Best Laid Plans...

For the first time in 35 years, Greg and I couldn't be together on Christmas Day. I was just about to leave the house and make the five-hour trip to his house when he called and said one of our pine trees knocked down our power line. The force was so great, it ripped the meter off the house. Oy!

To add insult to injury, he couldn't come up to me because he is working for the next three days.

Of all the times to lose power, why did it have to be Christmas Day? Our biggest worry was all the food he had bought in anticipation of my arrival. I was planning on cooking a big feast, but with no power, he kept the refrigerator door shut to preserve the cold for as long as possible.

By the second day without power he was losing hope and needed his wife for comfort and support, so I made the pilgrimage down there. Bless Greg's heart, somehow he got our old generator working so we saved the food.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it'll keep working until the electric company can restore our power--after we call an electrician first to replace the meter. A friend of ours warned us that little expense is going to be pricey, but we don't have a choice. Code demands that meters be replaced by certified electricians.

It's been a very stressful holiday. 

I hope your Christmas was a good one. I know some of you are dealing with some pretty harsh weather. Hope everyone is safe. What's been happening at your place?

Are there any last minute things you plan to do before the year ends?

Comments

Linda Leszczuk said…
Aw, Maria, I'm so sorry your Christmas plans got so messed up and you and Greg spent the day apart. Hope you get the electric problems works out and it only costs a small forture.
Angelina Rain said…
Oh, I’m sorry to hear about your stressful Christmas. It would have sucked to spend it apart from your other half, but to spend it with no power is even worse. I hope you don’t pay a fortune for getting that fixed.
Andrea Coulter said…
That sucks - I hope power is restored soon! I'm without my other half too; he's due to get back from Afghanistan on Jan 2. Of course, with this weather, it could be later if his flights are delayed :-/

As for last minute things, I need to buy him a birthday gift :)
Rula Sinara said…
Oh, Maria. I'm so sorry for what happened. Power loss must mean no heat, so I hope you two are taking advantage of the situation ;)

We used to lose our power a lot from downed trees a few years ago. Once it went out 3 minutes after I took the turkey out of the oven. Since then, the electr. company had trees trimmed.

I hope it's on soon and you have a nice New Year.

And Lynn, I hope your sweetie gets back on time safe and sound.
Anonymous said…
So glad you've managed to salvage some of your Christmas. I think it's called stamina building! It can be a stressful time of year, lovely to hear you're keeping each other warm, merry and bright :O)
Sarah Ahiers said…
ahh that stinks about the power. But in a few years, this will be another Christmas to remember
Sorry to hear this. Glad you could save the food and all and you are now together.

Jacqueline Howett Author of The Greek Seaman

http://jacquelinehowett.blogspot.com/
Cathy in AK said…
Sorry about your tree/electrical line close encounter. Generators are handy little beasts, aren't they? Glad you were able to get to Greg eventually, and I'd imagine you made up for lost time : )

Try to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday.

My week is going to be dedicated to finishing up the wip to get it out to my crit partners. Really. An Old Year Resolution , I guess ; )

Happy New Year!
Krista D. Ball said…
Good heavens! And I guess it was too warm to put the food on the back deck (that's where all of my frozen new years eve food is right now LOL)


You guys have been together 35 years? Crazy. As my mom says, "The only reason your dad and I are still together is because the knives were never nearby." (Mom&Dad, married 59 years)
Meghan S. said…
I'm sorry you two had to spend Christmas apart. But there will be very many more to celebrate in the future!
James Garcia Jr said…
I agree with Sarah, Maria. One day this will make a great story for family and friends, but right now it is terrible. Good luck to you getting all of the pieces put back together and I hope it will be a much better New Year's.

-Jimmy
Maria Zannini said…
Thanks for all the good wishes, guys. Things have not improved, so I'm limiting my computer time in order to conserve energy for the more important equipment.
Maria Zannini said…
Lynn: I didn't know your hubby was in Afghanistan. You poor thing! I hope he's home soon. I will keep him in my prayers.
Maria Zannini said…
Rula: We went through Hurricane Rita which it seems is still testing us. The tree that fell on the power line was half of a giant pine that survived the hurricane five years ago. It was leaning in the opposite direction--instead it falls in the only spot that could have hurt us.
Maria Zannini said…
Welcome, Jacqueline! Thanks for following. I have just followed you back.

Ref: food
That was a huge relief because we spent a lot of money on the rib roast.
Maria Zannini said…
Cathy: I am supposed to be working on the second round for Apocalypse Rising, but I won't be able to touch it until I get back. --very bad timing.
Maria Zannini said…
Krista: It's cold at night, but it gets up into the 50s during the daytime--too warm for meat.

PS I love your mother. LOL! She's my kind of friend.
Maria Zannini said…
Jimmy, I'm counting on New Year's to be better. I think I paid for my fair share of bad luck to last a couple of years.
Maria Zannini said…
Linda, Angelina, Madeleine, Sarah, Meghan: You guys have been so sweet to write in with your support. Thanks!
J.L. Johnson said…
So sorry to hear about your power problem. Things like that always happen when life is going the way you want it too.

I got hit with a sinus infection Christmas day (it came on fast too) and even today I'm not feeling very healthy. ONe good thing, Husband did an excellent job cleaning up the livingroom after the holiday mess, so I don't have that to worry about.

No last minute things here, but I plan on opening that bottle of cheap wine I always have for the holidays.

Might need a few days to recover from New Years Eve.
Mason Canyon said…
Hope you get your power on soon and the repair bill isn't too outrageous. May the New Year bring much happiness, peace and success to help you overcome the Christmas stress.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Maria Zannini said…
JL: I'm so sorry about the sinus infection--and right on Christmas. At least you have a good husband. He gets a gold star. :)
Maria Zannini said…
Mason: Thye gave us an estimate at a $1000. Right now I'll be grateful if they can get it done in one day, though we'll still have to wait for an inspector and then the power company to do the final hook up.

But I am looking forward to a good New Year.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Marianne Arkins said…
I'm so sorry your Christmas was stressful! No fair :-(

Wishing you a healthy, happy, stress-free and prosperous new year.
I am so sorry this happened to you!!

We had a near problem when our car broke down a half mile from my mom's house the day Christmas but we were able to get the rest of the way to her house and my stepdad was able to fix it so we were able to drive the 2 and a half hours back home later that evening.
Dru said…
I'm sorry that your Christmas didn't go as plan.

2011 is your year!
Maria Zannini said…
Marianne, Kimber, Dru: Thanks for the good wishes.

Dru--I hope so. :grin:
Victoria Dixon said…
Oy, well, I'm glad you have power at least! We'd be moving in with my parents if we lost power and had no generator, but not everyone has that option. Our Christmas was great except when I totaled our car on the 23rd. That part sucked, I'll admit, but this sort of thing does help you see what's important. Your house wasn't destroyed by the tree and no one was hurt. Despite the fact that I hit a stationary car at somewhere between 50-70 mph, I didn't physically hurt anyone. These are good things. :D