It turned out that a simple "snow day" was the beginning of the worst ice storm in NWA history!
Our electricity went out Tuesday around 2 p.m. and it came back on this morning around 8:30. I will not complain because there are still people without power. However, I will say that I learned a lot about how I spend my time.
1 - I learned that I depend on technology. When I couldn't charge my laptop, couldn't access email, and couldn't charge my cell phone, I felt completely disconnected from the rest of the world.
2 - I learned that David and I can have lots of fun without tv, movies, internet, or even lights! When he got home every night, we'd make dinner (usually peanut butter or turkey sandwiches) and then we'd spend lots of time talking and laughing together. When it got too dark, we'd light all our candles, light the fire, and pull out the Scrabble game. We have a blast playing Scrabble. Unfortunately, by night 2 of this, we were no longer making real words and every play was a challenge play. The one day that he was off work, we took the dogs for a walk around the icy neighborhood. We had a wonderful time laughing at them and sliding around.
3 - I learned that I love my bed. During the outage, we had no heat. Thankfully, we have a gas fireplace. So we closed off the doors to the outer rooms and moved our lives into the living room, guest bathroom, and kitchen. Our "bed" was a pallet on the floor in front of the fireplace. As new and different as it was to sleep on the floor, I will be glad to return to my bed tonight.
4 - I learned to love my dogs even more than before! Our home became semi-communal because the dogs couldn't sleep outside in the ice. We made a "bed" for them next to ours'. Most evenings, they ended up on the pallet with us stealing all our covers. They certainly kept my spirits up when cabin fever hit.
5 - I learned that God's weather is amazing! The destruction from the storm is incredible. Our town looks like a bomb went off. I can't believe that ice can break so many trees and damage so many homes! Thankfully, our home remained undamaged.
6 - I learned that even I can get tired of reading. Halfway through my 3rd book of the storm, I thought, "I am ready to have movies and tv again!!!"
FYI : I read feed, The Wednesday Letters, and I'm halfway through The Boleyn Inheritance. (Lots of variety.)
So we survived it all! I don't know when we'll get back to school, but it looks like things are getting back to normal.
Now if I could just get my house clean......
