Black Out

[why]

I live in Ontario, Canada. Yesterday we lost power at around 4:15. The streets where in chaos as every intersection turned into a four way stop. Although everyone was polite and helpful, it really brought to light (no pun intended) how reliant we are on electricity.

I was separated from my family all night and we all spent the night worrying about each other. Everyone is well. This morning I am at work trying to get network/systems to recover. But as I'm typing this, I hear my government asking everyone to stay home and for business to shutdown. The executives at my place of work, discussed shutting down, but that was an hour ago and we're still up. I urged them to shut down until the situation stabilizes, I hope they listened. Aside from the liabilities we incur by operating, there are hospitals right now without power, where people are at risk of death. I feel terrible being here and keeping this place up. I'm actually considering creating a "situation" which will force the issue (IT people can do that you know, we read your e-mail![just kidding ]).

I hope this is over soon. I hope those of you that are affected by this are well. I hope we find answers for the cause of this disaster (make no mistake - this is a disaster! - the economic cost after such a terrible string of bad luck for us: War, SARS, BSE, West Nile Virus). I hope we can make the neccessary changes for this never to occur again. I hope all of us will realize that we should be spending our efforts on keeping civilization functioning and not wasting it on fighting one another. Peace and love to all.

[Garry]

Well said Why

I actully enjoyed the silence and lack of light pollution

short of my freezer and fridge not working I could do well without electricity

I am going to take a very serious look at alternitive forms of electric generation so if it ever happens again I wont be at the mercy of the GRID

[joanrdtobe]

This has been all over the news...obviously.... and a lot of people affected....thank God they did not find it to be terrorist related....

I wish to say to Why that I'm glad you and your family are together now and safe....and I'm sorry you had to go through everything you described....Hopefully, as you said, it will all be over soon.....

[Lafnalot]

Andrew is in this area also and Im sure will have his own stories to tell, What a horrible situation.

[joanrdtobe]

Oh my God that's right...I forgot...thanks Crissy. Andrew just moved to this area for his job. Hope he is okay....prayers for Andrew as well

[waywardclam]

Not all of Ontario has been affected, I am up near the Manitoba border and we didn't even notice it...

But I have a great deal of sympathy and prayers for those southeast of me as well...

[Andrew]

Speaking of stories....

As some of you may already have known, I was in the process of moving into my new apartment in New York City when the power went out. My family had just landed at the airport and the movers had just finished moving the last of the boxes into my apartment.

86f and humid in NYC, no beds set up, boxes piled high, no food in the house, and soon to follow....no WATER! Things went from bad to worse, with the only food establishment still open for business charging $5.00 for a small container of cooked rice!

In any event, I didnt get much sleep last nite, and I was back to moving and unpacking today. No shower, shave, sh*t (that's right, couldn't flush) or anything else for that matter. I had to grab some emergency supplies from the car (3 water bottles, flashlights, batteries and cyalum light sticks), thank goodness my car was nearby!

In any event...this was a move I will not forget anytime soon!

[tiggwin]

Originally posted by BIG
thank goodness my car was nearby!

Wow! And I was thinking, "thank goodness you had 3 water bottles, flashlights, batteries and cyalum light sticks in your car!" Now THAT'S thinking ahead! What an experience. Good Luck Big!!

[joanrdtobe]

Originally posted by BIG
Speaking of stories....

As some of you may already have known, I was in the process of moving into my new apartment in New York City when the power went out.

In any event...this was a move I will not forget anytime soon!

Oh Andrew, you poor thing.....Well, if I ever have to move again, I will never again complain of a "bad moving experience"....as I know yours definitely took the cake.....

[Garry]

I was sitting on my deck last night Big about 2:00 in the morning and thinking about your story.

86f and humid in NYC, no beds set up, boxes piled high, no food in the house, and soon to follow....no WATER! Things went from bad to worse, with the only food establishment still open for business charing $5.00 for a small container of cooked rice!

I have to give you credit my man as there is not very much in this world that I wouldn't take a shot at doing

But you just showed me something that I can't even comprehend!!!

Moving to NEW YORK CITY would be so overwhelming to me.

As I was sitting there I could smell the fresh cow manure that some farmer had spread on the land at some point in the day and I relized at that time that I welcome that smell in comparison to the smells of the city.

I envy you that you have the nerve and the stamina to make such a horendus move and I wish you the very best.

New York city is only a short plane ride to London Ontario and a 1 hour car ride to Clinton Ontario Canada so if you ever need to escape from NEW YORK City feel free to give me a call and come visit and enjoy the fragrences of county life.

[Andrew]

Thanks! New York isn't all that bad. I grew up here, and spent most of my life in and around the New York City area, until about 4 years ago. My relocations to California and then Florida were certainly adventures in an of themselves, but they also made me appreciate some of the things that I took for granted when I was living in NYC, such as being able to get anythingm anytime of the day or nite. Believe me, it makes a difference

[why]

I want to move to the country. Been wanting to for some time now, this black out just comfirmed my instincts. Gary, what's it like for a "hunter" to live on a farm? Talk me out of this idea if you think a city is better for us, because I've been looking out your way: Guelph, London, K/W...

[Garry]

Go farther, north, young man, thats young city thats soon to be swallowed up by Toronto.

I guesstamate ten years it will be like one big city all along the 401 from Kitchener to far side of Toronto

You are a computer type person are you not WHY

http://jobbank.gc.ca/ShowJob_en.asp?...rce=JobPosting Exeter Computer Job

Map to show exeter in relation to London , Kitchener, Lake Huron(is 15 minuets from exeter)

http://ca.maps.yahoo.com/maps_result...1S3&country=ca


http://www.herc.on.ca Area Manpower

Grin I live in Clinton and my house cost me $ 43000 + 15000 in materials and a lot of labour

3 more months of a labour of love and Ill need a new house to start again (not as far as my wife is concerened grin)

You are more than welcome to come up for a visit and fall in love with the laid back lifestyle

You have a wife and family and they are welcome also

[why]

Did a Real Estate search for Grand Bend and surrounding areas....I am more interested than ever... I think you once posted that "life is a journey and if you don't like your current stop, get back on the bus and find a stop you like". I can hear the bus around the corner, just have to brave enough to hop on it...

[joanrdtobe]

Why: We will help you hop on....do you need a push??