It rained. It poured. It stormed.

And then the lights went out.  And they didn't come on until about 3:00 this morning!  I don't mind not having access to the computer but reading by candlelight is very challenging!  It would have been the perfect atmosphere for a mystery or ghost story, but I gave up and listened to my MP3 player instead.

I usually work on my posts the night before, so today's post is not yet written.  I do have a lost in the stacks book, but will share it a little later.  And now I have some yard clean up to do--lots of downed limbs and leaves littering my lawn.  Isn't this the weather we're supposed to have in May and June?  Not August! 

Comments

[catharina]

Last few days were really summery here, we had quite a few of these summerstorms too though this year.

[Danielle]

Catharina--Yay for nice weather! The storm last night just blew through--it was so dark I was a little afraid--I have trees in my back yard and don't want any of them to fall over--the wind was whipping everything. More rain tonight, but I hope it will be much calmer--I actually like rain--but the gentle pitter patter sort.

[Rebecca]

We've been having quite a few thunderstorms this week as well, but luckily there's been little wind. Reading by candlelight is definitely tough. I usually end up putting the book on the table and surrounding it with candles, but it's not as comfortable as curling up somewhere. I wouldn't have lasted as a reader in the days before electricity.

[Danielle]

Rebecca--It always makes me wonder what life was like before electricity when the lights go out. It would not have been very nice--but maybe those gas lamps threw better light? It is really pitch dark--with no streetlights or alarm clock light...We're due for more rain tonight, but hopefully nothing severe like last night.

[Caroline]

I'm jealous, I love rain and storm and we have never ever had a power cut. From afar it sounds so romantic.

[Margaret Powling]

That is what is so annoying when a power cut happens when it's dark - you can't read unless by torch or candlelight. Just when it might be nice to curl up and read, it's almost impossible! We used to have frequent power cuts in the 1970s so when we changed our kitchen in our old house we decided to have a gas rather than an electric hob so that we could always boil water for tea or coffee during a power cut, or heat up a can of soup. We have kept this arrangement in our present house, and very useful it has been on the few occasions that we have had power cuts which are now, thankfully, far less frequent, maybe or every two or three years or so. And never for very long.

[Danielle]

Caroline--We get them very occasionally when there is a bad storm. It's amazing how dark it really is when there is no electricity--not at all the same as when the lights are just out as it's never truly dark--between the light from the alarm clock and other digital devices and the street lights outside. It's romantic for about the first hour and then it loses its novelty! ;)
Margaret--Reading is really hard to do when the lights are out and you only have candles--there is just not enough illumination. It sounds sort of fun--an excuse to not watch TV or use the computer or whatever, but then it just ends up being a struggle. I also have a gas stove so I could at least warm up my dinner!

[Stefanie]

It goes along with all the rest of the crazy weather we've been having this summer!

[Danielle]

Stefanie--Ugh. That's all I can say. Last night more storms--no loss of power but so much thunder and lightening I couldn't sleep. And now it's Hot again. Where are those 70F days?

[Kathy]

Three words for you: portable book light! I bought my husband and myself each one of these after our last power outage, because yes, it is difficult to read by candlelight! Now we use them when one wants to read and the other wants to go to sleep, too. Very handy. (Just need to make sure we have plenty of batteries so that we'll be able to use them during the next power outtage!)

[Danielle]

Kathy--I do need to buy one of those. I used to have one and lost it. It was a nice sturdy one, too. I used to use it when I would go with family to my sisters as she lives about 40 minutes away, and on the drive home it is usually dark. Must read.... Not that we get a lot of power outages, but I could have used one last week!!

[Cipriano]

Isn't is a bit scary sometimes, realizing how much we depend on faultlessly-working technology?
I recall a power outage where I was repeatedly walking up to the 14th floor here. Groceries were an especial killer. It was so difficult carrying up all that hamburger, bacon, and beer.
Hmmm.... maybe if I changed my diet, I could do better with elevator failure?

[Danielle]

Cipriano--Yes, it is scary. I can go without a computer or a TV (for a while anyway...), but turn off the lights and that does me in. What did people do before electricity anyway? :) After climbing all those stairs I'd say you need a little sustenance--and something ice cold to cool you off. You just have to look at it the right way!

[Cipriano]

I am the opposite of you, in a way, regarding this reliance upon computers. When I was at a Starbucks once, I accidentally spilled coffee on the keyboard of my MacBook Pro -- after being revived by a defibrillator I went from that coffee place directly to the Apple store in the Mall and bought a new laptop.
Can't live a day without it.
An Apple a day keeps the doctor.......... never mind....

[Danielle]

Cipriano--You've got it bad, don't you! :) Now going a night without the computer is a vacation, two days an extended vacation, but anything more than that and I might begin exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal!