After eating, I was having a cigarette on the porch, as is my wont, when I thought to myself, "gee, that storm looks like it's going to hit us".
I went out back, and was putting some rain water-vulnerable stuff in the shed, when the power goes out. I got back inside, just as the wind hits.
We're talking WIND.
Strong, knock you down, can't close the door, tornado-like wind. I never did hear what the speeds were actually estimated at, but my guess is in excess of 60mph, just to be on the safe side. I wouldn't be surprised to learn if they were actually a lot higher.
Well, that went on for about ten minutes, the house shaking, debris flying, the dog terrified. I was bit aprehensive myself, this really was some scary shit.
After the wind died down, I went outside. By then all the neighbors were out with flashlights, checking for damage. We lost a little trim, but other than that, everything was intact.
The storm had moved to the west by now, and while whatching the lightning, I noticed an intense, blue, strobe like flashing coming from about where the dirt road that leads back to our little neighborhood meets the pavement. I knew that couldn't be good.
Anyway, to make a long story short(er), we had a microburst that took out 250 or so power poles in the area. Some of them looked like they'd been dynamited. The blue flash I mentioned was where some poles had gone down over some stables. A horse got impaled with debris, but none were electrocuted, which amazed me, you should have seen it.
So, consequently, I've been without power for the last 72 hours.
Our well runs on electricty, no water. Drinking water yes, but have you ever had to contemplate taking a shit in 110 degree heat in a toilet you can't flush? In your house?
We stayed in a motel Saturday and Sunday, my parents are too old to take this kind of shit.
And, if all that wasn't enough, Saturday morning about 4:00am, in the midst of all this, I had my first up close, surprise, tarantula encounter! Fucker was as big as my hand, and right under my fucking chair by the time I heard it! Arachniphobe's worst nightmare.....
Power came back on last night.
