Update-yness, What I've Been Doing Since The Hurricane, And Whining Despite My Good Intentions

[fairjennet]

Hey there. Typing is kind of soothing today, with the nice clickity-clack of the keys over the lovely electrical hum of the air conditioner. Something soothing is definitely what I need right about now. Ahhh...electricity. I love, love, love electricity.

Since the hurricane, I've been working double shifts at my Grandma's house. She has no power, and asks me every twenty minutes or so why her lamp/tv/refrigerator doesn't work. Seriously, every twenty minutes except when she's actually sleeping. Since last Saturday.

Yes, I did say Saturday.

It's not her fault that she can't remember, but I swear I'm going to shake her one of these times. Okay, so probably not, but still. Every. Twenty. Minutes. The kiddo, who is coming to her house with me until Dad cleans up from the flooding in his place, ends up arguing with her every time she does it. It always turns into a huge dramatic mess. Luckily, we have some relief nurses coming in now, and I have tomorrow and the next day off. Thank you God.

I can't believe I'm whining about my grandma, who after all is safe, alive, and has a roof over her head--just like the rest of my friends and family here in Houston. Isn't it funny how the little annoyances become so very annoying even though they don't really matter at all? Even after living through something as dangerous as a hurricane? After all the craziness, there are so, so many good things that I should be thanking my stars about. I think I'll make a list.

1. We're alive.

2. The people I love are safe and well (if a bit soggy and temperamental in places).

3. The really big oak tree did not, in fact, crash into my apartment building like the other oak tree did to the people who live two buildings down. I have a roof and intact windows and actually no damage at all. I am so, so, so lucky.

4. I went to the grocery store yesterday. It was open.

5. The neighbors across the street from my grandma's house are very nice. I met them while hauling tree limbs to the curb, thereby getting to talk to someone with a mental age of above ten years. Wheee!

6. I have power! Electrical power is wonderful, I can't stress this enough.

7. Having gas in the tank of my van is pretty wonderful too, even if it did take me an hour and a half to get it.

8. Normally, an hour is entirely too long to wait for a McDonald's hamburger--but it was totally worth it after so many days of eating food out of a can. It tasted sooooo good.

9. I'm here and alive and safe to whine about the little things. Yay for human nature.

Geez, what a list--half complaining, half grateful. It's times like these when I realize what a silly thing I really am. :D

Comments

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

((hug))

You're allowed to whine. I'm glad you are safe. Curu and I miss you. <3

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

Whee! I'm allowed to whine! I sure do love to whine.

Thank you for thinking of me. <3

I miss you and Curu, too. Saeros, naturally, is despondent. He misses Curu so much he's writing poetry again. You should read his journal. Seriously, it's sooooo awful.

(Yes, the icon is Saeros. See how sad he is? *hee* omg, I need to shut up and go to sleep.)

[phyncke.livejournal.com]

Yay for whiney you! Woot.

Glad to see a post from you. I need to do a post. I get so dog tired though. Yikes. I just post buns and leave it at that.

But srsly. Glad you are doing ok.

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

I'm soooo good at whining. It's, like, a gift. :D

*hee* You do all sorts of post-y things. Buns, dolls, addicting new time sucking internet thingies...

But srsly, thanks!

[aralisian.livejournal.com]

So glad you and your family are safe and electrified. =]

My family still doesn't have power. *sigh*

I managed to make it out of Texas before the Hurricane hit. My parent's bought my ticket to SA a few months back and, yeah, I was flying when it made a line for Houston/Galveston.

I wish we could have met up before I left! *sigh sigh* I've just been so broke (still am, actually ... flew to another friggin' country with 200 bucks. No, I'm don't know what I'm thinking ...) but I'm sure I'll be back in no time at all!

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you and yours are all safe as well. Hope they get power back soon. Electricity is love and comfort. ^_^

You didn't get any water in your house, did you? I know that park over there seems to flood anytime there's a storm, so I thought about you guys. Of course, I didn't know you were up in the air at the time; then I really would have worried. Not that the pilot would have actually flown through the storm or anything...but still. That must have been scary to wonder what was happening back home. *hugs*

If there's anything I and my electricity-full apartment can do to help, tell your mom she can call. I know I live kind of far, but if they end up driving toward town for any reason-- they're welcome to stop here for laundry, charging cell phones, or whatever.

I wish we could have managed to meet up before you left, too. Of course, I was just as broke, and probably still will be when you get back. We should maybe plan to do something like bring our own coffee to a park bench. :P

Wow, this somehow turned into a really long reply. Oops.

[aralisian.livejournal.com]

Apologies for taking awhile to respond! I was out and about all weekend.

We actually didn't get any water inside. A few shingles flew off the roof, and our fence fell over, but that's really about it. We were lucky. Oh, and yes, Bear Creek does flood badly although I can't say we've ever been affected by it. I've just always wondered what they do with the animals!

Thank you so much for the kind offer. It's EXTREMELY sweet of you. You know, our half of the street was out of power for over a week while the other half was all connected and running. There wasn't a single neighbor that offered any sort of help ... ! Luckily, my family managed to loan a generator from a relative. They've been okay the last few days, and I actually got a text last night saying the power had come back on. =]

We will totally figure out a way to meet up again when I return. It'll be my treat! After all, you gave us tickets to the Renaissance Faire and even offered your home and electricity ... it's the least I can do!

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

Silly! It's not like I offered diamonds and one of my kidneys or something. :D I just ripped some comp tickets off of the huge stack I had on the table; and it's not like sharing a bit of electricity would have been a huge burden. Besides, I like your family. They're lovely.

Hope you're having a wonderful time out there! And yes, we'll figure out something when you come back. (But treat, shmeat. There's no need. I'm the QUEEN of doing stuff that costs next to no money.)

Also, yay for power!

[aralisian.livejournal.com]

LOL. Still, your kindness is not lost on us. Again, thank you.

I'm adjusting here. Had to get over the jet-lag (ew) and now I'm trying to sort a schedule out for myself. Need to try and keep busy, you know?

No worries! I'd actually love tooo!

Yay for power! =]

[luin77.livejournal.com]

That's not whining! I hope things settle back to normal very soon. *hugs*

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You're very kind to say so. Things are starting to get back to normal now. My grandma even has power! Yay!

[spacebee.livejournal.com]

Which grocery store? I'm going to call you tomorrow. I just got in from Austin.

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

Actually, I went to the dollar store down the street. That counts since they had food, right? Chips and beefaroni, the basic food groups. :D

The Wal-Mart on Dunvale was open today. Their credit card machines were even back on-line. They had limited hours and no refrigerated stuff except for milk, but it wasn't too exceptionally busy or crazy or awful or anything.

Glad you got back safe!

[stendhaliser.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear from you. And you have more than right to whine. Had I been in your place, I would have already said or done something unspeakable (which is why I avoid people as much as possible).

Love to you and all your people.

[fairjennet.livejournal.com]

*hee* You would not. You're ever so much nicer than you think you are. :)

Thank you, dear.