Camping at home

Well here I am again, just coming back from a camping trip. Nothing like having your house for a tent. By that I mean the power has been out for the past eleven hours. The last time my power was out for any length of time was December 2005. The power was out for four days. Luckily I had some church members near by that had a generator and an extra bed for those cold nights. I learned some lessons from that experience. Obviously, not enough.

The meteorologists have been predicting this snow storm since last week. Unlike most Southerners and South Carolinians especially, I do not immediately run to the Grocery Store every time the weather man or woman says the word "Snow". So far this winter the Meteorologists have predicted "Winter Weather" three times, including this go round. The first time most of the jurisdiction got a lot of snow, mostly were Casey lives, whilst I received nothing. Second time same situation. Third time I get a big snow ball in my face.

On the way home last night Casey called me and let me know that it was in fact snowing in the northern part of the jurisdiction, where we live. By the time I actually got home the snow was sticking to the ground, but not the concrete, so...no worries. By the time I went to bed after midnight there was two and a half inches on the ground, still a no go on the concrete.

Now for you all up North, two and a half inches is a great snow for us. However, unlike the snow up North, this stuff is still wet. When it hits the ground it does not move for anyone. When they congregate together, it makes a mound of Ice that happens to look like snow.

Everyone always makes fun of us because when it snows, everything shuts down. No schools, no business, no government. Even with the South Carolina Department of Transportation plowing and dumping sand like we are at the beach, the roads are still treacherous. Unless you have the skills to drive on solid ice for an extended period of time, you keep yourself at home or walk. My Father could tell you stories about Folks from up North that move to the South and think that they can drive just because it is snowing and subsequently end up in the nearest ditch or in the rear of his Patrol Car.

Also, if you live around trees, expect to have limbs or the whole tree come down. Our trees are not used to the extra weight of the ice. They only get it once maybe twice a year. Once the snow becomes ice the trees start shedding the extra pounds. I usually take a walk to see the sights and to see if the SCDOT has gotten around to clearing the nearest road. It is usually very peaceful and soothing to see everything coated in white. Then, you hear a load crack from up above. Next thing I know I am running and tactical rolling out of the way of icicles and a huge limb.

Anyway, this morning I woke up to this unknown chirping noise that was not my bird. After my brain woke up enough to realize that it was the alarm system letting me know that the power was out. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. It was 0535 hours...great, nothing like starting my Saturday morning at the same time I start every other day. So, I stumble out of bed, using the phone for a light (where my mag light that I kept for just such instances went I still do not know), to go tell the Alarm to shut up. Once done I called the power company to let them know that I would like their services back. After a few minutes of navigating the automated answering services I get the acknowledgment, "We know the power is out in your area due to a Winter Weather event. At this time we don't know when we will have your services back on." Awesome.

I decided that with the power possibly off for days, I figured I might as well get going.

Priority one: Move Frozen and cold essentials to a cooler. One thing I learned from the 2005 Ice Storm, even if the house is 35 degrees, it does not mean that the Cold box will keep anything. Lets just say that it was a mess.

So, I got the cooler out of the garage after procuring a proper flashlight. I opened the freezer and grabbed the bag of Ice that I now keep for just such occasions and what the Ice make made before it died. I then began moving the essentials to the cooler. I now realize that I need to work on my shopping skills. My cooler only had to hold a pint of Ice Cream, a gallon of Milk, and three packages of lunch meats. At least I did not have to worry about fitting it all in there.

Priority two: Heat. This one was easy, all I had to do was turn on the gas logs and wait for day light.

With nothing better to do, I grabbed a notepad and pen and started taking notes for this entry.

Once the Sun decided to get up, I took a look outside. As usual, at some point during the night the snow turned from snow, to a two inch layer of snow and one inch coating of ice. At least for the time being I would not be needing any more ice for the cooler. However, I figured at some point the snow/ice would melt and I would need ice. So, I grabbed a few extra water bottles and stuck them outside to freeze. So, far they have yet to freeze, even though it has been twenty degrees all day.

I then proceeded to take a walk down the hill and see the sights (and dodge the falling ice and limbs). Nothing like free tactical training. On the way back I took this picture:

With the exercises done I went back home and started reading. A few hours later I had a heart attack when the power came back on and the Alarm clock in the guest bedroom decided to play a random radio station at full volume.

I then called the Power Company to thank them for their speedy response.

Now, I am off for some more tactical exercises and to check on the neighbors.

Semper Fi Deus

Goose