Dear Diary -

I had visitors!  Michelle and Alan Piper walked over with their seven-year old grandkids, Ellie and Miles, from their farm a mile or so up the road to make sure that someone was taking care of Pee-Wee.  I don't know who was more surprised, me when I saw their merry band traipsing up the long gravel driveway or the Pipers when they spotted me trundling out from the side of the house with a wheelbarrow full of wood.  Pee-Wee seemed to be the only one not effected by the sudden appearances - after a few high-pitched barks she plopped down in front of the kids and let them love on her while Michelle, Alan and I talked on the front porch.

I confirmed a few things that I had already guessed - no power and no working vehicles at their place either.  No phone service, no radios, no nothing.  Alan said he's going to walk into town in a bit to maybe talk to the Sheriff to get some more information about what's going on and offered to stop by and let me know what he finds out on his way back home.  It sounds like Michelle and the kids have a full afternoon of taking care of their animals and looking for frogs, which is probably infinitely more exciting than going back into the shed in search of dad's old camping equipment.

Apparently I have a lot to learn about country living.  It turns out the logs that I had loaded up to use in the wood stove were this year's logs, not last year's, and something about seasoning and smoking and buildup in the chimney and all kinds of things that I would have never known.  Alan pointed me to the right stack (along the back of the shed furthest from the driveway) and told me to remember to open the flue or risk smoking up the entire house.  Yet another crisis narrowly averted...

I'm just excited about the chance to be warm and maybe have a hot meal tonight.  With the power still out I'm worried that it won't be too long before the stuff in the fridge and freezer starts to go bad.  Luckily I already threw that expired milk out!

I can't get over how quiet it is.  I'm used to living life with background noise - the radio in the shower, the television anytime else.  As a kid I couldn't do homework in a completely quiet room and as an adult I have a really hard time sleeping without the t.v. on.  Last night I swear the entire house was creaking and groaning.  It's bad enough to hear that kind of stuff in your own house, surrounded by your own belongings and familiar routines, but there's something ultra-creepy about hearing the same noises in a strange house.

More good news - I found some unscented candles in the buffet!  At least my date with Jack tonight won't smell like rancid flowers.  Add that to some warm Chef Boyardee and toasty tootsies and it sounds like a heck of a Tuesday night to me.  Wow.  Sure doesn't take much to entertain me, does it???

S