That was some ice storm we had last week! While my neighborhood and I am still recuperating from it, the beginnings of the next one are coming down just outside my window... Great!
All things considered, I suppose it wasn't really all that bad. After all, I told my son, I went more than a month without power once when I was his age! And I didn't have hot water like we did through the ice storm because we didn't have a gas-powered hot water heater with us.
Being the wise 16-year-old that he is, my son informed me that being on Outward Bound and camping for a month doesn't count. Minor technicality, I say.
Regardless, I have chronicled the events of the ice storm so my readers can understand the harrowing predicament we were in and how we survived.
Day 1
We lost power around 3:30am Friday morning. I know because I have a timer on an appliance, and that was the time frozen on its face.
Regardless, I awoke to a frozen tundra in my bedroom. My wife and son seemed concerned, but I told them there was no real cause for alarm since our power would be restored soon.
Soon, however, didn't come. I told them this would be a fun adventure. No worries!
Day 2
My wife is in school. She needs power and internet. We packed up and left in search of both. We got there and couldn't get the TV working, but the internet worked! I even took a fishing rod and got in a few casts.
Day 3
We left paradise late and came back home. No power. No lights. And nearly no way into the neighborhood. Many trees, telephone poles and power lines were down. Oh, yeah. And no internet, as my son reminded me. And reminded me.
"My gosh, Dad," my teenager said. "You were born before the internet! What did you do all that time as a kid?! I can't take it!!"
Luckily, there were some food places open in High Point that could take a credit card. I was ready to get the camping stove.
Day 4
I was ready to kill my son and wife. My wife had plans to take me out and utilize child labor. My son had no internet and was crumbling fast. Three fuzzy, black dogs were ready to eat the human faction in the frozen house. The basement was flooded.
And at 9:30pm, magic struck and power was restored!
Let's pray we don't have to go through THAT again.
fuzzy, black dogs
The original three fuzzy, black dogs -- Bob, Ace and Lilly.
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Flea Eradication or Entertainment?
Flea season has been pretty rough this year. Multiply three fuzzy, black dogs by 100 fleas. Now multiply that number by 50, the number of eggs each flea can lay a day during it's lifetime. Now multiply... Never mind. You get the idea.
For some reason, fleas seem to be more attracted to my wife and my teenage son than to me. While this is puzzling, we won't be conjecturing as to why this is.
Regardless, I'm the lucky one, or unlucky one (depending), who gets to treat the floors and house for the fleas!
I started out with friends and family, soliciting any advice and helpful tips.
Someone told me to treat the dogs, then keep them in the affected area. The idea is that the fleas will be attracted to the treated dogs, jump on them and die. It doesn't get much cheaper and easier than that. However, the fleas thus far have refused to cooperate. Next!
Having received nothing helpful or useful, I turned to the Internet. You know, you can find anything on the Internet!
Refocusing on the eradication of pesky, tiny, jumping insects, I found a plethora of information on the subject. After reading about the life cycle of a flea, as well as a few close-up photos of these itchy creatures, I read that fleas are hard to kill. Terrific.
However, I also learned that if you mix dishwashing liquid with water, fleas can't swim in it and, ultimately, will drown. Now, if you use an upside-down flying disc, it will be easier for the fleas to jump into the solution.
How do you entice the little pests to jump into it? Why, thank you for asking. You use a bright light! We placed a small spotlight lamp directly over the small, shallow disc of water and dishwashing liquid.
It's proved most entertaining watching the pesky little buggers jump to their doom! My wife, however, seems concerned with the speed and efficiency of this plan. Next!
If you would like to hear my son's opportunistic views on the same subject, you can visit his vlog below.
For some reason, fleas seem to be more attracted to my wife and my teenage son than to me. While this is puzzling, we won't be conjecturing as to why this is.
Regardless, I'm the lucky one, or unlucky one (depending), who gets to treat the floors and house for the fleas!
I started out with friends and family, soliciting any advice and helpful tips.
Someone told me to treat the dogs, then keep them in the affected area. The idea is that the fleas will be attracted to the treated dogs, jump on them and die. It doesn't get much cheaper and easier than that. However, the fleas thus far have refused to cooperate. Next!
Having received nothing helpful or useful, I turned to the Internet. You know, you can find anything on the Internet!
Refocusing on the eradication of pesky, tiny, jumping insects, I found a plethora of information on the subject. After reading about the life cycle of a flea, as well as a few close-up photos of these itchy creatures, I read that fleas are hard to kill. Terrific.
However, I also learned that if you mix dishwashing liquid with water, fleas can't swim in it and, ultimately, will drown. Now, if you use an upside-down flying disc, it will be easier for the fleas to jump into the solution.
How do you entice the little pests to jump into it? Why, thank you for asking. You use a bright light! We placed a small spotlight lamp directly over the small, shallow disc of water and dishwashing liquid.
It's proved most entertaining watching the pesky little buggers jump to their doom! My wife, however, seems concerned with the speed and efficiency of this plan. Next!
If you would like to hear my son's opportunistic views on the same subject, you can visit his vlog below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)