We bought something today that we hope to never use. In this heat wave we have lost power three times this week. Some folks lost power for days. The first time for us was for about five hours, second time about an hour and a half and last night for half an hour. Enough is enough. Tom, after having to work Sunday morning, is out in the driveway putting together this small generator in 100 degree heat. It will keep the refrigerator and the freezer going and some fans - oh, and don't forget the computer.
When was the last time you stopped to think about how much of our lives revolve around electricity. I remember my Father giving me a bad time if I left a room with a light burning. I am so very well aware of the fact that I am blessed. We live in an air conditioned house. The last week or so we have still been boosting that with fans in strategic places. I run major appliances all day long every day and never think about it. I watch television in my living room or bedroom with satellite hookups and dvd players plugged in. I have a main computer for important things, this laptop that is for entertainment and a lifeline to my internet friends and another old computer that is hooked up to the TV to watch movies large. I listen to cd's on a Bose or a radio in the kitchen. I read on an iPad that has to be plugged in to charge and I talk on a phone that also charges. Our lives revolve around that tiny line that connects us to Cinergy (and the bill that comes at the end of the month - and this one is going to be a doozie).
We really didn't buy this for entertainment purposes. It isn't big enough! But if we have an extended power outage it will keep me from losing a freezer full of food and keep a fan on my Addison's dog who tolerates the heat about as well as I do. Tom said to think of it as insurance.....
Too right - fellow 365er Christie had to throw all the food out then move out after a power cut that lasted days... I find it hard to imagine but then our climate isn't ever so hot for so long. (We had record rainfall in June). Now you've got it, fingers crossed you never have to use it. Tom looks very serious here. :)
You are so right, Cathy. We lived in North Carolina during Hurricane Hugo. We were without power for 5 days--and because we had a pump, we couldn't flush our toilets. Thank goodness we had a little wading pool in the back yard and I used that water to flush. We also have been taught to store water, so I used that water in the garage to brush our teeth and boil (thank goodness we had a gas stove, so could still cook.
The key to not losing stuff in your freezer, is to wrap it in a big furniture blanket and DON'T OPEN IT UNTIL THE POWER COMES BACK ON!!!
Also, during an emergency is DEFINITELY the wrong time to buy a generator!!!! We learned.
We grumble about our electricity bills & heating costs in the winter months but would hate to have to pay to cool my house down in the summer too ....two lots of costs. We must not grumble about our indifferent summers there are some benefits! Electricity is so essential you are right. When we were milking cows we had a generator to provide power to milk the cows but it was driven by the tractor. It's all extra expense isn't it Cathy? Hope you find this a good buy!
If you have ever lived on a boat I think it is good experience for doing without electricity! But not the heat which is so difficult to endure! I presume houses are well insulated now which helps with keeping the warmth out in summer.
@filsie65 Tom has worked 7 days this week in 95 - 105 degree heat. He is inside some and outside and in factories that are not air conditioned. He relies on gatorade. He is one of the top rated techs in the country which is why we get to go on a trip every January..... @yonnie Oh Yvonne that must have been grueling. We have never been without for over 24 hours but many around us have due to storms. We got the last one on the shelf and at a good price. Hope to never use it but I'm getting too old to not at least have a fan - 5 hours the other night taught me that. @happypat So how warm do you get in England in the summer? We have all seasons here. But last winter was so mild that some of my plants lived right through. We never even used the snow blower. @maggiemae I take it you have lived on a boat? Interesting. I don't know how the Amish do it. My house was built in 1890 but my Dad was before his time and insulated everything to the hilt. He dropped vermiculite from the attic to the basement in every wall void so mine is more economical than anyone I know.
It really is an eye opener, isn't it? After spending 3 years in the UK, when I spent a summer in Africa last year, there were routine power cuts everyday for 5-8 hours. It made me think twice about conservation and counting my blessings when I went back to the UK.
The days when we had long power cuts seem to have long gone in my country but when we do have one that lasts for more than a day we find that the fridge and freezer are fine as long as we limit the door-opening. Many of our houses are solar-powered nowadays and we actually make money by selling back to the grid. I know I still turn off every switch and severely limit the use of electricity in our house. The temps you are getting are what is normal for us throughout summer. We spend a lot of time in the water with cool drink in hand! Hope you get a cool change soon.
Hope you will never have to use it, Cathy, but it's a nice "insurance" to have at home. Living in Miami I had to use it a few times, and it has been a little piece of heaven on earth. It helps you to save the food in the refrigerator and freezer, have a fan to calm the heat, have some light at night, and so many other things. Good investment.
You really nailed it, Cathy! One well placed EMP and everything would go to hell in a hand basket real fast. People just don't realize how fragile our way of life is. I have a well and without electricity to run the pump - I would have no water. I can live without electricity, but not without water. Your husband is a good man! It's a rare one that thinks about the "what ifs"! Great shot!
Yep. Our power goes out quite regularly in the winter with the wind storms we get, so we have a back-up generator, enough to keep our fridge going, operate some lights, and run a kettle and toaster. It's amazing how much we depend on "the grid".
Good shot and thought provoking comment! We do take power for granted such a lot! And we have so many digital resources and records....totally inaccessible without power! Must print some of my family week end photos!
July 10th, 2012
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
The key to not losing stuff in your freezer, is to wrap it in a big furniture blanket and DON'T OPEN IT UNTIL THE POWER COMES BACK ON!!!
Also, during an emergency is DEFINITELY the wrong time to buy a generator!!!! We learned.
Good luck.
@yonnie Oh Yvonne that must have been grueling. We have never been without for over 24 hours but many around us have due to storms. We got the last one on the shelf and at a good price. Hope to never use it but I'm getting too old to not at least have a fan - 5 hours the other night taught me that.
@happypat So how warm do you get in England in the summer? We have all seasons here. But last winter was so mild that some of my plants lived right through. We never even used the snow blower.
@maggiemae I take it you have lived on a boat? Interesting. I don't know how the Amish do it. My house was built in 1890 but my Dad was before his time and insulated everything to the hilt. He dropped vermiculite from the attic to the basement in every wall void so mine is more economical than anyone I know.