I am grateful for electricity

[frugalwanttobe]

Because of the snow, here in New England, we had no electricity from 9:30 AM until I believe it was 8:00 PM last night. The kids and I were dancing in the hall when the lights came on. The electric company was working on the problem all day. They had tree surgeons or whatever they are called along with the regular electric company people. My kids and I were going stir crazy. I have decided I am buying both of these children of mine a portable dvd player. The one we had broke.

We put a new roof on the house less than 2 years ago so the house was cold but really did not get really cold until 7 pm.

My dd and I played games where you choose a letter of the alphabet and then you pick 3 categories...boy's names, foods, countries etc. etc...that killed about an hour....I look back now and I do not know how we survived all day....I also had my dd read to me...that killed about a 1/2 hour...

The poor dog got picked up about 1 million times yesterday. She was their major source of entertainment. I am sure she is glad they are in school today. I think I even saw her give a sigh of relief when they walked out the door to school today. LOL

[ballylarkin]

I can't imagine....you have my sympathy

[Momto2Boyz]

We had the same problem shortly before Christmas due to an ice storm. We were without power for about 36 hours. It was horrible!

I do have to say that my kids did pretty well with it. It is amazing the things they find to do. We sang Christmas Carols for awhile, just to pass the time!

Glad to hear it is back on for you! It's never any fun!

[brenda67]

That is exactly the reason why I bought a generator..Of coarse living in a mobile home like us w/out a fireplace and no other source of heat would be a good reason too!

[YankeeMom]

Oy! We lost ours for a couple of hours during that wind storm last week. I can't imagine all day. I was already planning what to do if the power was still out when the kids got home. Thankfully it came on before they got home.

Hope yours stays on! Stay warm

[justpeachy92]

I haven't quite decided when it is worse to lose the power. Winter 2002 we lived here in NC. Lost power for 6 days due to an ice storm, got it back for 3 days, then another storm knocked it out for 4 more days. We did have a generator that was small enough to run the tv and a fireplace for heat. Then in 2004 we were in Florida, lost the power for 8 days after hurricane francis. That was probably the worst for me just because I had a new born baby, no power and it was quite warm in FL.I really had a hard time not chasing down the electric guys to give them kisses when they got the power back on. I also learned then what it truely means to live on the wrong side of the street, the people across from us had power within 24 hours because their lines were on the same line as the hospital.

[Lady_V]

Snow, power loss and New England go hand in hand

We have yet to lose power this winter, but there is still time for that to change. I had very few 'demands' when it came to a place to live, but a gas stove was one of them. I can still cook, even if I have to light the burner with a match. I even have a stove-top perk pot for coffee... a NEED

If we are going to have an extended power-loss in winter, I will bring DD to the Outlaws house because they live in the next town and have a generator. I won't let her freeze.

When we lose power, we do things we normally don't think of doing because we have things that make life 'easier' for us and I have things set aside for -only- times we have no power...

In Winter --
Monopoly
Life
Scrabble
Cribbage -- habit from when I spent the summers in Maine
MadLibs
1000 piece puzzles -- DD usually only does 100 pieces
Battery Operated CampLamp
Sturbridge Village (we visited there a few years ago and she loved it, so we act as if we lived in the 1800's and think about what they would be doing, sometimes we only talk about it, sometimes we do it -- like make butter -- I am so proud of her )

In Fall/Spring/Summer --
We do what we normally do, play outside, go swimming, cook on a grill, etc

[miss_thrifty]

I've been there, no power. when i lived in the country most times it would come back before the day ended and we just put the food in the winter in the barn in snow(keeps critters out). Otherwise any more then that and I would lose alot in freezer if not winter and had to give lots away or cook it right away.

[sdrjeolsen]

yikes! Well, sounds like you had fun, I bet the kids had a blast.

[PrairieRose]

Oh I feel your pain. Last year we had 2 full weeks of no power due to ice storms. We have a generator that will run a small heater and a small tv (or blow dryer, your choice....lol). Ugh, I much prefer this century.