Still Standing

From my daughter's Instagram

So here we are on update two of the storm of the decade on the frozen Texas tundra.

While I won't share everything that happened in the last few days (we don't have that much time between us), I will say that from about five minutes after my last post on Monday morning  until five last evening I have been on a one hour on and one hour off or forty five minutes on and off power rotation here  (I have electric heat). Let me say here that I have been much much much luckier than others, 

People in the south of the state who are not used even to Dallas area  weather variations are in worse shape. While Dallas may not have snowfall or blizzards except as a ten year or so event it does have year around weather and some basic heating needs and preparation standards.  Folks down by San Antonio and the Hill Country and further south are very much not prepared for freezing weather from a home or a community support standpoint. The arctic freeze has had burning possessions just to keep their kids warm. It's tragic.

When the temperatures were zero and negative temperatures the house was lucky to be at about sixty four or so immediately AFTER the heat had done it's job, and would of course go much during the hour off. When warmed to twenties it was something a bit higher (yes, I know some of you keep your homes at various places in the sixties but NOT ME. Not even when I lived in the cold  cold north that is Connecticut). 

Soup on top of blanket on top of tray on top of other layers

Which means that for at least  two and a half days (closer to three) you need to imagine me as one of grandparents in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My bed was my home with all the blankets and in bed entertainment piled up,  and then I popped out after the heat would come on. I would try to walk around the house a bit, cook fast if I needed to, make sure everything was charging and if I had time check email and all that, before going back to knitting or reading or whatever in bed and starting all over-or not.  I even got in a couple warm showers. Before our current problem that is. And yes, you can make homemade vegetable and meatball soup in forty five minutes! While standing in three layers and still freezing. 

My daily goal includes going outside for some time every day. Goal met on at least one of those minus zero days. I won't answer for the rest.

The house slowly is warming, so onto problem two.  Most households in Texas all the way down to Mexico have been dripping every indoor faucet since Saturday night to avoid pipe freezes.  Leading to-wait for it- low water levels. So we are now on a boil order for cooking, dishwashing, teeth brushing and such. I'm actually washing my hands with soap and water and then sanitizing. Because I only have small pots and pans and storage, for now since it's just me I'm loading the dishes in the dishwasher and using paper plates on the theory that by Sunday maybe I can just run the darned thing, or if not wash them all. Meanwhile I'll wash things as they run out. I'm not sure I have faith in the sanitizing ability of this dishwasher and have no liquid bleach right now.

I'm low to no cooking and mainly zapping since I have a ham to slice, mac and cheese and homemade soups to zapp-along with fruit and salad which seem to have survived the fridge off and on abuse okay. The freezer seems solid and the only things I have questions about in the fridge are the quiche and maybe a couple condiments. I am trying to continue conserving, but keeping my heat above 65. Zapping and toaster oven only, charging electronics and moving to the bedroom early in the evening. No big appliances, slow cooking, washing, drying. I may end up having to take a real shower.

Since we are in the land of no snow plows and limited shovels, I probably will not get out today, more like tomorrow, much as I could use some bottled water and other things. I comfort myself with the 72 degree prediction a week from now and warm weather this weekend. Which is, after all, one of the reasons I moved to Texas, damn it!

Which of course is why so much of this has happened. Don't get me wrong, there are going to be all kinds of discussions when this is over. About the free market grid (that is also a non profit) that did not have some of the backups the feds require. About the fact that the nuclear power station in south Texas failed to winterize it's facilities as did the people who own and manage the wind turbines and the other energy backups. About Ted fucking Cruz going to Mexico with his family in the middle of this mess.

But. But. Much of the above is because Texas doesn't do blizzards. We don't have Arctic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Or at least we didn't before rapidly increasing climate change (I get to say we because I lived here before).  Texas does some temperate weather up north, and then hot (be it dry or humid down south). Many of us don't own snow shovels (see pictures) or plows unless we live far east or in the Panhandle. We have pools that can be used year around down south, our homes are often pier and beam (off the ground construction) and are made for being comfortable in the heat (not insulation from the cold, and the two are treated differently). Texans don't for example, winterize sprinklers and cover outside spiggots. The last blizzard was in 2011 during the superbowl and everything came to a standstill.

Obviously things need to change but the question is how much. Should the electric companies and energy sources be winterized? Sure, of course.  Should the city buy ten snow plows that will then be maintained for five to ten years to be used for 48 hours with taxpayer money?  Who knows. Should I have enough food for a week at all times (Including water which I did not unless you consider sparkling as water?), probably. Does my daughter need  shovel and a generator or a wood stove? Doubtful (but then again she has a husband and three dogs for warmth).

All I can say is that I have warn and abused some sweaters (through infinite layering), sweats and leggings more than I ever planned in the last four days (I may have to budget some replacements), I'll be more than ready to get out of the house anyway I can by tomorrow even if it's on the patio. I hope I will be able to get at least minimal groceries delivered by Sunday.

And that darned second poke is now probably a week and a half away ........sigh.

Also I am now alert, responsive and partially warm enough to respond to your comments which I've mainly ignored this lousy week!