In the Darkness

It's been nearly 48 hours since the power went out. It's not been so bad, really. The weather has remained pleasantly overcast and not unbearably hot. This time of year, the sun doesn't set until Ellie's bedtime, so there's light enough to play. My mom once gave us a hurricane lantern to use in just such an eventuality, so I can read for an hour or two after Ellie fights her way down to sleep. We're all drinking lots of water and I'm getting more sleep than usual.

On the other hand, the humidity is incredible. Everything in the house feels damp and nothing ever dries completely. Catalog pages ripple and curl. We don't want to open the refrigerator or freezer - though at this point I really think the food is a lost cause - so we're eating out every meal. Tiny mosquitoes and spiders slip through the screens, and I see the evidence even if I can't find them in the dim light.

At least a dozen times a day, I start for the computer to look something up or book our upcoming vacation, then turn away in frustration. Overall, I am not missing the power very much. I am enjoying this little adventure. At least we still have running water.

On the other hand, I dislike the uncertainty; I wish I knew how long this would last. And I am very frustrated about the food. We are spending a lot of money to eat out for every single meal while a full week of groceries slowly spoils in the house.