No way out
Hi to all of Ann’s fans… This is Bernie – Ann’s friend and her EMS Chief here in our small town.. So it’s my turn to be the “Guest Blogger”!!! Anyway, our area was basically devastated by a freakish October Storm, where about 15 inches of snow fell upon us, including all the trees which still had leaves.. So, many trees fell, taking power lines down and blocking roads. Ann was trapped in her house for about two days until guys dug her out by chopping up the trees and getting around the wires.. Early on in the storm, since the power was out, she and her caretaker walked out to check on the generator. About 40 feet away from the generator WHAAAAAAMMM!!! a gigantic tree limb fell on top of the generator. If the limb had fallen a few seconds sooner, Denis would need a new caretaker, our town would be short an EMT, and I would be the permanent new blogger here! Thank God Ann is typically late for everything she does!! It is now Day 5+ of having no power for the vast majority of our town, nor internet in most places. I have been sleeping on a FEMA supplied cot in the firehouse, which hasnt been too bad, other than being short on DVD’s to watch. I dont typically watch DVD’s, and I now like the even less after our James Bond DVD got stuck on the menu screen when all the guys fell asleep. ALL NIGHT LONG I kept hearing the James Bond ditty: “Do Do Do dooo,,, DO DO DOOOO” ALL NIGHT LONG.. It was kinda funny, but know I find myself telling everyone “my name is Bond, James Bond”.. Do Do Do Doooo,,, DO DO DOOOO…. Ugh..!! Ann graciously invited me to dinner at her house last night with power supplied by her (new) generator.. She made me & her husband a big plate of Chicken Puttanesca… it was awesome.. She still has chicken in case anyone is hungry, since she forgot to put that out! She’s quite the accomplished Chef.. As long as she remembers where all the entrees are!! It was a very nice thing to do, so I appreciate her and D’s hospitality.. Well, I suppose I should sign off here, but just so all you bloggers know, Ann will be back in blogspace soon, or maybe later, depending on when the power and cable internet come back to her house…….. that’s all I have for ya!! Ciao! Bernie
hey, bernie – thanks for the update! i was getting worried that we haven’t heard from ann. whew!
So nice of you to be the guest blogger and keep up informed! Hope you all get to dig out of the snow soon, it’s much too early to have to deal with that kind of snow.
We still have no internet, but I’m hoping to post tomorow.
With a generator and no Internet, maybe your new novel will be in its final, super polished state. Who needs editorial feedback at a time like this? Hope you are enjoying the inconvenience.
Actually, if you’re healthy again, you might have the entire first draft for a new one….
The picture you posted is exactly what my neighborhood looked like on Sunday morning. Still can’t believe all this happened in October and that Halloween had to be cancelled. Mother Nature really threw us a curve ball!
Being a Minnesotan now, I understand! I empathize! So glad that you escaped a too-close call with a gigantic tree limb. Keep taking care of yourself.
Sounds like y’all got the worst of it. Be careful out there.
Thanks so much, Bernie! Hope all returns to normal asap.
Bernie–I mean, Bond, James Bond–what a fab guest blogger you are. Now I know whom to call if I need one someday
Ann, so grateful you’re all safe and sound over there. I hate it’s been such a rough time. I’m in NYC for the marathon and I went with a friend to a nice big park on Staten Island so that Luke and her daughter could run around for awhile. There were dozens upon squared dozens of downed limbs. The park service had cut away the ones obscuring the trails, which was quite nice, but it was easy to see what the wreckage must’ve looked like beforehand. And I know you got the weather more severely where you are. Here’s hoping your home and property – your whole town and the surroundings – will be back to their wicked goodness sooner than soon ~
PS: : “Do Do Do dooo,,, DO DO DOOOO”
Sorry you didn’t get to do the Steep Rock thing. It wouldn’t have been the best of times to be there!! Happy trails and good racing luck in the NYC Marathon!!! Btw do they sell snow tires at the expo? Go, girl!!!
Denise, best of luck at the NYC marathon!
Denise, best of luck in the marathon!! Look forward to reading all about it. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Denise !!! NOOOOOO !!! NOT THAT SONG!!
