AUSTIN POWERS?

The power went out at around 1:30 a.m., last Sunday morning. I was awoken by the lack of peripheral noise.  It is like an alarm clock but in reverse.  I lay awake for some time, listening to the silence, and wondering how long it would be before  normality was restored.   A bright yellow flashing beacon lit the bedroom, and I saw the 'maintenance' truck bearing the city emblem come into our complex.  Why the beacon was flashing was a mystery, as there was no need to announce its presence.  Why it stopped directly beneath my window was also a mystery!  An hour later, the wind was howling and carrying the conversation between our association chairman, and the city worker, into my room, which accompanied by the ever flashing beacon kept sleep from being an option.  An hour later all was quiet, and still very dark.

I did not have a particular fancy for breakfast on Sunday morning, but with the lack of electricity, coffee would have been a little less easy to make.  I had been laying, awake, thinking of all the options without electricity and had devised a 'short' long term plan for the day's meals and beverages.  Of course, my main task for the day was at this time not an option either, as I had planned to clean my fridge and steam clean my kitchen counters.  Opening the fridge unnecessarily when there is a power cut is not a good idea and my fabulous, amazing, all purpose steamer runs on electricity.  My plans, once again, were scuppered.  

Breakfast was enjoyable, and the electricity was restored just before we left to go and enjoy!  As we were up and dressed, we continued with the new programme.  We discussed the lack of electricity and how we are so reliant upon the source.  Dana was both amused, and impressed by my 'survival' strategy, and I told him that, as a young girl, I had been camping with the Girl Guides (female equivalent of scouting) and we had basically lived for ten days without 'creature comfort'.  Admittedly, there was a building that had electricity, but our meals were cooked on an open wood stove, and our hot water was from a wood fired boiler, and we collected our own wood, and were taught about edible plants.  All in all, we could have been self-sufficient.  "Didn't you ever go camping?" I asked.  It appeared that he did, when he was in the army, but they were provided with food, and gas stoves 'of sorts'.  Camping, for me, was not the 'glam-ping' that it is now!  It was a valuable lesson!  I still marvel at the difference between our cultures, and how what some of my contemporaries here considered to be hardship, I considered to be a luxury.  "When we went on a road trip, we could only afford to stop at hamburger joints".  What we wouldn't do to be able to stop at a hamburger joint!  

Completing all my tasks was a great source of relief to me, but I had not realised it would take so long.  I made some extra sandwiches for supper, to supplement the left overs from the day before, and we enjoyed a second round of 'high tea'.

Monday started off a little cooler than expected, but it was going to warm up during the week.  I had planned to cook dinner in the evening, but we had a very busy day at work, and a 'buy one, get one' at the local Italian restaurant.   It appeared hardship had hit the restaurant.  We were served by a waiter that we have met before.  He told us that they had been experiencing a rather fraught day, as a waitress had just 'walked out' and took her boyfriend with her.  Unfortunately, the boyfriend was one of the cooks!  Dinner may take longer than usual.  "I think he has gone to look for the cook and waitress", I said to Dana, when we finished our meal and were ready for the check.  We had not seen 'Rod' for sometime, and neither, it would appear, had the hostess nor the manager!  He had just disappeared.  At least the electricity was still on!

I was very aware on Tuesday at quite how much we take for granted.  The saying 'the more you have, the more you want', was definitely brought to mind as we went to the radio station for a 'meet and greet'.  Over the past few weeks, we have been treated to pizza for lunch, and although it has been amazing pizza (thank you Jets!) we have all laughed at the option of 'pizza again'.  Majic radio usual provide sandwiches, or tacos, and we were excited not only for the show and 'meeting', but for a change of food.  Samantha suppressed her groan as they walked in with boxes of pizza, and not from Jets!  It was 'okay' pizza.  I laughed to myself.  I remember a time when pizza was a delicacy, and now I am comparing what I consider to be good and bad!  Alec Benjamin is a young man with a unique voice.  We really enjoyed the show.  He also appears to be a very compassionate young man, as one of his fans had bought tickets to his show, only to find out that they were not genuine.  During the performance, he asked if the said fan was present.  She was, and they struck up a rapport, with the besotted fan singing along, out loud, to his next song, and the performer encouraging the accompaniment.  I watched another disappointed member of the audience, this time not under impressed with the pizza, but rather irritated by the attention not being given to her.  She had been mouthing the words, all the words, to all the songs, and had not received any recognition.  Oh to be young again!  The battle for 'Mrs Benjamin' had begun, and one of the contenders was gaining ground without trying!  

