This morning, around 6 a.m., I woke up to a silent house, a blank display on my alarm clock, and a cold nose.

Last night, while we were making dinner, I got the robo-call telling me that my university job (which “never closes” and has closed twice in the two winters I’ve worked there) was closed today.

I got out of bed, encouraged the fire, grabbed my phone, made sure it was on airplane (we don’t get cell service here in the boonies and it just kills the batteries), and went back to bed.

It’s noon now, and the power is still out.  So’s the landline, so I can’t – without walking out into the middle of the street and praying – call NYSEG to find out how long they assume the power will be out.

I made House Thorne oatmeal on the wood stove, and T. made drip?? coffee with a filter stand.  We had toast – I finished a loaf of bread last night – at noon, and we’ve got water for tea heating up on the stove.  It’s 74F in the living room, 69F in the next room over, and probably 65,64F in the kitchen (we don’t have a thermometer in there).  So we’re in pretty good shape.

Of course, we’re in The Rather Rural, so we don’t have running water, which is a bit of a pain.  I “took a bath” by heating water (on the wood stove again) and sitting in front of the stove to shave and such things.  It helped, but it’s no proper shower.  And we might be out of gallons of water sitting around by the time the power comes back on – but that’s what they’re for, so hey.

It’s kind of nice, in a “I miss my internet people and I can’t play with my dragons and what happens when my laptop loses power” sort of way.  It’s quiet – “too quiet” – since there’s no fans, no furnace, no traffic, nothing but the wind and the water heating on the stove, T. talking to himself and reading the book out loud on occasion.

It’s the weird feeling, of “we’ve got this” combined with “but…” Mostly “but” being that “I miss my people and I really want a shower” sort of way.

Also, I’m not 100% sure what we’ll have for dinner, but I have a feeling it will involve rice, be cooked on the wood stove, and hopefully not involve opening the fridge or freezer.

Well, at least work is closed and I don’t have to worry about calling in. 😊