Bernie: LOL
I wish I had the money to hire someone in Roxbury in need of work to follow you around and pop out of the scenery now & again chanting that song :0)
Just saw your kind wishes for the marathon–Thank you so much for thinking of me. I have no doubt all your good juju helped me get to the finish line!
This snowstorm wreaked havoc throughout most of Connecticut and parts beyond, unlike almost anything I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. The tree damage alone continues to be mind-boggling. I got electricity back on Wednesday afternoon but, as Bernie’s report illustrates, the more rural parts of the state are still without power nearly a week after the storm hit. Thankfully, just about everyone is safe. Inconvenienced, but safe.
And now the post-storm clean-up begins (and continues). Anyone need firewood?
Firewood….too cute, Alan. We’re trying to see around ours
Hi Bernie!Thanks for the update.I’m SO glad everyone is okay—that’s the most important thing, of course. Wishing you all a great weekend!
We actually went past your driveway on Sunday, under a precarious tree, over power lines, in order to get to Mom and Dad’s house for 40 gallons of water for the horses. They were the closest people we knew that had power! Another tree came down, so we turned around to take a main road, and one of the precarious trees had fallen, so we were trapped. On your road. We got out and managed to move a tree to get through.
We got power back on Wednesday – hope you continue to stay warm and don’t have too much tree cleanup to do!
Sounds like a thrilling journey! Glad you got home safely and got power again. Hope your horses and all the others out there are navigating well in the snow and slush. One good thing about our senior horses is that they’re all barefoot.
Glad to hear things are ok at Thundermoon Farm, KC.
Carol, thanks! Snoopy and Zeus are not barefoot – I ended up spraying Pam onto their shod feet so they wouldn’t collect snow, and it worked very well. The last two paces of our season were canceled due to Snoctober, so now we can pull their shoes for the winter!
Linda, thanks! We’ve still got a long way to go in terms of cleanup, but we’re a lot better off than many still without power.
Bernie, great post! It sounds like you’re pretty busy up there. You might want to hang on to that FEMA cot for a while. I think it’s going to be a long winter.
Ann, I’m impressed that you whipped up some chicken puttanesca (minus the chicken). Nice!
Thank you for the post and update Bernie. I am married to CPD myself, so I understand you and your guys being in the firehouse 24/7. Bless the first responders.
Great update Bernie! hope you guys get power back soon!!!
Thanks, Bernie, for being so kind to Ann’s blogging family. We have all been very concerned about her. I was very pleased to hear that Denis is with Ann. Hated to think she was enduring this alone. There is a better time coming, for you all.
i live in ceredigion, wales, uk and ive been watching the storms youve been having on tv. our weather is very mild at the moment, lots of rain though. glad to hear anne is ok and her caretaker after the tree fall. hope everything gets better soon for all of you. looking forward to hearing from anne.
Wow, that photo is just chilling! So glad, Ann, that you are okay. And Bernie, you are a good friend to let us know how our dear Ann is doing. I hope you all stay safe this winter!
Bernie, no wonder Ann speaks of you so fondly. You’re a great guy! Thanks for being our wonderful guest blogger today.
Hi there- So glad you are all ok! Sorry about the trees and Ann almost getting hit! Bernie you are an awesome blogger
Very funny! I can see why Ann likes being with you guys. Happy early winter to you all! Luckily in MN we haen’t had any yet, in fact it’s been very mild, knock on wood…
Bernie, you are the neatest! And thank you for taking care of yourself, Ann and D (not to forget little Holly). Amazing that it can snow like that, and just like that.
PS — Did I mention Holly BIT me ????? Thank God my boy Gomer still loves me…
The power was restored to ALL of Roxbury as of this evening.. Almost ten full days later…
Bernie, you did a terrific job of holding down the blog fort. Thank you for keeping us informed — and entertained! Love the James Bond thing. And how wonderful that Roxbury finally has power tonight!!!
But I can’t believe that Holly bit you. The little wolverine! Bless her heart.
Lol. We had power for six whole days and now it’s out again. Windy the other day– must’ve dried out broken tree tops and branches. Now they are brittle and breaking. Parts of Washington still without power two days ago.