Summertime related Poll

[mrspunkysmom]

My other thing is to get out of the house, if possible. If it went out during the summer, I would open the windows to ventilate the house.

If the power went out during a storm, I would be holding kitties.

[cassiesmom]

Fight panicky feelings. Call Com Ed for the limited amount of information they provide. Find the flashlight. I received a chargeable flashlight as a housewarming gift and it's been a lifesaver through numerous power outages over the years! Light some candles, try to read by candlelight / flashlight. Call the management company to report that the emergency lighting system doesn't work (again) and it's dark in the hallways and stairways. Wait. I hate power outages and traffic jams because they are things over which I have absolutely no control. Hate 'em.


Completely off the topic -- it's 11:30 PM as I'm typing. My downstairs neighbor one door down works 3-11 PM. He's outside grilling right now, I can smell the food cooking. He must have not had time to eat during his shift (I know he works 3-11, but I'm not sure what he does; his girlfriend is a nurse and she also works 3-11). This happens about once a week. Smells good!

[Freedom]

If it is after dark, good excuse to get an early night, lol.

If it is daytime, depends on the cause of the outage. A weather related outage (lightening strike) I stay in and read, but if it is unknown (car accident, etc) I can walk the dogs. Now, in that high heat, I would NOT be out walking the dogs, lol. Just sit inside or outside and read.

[Grace]

Depends upon the reason - and the season as Ellie said.

If we think it will be out for an extended period - like the tornado we had in March - we get out the dependable generator. Then we 'll have water, refrigeration, some lights, heat in the winter and TV.

Pretty much around here, if it's out more than 5 minutes, it will be out for hours.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I end up petting/playing with Spook and messing with my phone. Luckily the battery lasts for quite a while if I'm not using the phone part of it lol. I have a Kindle app on it and quite a few books so I can be entertained for hours! I also have quite a few games and I can get to quite a few web sites too!

Smart phones: Good for everything but phone calls.

[Suki Wingy]

Freak out because my computer is over 5 years old and the battery lasts about 30 minutes. And I can be triggered by a lot of small sounds so I rely on headphones+ ipod or computer to help drown out the noises so I can be panicky if I think/know I don't have that as back up. Sometimes getting my ipod on in time has been the difference between just feeling very tense and angry and a full blown panic attack with hyperventilation.

[ramanth]

If there is still daylight, I'll read. It hurts my eyes to read by candlelight, so if the power goes out and it's already dark, I just go to bed early.

[cassiesmom]

I am doing a happy dance because it's raining and we need the rain sooooo much! Yesterday it rained for about a minute. I hope it rains harder today. It's still really hot and muggy out, though. Mother Nature, please, just one good soaking rain today. Please.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

If the power out was due to a storm, I usually start filling up pitchers and everything else I can find with water. I have several battery operated candles that come on when lights go out at night so I can see to move around. Our towns water pump has gone down twice during storms and we have been without water for almost 2 days at a time several times.

[Karen]

Oh, I did want to mention a couple things that, as the daughter of a stationery engineer, I was taught as a kid.

1. Do not open and close the refrigerator too much when the power goes out, as every time you do, you are letting room-temperature air in, and things will spoil/melt faster. Just open the freezer once to get the ice cream out and call it good!

2. If the power is out for a long enough time that you know everything in the fridge that is perishable has perished (depends on what time of year/ambient temp., etc.) but over 12 hours, you can unplug the refrigerator, and make sure as many things are turned off - light switches, etc., as possible, so there is not an overwhelming spike in demand when the power comes back on, and it will immediately have so much demand that it bumps back off.

[cassiesmom]

From our park district Web site: "You'll want to get to Walker Park at dust to settle in for an annual tradition - our spectacular fireworks display!" (I added the italics)

Yepper... Walker Park is very dusty and dry because we've had so little rain! It's a good thing the fire station is right next door!