If I have 12 size D batteries, 8 size C, 20 AAA, and 4 9 volt, I will need AA.

Most remotes use AA batteries.

I have, for some unknown reason, 16 remotes that were able to sacrifice their batteries :)

A large Maglite over the shoulder makes a good reading light.

Even if I'm carrying a flashlight IN MY HAND and I'm fully aware the power is out, I will still flick the light switch when going into a closet or bathroom.

After playing Solitaire on and off for 4 hours on the laptop, I will remember I could have watched a movie on the same laptop instead.

An electric water heater will keep the water hot for at least a short shower after 16 hours.

If you wait too long to get to the Walmart, all the "good" camping lanterns will be gone.

Coleman Fuel and Coleman Propane are not the same thing. However, a Coleman Fuel lantern will work on unleaded gasoline. And if anyone needs any Coleman propane, please contact me. I have a lot.

No matter how careful I am, I cannot pour gasoline out of a 5 gallon container into a 1 gallon container and not spill it.

I have nothing in my house that will remove the smell of gasoline from my hands.

When the battery back up for the alarm dies (approx 14 hours), the alarm will chirp every 10 seconds for at least 3 hours. At this time, you can start pulling wires to make it stop and it will. When the power comes back on, you will realize you apparently pulled the wrong wires as it starts chirping AGAIN and you're forced to yank the whole damn thing from the electrical system.

Woman CAN live on Tostitos, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, apples, 3 Musketeers and water :)

The large freezer will start thawing things at 40 hours of no electricity :(

If you're smart, you'll grab a bag of ice the minute the power goes off, stick in a cooler and have cool drinks for a couple of days. I am not smart.

TiVo doesn't work with no power :(

Even though I never thought I could do it alone without going more psychotic than I already am, I can go 40 hours w/o power and survive to tell about it :)

Peaches, what would you do in blockaded Leningrad for 3 years?
;-)))

Even 40 hours blockaded in Leningrad would put me over the edge. :blink:

A $0.79 bic lighter will.


Glad your power is back up, make toast blend a milkshake and dry your hair all at once to rejoyce.

:okthumb:

yeah, life without power can really suck if you aren't prepared for it. i do a hike in the backcountry of Lake Louise one a year to a lodge called 'skoki lodge'. no power or running water. complete isolation. but it's an awesome experience, and really gives you a different perspective on things.

glad you are doing okay :)

I bought a few of the Coleman electric fluorescent camping lanterns. They run for 24 hours on 8 D batteries and I don't have to worry about becoming a flaming pornographer if I knocked one over.

When I grow up and become rich I'm getting a generator that will power my A/C, fridge, hot water heater, TV, and a hair dryer for at least a few days.

Sitting in the dark with no TV or internet really blows and if the heat wasn't bad enough the boredom will; just about kill you but the cold shower and wet hair is pure torture.

Having lots of really good weed and munches really helps.

On side note I've decided it would be a food idea to have all my trees trimmed way back when I finally actually do manage to get a tree company to actually somehow one day to actually show up at my door or maybe at least return one fucking phone call.

Peaches, considering where you live, I am surprised that you don't have at least a small generator for emergencies. It's nice to have something so that you can at least have a lamp and the computer online.

You don't have to go wild:

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/geneco.asp

It can make all the difference, especially if the power is off for a LONG time.

Alex

I actually have a generator. I've had it since I moved here 3 years ago. It's sitting underneath a lovely wooden box under my deck. I'm more afraid I'll blow something up if I start it up than going w/o power. Wig says I need a man. I really only need a man for few hours a year - getting the generator started would be part of one of those hours :) Plus they are SO DAMN LOUD. I can hear the one across the lake and the one up the hill when they start theirs up (the generator not the men....though both would be true :)).

Every Christmas I ask for a whole house automatic on propane generator. So far, nada :(

Cleo, I'll check out those lamps. I had a Coleman rechargable one and it lit up a room like crazy, but it stopped taking a charge a few months ago. The gas powered one was the only thing they had left at the Walmart when I went up there and I wasn't in the mood to shop at that point :) Thankfully it was warm outside so I had the doors and windows open, but it's NOT something I can use in the winter.

I picked up mine at Sports Authority, $25 apiece. I bought two plus 16 D batteries so I'm good to go for either 48 hours or both on for 24 hours. They also make one with a remote control but I don't think it holds as many batteries so I guess it doesn't last as long. The light from it is great and easy to do things like read by.

I went to high school with someone that was very badly disfigured and missing body parts as a result of a Coleman lamp exploding so no fucking way I'm bring one of those things anywhere near me.

Oh great :unsure: I'll go put mine down next to the generator now. :(

Generators don't worry me but they are very annoying to listen to and can be a real bitch to get started. These are really nice if you have a spare 3k to spend buying it and getting it installed.
http://www.guardiangenerators.com/products...ian.asp?NavID=1

This is what I bought
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/...categoryid=1045

They make other models too.
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/...tegory_main.asp

Peaches,

Next time, you might try slicing an orange in half and rubbing/squeezing half a slice over each hand to get rid of gas smell... ;)

Peaches,
It is amazing how you can go through something so terrible and laugh about it like you do. You are a hillarious person and make me laugh with so many of your posts!!

