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March 10, 2005 9:20 AM- stormy weather

Tuesday night I drove home from work in what could only be described as "minnesota blizzard mixed with hurricane."

Seriously-- a wild ass windstorm with snow pounding from every direction-- sideways, vertical, inverted, straight down, straight up. You think I'm exaggerating don't you? Let me just say, as we sat in the house (in the dark, as the power snapped off at 8 p.m.) listening to the howling wind we were both sure the roof was going to pop off.

I guess this guy felt the same way.

Only difference his roof DID pop off.

Maybe it's hard for you to see the extent of the damage from these pics as I was taking them from the car (trying to be discreet) as T was talking to the old timer (whose roof it was) who kept looking at me and then finally asked T, "is she a reportah cause I don't want mah pitcher in the papah."

"No sir," said T, as I snapped a couple more.

And then we kept driving on up past roof guy to Soliden (we still had no power at the rental when we woke up so I took off from work). We were worried that trees were down. This is the sight that greeted us as we arrived at the entrance to our road.

On the right:

On the left:

Not the most encouraging sight, but how my heart goes out to those guys working under those conditions and getting everybody back on line. However, you can be sure I have never been so glad about our decision to live off grid as we will never be without power at Soliden (unless of course somebody decides to blow up the sun).

So we pull off and begin snowshoeing in. The road is thick with snow and tree debris. But we are feeling like, hey this isn't so bad. At least there are no trees down.

Don't you wish you never had thoughts like that? Cause we came around the bend and there was this big, dark shadow across the road. Yep. Big pine. Down.

T went up to the house site and came back with his chainsaw.

But then, the CALVARY!

And two plow trucks followed our magic yellow machine (it probably has a real name but I'll just call it our magic yellow machine if that's okay with you). And we went up to the house site and THANK GOD and the ANGELS because the only thing that had happened was that a stack of plywood got tossed across the field like a deck of cards. The house itself was safe. And soon, the road was a lovely country lane once again.

I cannot end this story without a still life homage to three of my favorite things.

And back we went to our rental house (where the drive was not yet plowed and the power was not yet back on so no heat, no water, etc). I called the electric company again at 7 pm as they had told me it should be back on around 5--- she said, "oh, we show you as all done." "NO, nononononono!" I cried-- we have no power. Please please give us power."

About an hour later a HUGE great big beast of a truck pulled up our dark dark drive and steamed with power and light-- I stood on the porch and flashed my flashlight at them (hoping they knew it meant "hello! hello! I love you!"). And not ten minutes later, bada-bing! We had light and power. But no internet as our modem got toasted when the power snapped off.

But we had lights! And water! I put on music LOUDLY! and washed pots and pans and ran the dishwasher and T said, "I've never seen you so happy to wash dishes." Naturally I wanted to reply, "don't get used to it." But of course I couldn't as I was too damn happy.

Today, bright sunny day. Back at work like it never happened . . .

got 2 cents?



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stephanie says:
It's a front end loader (your magic yellow machine). I hate myself for knowing this.
posted on: March 10

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bellabelly says:
Amazingly I knew what it was too... because one of my uncles has a dozier service, and the other one has a sand and gravel business. Anyway, I loved this entry, I felt like I was watching a movie... I just wish there had been pictures of the happy dishwashing, because what a GREAT ending.
posted on: March 10

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Gale says:
Oh, good, I don't have to show my meager knowledge of heavy equipment and add that little tidbit. :) What an unfortunate thing to have your roof pop off -- glad that Chez Bluepoppy and T didn't suffer!
posted on: March 10

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frecklegirl says:
That wind was just crazy, huh? I didn't even know that there were trees that could touch our windows until the wind let me know... oh! I went to see Jen the super hair stylist! pics on my site...
posted on: March 10

