Day Nine, Darker and Colder

[elrhiarhodan]

It's not fun. I've tried to keep a brave face, a stiff upper lip. I've tried counting my blessings (no damage, a warm and lighted and Interneted workplace, good friends), but it's hard when you wake up and it's 48 degrees in your bedroom, your nose is cold, you still can't shower and you're running out of clean underwear.

I do have good RL friends and co-workers, one of whom lives about a mile from me. Since I have a full tank of gas, and she's on my way - I've been picking her up and taking her home. Tonight, she's letting me shower and do a few loads of laundry, then I'll go vote.

Last night was interesting. I had a doctor's appointment and needed to have a few prescriptions filled, treated myself to a good dinner at the Chinese restaurant near the pharmacy, and actually took the leftovers home. They stayed in the car, since it was already 40 degrees out, and would be much colder by dawn. It's my lunch today.

Gas lines are getting more reasonable, but we still need to conserve. My co-worker is going to pick me up tomorrow and Thursday and we'll coin toss for Friday.

Oh, since there's a Nor'Easter coming in, I doubt I'll have power before next week.

I have two new flashlights - Ray-o-Vacs. They are awesome - providing enough ambient light that I can read my copy of the New Yorker by them. I bought one on Sunday and got another one yesterday, because I forgot to take the MagLight down with me in the morning. I turned it on when I got home, and the beam it sends out makes the Bat-Light look like a Channukah candle.

this is what i'm reduced to, getting excited about flashights. ones that aren't even peen-shaped. fml.

In other news, I nearly dropped out of the Poly Big Bang. Even though I asked for the last possible posting date, the mod gave me the first one, and then I realized that I have like another 20k to write on this thing, and there'd be no way I'd come close to finishing. She was kind enough to switch my date, but I still kept panicking.

I even told the mod that I'd have to drop - the situation at home, without power, makes it impossible to write. Now, you may ask - those of you who know my habits - "why not go to 'Bucks?" Because both of my local Starbucks are closed. One is a tiny shop, two tables - and I have no idea why it's not open (everything else around it is), but the other - my succor, my refuge, had its transformer crash into the street. It still doesn't have power.

But, there is good news. My Big Bang story has two parts - and I've been sort of resisting the second part. It's complicated and mean and bad things happen to those we love, as much as it makes for a good story (I think). Part one, which is joy and sweetness and all about the discovery of love, is nearly done, and when I think about it, can be a complete tale all by itself. It's also 15k, well into Big Bang territory. So, I think I can actually deliver this - even the completed draft, on time! And I can do the sequel for the next year's Poly BB (because I think it's going to take that long for me to write it).

What else, what else?

Oh, just this: