I’m writing this on my PDA to be blogged later, because the title of this post is pretty much literally true: there’s heavy weather coming this way, just about here, judging by the amount of thunder I’m hearing, so I’ve unplugged just about everything as a precaution. Chances of a hit causing damage are actually quite small, but I figured that while I was home I might as well be cautious for a change.
Some 5 minutes later now and the sounds of rain and thunder are the only things I’m hearing. This is almost certainly no more than the leading edge of the storm, but I’ve already seen some flashes pretty nearby. I’ve also found that, even with rain, wind, and thunder around my room somehow feels unnaturally quiet without the computers or the fridge running. It’s not a bad thing, but it does feel weird.
I’ve been doing some reading, also on my PDA so it’s now probably half an hour since I started this post. The rain has slackened a little in the last ten minutes or so, but every time I start to think the whole thing might be over the thunder rolls again. In fact there was just a particularly bright flash, followed by a truly deafening roll of thunder instantly. There’s definitely been a hit nearby, but where exactly and what the consequences might be only time will tell.
One hour in, just about, and the lightning seems to have pretty much stopped. I’ll give it another 10 or 15 minutes, but we’re probably approaching the point where we can plug everything in again… And of course there was a lightning strike just as I finished that last sentence.
It’s now a little over two hours since the great unplugging started. The weather’s passed and everything is back up and running as usual. It was an interesting experiment especially as, while I didn’t actually unscrew any lightbulbs, I didn’t switch the lights on either. Aside from the PDA I was pretty much living without electricity while the storm lasted, and as a result I found myself dozing off at one point; I didn’t feel like reading or writing, and there just wasn’t anything else to do.
July 29th, 2008 at 21:23
Wow, you unplug your fridge in a thunderstorm? I usually just shut down the computer and everything else of value (=external hard drives). If anything should happen, insurance will cover it. Come to think of it … am I insured? *mental note: need to check*
I find thunderstorms extremely relaxing, though. I love to watch the rain pounding down, the lightning flash across the sky and listening to the sound of the wind. Of course, only if I am safe and sound inside – I’ve once been hit by the electrostatic discharge of a lightning strike nearby (I was touching the metal of our balcony banisters) and that hurt quite a bit. Don’t need to repeat that experience.
Oh, and The Cat comes to snuggle beside me as long as there is lightning so that’s nice too
July 29th, 2008 at 21:41
Only reason I unplugged the fridge is that it’s on one group with the computers (my only earthed power is on the kitchen group). It’s easier to yank the whole thing out than to just take out the computer stuff.
I also tend to find thunderstorms relaxing – I did mention nearly falling asleep, didn’t I? Actually when noticed I’d started to doze off I couldn’t help remembering Babylon 5, and Sheridan going to sleep on the White Star.
July 30th, 2008 at 07:08
Yes, you mentioned going to sleep
And yes, again. Sheridan and the raindrops. I don’t remember if it was you I was mentioning that to or someone else, but when I first saw that scene I went like “That’s me! That’s so me!”
In this case, thanks for sending along the bad weather, it looks like we’re going to have some thunder and lightning today. Since I am at work, I will have to watch out though to not daze off while watching the rain pour down
July 30th, 2008 at 11:51
I had the same feeling when I first saw that scene. Though what I usually like to do in bad weather (pretty much regardless of the time of day) is get in bed, curl up nice and warm under the covers, and read. But I love to have rain late at night just as I’m going to sleep, I’m certain of a good night’s rest when that happens.
August 1st, 2008 at 15:10
[...] Jarsto was lucky enough to experience that some days earlier and I prematurely assumed the thunderstorms would hit us the next day, it seems that our turn has [...]