Ice, pretty, Ice...

All this weekend I told myself how truly lucky I am. My family and I were out of harms way by just miles of the horrible ice storm that shut down so much of a neighboring city of thousands. They are even having shortages of gas and staples such as bread are scarce.

We started preparing for the storm on Friday. We already had 5 gal. of gas in the can from the last ice storm threat of early Dec. but I purchased another 5 gal. can at Wal-Mart and filled it up Friday along with the tank on the car and we rented several movies to hold us over, as long as we had the power to watch them that is. We just stayed inside and continued to hold our breath that the power would hold. On Sunday night we had a slight worry when we had some flickers about 5-6pm but it never did go off. We had power the entire time! We watched with sadness as the stories came in of those in the city looking for places to stay and going to the shelters and then having to be turned away because they were full or leaving because the power at the shelter was also out.... the falling limbs.... pets that could not be cared for... the list just goes on.

I'm very very thankful that my sweetie is an electrician. He has our home set up to where all we have to do it throw a main switch and plug in the gas generator we have [purchased from Lowe’s somewhere around 2003] on that particular box we can run the freezer, fridge, microwave, well pump and gas furnace. We never did have to use it, but it would have been a God send to have the ability to take a shower, keep our milk and freezer stuffs from thawing and to just open and heat a can of soup in the microwave for a hot meal.... I could cook a whole meal in the microwave if I had to.

By about Sunday afternoon we were all a little stir crazy. We called in a pizza order from Dominos and drove in to get it. We also got some Kleenex in town and some splenda packets to keep the coffee sweet and our noses wiped. We didn't load the wood furnace down very much out of fear the power would go out and it would burn up the controls on the wood furnace, but we kept it warmer than most people do when heating with gas, it stayed around 71 degrees in here most of the weekend. We played board games and watched movies and more times than often we did tell ourselves that others were going through some terrible times without the wonderful benefits we were having.

The kids went on to school but since they are the first ones on the bus, it is hard to be ready for school and then have them cancel when your sitting there wrapped in a muffler and mittens ready for pick up... we've even been sitting at the end of the driveway waiting when the annoucement finally makes it to the radio..... Bugger! So I let them sleep in and I said, don't worry I'll drive you.

It's bitter cold out this a.m. but the ice was oh so picturesque. Can I actually say that when so many people are having troubles because of the nasty stuff? I guess I just did, it was beautiful. So.... thankful for my husband who cares for his family, thankful for a garage so I don't have to scrape ice, thankful for a home with buried utilities, thankful that we all get along under one roof.

Things we did while stuck inside:
1. Played Life
2. Watched 4 movies
a. The Pink Panther
b. Hoodwinked
c. Down with Love
d. Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest [what gives it didn't end, I have to wait till May?]
3. husband rode the range with Louie LaMour and devoured two westerns
4. actually walked on the treadmill both Sat. and Sun.
5. burned candles and made cookies [ate cookies, which defeated #4]
6. enjoyed football playoff game between Ravens and Patriots
7. mourned over cancelled Bowling Party of Sunday night but happy to know it's rescheduled for next Sunday.

I hope everyone continues to think ahead to be prepared and save him or herself some worry if they can to keep things on hand to eat and drink.

Take care.