This morning I got up at my usual 3 AM. I knew it was going to be a good day. I walked to the kitchen and started my coffee perking (or dripping or what ever they do these days), then walked to the man lair. I started my computer and listened to the hum of the hard drive as Windows Vista began to load.
I could hear the rain dripping off the roof as the first winter storm of the season blew outside. "HA HA" I think to myself, no outside work today! A whole day in the man lair! The perfect Saturday!
Poof! The lights went out! It was so dark it was like being in a cave! I sat for maybe a minute before the lights came back on. It's this way every year ... the first storm will always find all the weak links in the rural electrical grid.
I knew that I would need to restart the coffee and reset the clocks, so I set about that task; microwave, stove, TV, video tape player and finally the coffee maker (I didn't realize that we had so many clocks!)
I walked back to the man lair and hit the power button on the computer. Whir. Blink blink.
Poof! Out they went again! So I sat patiently for maybe 5 minutes .. nothing. Well I finally decided to go find a flashlight. Now finding a flashlight in the dark is like looking for your glasses when you need them to see anyway!
I groped all around the man lair and could find nothing. Working my way to the door (and stubbing my toe a few times) I proceeded to find the kitchen. There on the cabinet I was able to find one without first slicing my hand open on a sharp object.
Now I had light! I shined the light on the coffee pot to see if there had been enough time for at least ONE cup. No such luck. So now what was I going to do to pass the time while I waited patiently for the electricity to come back on? No computer. No TV. I couldn't even read a book by this flash light. (Coal oil lanterns would have put out MUCH more light!)
I located my PDA. Since it ran on batteries, I decided to catch up on my notes from work the past week. After finishing that (and still no electricity) I played the few games that are installed there till finally the batteries ran down. I looked at my watch 5:05.
With no electricity for nearly 2 hours .... which of course means no heat ... it's beginning to get a little chilly. OK I think to myself, the Stockman's cafe is on another utility company so they should have heat AND coffee by now. I locate my wranglers and head into the garage. I hit the button to raise the garage door.
Sheesh, I think to myself ... but being the resourceful fellow that I am, I remember the pickup was left parked outside. So I head out the front door. Since the Warden is still sleeping I lock the front door behind me. I reach into my pocket for the keys when it hits me ... they are hanging on the key rings by the door into the garage.
With the front door locked, I walk around the house to the back door, rain dripping off the brim of my hat. Walking through the house I retrieve the pickup keys then return through the rain to the pickup. I drive the 5 miles to the Stockman's cafe and see the welcome lights of the coffee shop.
Not many are there at this time of the morning, but as I walk in, Mr. Holt starts pouring me a big hot cup of coffee. Just as he sits the cup down in front of me ... POOF the lights go out!
So much for a perfect Saturday!
Dennis
