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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
 Posted - August 15 2003 : 08:45:27 AM
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First there was annoyance: "Aw-w-w-w, man! My computer just went down! Hope I remembered to click on "save" recently... since I don't completely trust Auto-save."
Then there was curiosity: "That's odd. Wonder why the lights keep dimming... going off... coming back on at half-power... hmmmmmmmm..."
Then there was fear: "Oh, dear God! Please don't let this be a terrorist attack!!"
Thankfully, in the end, it wasn't. It was...
The Great Black-out of 2003.
Well, the power did come back on for most of downtown Binghamton, but when I arrived home (about 2 miles away) I found that we had no power at all. Hmmmmm... OK... so I can't cook (yippee!)... can't open the fridge or freezer because we want to keep it as cold as we can for as long as possible... what shall we eat?
I know! I'll drive down the road to McDonalds and pick up some food... along with everyone else within a 5-mile radius! Mayhem!! Long lines!! Lack of patience on my part!! Someone came in and announced that the officials were imposing a state of emergency in Binghamton... they may need to shut off the power grid that serves the city... and everyone must be off the roads by 9:00 pm! What?!?!?! It's 8:15! I'm still waiting in line to order food!! Forget it... going home to eat a peanut butter sandwich. Hubbie and daughter can do the same!
Home. The village maintenance guys are going door-to-door asking people not to run the water. No shower... no toilet flushing... no washing hands... the sewer lines run down to the end of the street to a pumping station... which runs on... you guessed it! Electricity!! If we fill up the pumping station, it will back up into our homes. Yuk!!
OK. I can do this. After all, I want to live in the 18th century! Don't I????? Hey! I bought that cute little glass and tin lantern at a reenactment! Stick a candle in and light 'er up! Works great... Ouch! You dummie... the candle makes the handle get hot! Duhh!!
So. Time for bed. Hot upstairs... can't run any fans... I plug the tub, kneel and take what my mother used to lovingly call a "spit bath"... never could figure that one out. Don't unplug the drain!! At least I feel somewhat cooler and less sweaty...
Unplug all major appliances... including computer stuff... Settle down to try to sleep... Five minutes to eleven... just relaxing and drifting off...
Whazzat....?!?! The clock radio suddenly blares on... bathroom light comes on... and...
We Have Power!!
As I type this on Friday morning, Aug. 15th, we are finding out just how huge this thing is. Much of New York City is still without power. Cleveland and Detroit are still without power. Authorities are still trying to determine just exactly what happened. There have been speculations: from a lightening strike in Canada... to overload due to heat conditions. Regardless, it is something they told us they would fix and that it would never happen again.
Right.
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Bea
Keeper of the Western Door
Canada
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 18 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 15 2003 : 11:03:04 AM
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I am glad to hear that you have power again!
Yes, I heard in the news that a lightning strike may be responsible for this power outage. My friend's sister is a nurse at a Toronto hospital and they were just about to start a c-section on a woman with twins when the power went out. Thank God for the hospital generators!!!
I hope that the power will be restored to everyone very soon!!
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Carpe Diem |
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Bea
Keeper of the Western Door
Canada
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 18 2002
Status: offline
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
Administrator |
Posted - August 15 2003 : 12:58:31 PM
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I was wondering about Mohicanlanders up in that area ... Securemann? Doc? Sarge? Seamus? Brenda? Others?
It was weird hearing about it ... haven't heard from relatives, yet ... but I guess all are ok. Saw the pics in the paper today. VERY reminiscent of 9-11. Thankfully, it wasn't!
Good write-up, WW ... |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 15 2003 : 1:11:11 PM
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No problem here along the Susquehanna............we are feeding the squirrels who power the generators extra rations so they have no work stoppages.
BUT..........the (formerly)dark-haired lass is in Detroit visiting her aged mother and was to return home today. She has decided to come tomorrow instead, as power is being restored along the path from Ft. Detroit to here, as we speak.
Now......it gets good........tomorrow my two daughters were, I repeat, WERE having a surprise 60th b'day party for her (a week early), and now it has been postponed until next Sunday, her actual natal day. That has necessitated many phone calls between here and Virginia, the screeching halt of a special cake, the calling of all the attendees, the re-scheduling of the clandestine activities associated with the intrigue and deception involved. The good side of all this?? It will allow a week for 2 snotty-nosed grandchildren (the usual colds, etc.) to recover before they will be slobbering all over her! |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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securemann
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 08 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 15 2003 : 4:12:26 PM
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| Securemann reporting for duty.Ok,Yesterday started off with me doing hand to hand combat with a sh** load of yellow jackets who invaded my porch area.I had to go to the store and find some weapons of mass destruction real quick for them SOB's.I managed to get the upper hand without getting stung but they are very persistent.Anyway,I came back inside my COOL place and started up the old computer to take a relaxing trip to mohicanland.Within two minutes,crack,ping,bam,no more mohicanland.Matter of fact,no more nothing.This was about 4:15 p.m.I didn't think too much about it.I thought that someone around the area slammed into a utility pole like they usually do around here and within an hour or so we will be ok.My wife went outside and talked to a fellow with a battery operated scanner.I was relaxed on the couch enjoying the cool air that was still around in the house.My wife came in with the news:The whole Northeast is blacked out!! Flashbacks,flashbacks,1965,I was a kid in the city running around the 'hood laughing at the cars when they got to the not working traffic lights.Anyway,It got real hot in here real quick.As night came,out came the candles and flashlights.People were lining up at the gas stations that had no gas.Ice went real QUICK.People here in my community just hung out,drank beer,and held their candles.Power came on at 2:00AM.thank God! I hope that everyone else is doing fine. |
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securemann
Deerslayer
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 08 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 15 2003 : 4:21:54 PM
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| My daughter lives in Yonkers,NY and they didn't get their power back till 7:30 this morning.I think there are still some parts of NYC that is without power.Oh,no it's approaching 4:15pm.It's already been a whole day since this happened! |
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Pen
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 03 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - August 15 2003 : 6:00:12 PM
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Hey, All,
Well, I screwed up again...sorry if this gets posted twice.
