h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas. I'm prepared. We have two 2000 watt Honda generators. Nice and quiet and more than enough power to run our essentials like the bedroom A/C at night and the fridges and freezer during the day... Oh, and our wifi and computers.

Well, OK - so you ain´t stupid. I always have a good giggle about people who know about climate problems ocurring every year but wait for de gubmint to fix´em. What´s so wrong about having candles, a generator and tinned (canned, in our parlance) goods?

What drives me batty is when there's an approaching storm all the panic shopping for bottled water. I hate bottled water to start with, but this is just silly. No one needs to buy bottled water BEFORE a storm. You fill up cartons and jugs and whatever you've got with perfectly fine tap water. People buy cases of bottled water at ridiculous prices with ever thinking "why?".

You don´t really expect even minuscule brain activity in people who get their thinking done by their TV, do you? Try to give our doggies shop-bought mineral water when we´re in the weekend shack in the swamps, they gonna bite.

I usually have canned goods and some bottled water (we can't drink our tap water, it has fluoride added here) set aside for emergencies, but to be honest, the likelihood of the power, gas, water being out for more than a few days is too slim to warrant keeping a really elaborate "emergency" kit. We're not in a coastal area and we're far enough away from tornado alley for it not to be a serius problem. In fact, the only reason I have as much bottled water as I do is for the cats.

A couple years ago, our power went out during July/August for five days. Yes, it was miserable trying to sleep in the oppressive heat and humidity without aircon. We didn't open any windows, as it was 95° outside and 88° inside, which is a tiny bit better IMO. The pilot on the hot water heater stayed lit, so we had hot water to rinse off sweat and shower with every day. The hardest part was getting ready for work in the mornings. We leave for work when it's still dark, even at that time of year, and candlelight really doesn't give enough light for dressing for the office, but we got by. Instead of watching TV and stuff, we played board games or read our books (when we weren't too busy melting), and we ate out every night so we could enjoy nice, air conditioned restaurants.

Just thought about generators... A generator would have been nice during that power outage- could have switched on some fans- but we're on the third floor, and it's unsafe and illegal to run a generator indoors. Our neighbors had one running, and I was admittedly jealous. When we buy a house I may consider a generator for emergencies. On the other hand, this is the second time in my life (nearly 40 years) I've experienced a power outage of more than an hour or so, so it probably isn't worth the expense. We're smack in the city, so we're right on the grid, so nothing stays out for very long.

I've never had frozen pipes. If you leave your water running at a slight trickle, it keeps moving in the pipes and is a lot less likely to freeze. My dad always did that when we were kids and we never had a problem. I do it now, too, though if the pipes froze it'd likely be down below somewhere.

Yes, leaving a bit of water works for stopping frozen pipes; but what's been happening is so many folk are doing it, water supplies are starting to get low too!

It's windy today; which is great 'cos means we can finally do some laundry, but bad 'cos definitely can't drive out to get supplies from town: much too icy.

As to nasty toxic chemicals in mains water; P got a great little under the sink filter; the difference in taste is amazing plus far less plastic bottles.

We've got a decent stock of canned veg in, plus i always have dried beans etc in jars; we won't starve!

The main concern is the outside animals; they need supplementary oats etc if they can't get grass & we are running low & can't get to the supplier.

(It's snowing again)

zdt

We can't have an in-line water filter, for obvious reasons, but I have a filtration pitcher and send the used filters in for recycling afterward (they even recycle the charcoal for something, I forget right offhand what). They make filters that screw into the sink faucet, too, but I stripped the threads on my faucet removing and replacing it so often to put the adapter on the faucet for the washing mcahine that I don't use that any more.

It's not as cold as I'd heard it would be, nor have we had as much snow, but anything can happen in mid-January. I wouldn't mind a snow day. I have a holiday off Monday, so that will have to do.

Unfortunately while it's not too cold for us, it is a bit cold to take the cats out, and they're both due for follow up visits with the vet.

That's what you think. I got this picture of your cats while you weren't looking.

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/01/11/funny-pictures-device-neutralized/

Yoda & Fritz squeak "hey man, it's the only way to travel!"

zdt

That's just about right!! They do both *hate* their crates, and Herman totally freaks out at the vet. One time, we had to remove all the screws from Herman's crate and disassemble it to lift him out- he had one paw wedged in each corner and no amount of tipping, shaking or tugging could get him out.

I can imagine the scene!!

Yoda actually likes her cat box, but is a bit p'd off when shoved into it along with Fritz; she knows "Oh gawd, it's the vet again"

Thankfully she doesn't seem to have got cat flu this Winter, so the jab seems to have worked.

P wants to go off on holiday somewhere; he is undecided whether to go to Norway to visit his son, who has just moved ther & feeling rather lonely, do some skiing etc; or migrate to warmer climes for a while; what would be 'you lot's advice?

(I doubt i would be going with him; someone has to look after the farm; plus i feel guilty taking yet more money from him)

zdt

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F77636?thread=7218049 Nuff said. zdt

NO....


Not, "enough said"....

what?

I read that announcement yesterday. Fortunately, I've already taken care of updating my login. While some people leave and never come back, I do think it's a good idea that Nick Reynolds posted this announcement so that active hootooers can contact those who've been away and remind them to update if they want to access their accounts again at some point.

I have been having pc problems and they are okay but I think I am going to have to change my pc mouse.

If there was a power cut, I would switch off my fridge/freezer and put blankets on top of it.

I have also got a good supply of candles.

I will have to read the announcement again, to see if there is anything that I have to do.

Good thinking stuff, Thinker!

We dragged the fridge/freezer out into the porch, where it's colder, ate the contents of freezer as fast as possible, fridge isn't switched on still; no need really!

P has mainly decided his holiday will be in Norway, where his son is now, plus his cousins; No Way will i go with him, i'd die of frostbite or skiing beginner leg stuff.

*Adopts helpless look*

*Wishes he'd decided on Zanzibar*.....then i'd certainly have gone too!

Ah well, can't have everything, he maybe needs time away to deal with doggie loss & decide if he wishes to stay with me.

zdt

Why on earth would he not want to stay with you? You are such a heartwarming person,although,i do not contribute to your site much these days,i always read it and always find it fascinating Lets hope when he returns,with frostbite on his goolies,he will be happy to see you,and when he has defrosted,realised what he has missed!

just passing through with