tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post6780495704590201813..comments2023-09-27T07:22:09.728-04:00Comments on Melissa's Meanderings: The Hell Of An All Electric HomeMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600684740584460891noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-27863081015240433892010-02-04T13:08:12.997-05:002010-02-04T13:08:12.997-05:00I went through 10 days without lights a few years ...I went through 10 days without lights a few years ago; thank goodness I have 2 gas furnaces that run without electricity (ancient "gravity" wall furnaces) and a gas stove. It was below freezing so I put some things in the garage in coolers and sent the rest to my son's and my sister's; the fridge I pulled the bottom drawers from, put in a dishpan with bagged ice and made an icebox of it.<br /><br />2 springs ago it was a 3 day stint, but having a fully underground basement with a sump pump brought a whole new game into play. We'd had 10-12" of rain in about 4 days and the sump was running constantly. <br /><br />I bought a battery operated pump and went down every 3 hours and pumped 3 or 4 five gallon buckets out of it, carried them outside and dumped them. That got us through Saturday and Sunday, but I had to work on Monday. I ended up going out and dropping $600 on a 6500 watt generator, dropping cords the the sump, the fridge, the freezer and one to the living room for lights and TV. It wasn't warm enough for us to need the A/C...<br /><br />Living where I do, I chained the generator to my A-frame engine hoist with the chain and lock from my old motorcycle days to make sure it would be here when I got home. <br /><br />You can have an isolation switch wired below your meter to plug a generator into, then you just have to cut the breakers that feed the extra things you can't run on it. If it's July or August, I'll be doing that so I can run one of my window units; the generator is big enough to handle one of them.<br /><br />Glad it came back on before anything froze or was hurt!<br /><br />alanalanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013341654649926300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-17985259115907923352010-02-03T02:41:46.084-05:002010-02-03T02:41:46.084-05:00Reminds me of two nights, on two motorcycle trips:...Reminds me of two nights, on two motorcycle trips: once in Yellowstone, and another time In Virginia. <br /><br />The Yellowstone night was spent wondering what "that" bear was thinking of doing next. He was about 30 yards from me. The snow was about as high as me - and I'm just shy of 6 foot tall! I was somewhat chilled, that night. It wasn't the first time, but two or three days earlier I'd been camping in Death Valley! Darn it was cold up there. (Not as cold as New Mexico, and how I can neglect that trip across the Rockies?.. And the Ruby Mountains! Brrr. And that trip up the Big Smokey Valley, and across Rt 50? Oh, my! That was <i>cold</i>! But those stories are for a different time.) In the morning some other motorcyclists introduced me to another old-British bike fan. "What do you do for a shower?" the guy asked. "Isn't that what rain's for?" I answered. <br /><br />So many places without power. So many experiences!<br /><br />Sorry. Your post brought a few memories, stories, to the fore. :-)<br /><br />Carolyn AnnAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00333372966116029977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-86944557559380367062010-02-02T17:58:09.320-05:002010-02-02T17:58:09.320-05:00You do suffer from terrible weather over there. An...You do suffer from terrible weather over there. And the frequent power problems would seriosuly upset me.<br />You would think that in this day frequent power outages would be rare.<br />xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-56605883289085844032010-02-02T15:48:54.425-05:002010-02-02T15:48:54.425-05:00After Isabel came through I bought a generator. We...After Isabel came through I bought a generator. We did not have power for 11 days. I am NOT going through all that again. Since I have gas heat all I need to do is power the blower in the furnace, I am not sure I'd be able to power up electric heat.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05117237397242817491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-49976434925567743062010-02-02T08:31:20.587-05:002010-02-02T08:31:20.587-05:00Sounds like you have been having a lot of fun over...Sounds like you have been having a lot of fun over the last few days!<br /><br />My sister in law still cooks on gas (we cook on induction) and it was a life saver the last power outage. With the house being open plan it provided heat and boiling water for tea! If it goes on in our house we have nothing, same as you.<br /><br />As for the bill... I thought the 169 was OK (compaed with Dutch rates for normal hotels). When you add on the tax and breakfast it starts to get a little much...<br /><br />StaceStacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07907346657510908857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-25695672991330958302010-02-02T05:10:21.949-05:002010-02-02T05:10:21.949-05:00Wow! what an adventure. I was just looking at the ...Wow! what an adventure. I was just looking at the snow pics in your other post too! I'm glad you were able to get out of your home and not be blocked in by snow or not have that truck to have the power to plough through the rough stuff.<br /><br />I think we can all agree that the hotel charges are a rip off. I have stayed in all kinds and the posh ones are ruined because you are always thinking to yourself 'it should be nice too at these prices' and its easy to spot anything not worth the bill. The more modest hotels have more often been a lovely surprise (now and again) because I guess my expectation is lower and when the standard is higher its a pleasant surprise. <br /><br />Your bill was ridiculous really the tax I mean.<br /><br />Im glad you have power again now Melissa, hope all will be welll now<br /><br />Helen xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-56666296555731852172010-02-02T01:21:19.460-05:002010-02-02T01:21:19.460-05:00The snag about every hotel, no matter how plush, i...The snag about every hotel, no matter how plush, is that you are never the first occupant of the room, and whatever the bed is like, it always crosses your mind that a host of people, some nice, some not so nice, have already slept on it, no doubt enjoying some kind of 'sexual ecstacy' as well. That's part of the appeal of my little caravan - it's a small space, but you have all the facilities you need for comfortable living, and since I've had it from new, I absolutely know that only I (and M--- of course, but nobody else) have sullied it. <br /><br />Plus, it has propane, and could be used as an extra bedroom or alternative kitchen in a power cut. Though probably not in the kind of desperately cold conditions you've been enjoying recently!<br /><br />Funny how, to save face or whatever, we tend to pay up when confronted with a big bill at restaurants and places to stay. I'd do just as you did, although I know people who most certainly wouldn't have! <br /><br />LucyLucy Melfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09049627653901928427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-80874397126859753032010-02-01T22:59:28.538-05:002010-02-01T22:59:28.538-05:00Hotel 6 might be just the ticket next time, since ...Hotel 6 might be just the ticket next time, since once you close your eyes every room is the same isn't it?<br /><br />Although I would stay away from motels that have a beer cooler right behind the front desk. Not good. A story for next time maybe!!<br /><br />SarahKay & Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04244257765709660605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7791633210661845991.post-31821207261756693812010-02-01T18:07:36.501-05:002010-02-01T18:07:36.501-05:00Ouch! Melissa needs a plan B. That would buy a lot...Ouch! Melissa needs a plan B. That would buy a lot of canned gas for heat and light. Added bonus, you know that once you have spent the money the power will never go off again.<br /><br />And the rooms did not even have good sound insulation!<br /><br />Caroline xxxCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133031265351841626noreply@blogger.com