We prepared to spend the night of August 2nd without electricity. I gathered our kerosene lamps to the porch and Mark topped them off. It just occurred to me that this latest joy hit us on a Thursday, just like our last run of disasters. I think I might develop an attitude towards Thursdays and a greater appreciation of TGIF from now on. Since the lanterns did not deliver much light, even after I put the one mirror in the house behind them, we didn't have enough light to read. That made for one very LONG night for both of us and we finally went to bed earlier than normal.
It was Friday when the dealer gave Mark the glum prognosis on the generator. This would mean bringing it in to the shop and waiting God knows how long for parts and a running unit again. More than anything, I was stricken with the thought of losing my one big link with the outside world; my computer. I stared at Mark intently and said "NEW generator time?" and he agreed without any debate. We had both already thought about how eventually having two identical units would allow us to gang them together for twice the amp output. Now the time element was the big issue; it was going to be Saturday or not until the following Tuesday and many more heavy rains could arrive by then. The creek was still running but just how fully now? Could Mark even cross on Saturday morning? I could have sworn that Mark said "Okay then, tomorrow, follow me down to the crossing and WE will decide if it is crossable." Communication and, more importantly, how two parties approach the same problem, is a vital consideration in such a challenging environment. Remember that. RE-MEM-BER THAT.
To be continued
I know, this is not my usual long-winded writing session. I am utterly drained and fatigued with this invincible malady but I didn't want you worrying again due to our lack of blog updates. It feels like someone removed my drain plug and hit the starter anyway. I will try to post the next installment by late Tuesday night.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
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24 comments:
I have every confidence in you coming out on top Lin...no doubt at all.
Mushy, you're a doll ... I've always been able to accomplish great things as long as someone was there holding my hand (or even just just a couple of fingers at times). Thank you!
It sounds like your living on Gilligans Island sometimes, I hope things turn out well.
Good luck, Lin. We definitely don't ever want you to be without access to your computer. Or to be unable to read at night. Or... Hang in there!
Lin, what are you going to do about this "invincible malady"?
We will worry anyway, whether you tell us about it or don't tell us about it. So you might as well tell us and let us support you. Maybe somebody in Blogsville has some ideas or can do some research. We all know that doctors can't know everything.
OK, couldn't read by a kero lantern? We had tiny lanterrns in the camps and I could read, late into the nite when we finally got Red Cross packs with, among other things, books. Of course, that's probably why I now need glasses, or do you think it's just 'advancing years'?
Let me know about the gen jets. Love, Other, Anonymous or Red
Take care of yourself my dear. I know you can beat this.
PopeT, you know, it is a little like Gilligan's Island most of the time but without the amusing extra company and the fresh coconuts. It's just Skipper and Gilligan here and we swap roles on a regular basis. But some days we're both just Gilligan ... SIGH.
Atavist, thanks - that part about going without the computer was probably the worst. Keep that in mind with your new Nirvana project - live in a canvas tent if you must at first but order in satellite ASAP. Trust me on that one!
Oh Babzy, I don't know what to do about this bacterial curse, I really don't. I've got another month to go on this current round of antibiotics but it's not looking very promising so far. And I am so wishy-wishy when it comes to getting assertive with medical professionals. It's driving Mark nuts. Well, maybe I should blog something on it and throw it out there for ideas and some moral support. I don't seem to have much to lose at this point.
Anonymous (Red!) Hey, we ARE talking 'old farts' in the here and now, ya know. You had the keen eyes of an aviator way back then but Mark's and mine were never that great out of the chute and have only gotten worse. Honestly, we wander around here at times like Mr. and Mrs. Magoo and laugh about what we think we saw but really didn't. I think my glasses and binoculars are starting to fuse into my face.
Hey, thanks, Alphonse, it's nice to know that someone has more confidence in the outcome than I do at the moment. I guess I've been through worse but not with so many other challenges going on at the same time. Well, maybe I have but maybe I am just slowing down, too.
You need to invest in an Aladdin-brand kerosene lamp, with the mantles, similar to the ones on gas-lamps. Kinda expensive, but a LOT more lumen output than a standard wick version. They also don't STINK as badly.
Of course, the same can be said about ME, when, or IF, it rains!
Yep, you know where I am...!
Bruno, are you talking about the ones you had to pump up to pressurize? I sure had been thinking about those after everything hit the fan but hadn't seen any for years. They were GREAT! The ones we have here are cheapo knock-offs of old Dietz railroad looking things. Great nostalgic look but lousy for really usable light. We actually bought them to convert over to electric but now I'm glad I hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Bruno's right. The aladdins burn and put our as much as a 40 watt bulb. Fair amout of heat for chilly nites. Red
Anon (Red)
Now, are you referring to the pressurized gas ones that I remember or are you both talking about a straight kerosene wick sort? Wait a minute, am I thinking of something made by Coleman way back? Whatever we had back then put out an impressively bright white light by pressurized gas ashing a mantle - what was that? I can get Alladins through my wholesale lighting suppliers but didn't see that configuration there. Am I remembering a Coleman maybe?
What about one of those crank-light thingies that take no batteries? You crank for one minute and get about 40 minutes of light? I think those are about 30 or 40 bucks, and I've seen them on e-bay. Course, delivery price would probably be a bear for you!
I know it's been tough, but it's good to know you're hanging in there. I'll look forward to more news.
Right lin. The ole Coleman is still the best for what you need. (You can get them battery powered, too, but I don't recommend that for y'all.)
We need you to start getting aggressive with your medicos, too. Let them know that you have many friends (some of whom live here in NM) and we're not going to put with half assed diagnoses. We want answers. Now. Or we'll start emailing them stuff from Google and Ask.
Please take care of yourself and get as much rest as you can.
Phlegmmy, I am going to start looking for those jobbies as they pop up in Sportsman Guide, Northern, etc., on clearance. I remember those lights well (along with the radios), all mercilessly flogged by Art Bell in the pre-Y2K frenzy. Catmoves had also mentioned that it was too bad that we didn't cash in on the post-Y2K inventory sell-off so if you see them on sale somewhere, please do let me know.
Cat, we picked up a little Coleman with the LED light, battery powered from Wally World. The first one was broken in the box and the second one (two weeks later) is okay for quick gen-off missions but, as you noted, needs charged batteries. I sure miss that old gas pressure Coleman but I recently read an article that Coleman got bought out (like everyone else in this country) and is only now trying to make up for the product quality and reputation that went to crap afterwards. If you see an OLD one at a yard sale, please let me know!
And thanks for the support on the medical front. Got to admit that I am in that "Who cares, just compost me and get this over with" phase of enthusiasm today but hopefully PollyAnna will revive and sing a rousing little number tomorrow. Sigh.
Damn,, you're really livin' in the 19th century, in so many ways. I envy you, until this sort of crap takes place. It's like you need a hell of a lot of money so you can pay for solar power, but then even that can crap out on ya. You guys take care.
FHB ... I am inclined to agree with you at the moment. Almost any terrain can be tamed with enough money - but most of us just don't have that option. But don't give up on the idea yet - because we haven't!
Lin: I think Canadian tire still sells Coleman. I'll look for you and maybe send you one if they do. How to pack it?
Alphonse, please let me know what the quality looks like if you find them! We bought one a Coleman cooler recently and the quality sucked - the hinges breaking in less than a month.
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