Gail was at the coffee shop on Wednesday morning, and it was lovely to see her, as she has been absent for weeks!  We discussed months of news in about half an hour, an ability women seem to have, no matter their nationality or culture!  (Yes, a sexist remark!) 

By Thursday, the temperatures were back in the eighties, and air-conditioning was becoming vital.  Fans are a good alternative, but electricity is needed for both!  I learned a few tricks when our 'a/c' was not working, and was quite pleased with myself, but could not help but think about all the times I hear of places being without the 'utility' for any length of time.  I remembered times when we had frequent power cuts and how we played board games by candlelight, and did not worry about whether the Internet was going to work, because it wasn't a 'thing' at the time.  "We didn't always have air-conditioning in our homes when we were kids", comes the transatlantic comment. "We didn't have air-conditioning, period!" say I!  I have become rather desensitised to what it was like before moving here, but then I try not to be too blase!  

The trip to the 'third' radio station was at lunchtime on Thursday.  Grant had experienced only one up until this week, and was now on his second 'new' case!  We were going to a live broadcast, with Max Frost!  Lunch was provided by Torchy's Tacos, and was served to us by staff from the restaurant.  As the weather was beautiful, we went out to the patio, and sat down.  Blake, our newest recruit, came with us, and we started to eat our tacos, and chips with queso.  "May I join?" said a lone male.  We all nodded.  After exchanging pleasantries, it was apparent that this person was in need of a 'pat on the back' if not more.  "Oh, I win stuff all the time.  I am always here, and go to other recordings.  I mean, why pay for tickets if you can win them.  People ask, 'how do you win all the time', and I tell them, takes five minutes.  I am going to see........", and he continued.  I sat in silence.  After all, he was a born and bred local.  I was the foreigner.  The foreigner if not for whom the 'locals' in my office would not experience these events.  I did not mean to burst his bubble.  (Seriously! I did not mean to, as I thought he would have taken part in all the contests.)  I mentioned that we had been to a couple of 'meet and greets' every week for the past six weeks or so.  He looked aghast.  "Here?" he questioned.  "No!" said Grant and told him where we had been.  "How d'y'all do that?" he asked.  Two fingers, one Grant's, one Samantha's, pointed at me!  "How?" he asked again, with a distinct break in his voice.  I told him that I just enter online.  He seemed most distressed.  However, I think he found a new sense of competitiveness!  On the other hand, I found a new site to enter contests!  

The recording was fun, and again the singer had a unique sound. I approached his mother, who was in the audience, and chatted for a while whilst my three comrades were having their picture taken.  She seemed quite delighted at having someone tell her that she had a 'great kid', and kept me talking!  

Friday was hot, and sultry.  Work appeared to be slow, but when the end of the day came, it had not been quite as quiet as we first thought.  Most of the work came in post 'quitting time', and we left later than I thought we would.  

I was left to my own devices on Saturday.  Samantha's dad was in town, and they were going shopping.  Edward dropped the dog with Dana, early, and I went to Walmart and the Dollar Tree.  It was warm, but the temperature had dropped about ten degrees below the forecast.  Clouds were looming as I entered Costco.  "Looked like they were moving East, when I went for my break.  I think we are in the clear", said one of the demonstrators.  It still amazes me how everyone here knows their directions, and I only know North and South because the road signs tell me!  I suppose I could use them to decipher East and West, but it does not come naturally!  However, as he made the comment, there was a loud clanging above, as the rain bucketed down on to the roof!  I was glad I brought my umbrella and used it as I left the warehouse.  My 'goods' did not have the same protection, and by the time I got to my car, everything was not only soaking but dripping.  I got drenched from the umbrella to the car!  

