LIGHTS OUT!

Well, we actually have a good excuse for being M.I.A. this past week! The strangest thing happened. Hurricane Ike decided to pay us a visit last Sunday! I was getting ready for church when I heard a loud "whooshing" noise outside. I peaked out to see that the wind was starting to pick up, but thought nothing of it. It wasn't until we were halfway through church when the wind started to really howl. Everyone was glued to the windows, as construction signs/machines, branches and leaves flew across the parking lot. Our friend's windshield actually got smashed by some flying debris. When the lights in the church started to flicker, you could tell people started to get a little worried.

On our way home, we saw that there were HUGE trees scattered everywhere across the roads. When we got home, we discovered our power had gone out. Not to mention that most of the houses and the apartment roofs were loosing shingles and siding was flying off! And seeing as the winds were not slowing down, our friends, who live a few streets down, invited us to come over, in case there were tornado warnings (they have a huge basement). Soon after, another group of friends came over because power lines were down in front of their house. Stuck in the dark and starting to get hungry, we realized that we'd better start eating everything out of the refrigerator/freezer before it went bad. Brian busted out the BBQ and we stuffed ourselves and made a party out of the situation. But, soon the sky started to become cloudy and eventually the rains came. And so did the darkness. Little did we all know that for the next THREE days we would be living by candlelight. And ice. And car chargers. And radios. And showers by flashlight.

By the end of the second day, we were getting a little worried that the electricity would never be restored because the news said it could take up to a week. Ironically, they sent out our electric company crews to Texas to work on the damage there! My folks in Texas had their power on before we did - go figure! There was a glimpse of hope the second day, when the lights came on for about 45 minutes, only to loose power again!

At about 1:30am the morning the power returned, I was tossing and turning trying to figure out what time it was (Bri was at the hospital). Then, as if a bright ray from Heaven came beaming down on us - poof! Practically every light in the house turned on. *SIGH* I quickly jumped up and turned the lights off and peaked out the window to see the rest of the neighborhood lit up. What a relief!

Anyhow, to make a now, long story even longer - we made due and had fun playing camp out. But oh how I missed our sweet, sweet electricity. Don't get me wrong - I never took it for granted, but I appreciate it even more. Any longer and we'd have to start filming an episode of Man vs. Wild. Just kidding. Seriously, if you've ever lived in Hawaii, then you can live with anything! For you non-locals, you just wouldn't understand until you actually lived there. If you've ever seen Bri's college frat house aka "the Rock", you'd understand.

I told Bri that the Amish people deserved to laugh at us trying to make it through three short days. I admire them, but I'm not ready to give up my modern conveniences necessities anytime soon!