the way.

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    1. The snow is heading for us, too. There is no electricity for the road guys to pump fuel from the tanks to the plow trucks tonight, so I left them the township credit card. I'm sure they have a diesel can to put fuel in, in case the front end loader isn't full up. This winter is getting old.

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  6. I am sorry to read this. Stay safe. Stay warm.

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  7. I was worn out reading the first part of the post. You are Superwoman. It has been windy here for days. A tree was down around the block. I too am tired of winter.

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  8. Absolutely nothing stops you, Joanne.

    I hope those winds don't make it to Pennsylvania. Even though it has been a mild winter, the winds have been frightening and damaging.

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  9. A town meeting by flashlight - you folks are dedicated indeed.

    When the power goes out I am uneasy and restless, because I worry about everything - getting too cold, refrigerator warming up, ..... and no computer ...

    I hope spring comes soon for you, and not one of those windy rainy springs, either, just blue sky and flowers.

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    1. Spring has come and gone since January, to the despair of the flower garden.

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  10. I admire those electricity workers who get out and try to restore power as soon as possible. We don't appreciate electricity until we don't have it. Does sound like a horrid storm that went through your part of the country!

    betty

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  11. Gale force winds, trees down, no power; sounds just like Adelaide several times a year. Sorry to hear you've had all that when you're just getting over all the snow with its accompanying troubles.

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  12. I hope spring will come soon for you and Laura.

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  13. We had a huge storm that woke me up this morning

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  14. Exciting weather! Reading this post made me feel like I was in the midst of it.

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  15. Our weather this month has been punctuated by days of 60+ degrees followed by heavy snow and cold snaps in the single digits. It's quite a pattern. I don't even listen to the weather reports because I like the idea of grab bag weather...will is sleet or should I wear sunscreen? Fun question, right? My husband is the resident weatherman, however, so I don't really get to be surprised.

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  16. it's all extreme these days. it's not unusual to plunge 40 or more degrees around here. no rain or torrential rain, no winter or hard freeze, no wind or blowing a gale.

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  17. That is a nasty scrape mark on the road.
    Good to know that there are guys who clear the road.

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  18. Those road crews must be exhausted....we have unseasonable high winds here and the poor devils from ICE (the electricity board) are working fit to bust. We had power out all night and into the morning last week...

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  19. I know this time of year can be scary, but I love a good storm. Guess it's coming up tornado season there in Ohio... I'll never forget the April that Xenia got hit so hard. Do you get tornadoes up in the NE corner? frightening!

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    1. Yes, just a week or so ago, Laura and I went to the closet and waited one out.

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  20. Wind and rain have minds of their own. Falling trees do as well.

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  21. Scary weather it's more common these days.
    Merle..........

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  22. Take care which means a lot from me. You are a great blog friend.

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  23. I heard on the news about the high winds in your part of the country. And the 'no power'. I hope things begin to settle down soon. We all need some calm in our lives right now!!

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  24. Oh wow... kind of cool seeing an old post. Thank you for sharing this. When we lived in San Diego, we rarely had any power outages. I think we lived in a protected circuit because my mother lived several blocks away and her power went out regularly through the winter (this was years and years ago, as she passed in 1995). Stay warm and dry! Hugs...

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  25. p.s. So very sorry you're having to give up your kitty... I know it's for the best but still... you're going to miss it.

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