update on the power outage

So the power came back on last night after being out for 23 hours. Just enough time for me to charge everything and then it went back out in the middle of the night...we'll see what happens today!

even stranger weather!

Well....yesterday was by FAR the strangest day, weather-wise, I've had so far here. The contrast between the different types of weather combined with getting me so scared I almost peed my pants (I can't do loud noises and the thunder was the worst I've heard last night) was crazy.

We got up about 8am because our niece was set to arrive and we usually help take care of her. By 8am it was already boiling, so we knew it was going to be a hot day. After breakfast, I did some chores where I really worked up a sweat and almost had to go for my inhaler (partly 'cause I had a skype date with Mom) but it was quite a workout and the heat really tires one out.

After a nice chat, it was off to start prepping lunch in the now sweltering heat. By 2 it was about 98 (high was 98.6) and I was dying. The rest of the afternoon was a whole lot of nothing while we recovered from the heat. Then a movie, then the interesting part. As the movie was ending, I realized the room was being lit up as if there were a hundred reporters taking pictures outside. This wasn't too abnormal because it had been happening since hurricane Irene was off the coast of Belize (due east of us).

Normally, on rainy days, it begins at 3pm...for a while, like clockwork -- literally right at 3pm. Since the hurricane, however, the rains waited until about 6:30 or 7, started with lightening (the 100 reporters) then an "aguacero" -- a horrible downpour. The lightening the storm starts with is presumably the storm as it's way off in the distance. There's no thunder, but it's still quite bright. The thunder follows as it gets closer.

Without a doubt, the storm approached and suddenly it was pouring. Naturally, there were clothes outside to take in, so I went running to grab everything I could. After that we sat down to dinner doing our best to have a conversation. In my broken Spanish, everything is already kind of going in and out like a bad cell phone connection, if you will, and I understand 75% or so. Because of the metal/sheet roof, it's impossible to hear anything during a really hard downpour. On top of that, there was a lot of thunder and lightening. It was right out of a movie, as the storm passed over us with lightening striking and the horrible loud thunder clap at the same instant.

Out of all the noise from the storm, we noticed a new one -- something pounding down on the roof that was not rain. Yes indeedy...after suffering the whole day in near-100 degree weather, it was hailing. I couldn't believe it. It did get pretty chilly, so perhaps it's not too surprising, but yes...hail in the jungle.

While the storm was passing over us, the lightening got more and more intense. Every few strikes of lightening, the power went out for a half a second or so (which naturally makes me quite scared...thanks Dad). It continued like this until suddenly one of the brightest flashes of lightening struck and the power didn't come back this time. We sat in darkness for a moment until suddenly I magically pulled my solar-powered flashlight out of my pocket and we had light again. Both Wendy and her mother laughed hysterically because only I would have the flashlight at the ready.

On other nights, I've had to run for the flashlight, which can be quite an adventure even IF I know the house pretty well. The night before last, I was fortunate enough to have the road lit up for me by all the lightening, but last night I was taking no chances, so I held on to my flashlight once the storm started. When it gets dark here...it's REALLY dark.

By this time, it was getting late and Wendy's father, brother and sister hadn't arrived, so we were wondering how wet and when they'd arrive. Finally, her brother arrived -- drenched -- giving us a full report about the horrible condition of all the streets. Sure enough, we walked outside and the street was literally full of water from one side to the other. The side of the house had about 3-4 inches of water (about 2 feet below the level of the floor, though). We lucked out, but houses closer to the lake did indeed get flooded.

There was even so much water that they had to chop open the road to let water flow into the lake. Here they are working on it now.

So here I am, the next morning, after wandering around looking at downed trees and STILL without power. (Of course there's cell reception so I can have internet because at least they have it together.) I'm getting a little worried about the food, mainly cheese and chorizo (again...thanks Dad :P ...and more on the chorizo momentarily), as they could spoil.

To end the story on an exceptionally positive note, while I didn't have a microwave to boil my water for coffee, I DID have a fire this morning, so I got off to a good start and I'd like to ask you, Mom, how do YOU get your coffee when the power goes out? :)

Mmmmm chorizo....here it is in all it's glory. Yesterday, prepping vegetables for a nice healthy stir fry, I looked in the pot that had some socks soaking (or so I thought) but then realized that the "sock" was one long continuous tube....not just a tube, mind you....yes, it was a cow's intestine. It's cleaned, of course, soaking in lime water, then scrubbed down by whoever preps the chorizo. Doing dishes this morning, cleaning the pila, I even had to pick up a piece of it that stayed behind. (I'm still cringing thinking about it.) So while I'm tempted by all the steaks being cooked here, I have a feeling I'll be sticking to my veggies for a while longer...