Destruction

We now have power (for the moment at least) after eight days without.

Friday, January 12:

I arrive home safely from my travel in Iowa. The weather is starting to do ice/sleeting rain, but I am just happy that I arrived home before it started. I go to the library for some books and videos in case we are snowed in. Later that night, I hear trees breaking off and transformers catching on fire.

Saturday, January 13:

I wake up to the pictures above. 80% of the trees in my neighborhood are ruined because they have been snapped into pieces or uprooted. Still, the power is on and I blissfully go about my day.

Sunday, January 14:

We don't go to church since the weather is bad. Later that evening, I am watching a show on PBS. The portion that I really wanted to see is coming up when...the lights go out. I am bummed, but think nothing of it.

Monday, January 15:

I decide to think of it as an adventure. After all, surely the power will come back on soon. My mom tries to round up wood to burn in the fireplace. I spend the day reading library books and The Tightwad Gazette. The roads are cleared, so we go to another town to get gasoline and eat (my own town is completely out of power). I am still able to sleep in my own room by using tons of blankets and a sleeping bag.

Tuesday, January 16:

I am starting to lose it. How long can this go on??? I am supposed to be at the medical clinic today to counsel people. I call in and tell them that I'm not coming. Mom boils water so that I can wash my hair and take a sponge bath. We drag my mattress into the kitchen to sleep on since it is about 40 degrees in my room.

Wednesday, January 17:

I wash my hair and take a sponge bath and go in to the medical clinic. Only a few patients show up. I call my friend H. and she tells me to come over and stay with her. Her sister is out of town and I can have her bedroom. I race home, pack the suitcase that was never put away from the Iowa trip, and leave. My mom does not want to go, but I must if I plan on keeping my sanity.

Thursday, January 18:

Sadness. Shopping (apparently I stress shop. Who knew?). I want to go home, but I cannot. That night, H. and I get to go stay in a swanky hotel because one of her friends got a free room. At dinner, Mom calls to tell me the power is finally back on!!!!!

Friday, January 19:

The power is back off, but I decide to go home anyway. After all, how long can it be?

Saturday, January 20:

Nothing.

Sunday, January, 21:

Nothing. I must figure out what to do with myself since class starts this week.

Monday, January 22:

I go to stay with H. again. Mom calls to say the power is back on. I don't trust it.

Tuesday, January 23:

I am at the medical clinic and then in class until 7:30. I call, and the lights are still on. I go home!

I never realized how much I take ELECTRICITY for granted. It was so, so horrible without it. Dark and very cold. And hopeless. Southwest Missouri was declared a "National Disaster Area", whatever that means. I hope I can catch up on sleep and get back to normal. I have quite a few posts in me that will go up in the next couple of days.