In spite of Nature’s best efforts to blow all of us off the map, we’re still here…well most of us anyhow.
The wind speed here was the third highest reported and the wind sounded like a freight train at the height of the storm. It seemed to blow forever and when all the gusting was done it was a cold bitch!
We were without power for 26 hours. Thank God it was not longer as it was bad enough. Thursday the day was pretty much devoted to storm prep, getting things ready and getting the birds situated so they’d be as warm and comfortable as possible knowing we’d lose power at some point.
As the daylight left the wind started to pick up. I was hoping he’d get home in time to make a quick throw a pot-pie in the micro for a hot meal as we’d be on sandwich duty with no power. we did get that last hot meal before the storm knocked power out and watched most of the Seahawks game, if you can call it a game. They played some pretty piss-poor football. Don’t give me the “they’ve had key players injured crap either-don’t wanna hear it. They blew almost as much as the wind did later that night. The idea and concept of TACKLING seems to have left most teams in the NFL. Most players seem to do this pansy grab-ass attempt and call that tackling. WTF?
You can’t take down a running fucker holding the ball, gently. You have to Grab and Grip the S.O.B.
The coaches need to be bitch slapped or something for not making their players tackle. They should fine’em a thousand bucks per player if they miss a damn tackle. ‘Course the NFL itself needs to get rid of the penalty charged after kick-off- that one is fucking useless and isn’t really a penalty so what is the point of it?
Anyhow, we turned the game off and threw on a recorded game of Jeopardy as that was less irritating, watched a few other shows till he went to bed. He has to go to bed early as the commute dictates getting up before the ass crack of dawn and dealing with traffic and shit. Glad it’s not me sitting in the stuffed car all those hours with smells of exhaust (both human and otherwise), tail lights, stupid drivers and the stench of whatever the fuck it is.
Then after 2 the power goes out.
4 AM comes early and though now power he managed to shower and get ready for work. Little did the band of commuters know, Deception Pass would be closed and they’d have to try and work from the old Oak Harbor office in town.
As Friday turned into afternoon, it was just getting colder. Heat in this old house doesn’t stay. Aluminum windows suck it right out so you’re left with nothing but bone-chilling cold. I did my best to tend to shit while he was at work, and noticed the little wee lovebird Felix, was shivering. Poor little guy was cold. I held him in my shirt for warmth and tried to warm him up. He ate a few mushed cheerios warmed in my hand and slept. he looked like he was doing better, but he passed on around 3 pm or so. I don’t know the exact time as I had no clock right next to me at that moment. It was rough and I miss him. He was one of the quieter Lovbirds, but he still made his presence known. I hope he was greeted with a hearty welcome at The Rainbow Ridge.
The other birds appear to be ok after the cold they endured with us.
(Having no back-up heat in a house that sucks the warm air right outside truly sucks gangrene nutsacks!)
Friday night, we had a meal of cold sandwiches, chips and Pepsi’s . It tasted good being hungry and cold, though I don’t want another sandwich for awhile, as I associate them with cold and no power, after this Fall in the P.N.W.
It was see-your-breath-in-the-air cold in this house, least in the living room and bathroom. It is not a good thing to be shivering one’s ass off trying to pee by the light of flashlight while seeing your breath hit the air. I hate cold bathrooms to begin with but that was Really fucking cold!
After listening to the local ABC station Komo1000 on the radio flashlight for hours, we heard that the Island would probably have power around midnight.
I watched the clock waiting and waiting, freezing, waiting, dosing a bit. Then midnight came and went. Damn power was still off.
Oh well, figured I’d try and sleep and hope it came on before morning or early am daylight at the latest.
At 3:51 am the power was back on! Thank God!! It was nice to start thawing out.
It took till midday Saturday to get the living room to so-so warm after being so cold, but we were thankful the heat was back on nevertheless. There are still folks without power and heat in the area, and I truly feel for them. It sucks. But a person can not depend on anyone, City, State or Government to take care of them 24/7. Some times you have to fend for yourself. It’s sad so many are suffering from CO poisoning, but I understand why. Trying to keep warm after Days of no heat and no power can get old really fast and start to wear on you.
I hope they get it turned on sooner rather than later.
I also hope the next two windstorms coming Wednesday and Saturday, don’t knock the power out again for any length of time.
I’m tired of being cold. I’m tired of wind, and it’s not even Winter yet, damnit.
R.I.P. Felix
