Lights Out
Before I left Cairo last month, on one day alone, we had five blackouts. I was worried, since it was not that hot out and wondered what happens when the temperatures really start soaring. Sunday, we had three: One at 2:00 AM lasting for about five minutes; One at 9:55 AM again lasting about five minutes; then another at 5:25 PM lasting an hour. I hate the ones in the middle of the night, when the air conditioning goes off, and you think your life blood just got sucked right out of your body, and on top of it, you can't see a damned thing.
I've experienced black-outs in every city I've lived in, but not as numerous as here. We finally turned off the printer. Every time it starts up, it shoots out a calibration page which goes flying through the air. I may not have as many amenities here, as I would have in the States, but I do have a few trusted friends: coolers with plenty of ice packs; batteries; battery operated punch lights (originally bought for use with our Vanagon), my candle light flashlight, and the gas stove. 
We used to have a battery operated TV, but it doesn't work overseas, though it did drive our neighbors in Shaker Heights crazy when the electricity went out for three days, after a huge summer storm. The neighbors couldn't figure out why we had a blue light emanating from the bedroom. Again, we bought the TV for use during college, then used it for camping when Awesome Daughter was young. As she said laying in the van with us at night, "this is cool." Everyone thought it was pretty cool when the lights went out in Cleveland too.
Wife: "What's that blue light in the house across the street?"
Husband: "Hmm, TV's let out a blue light."
Wife: "Yes, but the electricity's out!"
Were you living in Shaker Heights when NE Ohio (and NY among others) lost power for those three+ days?
ReplyDeleteYep. That was sometime mid-'90's. I don't remember the date, but apparently we were the lucky ones. There were some areas without electricity for close to a week! I think we experienced more and longer black-outs in Shaker / Cleveland, than anywhere else we've lived (and we've lived in a lot of different places.)
ReplyDeleteI was home visiting my parents. My aunt and I were on the west side (heading to some great Mexican restaurant on Lorain Ave.) when all the power went out. My parents have a pump, so when the power goes out...so does the toilet!
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine who grew up in Nigeria said her younger brother was around 8 when he realised the running water and electricity could be on at the same time.
ReplyDeleteEven though we had gas heat, when the electricity went out one winter, the heat went off too. A lot of good it does, when the thermostat is electrical. Again, in Shaker.
ReplyDelete