More Black-Out Stuff
Seems our power is staying with us, which is encouraging, but our TV cable keeps cutting in and out, so we're still aware not to get too relaxed yet.
It's good to have TV coverage again- we've been turned to Canada's Newsworld (our national 24-hour news channel) since we woke up this morning and it's comforting just to be able to follow what's -happening-. It was so strange yesterday to know you were in the middle of the continent's biggest story with no way to actually learn about what was going on- no TV, no Internet, no newspapers, only increasingly amazing stories from people in the lobby of our building (all of Toronto is out, no, no, all of Ontario is out, no, no, all of the North-East coast is out...). Luckily, I had a Walkman with a radio, so Deb, John and I could pass the headphones back and forth reporting to each other news developments as we learned them. The only other portable radio in the house took 10 "D" batteries and by the time we went out in search of batteries every battery in the area had been sold out.
Out my window here all I can hear are car horns and people shouting. Within a block of our apartment there is an intersection with gas stations on three corners. Being that there was no gas available in this area for 11 hours yesterday (and drivers were stuck in endless traffic jams) people are desperate for gas. When Deb, John and I walked out in search of breakfast this morning there were line-ups at all three stations as far as the eye can see. Incredible. And chaotic. Still I find the horn honking easier to deal with than the non-stop sirens and alarms in the neighbourhood that kept us all uneasily awake much of last night.
The line-ups at the local McDonald's were just as bad. Everyone was in search of a hot breakfast. We were to learn that though our power was back, within a block of where we are, the power was still gone. Stores directly across the street were still operating by candlelight. The local Walmart was open, though their financial system was still down and they were only accepting cash. Deb needed a flashlight and we needed "D" batteries. The store had a -huge- display of bottled water, batteries, flashlights, phones, all the essentials people were desperate for as the black-out went on (or threatened to come back) and those tables were swarmed. While we were in line to pay, the lights flickered in the store twice and you could hear the communal gasp as folks picked up basics with even greater fervor.
The grocery store next door was just as chaotic. We went in to buy a bunch of food that didn't need to be cooked, just in case we'd need it (the Walmart clerk said there were rumours the rolling black-outs may hit us again by this afternoon). Line-ups were long and there was something very surreal about seeing people stock up on all these staples of life, our Premier having called a "State of Emergency" last night- who could even have imagined it a day ago?
My blessings on all those folks still without power, I'm thinking of you. I hope this all gets settled soon, though they say it may be Monday before all the power difficulties are solved.
Jeff was able to get gas and come to pick up Debbie. She called to let us know she's finally home and going off to sleep, so it's good to know she and Jeff are settled in again. Though I'm sure it's a night Deb and I are gonna talk about for years to come.
Last Monday due to storms our power was knocked out half the afternoon and our cable was gone that entire evening. I remember thinking then how unnerving it is that so much of your life is disrupted when electricity/power goes out, even for a little while. Little did I know that was just a teaser for the grand climax to come at the end of the week.
It's good to have TV coverage again- we've been turned to Canada's Newsworld (our national 24-hour news channel) since we woke up this morning and it's comforting just to be able to follow what's -happening-. It was so strange yesterday to know you were in the middle of the continent's biggest story with no way to actually learn about what was going on- no TV, no Internet, no newspapers, only increasingly amazing stories from people in the lobby of our building (all of Toronto is out, no, no, all of Ontario is out, no, no, all of the North-East coast is out...). Luckily, I had a Walkman with a radio, so Deb, John and I could pass the headphones back and forth reporting to each other news developments as we learned them. The only other portable radio in the house took 10 "D" batteries and by the time we went out in search of batteries every battery in the area had been sold out.
Out my window here all I can hear are car horns and people shouting. Within a block of our apartment there is an intersection with gas stations on three corners. Being that there was no gas available in this area for 11 hours yesterday (and drivers were stuck in endless traffic jams) people are desperate for gas. When Deb, John and I walked out in search of breakfast this morning there were line-ups at all three stations as far as the eye can see. Incredible. And chaotic. Still I find the horn honking easier to deal with than the non-stop sirens and alarms in the neighbourhood that kept us all uneasily awake much of last night.
The line-ups at the local McDonald's were just as bad. Everyone was in search of a hot breakfast. We were to learn that though our power was back, within a block of where we are, the power was still gone. Stores directly across the street were still operating by candlelight. The local Walmart was open, though their financial system was still down and they were only accepting cash. Deb needed a flashlight and we needed "D" batteries. The store had a -huge- display of bottled water, batteries, flashlights, phones, all the essentials people were desperate for as the black-out went on (or threatened to come back) and those tables were swarmed. While we were in line to pay, the lights flickered in the store twice and you could hear the communal gasp as folks picked up basics with even greater fervor.
The grocery store next door was just as chaotic. We went in to buy a bunch of food that didn't need to be cooked, just in case we'd need it (the Walmart clerk said there were rumours the rolling black-outs may hit us again by this afternoon). Line-ups were long and there was something very surreal about seeing people stock up on all these staples of life, our Premier having called a "State of Emergency" last night- who could even have imagined it a day ago?
My blessings on all those folks still without power, I'm thinking of you. I hope this all gets settled soon, though they say it may be Monday before all the power difficulties are solved.
Jeff was able to get gas and come to pick up Debbie. She called to let us know she's finally home and going off to sleep, so it's good to know she and Jeff are settled in again. Though I'm sure it's a night Deb and I are gonna talk about for years to come.
Last Monday due to storms our power was knocked out half the afternoon and our cable was gone that entire evening. I remember thinking then how unnerving it is that so much of your life is disrupted when electricity/power goes out, even for a little while. Little did I know that was just a teaser for the grand climax to come at the end of the week.