Monday, October 12, 2009

Prepared for Bad Weather

Last week it was terribly rainy with thick clouds in our part of the state so there were a couple of days when our internet access was kaput - well, to be totally truthful we were able to login 3 or 4 times but only for about 45 seconds, then it would just shut down again.

That was terribly exasperating for me. I had things I really did need to accomplish that required internet service but those things had to be put on the back burner. Plus I couldn't read what all my blogging buddies had been up to.

On the upside though, it was ultimately a blessing because it forced me to find other things to do. I knew I wouldn't have to look too hard. There were things to do - just ones that weren't a high priority for me to get done. Surely you know the kinds of things I mean - those that you just put off and put off until one day you just have to bite the bullet and get them done. The blessing is now that those things have been completed they won't be nagging at me anymore.

With the rain and clouds there was quite a bit of thunder but not much lightning. That's a good thing when you live in our area. Generally if we have much lightning at all we tend to lose electricity and when we lose it we're usually one of the last to get it back.

Being without the internet AND power would have probably been my undoing because then I wouldn't have even been able to work on and complete the tasks that I didn't really want to work on in the first place. I apologize if that's confusing but it makes sense to me.

However, I don't have to worry about being without power anymore - at least as long as we have fuel. About 3 or 4 weeks ago - just before we had the fence put in - AD bought a home generator and the electrician hooked it up the day before the storms came through.

That generator is one big piece of equipment. It's big enough to power the house and AD's shop. It's one of the things AD told me we would definitely purchase when we moved to the country.



Up until now our backup plan was to "camp" in our trailer that's housed in AD's shop. It has a small generator that we take camping with us. We've had to resort to that backup plan once or twice and we could do it again. But now - now we won't have to.

On my to do list for today is to write a procedure for firing up the generator if AD happens to be away and the power goes off. I was absent the day mechanical apptitude was given out so the task of writing up instructions won't be put off. I took pictures yesterday - yes, I need a pictures and step-by-step instructions - and AD is going to sit down with me this afternoon and dictate the process to me.

Now if someone could just explain to me why we don't lose our tv reception (which is also by satellite) when there's heavy clouds but we lose our internet.

5 comments:

  1. Can definately understand your concern about learning how to start the generator.

    I was absent on the day that mechanical aptitude and mathmatical aptitude were distributed.

    But I'm sure that you'll do fine.

    I haven't made the soup recipe yet.

    We're still wearing shorts and flip flops.

    Well, somebody's gotta do it.

    Sweet dreams.

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  2. That is terrific !!! I dont know if you were without power during the dec ice storm but we were for 10 days!! That generator is wonderful!!

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  3. I hate when the internet is down. I feel disconnected from the world....oh, I guess I am! I am not mechanical, but a generator sounds like a good idea if you lose power a lot! Good luck with your lessons!

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  4. Well, I hope that you have to refer to your written instructions each time you need the generator. Meaning that I hope you don't have to use it enough to memorize the procedures. Wish we had one here on the farm. But we have a camper we can use if necessary. We just won't have water.
    And I have no idea why the tv doesn't go out. Just don't make sense!

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  5. Wow, that's a nice machine! How great to know you will always have power. We had no power for nine days once after an ice storm and were so miserable. Thanks also for the potatoes and onions recipe.

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