Yesterday afternoon the kids and I were just sitting around, watching TV, playing a video game, typing a paper, normal afternoon things, when the power went out. This was at 5:15pm. I didn't panic, I was the calm and assuring mother that I always am. We gathered candles, matches & flashlights. The kids used whatever light from outside that was left do a little homework. All was good. Then after about an hour, they started wanting food. Megan and Jake just ate cold pizza and went to church. Michael and I get in the car (good thing the garage is full of crap and we can't park in there) in search of food. Everything outside of our neighborhood seems to be fine. That's weird. After dinner we head back home. Still no lights. WAIT, WHAT TIME IS IT? 7:30, Tuesday night, no lights, no power, no DVR! I'M GOING TO MISS AMERICAN IDOL! Don't panic Jodi, think, think. We could call friends, wait, we don't really have many friends, they don't live near us, and all my contact information is in the computer. Then I remember, there is this one family from church that live pretty close. I know her pretty well, been to Bible Study at their house. I'll try information and see if I can get a number....UNLISTED. Ok, 7:45, this can't be happening. I grab Michael and get in the car. We head to this family's home, just hoping someone would be home, and that they were Idol fans. I knock tentatively on the door while Michael sits in the car. Dad (Tim) answers the door, "hey how are you?" How dumb does this sound. "Ummmm, do you guys watch American Idol?" "Yes" "Our power is out, the TV and DVR aren't working, and....it's HOLLYWOOD WEEK, can we come in?" He laughs and says sure. I wave Michael in from the car. Whew, one crisis averted.
So, by 9, the power is still out. Everyone gets home wondering what to do now. We light the candles, get the two flashlights that aren't already packed. Mike and I head to bed, Megan and Jake still have some homework. But, I'm laying in bed thinking of how responsible my kids are....and thinking of candles.....and Uncle Ken is too far to come help us if there is a fire. So, needless to say, I don't sleep well. I keep getting up and checking, hoping they don't notice that I'm not really trusting them to blow out the candles. Finally, I relax enough to go to sleep.
1 AM, I wake to a weird beeping sound. I can see lights on under the door, so I know the power must have come back on, but what is that beeping. I get up, thinking some kid's alarm is going off and they don't even notice. Nope. I go downstairs, turning off lights & TV's. I find the source of the beeping. It is the security system that isn't even hooked up. We've never touched it before. First I have to figure out how to open the control box, then, I just start hitting buttons. (Tip for those who are electronically challenged, don't be afraid to just hit buttons every now and again.) Yes, I got the beeping to stop. What is absolutely amazing to me is that Jake, whose door is right by the control box where the beeping eminated, never heard a thing. But I, who sleep up the stairs at the other end of the house, behind a closed door, am rudely awakened. Crisis #2 averted.
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2 comments:
At least you got to see American Idol. You are very brave. That is dedication
Oddly enough I was at a house fire as you were writing this (you can see it at Facebook). I'm proud to nag people about being careful with candles and any kind of flame. As for the reign of terror that would have ensued had you missed "American Idol," well, that's a police matter.
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