Ballenxj wrote:
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
Everybody -
I've been off the air for three days due to a large winter snow storm dumping over a foot of snow on us and taking out electricity, internet, and phone service (both landline and cell service).
Stay warm, stay dry, and above all, stay safe. See ya when you can.
Obviously, I'm back on the air, based on the fact I'm posting here.
Staying warm isn't a problem. The 16'x16' we're living in is (fairly) well insulated and was originally outfitted for off-grid use, with electrical service installed quite a few years after we moved in. We still have the (too large) wood stove, one propane light, and a propane heater that takes in outside air and vents fumes outside through the wall. (We did, eventually, replace the propane refrigerator with an electric.) Unfortunately, we haven't yet gotten around to refilling the propane tanks so we made do with the wood stove, flashlights, candles, and oil lamps.
Just like old times, with a bit less of the sex we used for entertainment back then.
The lack of landline and cell phone service worried my wife because I had a heart attack over a decade ago and shoveling snow often leads to heart attacks for people in my situation. (Yes, I did shovel snow but paced myself to avoid over-exertion.)
My next task on the house involves using the table saw and those things don't cut worth a **** without electricity. (I seriously considered making the cuts with my Japanese pull-saw, just to give myself something productive to do ... besides harassing the wife.)
Outdoor temperatures are hovering around freezing right now and expected to climb back into the high 30s and low- to mid-40s in a few days. Most Alaskans consider anything above zero to be perfectly fine outdoor weather and even, to varying degrees. include subzero temperatures.
Lack of internet was most frustrating because we weren't able to find out if Congress had shut down the government or not. So, I didn't know if I'd get my military retirement pay and VA disability compensation. With, as far as we knew, only $115 left in the checking account, we weren't sure if we'd be able to buy our usual monthly supply of food.
The continuing resolution just postpones the uncertainty about receiving pay I earned and compensation I'm entitled to until the Christmas and New Year's season. (I would wish the members of Congress a Merry Christmas, taking into account theirs will definitely be better than ours.)
