WELL it rains and it pours when you're out on your own...
Dear Journal,
I am officially a refugee.
Surely this has been the craziest week ever.
It all started when we lost power Friday night.
Everything was cool, we had a ton of wondermous people over for dinner and socialization when around 10 our power went out. Most people started to clear out, except the guys (who being all protective and guy-like were a-worried about our safety) who stayed a bit to help us find our candles and flashlights, then had to leave also. Being the survivors we are, roommate and I decided the best course of action would be to consolidate our bedding, wear as many layers as possible, and share the warmth for the night. From our window we watched rain freeze on the trees, and the branches buckle and break under the weight. The sound was deafening when it happened in our front yard. For some reason everyone (except us because we are not that stupid) in the neighborhood decided it would be a good idea to leave the safety of their homes to wander the streets in an attempt to see what was going on. DUMB!
Anyways. When we woke up what we saw was like something from a movie. Or the aftermath of the apocalypse. Entire trees had snapped in half, some split 6 or 7 different ways and littered the roofs, yards, and streets of our neighborhood. Streetlights and powerlines were also felled in the pandemonium, crushing our fragile hopes (and also a few cars and fences) of getting electricity back any time soon. We decided to check up on people, and maybe see what the situation was else where. It was just as bad all across the city. In some places it was worse, which was hard to believe. All but 2 of the gas stations had run out (!) of gas, no traffic lights were working, and any cold-weather/camping supply you could think of was gone. It was absolute bedlam. We stocked up on thermal underwear (the few that were left) and nonperishables (read: cereal and milk-malted whoppers because in a disaster, that’s how we roll) and braved another night of sub-artic (ok it wasn’t that cold, but when you have no heat it feels like it) conditions.
When we got up that morning, we found out that things were only going to get worse, so we decided it was time to seek shelter. We ducked out of dodge and high-tailed it to St. Joseph Missouri (just outside of Kansas City) to Cody’s mom’s house, who graciously has provided us with food and a warm place to sleep. Our stay has been lovely, and it had felt more like a vacation than escaping the inclement weather. It’s Monday, and most of Springfield (and much of the rest of the state) STILL doesn’t have power. All of my classes are canceled until Monday, and I’m not even sure if I’ll have work this week. Unfortunately we’re headed back tomorrow because Mirelys’s work is pretty hardcore, and will be open. LAME! So we’ll be leaving comfort, and roughing it once again until the city can get the power situation sorted out. Hopefully we’ll be able to crash with friends who do have power, since we called the girl who lives in the other side of our duplex, and she informed us that we still don’t have any. Wicked bummer.
This. is. nuts.
But it’s been a unique experience (what a first week back at school/Missouri!) and sure makes for good story-telling.
I hope your week goes better than mine!
Seriously: I am so thankful for what I have, and there are so many people who love me, in Missouri and Massachusetts both.
I am officially a refugee.
Surely this has been the craziest week ever.
It all started when we lost power Friday night.
Everything was cool, we had a ton of wondermous people over for dinner and socialization when around 10 our power went out. Most people started to clear out, except the guys (who being all protective and guy-like were a-worried about our safety) who stayed a bit to help us find our candles and flashlights, then had to leave also. Being the survivors we are, roommate and I decided the best course of action would be to consolidate our bedding, wear as many layers as possible, and share the warmth for the night. From our window we watched rain freeze on the trees, and the branches buckle and break under the weight. The sound was deafening when it happened in our front yard. For some reason everyone (except us because we are not that stupid) in the neighborhood decided it would be a good idea to leave the safety of their homes to wander the streets in an attempt to see what was going on. DUMB!
Anyways. When we woke up what we saw was like something from a movie. Or the aftermath of the apocalypse. Entire trees had snapped in half, some split 6 or 7 different ways and littered the roofs, yards, and streets of our neighborhood. Streetlights and powerlines were also felled in the pandemonium, crushing our fragile hopes (and also a few cars and fences) of getting electricity back any time soon. We decided to check up on people, and maybe see what the situation was else where. It was just as bad all across the city. In some places it was worse, which was hard to believe. All but 2 of the gas stations had run out (!) of gas, no traffic lights were working, and any cold-weather/camping supply you could think of was gone. It was absolute bedlam. We stocked up on thermal underwear (the few that were left) and nonperishables (read: cereal and milk-malted whoppers because in a disaster, that’s how we roll) and braved another night of sub-artic (ok it wasn’t that cold, but when you have no heat it feels like it) conditions.
When we got up that morning, we found out that things were only going to get worse, so we decided it was time to seek shelter. We ducked out of dodge and high-tailed it to St. Joseph Missouri (just outside of Kansas City) to Cody’s mom’s house, who graciously has provided us with food and a warm place to sleep. Our stay has been lovely, and it had felt more like a vacation than escaping the inclement weather. It’s Monday, and most of Springfield (and much of the rest of the state) STILL doesn’t have power. All of my classes are canceled until Monday, and I’m not even sure if I’ll have work this week. Unfortunately we’re headed back tomorrow because Mirelys’s work is pretty hardcore, and will be open. LAME! So we’ll be leaving comfort, and roughing it once again until the city can get the power situation sorted out. Hopefully we’ll be able to crash with friends who do have power, since we called the girl who lives in the other side of our duplex, and she informed us that we still don’t have any. Wicked bummer.
This. is. nuts.
But it’s been a unique experience (what a first week back at school/Missouri!) and sure makes for good story-telling.
I hope your week goes better than mine!
Seriously: I am so thankful for what I have, and there are so many people who love me, in Missouri and Massachusetts both.