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wee says:
WOW. I heard about that storm and wondered if it was in your area. I remeber thinking, "oops, there goes BP's power." But it never occurred to me that Soliden might be vulnerable! Thank the stars your place is the sunn is secure! And you and T and the Butterscotch Boyz too!!! whew! xoxoxoxoxo
posted on: March 10

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Erica says:
For a horrible, horrible moment, I thought that Soliden had lost its roof. And then I remembered that you had neither roof nor siding yet, and decided it might be better to, you know, READ the entry instead of just ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the pictures. Glad to know that you are once again toasty, and that Soliden is still standing.
posted on: March 10

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amber says:
Yes, but what kind of front end loader??? I'm so glad you and your boys didn't get blown to timbuktoo!
posted on: March 10

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bellabelly says:
now THAT I couldn't tell you... if you know you are much more equipment savvy than I!!!
posted on: March 10

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otter says:
Whew. I'm glad that everything turned out ok. The pics were awesome--just like being there, but without the shivering...Now, next time, grab yourself a hot bath with that hot water instead of washing dishes, missy.
posted on: March 10

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gimmt says:
I wanted to complain about all the rain we've been having here, but now I feel like a wimp.
posted on: March 10

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gatsby says:
it's a front end loader. oh i'm sorry, did someone already say that? actually i had no idea; i thought it was a helicopter. next. so i can recall the search party? no modem... what the hell? you've got to get T to shimmy up a telephone pole and work up some macgyver shit so you can post. and, your winter is cooler than my winter; look at those roads, and T walking down that gulley/alley/channel/road? looked like a frame from "the shining"- how dope is that? you guys should definately purchase one of the treaded snowmobile thingys from "the shining."
posted on: March 10

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lizardek says:
I had a 3-second heart attack at the first photo thinking it was Soliden. Then the time-slip sent crashing back into reality with a DUH! They have no roof! That was better than a documentary! Better than on-the-spot reportage on TV! You may not BE a photo journalist, but you play a great one on your blog! Glad everything is okay. :) xoxo
posted on: March 10

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Marilyn says:
I'm with Lizardek...I, too, initially thought the first photo was of your new house...as if the roof was just lying there waiting to be put ON. Doh! This post was worth the price of admission for me just for this sentence, "So we pull off and begin snowshoeing in." You...in snowshoes...hmm...who'da thunk? Didn't know Blahnik made those...
posted on: March 10

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samantha says:
What an adventure! I also love the part where you 'snowshoed' toward Soliden. So glad all is well, and God bless all those hardworking people who got the road to Soliden and your house back on track! I can't imagine ever being happy to wash dishes, though.
posted on: March 10

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gatsby says:
It's just that, you know, some places are like people. Some "shine" and some don't. I guess you could say the Overlook Hotel here has somethin' almost like "shining."
posted on: March 10

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gatsby says:
also, a bit of research and voila! those treaded snowmobile things they drive were called "snowcats." if you have the means, i highly recommend you pick one up.
posted on: March 10

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Sheryl says:
Amazing how a loss of power can make you feel a twee vulnerable...not to mention a loss of roof. Glad all is well at Soliden.
posted on: March 11

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pastamasta says:
Ye Gods. And I complain when we run out of propane and I have to - perish the thought - switch the convection heaters on. I am officially a wuss now.
posted on: March 11

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Milly says:
I feel bad for that man losing his roof. Happy to see that Soliden is still standing. (Is it spring yet)??
posted on: March 11

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frozenmojo says:
once we get to florida, you and T can come and visit any time you need to get away from the joys of winter. :-)
posted on: March 11

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Margaret says:
Vous avez tellement de neige en mars? Ici il fait tres chaud(73) et le ciel est bleu. C'est comme l'ete et c'est ce que les eleves pensent aussi.
posted on: March 12

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katherine says:
. . . what a great story in pics! Isn't it amazing how weird things get when we are without these miracles of our culture for a bit? Good for you guys and going off the grid . . . :)
posted on: March 12

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