We are glad that you made it ok through the storm :)

I love onions and my mom showed me a trick when I was younger how you could rub your hands on the faucet to get rid of the onion smell. Maybe it gets rid of the smell of gasoline too?

Glad you are ok.

I was only out of power for 24 hours, I have this killer generartor that will power the entire house... BUT I must remember to fill the gas tank before a storm comes : )

I had gas and you weren't afraid to start up the generator.....we should live closer :)

No onions in the house either, Tonda :( I think I have onion flakes.....next time (and I'm sure they'll be a next time....) I'll try to rehydrate them and see if that works :)

We sat in Florida without power for 6 days..... but I DID bring a generator.. and I brought 2 5 Gallon gas cans ( FILLED ), plus a couple of battery powered latern's AND TONS of batteries.... we were good to go... amazing what you can cook on a grill ;-)

in january 1998, there was the ice storm. The weather went from -1C to -15C. The whole city of Montreal, Quebec, eastern townships, etc were out of power for 4 days to 20+ days.

My house was out of power for 7-1/2 days. I drained the water system but forgot the darn aquarium, which froze, then melted, then wrecked the wood floor.

We moved old people to houses who still had power. We regrouped several families into houses with wood stoves, etc. Dark streets, no traffic lights, etc.

A commute that normally took 45 minutes in rush hours took 2.5 hours

And people discovered that they liked helping each others, talking to each others, and surviving this thing.

That was something interesting to live through

Wow, as miserable as it must have been, that seems pretty cool everyone took care of each other like that :)

It was both scary and fun for most people, since many of them did not have to work, everything was paralysed.

In my case, it was shitty: my then-boss, for some unfathomable reasons, did not lack power on the tiny little island he's living (5 houses, hyper luxury place). And our workplace did not either because we were on the same sub-grid and street block as a major hospital, at which places they re-routed power at all costs, top priority. So my boss did "not see any reasons" for us not to come to work. And we had a major contract to be delivered, so it was absolutely crazy. I went living at my mother's place, five minute from work, but the secretary had to commute twice 2-1/2 hours to come to work.


They also re-routed power in large shopping malls, where people spent the day living there (not freezing), and the night sleeping on the floor, with their sleeping bags. Security services were organized to turn shopping malls into large dormitories after 10 pm or so. It was quite something ! Stores like Chapter's libraries (akin Barns and Noble) were FULL of people, they brought chairs in to accomodate people sitting and reading. I guessed they recouped their losses in book wear just out of the business at the in-store Starbucks café...

Lemons, lots of lemons

Lemons, lots of lemons [/b][/quote]
I buy MAYBE 5 lemons a year and that's only because something I'm making says it needs lemon juice :P

I had some Sprite, and that's "lymon" - maybe I'll try that next time :okthumb:

What other "items" were you able to snatch batteries out of?

:P

I was NOT taking batteries out of something that was useful while the power was out!! B)

OK, it took me a WEEK to realize this - I have dial up, lol! I could have used the laptop for 4 hours and used dial up and tied up some lose ends when the power went out.

Sometimes it just SUCKS being blonde :9

I really hate to hear you were struggling so. Please remember next time, and you are convinced there will be a next time, I only live a short drive away. I only lost power for 15 minutes... and that was Thursday afternoon while I was still at the office.


You are welcome at my house anytime.



And see... the Walmonstrocity came in handy...sort of.

:yowsa:

Thanks, Kathi! I'll put you on "the list" ;) I was actually going to head to Wig's for a shower if I hadn't found out the water stayed hot for so long. I figure 3 days would be my limit for no power before I pack up the animals and head for shelter B)

I was VERY lucky in that with all the trees I have, none fell on the house. A rather large one went down on the property as well as MANY smaller ones and branches but they can all be left there. And even though there were a lot on the roads, we have an EXCELLENT maintenance staff that got them moved immediately. That was Wig's main concern when he called me: Can you get out? :lol: Now, if one had landed on MY street, it probably would have been worse - sometimes they forget anyone lives down here. :(

The people I bought the house from said 6 days was the longest they had gone w/o power during an ice storm and they went to Atlanta after 3 days. I think that's a good limit for everyone ;)

Not me.

My limit is about 3 hours, not 3 days.

None of my shit works without power. If I go to bed and wake up and power is still off, I'm outta here. I'll find the first Residence Inn that has power... Love the Residence Inn: free high speed internet, full kitchen, free hbo and they'll even go get groceries for you if you give 'em a list. No reason to sit in the dark!

I can barely tolerate a lack of internet, let alone lack of power. Even at the house, I have quadruple redundant internet:

1) Cable
2) DSL
3) Dialup
4) GPRS via the cellphone linked to the computer