Driving north (I know because the road sign said so) my radio broadcast was interrupted by loud sirens.  I pulled up outside the Dollar Tree and was told, in no uncertain terms, to find cover as soon as possible, not to go out in my car, and not to venture outside.  We were on tornado watch, and it was very dangerous.  I did not hear the 'turn around, don't drown' warning, as I exited the car and ran to the store!  Of course, I had to leave at some point, and waited for the torrential rain to calm to a downpour, and headed out again.  I stopped at one more shop, and then headed home.  I felt as if I was in a car wash, with the water cascading down my windshield.  I thought someone was throwing cans of something at the boot, as I went slowly along the highway, and then the warning of 'large hail stones' came over the airwaves.  The traffic could not move too fast, as the dips in the road were flooded, and water was rushing into the dales from all angles.  I have driven in snow, ice, fog and hail, but this was something else!  However, despite the careful driving, my fellow Austinites continued to leave no space between them and the vehicle in front!  It is amazing how most cannot parallel park with a space of half a block, but can fit a full size 'SUV' in the space the size of a fingernail, should you leave such a gap between you and the car in front!  I mean no disrespect, just pointing out what I consider to be a phenomena!  

I got home at around three, and was happy to pull into my carport.  It had been quite a harrowing drive home!  Edward arrived a little before seven and took the dog home.  

Dana and I decided to go out between storms.  We went to a Mediterranean Buffet which was on the north side of town (the road sign said so) and ate a hearty meal!  I walked over to get some cutlery, heard two women talking and recognised the accents.  "Excuse me", I said, wanting to interrupt their conversation, as I was rather excited at hearing not one, but two of my fellow country folk.  The moved back and apologised for getting in the way.  "Please don't apologise", said I, "I just heard the accents!"  The elder of the two shrieked, "You're English!"  The younger lady was pregnant, and originally from Sheffield, and still hailed a very strong accent.  She had been here for nine years.  The Older lady had been here for 33 years, and was from Sussex.  We chatted for a while and returned to our respective husbands.  I felt a wave of happiness go over me.  It is a feeling that cannot be described. It is as if you have met some old school friends on the train, or bumped into someone with whom you were 'besties', but lost touch.  I went over to the older lady's table as we were about to leave and she introduced me to her husband.  "He is from Sussex, too", she said.  I introduced them to Dana.  "He is not from Sussex, nor England!" I said.  We chatted for a while, and although did not swap contact details (as contact is rarely continued) we said we may see them again, as we both frequent the restaurant.  I waived to the Sheffield lady as I left and she responded with a wave, and a wide smile.  I think we all enjoyed the encounter!  Dana seemed to understand my joy!

The power went out at about seven thirty on Sunday morning.  Thunder and lightening had filled the night, and sleep was not much of an option.  However, at around seven, the lightening became more fierce, and the thunder claps deafening, until finally one of them sounded like a severe crack, and all went off!  I did not have a particular fancy for breakfast on Sunday morning, but with the lack of electricity, coffee would have been a little less easy to make!  We headed off to our usual haunt and I drank cups of the caffeinated beverage to my heart's delight!  Just after we ordered our breakfast, Grant and his mum walked in!  He was taking her grocery shopping and decided to start with breakfast, but there were few options where they live.  They joined us and we enjoyed the company.  I walked when we returned, albeit in conditions that had been deemed as dangerous.  The lights had come back on and all appeared to be well!  Dana is sure that our transformer has a sign, pointing to the skies, that reads "Bulls eye!"  

I had a wonderful conversation with my son and grandsons, although my younger grandson asked for 'Poppa' as soon as he answered the phone!  The rain is still pouring, but the skies have gone from bright to dim, and back again, over the past few hours.  The intended afternoon of a trip to the pool with my book is not on the agenda anymore!  I had such high hopes on Monday!  

Plans for the coming week are all going to be new, as I have nothing out of the norm on the horizon.  Perhaps all the contests will be won by the guy who appeared to be bereft on Thursday, or perhaps the young lady whom was not the object of Tuesday's singer's attention will find another 'would be' mate, in contests that were entered by yours truly. At this precise moment in time, all I really hope for is an electricity powered week, and a little less moisture in the air, but that will all be in ............. another story!