Not since a few years ago when I landed in Tampa a few minutes before they closed the airport in anticipation of Hurricane Francis have I really been inconvenienced by the weather. And actually that wasn't so bad: we had to play cards instead of watch movies and drink our margaritas on the rock instead of frozen.  I'm purposely blocking out the image of the waves lapping at the patio door...

Sunday, Hurricane Ike moved through Ohio and took out ours and almost everyone else's power.  The difference is, that while about 80% of homes have their power restored by now we, alas, do not.  I do see the light at the end of the tunnel (get it, light?) because tonight the tree trimming crew came and cut down the ginormous branch that was hanging on our next door neighbor's power line, so hopefully we'll be live again soon.  Brian, meanwhile is off enjoying himself on a business/recreational trip in Switzerland and Amsterdam. (Guess which part is business and which part recreation?)

While I have been feeling inconvenienced, I'm pleased with my resourcefulness.  I've realized that with running water and a gas stove, life goes on almost as usual.  We have food in the coolers, can shower, cook most meals, make coffee and read.  TV, computer time and video games are a little harder, but we do have friends with power, so all is not lost.  I am bumming, though about all of the food I had to throw away.  I'm big on stacking up when things are on sale, and we have a big chest freezer and a refrigerator in the basement.  Everything that we couldn't fit in friends' freezers, I tried to feed to the kids as it thawed.  When they couldn't keep up I had to start pitching things.

Yesterday in the paper it said that the number of people in Ohio without power is about the same as the number of people in Texas without homes. 

Makes me feel bad about whining...

Namaste

I've been tagged to list 7 weird and random facts about myself.  So here goes:

1. Even though I was the black sheep of the family and have always been somewhat of a nonconformists and a rebel, deep down I'm a rule follower.  I get really annoyed by people who run red lights or don't slow down in school zones.  I'd never cheat on my taxes or illegally download music or lie about my kids' ages to get a deal at the movies. 

2.  I have a degree in Engineering, which doesn't seem *that* weird except I have no idea *why* I got a degree in engineering and absolutely no desire to be an engineer.  (This is why I'm a big proponent of self-awareness with my kids.)  I really don't even like technology all that much.  I don't care how it works, I just want to be able to use it for my own devices.

3.  I have finally realized that, contrary to my previous belief, even if I drive REALLY, REALLY fast, I can't be anywhere in town in 15 minutes.  I had to eventually admit this, kill myself trying or move to a smaller town.

4.  I love to read.  I read to the point that I'll sometimes ignore my family, or forget to cook dinner until late evening because I'm in the middle of a really good book.  I sometimes try to read at red lights, but never while driving!   (That's against the rules, ya'know.) I usually have 4 or more books going at the same time.

5.  I've had dreams that have come true.  Not like "I've always wanted to be a brain surgeon and now I am!"  More like "I had a really weird dream last night about....."  Then, a few weeks later it happens.  It has only happened a few times but its pretty freaky.

6.  I play World of Warcraft.  I started a character at my kids' insistence and really liked it.  Our family has 2 accounts and everyone has multiple characters at various levels so we can play together with lots of different combinations.  I have a level 63 dwarf priest and a 62 human warlock.

7.  I can stand on my head.  Really well.

I'm sure there are lots more weird and random facts, but only 7 were requested...

Namaste

So here are a few of my favorite things...

(Can you hear Julie Andrews in the background?)

Flowers.  Since it's not time for them outside, we can all enjoy the indoor variety for now.

Sushi.  This is the sushi we made Friday night for dinner.  Yummy!

This adorable guy making the sushi:

This adorable guy, who doesn't make sushi, but does make films with his friends.

First adorable guy with hair freshly blued:

Another adorable guy with our adorable daughter and friend:

Most adorable dog, who loves playing in the snow:

Big snowstorm from a few weeks ago.  I love a good snowstorm as long as I get to stay home by a crackling fire.