Ice Storm 2009...devastated but alive!

Hey everyone!!!!

Tuesday night off and on all night as the limbs and branches were falling off our trees and we lay awake listening to each as they cracked and popped and crashed all around us....we didn't sleep a wink...I finally got up around 3:30am...and said the heck with it...I was going to watch the news to see what was being said about the storm....the power had been going off and on all night long....around 4:30am we lost power completely.....

We both got ready for work ...looking around outside would take your breath away...seeing all the damage around our house and neighborhood....knowing it was like this all across Kentucky....my days are mixed up because of everything...but Wed. or Thursday they declared Kentucky a statewide State of Emergency.....Jeff of course took me to work....thank goodness we both only live 8 minutes from work if that.....

When I got into work...my manager wasn't there ..and neither was my supervisor....or the lady who is 2nd in charge.... I am 3rd in charge so that left me to be the leader of the pack with over half of the staff not there because they couldn't make it to work.... I had been in charge an hour or two here or there but never for a full day....and for my first full day to be a supervisor to be a day when half the staff was gone and interviews to be had that day as well....was what I thought to be more than I could handle.... I had to take a deep breath...and breathe in and out a few times ...talking to myself telling myself...." You can do this, Terri....put your big girl panties on and deal with it"...lol

My manager called later in the morning and made it in around 10am....came to check on us and thanked me for taking charge of everything....and left me on my merry way to handle the rest of the day....as he had other things to tend to.....the interviews were to be re-scheduled....2 of the women to be interviewed actually showed up and made it through the ice storm to get there.....that really says something right there....I am on the hiring committee....so I have to remember the effort they put forth on that day....

I made it through the day being in charge....everyone of my coworkers treated me with respect and didn't give me any trouble at all....I was pleased ....thrilled for that matter cause I was a nervous wreck most of the day....lol

Thursday and friday both I had coworkers come up to me telling me how impressed they were with how I handled things ,one told me I did a phenomenal job....that really surprised me...and made me smile....another came up and told me I should actually be second in charge cause they thought I did a better job than our other coworker who is second in charge....lol That made me feel really good that something that made me stress out so much...and something I got so nervous about doing...actually turned out to be something good....

We have been getting free meals for breakfast or lunch this week in the cafeteria of the hospital for coming in to work in such conditions.....we had to work extra hours and work extra hard to keep up with the demand for clean linen not only for our patients but also because they opened up parts of the hospital for those coming off the streets for a warm place to stay...set it up as a shelter with cots and all....because the shelters across town I'm sure were full and not a hotel room to be found available....believe me we even tried to find one...with no such luck....

We toughed it out at home the first night(Wed.)....we woke up thursday morning and the house was 44 degrees inside....it was freezing...you could see your breath.....we might could have handled another night....but I don't think Beau(my chihuahua) could...he was shaking....we had a sweater on him....plus slept with 4 blankets on us....we had looked for ways to keep warm....tried a reddy heater that ran off propane ....wouldn't work.....had tried to get a generator....no such luck....as soon as places would get them they were gone....we were at a loss....just devastated.....both of us on edge and grouchy and stressed....

Thursday night...we decided to stay at Jeff's work in the office...they had heat.....he does night service as well for the company and always has a key and his boss is a really nice guy...and trust Jeff.....before we went there we took all of our food out of the fridge and freezer and packed it in a tote with a locking lid so no animals could get to it....and set it outside in the snow....to try to keep it nice and cold.... so we ran by Long John Silvers...thank the Lord for fast food and that they were open....and got a nice hot meal....and went back to the shop to stay.....around 9:30pm....My MIL called us and said they had just announced on the radio Sam's had generators....so as soon and she and Jeff hung up the phone...he called Sam's and sure enough they had 75..... Jeff got there within 10 mins and they were down to 30-40 of them @ ....$1,000 each.....Jeff called me so excited and said he got one.....he wanted me to stay at the shop while he and his friend...who is an electrician hooked it up....around 11:45pm...he came to get me to take me home.....we were so excited to have heat again.....we came in and got settled and went to bed as we had to work the next day.... I don't think we have really had a good nights rest all week....just too much going on......and under alot of stress....

I called Mom and Grandad and told them we had got a generator and they were welcome to come here if they wanted....but they are stubborn and are content at home...I guess if it gets cold enough they will trot their hineys down my way....lol

We all had to work today till 11:40am....to try to get enough stuff for the weekend at the hospital.....I came home...the generator had ran out of gas...but it was still 67 in the house...so not bad at all....I took a shower....and Jeff got home from work soon after.....I went in the kitchen and he said the neighbor had hollared over and ask if he could help him load his generator in his truck....and Jeff said whats wrong with it.....he said he never really got it to work right....that it was his dads....and then he said I am so glad the power is back on.... Jeff said "WHAT?" He said yeah it came back on just a few minutes ago....

WOOWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Jeff told them that I was home and prolly didn't even know it, and I didn't.....so I was so excited to hear that news!

They are warning people though that we could lose power again...cause they may have to turn those with power off while trying to restore others....and also that we could lose it again due to limbs falling on powerlines and such as the ice starts to melt.....I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't lose it again....

Lots and lots of ice is melting today.....I did manage to drive to work today.....took an hour or more to thaw my truck out yesterday so I could see out the windows today....I had to put my truck in 4 wheel drive to get out of my driveway and on some side roads....but the main roads are okay.....

I've been busy washing loads and loads of laundry and cleaning up the house and Jeff has been busy outside sawing up limbs and cleaning up some of the mess....it will take a long while to do so.... We did lose our dogwood :( It's okay though...I will miss it terribly....but can always try to replace it with a pink one this time....the other was white... I've always wanted a pink one...I've heard they are hard to grow though...until they mature a little......we will see....

My MIL is going to start staying with us tonight, for how long I don't know....so I won't be online much at all.....just wanted to get on here long enough to make a post and let everyone know that we are okay....it could be up to 3 weeks before mom gets her power restored.....she said to tell everyone hello...and she misses everyone and you will hear from her in a few weeks....I called her to tell her our power was restored and I said guess what one of the first things I turned on was....she said "Your computer"....I said yep....hahahaha!

Don't know what ya got till it's gone....that is my motto for this Ice Storm....goodness...did I learn some lessons....one being to not take everything for granted that it can be taken from you anytime.....

I haven't had a chance to read any of you in 4 days or so...and it may be a long while...but eventually I will be back in action around bloggerville....reading and writing....

I have lots of pics to share will try to get them on here sometime soon....but while we have company I doubt I will be online...

Until next time....