Like Darren, I don’t know that whining about my own personal struggle is prudent, considering that many people aren’t even CLOSE to getting services restored, but I had an interesting talk with a co-worker that kind of got me thinking. This ice storm we’re having is the most disruptive weather-related situation I can recall. When there’s snow, schools close, roads close, but it goes away. When there’s a tornado, there’s a path of destruction, and though it’s completely devastating to that area, its effects are not felt widespread.
This ice storm knocked hundreds of thousands of people out of power in the dead of winter, which had a domino effect which then salted the wounds of the power outage. Because it was such a massive attack on the power grids, KEY facilities like hospitals, schools and water treatment plants weren’t able to be instantly restored as they would in other emergency situations. There are TONS of boil advisories in the western part of Kentucky now, because they can’t treat the water without electricity. I heard stories of police taking doctors and nurses to work because they couldn’t get there otherwise.
My power was restored only three days later, and my comfort level with being Angie’s guest was beginning to wear. Not because of my host, AT ALL, just because of my INABILITY to BE HOME. I like being home. But more to the point, I like the OPTION of being home. And that wasn’t available to me. So I can’t IMAGINE what it’s like for the people still affected, in hotels, with relatives or out of town, waiting for service.
My mother and dad lost power, twice, over the course of the week. Once immediately, the next time for about an hour and a half on Friday. At the time of writing this, Angie’s parents are STILL without power, and are with Angie. In situations like that, it can’t be easy for anyone involved.
Changing the subject a bit, I’m really glad we ended up watching the Super Bowl. Angie and I were a bit ‘meh’ on the whole situation, since we didn’t give a crap about either team involved, but after talking, both settled on the Cardinals; Angie because of their apparent underdog status, me because Warner used to play for the Rams. If I HAVE a favorite team, I suppose it would be them. They’re the only ones I pay much attention to at all. Living in Colts/Bears country, it’s a no-no, anyway.
<rant> I’m going to say it, and you may disagree with me, and I don’t care. I don’t even like typing this phrase because of its severe overuse recently. If I can find another way to describe it, I’ll rephrase this statement, but here it goes: The Office has jumped the shark. I’m not sure when. I don’t have a specific instance in mind. I just keep watching it and thinking, “Man, this show used to be FUNNY.” I keep giving it pity-viewings, hoping it will snap out of it, but I just don’t find it as funny anymore, ESPECIALLY the ones Paul Lieberstein writes. After every especially bad one, Angie or I say, “I bet Toby wrote this one”, and we’re generally right. What’s really a bummer is that I LOVE Toby’s character on the show. I think he’s one of the most underused characters, actually. I love Michael’s completely unfounded resentment and anger towards him. But when Paul writes Michael Scott, he writes him like a mean, self-centered moron. The best Michael episodes, to me, are when he’s written like a well-intentioned, un-hip, bumbling guy that has a ridiculous vocabulary, but loves his job and the people that work for him. </rant>
Stay warm, Tri-State.
Seth Family, Friends, Rant
I still don’t have that much interesting stuff to write. 
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