First, I hope everyone is doing okay.
Second, news reports are sketchy here (WA State). I know that parts of Upstate NY were affected. Hope all you Mohicanites in those places are keeping safe and sane!). As I'm geographically-challenged, can anyone tell me if Buffalo was/is affected by the outages?
Pen (aka 'Wayfaraway') |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - August 15 2003 : 8:41:09 PM
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Well, that's three of us nor'easterners checking in... glad you boys are doin' OK, Seamus and Brother Jim. Although I sense that Seamus's stress level is a mite high right about now... and 'taint due to the lack of electricity!
I've also been wondering about Scott Bubar. If I remember correctly, he lives in the western part of Connecticut, so he could have been affected too.
Good Gosh A'Mighty! It's been somethin' for the folks in the city, hasn't it? I feel very, very fortunate. Our problems were nothing. At least I didn't have to curl up on the street next to a building to sleep in my business clothing because I couldn't get home and there was simply no place to go! Wow!
I think the American and Canadian Power authorities had better quit pointing fingers at each other and get down to business here. This has given us just a little taste of what could happen if Al Qaeda should manage to make this happen on a larger scale. A very scary thought. |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - August 15 2003 : 8:48:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Pen
First, I hope everyone is doing okay. <snip> ...can anyone tell me if Buffalo was/is affected by the outages?
Hi Pen, and thanks.
I haven't heard if or how much Buffalo was affected, but I would be willing to bet that they were. Although it is hard to say for sure, because this thing was so spotty.
Out of curiousity, where in WA do you live? You may have mentioned at some point in time, but I don't recall. No... it's NOT a Senior Moment!! I'm not that old yet and I hate that phrase!
I have "Intellectual Interludes"! |
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Scott Bubar
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 16 2003 : 04:49:02 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
... I've also been wondering about Scott Bubar. ...
Scott Bubar is fine, more or less, thanks.
We did lose power, but the main impact on me was indirect.
The blackout ruined my significant other's plans to take our son to Orlando for a few days. This would have been the first really "fun" thing my son has had a chance to do this summer. It would also have been the first time Pauline has had a few days off and a little reacreation in months.
Not to mention I was looking forward to a few glorious days by myself.
Now I have a seriously disgruntled woman on my hands, who believes I "jinxed" her. She is drowning her sorrows in her usual potion--more work.
My son, on the other hand, is handling it much better than I would under the circumstances. |
~~Aim small, miss small. |
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Pen
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 03 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - August 17 2003 : 1:48:38 PM
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Hey, W.W.,
You are not either having an 'intellectual interlude'...I haven't mentioned that I live in Tacoma (until now, that is  !).
Pen (aka 'Wayfaraway'--'cause I am !)
P.S.--Tacoma is about an hour south of Seattle, depending on traffic.
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - August 17 2003 : 5:01:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Pen
...I haven't mentioned that I live in Tacoma (until now, that is !).
And I know it well, having driven past it many times! I love the Seattle area. Mt. Rainier.... I can see her now...
www.nps.gov/mora/
Scott, Good to hear from you. Sounds like your stress level is just about as high as Seamus's!
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Brenda
Pioneer
Canada
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
June 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - August 18 2003 : 12:30:59 AM
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Hi everyone!
I got my power back Friday sometime in the wee morning hours then lost it again Friday afternoon for a couple of hours. I haven't lost it since though!
Ottawa wasn't completely backup until today, but we are still in a state of emergency. The Bank of Canada (where I work) stayed closed on Friday except for essential service staff, and is closed again on Monday - all government offices are closed tomorrow. (A little holiday for me!)
Although I know that the power outage was really difficult for some people (and I really feel for them), personally it turned out to be a great experience! When I got home Thursday, my family and neighbors were out on the front lawns having a picnic of sorts - barbeques were brought out and of course we ate everyone's ice cream before it melted! We got to meet some people that we never had an opportunity to meet before, and to get to know others much better. We sat around a Coleman Lantern until 1:00 in the morning trading jokes and stories. Of course all the kids were allowed to stay up - it was a great adventure!
Quebec (who has its own power source) has been sending power here to help out the hospitals, etc. At least they are running ok.
On the down side, there were some "smash and grabs" around the city, there are always a few idiots who will take advantage. I suppose this type of event always brings out the best and worst in people.
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“They say that you're never as wise as when you're a child. We'll never think that clearly again.”
From Arlington Road (1999)
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