[The is actually from Kitty, whose Web Browser is currently performing
oddly - a problem for Paul to figure out... **Kitty]


We don't know how widespread has been the news that ~150,000 customers
of the major electricity provider in south central Ontario were left
without power in the wake of a major storm Wednesday evening, 8/2/06.
For those who have been trying to contact us or wondered why things
were quiet at this end from both me and Paul, it's because until just
after 11:30am EDT today we had no electricity or phone.

Here at our cottage, no electricity also means no running water once
the pressure in the system is lost. Fortunately with the lake just a
short walk including down a dozen natural steps and onto our dock,
water was no problem - for drinking, cooking and getting off the
sweat. We have regularly been boiling what water we drink, but with
the stove simply a cold surface, Paul put the old fire pit into use.
We early on decided that our meals must consist of the food in the
refrigerator and freezer which was slowly coming to room temperature -
and as a result of this decision we may not have to throw out any food
at all, despite the fact that we'd just Wednesday afternoon done a
major food shopping. Opening the refrigerator, and definitely the
freezer, was kept to a minimum and planned before taking place.
It was somewhat amusing yesterday evening that we finished off the new
2 liter container of ice cream (with *lots* of almost thawed once
frozen blueberries) that ordinarily would have lasted us well over a week.

After so many hours, it almost seems strange to have once again the
"luxuries" of the 21st century. I'd gotten used to using water for
washing out of a small pot taken from the main bucket in the kitchen
or bathroom rather than turning the water faucet. Before starting this
message I washed my hands and found myself going to the small plastic
container of water in the bathroom sink instead of turning on the
tap.... ;>) Guaranteed though, there won't be a second time for this
since I much prefer the running water ... and a shower!

It will take a day or two to get caught up on messages in both our
Inboxes as well as clean up the house, though Paul (as I type) has
been scrubbing the soot off the few pots we used on the fire pit.
We've also come to the conclusion that we will install a number of
items to make the next power outage a little more comfortable. And a
"next" time is almost certain since with electric power so highly
government regulated here (and in the US also), alternative sources are
not available or are very costly. I also suspect that measures by the
allowed providers for truly minimal length outages are either outright
disallowed or prohibitively expensive because of the need to satisfy
government regulations. In addition, there is a certain lack of real
concern by power companies' managements (of Hydro One in Ontario
included) since loss of customers is not a serious worry - where would
they go??

Our 63 hours without power was in mild temperatures and no rain
(except for the heavy storm that first night which initiated the
problem), either of which would have made our "visit" to the 18th
century less than just an annoyance. Even so, we are glad to be
"back" in the 21st century with all its "luxuries" .... I'm off to
take a shower and wash my hair!!

**Kitty