Diana - You OK?

[alaskaflyer]

The resident real estate expert on Today said a power generator was one of dumbest, lowest payback home improvements. That's prolly true to anyone that hasn't tried to live though 30 hours of no power. My brother's was out for 8 days. He has the whole generator setup now.

The resident expert is an idiot, unless he is talking about resale value, in which case he is entirely right. If/when I move into my own home again (from my government-provided housing with backup generator support) that will be one of my first home upgrades.

 

[gismo]

I'm a mile from "downtown" and had 6-8 power failures last year. My clock radio tells me I had one already this year.

Power distribution is rarely organized in parallel with municipal development so your proximity to "downtown" (and my location on the suburban/rural boundary) doesn't have much effect on the reliability of your power source as we both found out.

The "best" being when my overhead line I looked at and said, "one of my trees could take that out and Edison won't care because it's only me." I was right.

One thing that has helped me is that I was able to convince the electric utility that they would see a net benefit if they buried the overhead high voltage line that feeds my home and two neighbors since it was running through relatively inaccessible woods down a steep slope where tree limb damage was likely to occur and would be difficult to repair. It also turned out that the line was not on a platted easement. In any case my feed is now totally underground from the highway.

The resident real estate expert on Today said a power generator was one of dumbest, lowest payback home improvements. That's prolly true to anyone that hasn't tried to live though 30 hours of no power. My brother's was out for 8 days. He has the whole generator setup now.

I would agree that most home buyers wouldn't put much value on a generator setup and many might view such an installation as evidence of a problem they'd rather avoid. The real value is being able to run your furnace in the winter and keeping the fridge/freezer running through a power failure.

 

[SCCutler]

You're just jealous of my fancy flightbag. Besides, since it's see-through I can find my red toenail polish quicker.

...and what shade of red would that be?

(Cue Carol Theiler...)

 

[Diana]

...and what shade of red would that be?

(Cue Carol Theiler...)

Hehe...that would be slut red.

Here are some of your favorite toes.

 

[steingar]

One of my pals lives out in the stix and has power out fairly routinely. However, his place is in the middle of trees so he rarely sees real property damage beyond downed limbs. He has a generator wired in for just such emergencies.

The wx isn't as violent here, although I'm certain the countryside has its fair share of unpleasant bitey things. We've only lost power for more than an hour once, and that was for the remains of hurricane Ike, which did us for days. Just that day I was in the hardware store looking at the big Maglight, saying "I want it but do I really need it?".

After going through the remains of a hurricane, which came through my back yard as a category 1 hurricane, all I can say is you have to be a special kind of stupid to ride one of those things out. Nothing I own could compel me to try and weather one of those.

 

[Diana]

The real value is being able to run your furnace in the winter and keeping the fridge/freezer running through a power failure.

Absolutely.

BTW, I spent another evening in the closet last night, as we had additional tornado warnings. Barb was in the tornado warning area, as well. We hate evenings like that.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Besides, since it's see-through I can find my red toenail polish quicker.

Yup, it's on your toes, which are on the rudder pedals!

I agree with the posters above--find out what a generator would set you back... for as often as you have power issues, I think it would be a wise investment.

 

[wabower]

FWIW, I bought two Honda 2k sine-wave? units (for the computer) at OSH last year, plus the parallel doo-dad to hook them together and the sub-panel to run the major circuits at the house. Each unit weighs 47#, so they are reasonably easy to move around. Total cost ~2k. Aviation expense since I'm in the biz, OK?

Not enough power to run the dryer and A/C, but freezer, fridge & other stuff is good to go. If A/C is a necessity, I can pull the trailer out from under the carport (assuming it didn't blow away) and stay there. For camping, one unit will run everything in the trailer except A/C, need both units to start the compressor.

Yup, it's on your toes, which are on the rudder pedals!

I agree with the posters above--find out what a generator would set you back... for as often as you have power issues, I think it would be a wise investment.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Power distribution is rarely organized in parallel with municipal development so your proximity to "downtown" (and my location on the suburban/rural boundary) doesn't have much effect on the reliability of your power source as we both found out.

I used to live within spitting distance of a power plant - one summer, hot, no power, no fan, no wind, I'm lying in bed - listening to the big Bulldozer over on the coal pile pushing the coal into the boilers...

 

[Henning]

I'm seriously starting to wonder that myself. Anyone want to buy this place? 220 acres of tics and chiggers and snakes (sometimes they come in the house). Labor intensive...only the young and/or energetic should consider living here. Repairs needed often on old buildings, equipment, and machinery. Frequent tornado warnings, but no basement or storm cellar. Occasional ice storm. Not unusual to lose power for days (still no power here). Unreliable internet service. Mowing takes 8 hours/week. Nearest decent grocery store is 8 miles away. Nearest movie theater is 30 miles.

I'm getting irritable, so I'll quit, but the list of reasons why I feel the need to move from here is long.

It does come with runways and a nice hangar though.....

 

[Henning]

...and what shade of red would that be?

(Cue Carol Theiler...)

Where is Carol?

 

[mikea]

FWIW, I bought two Honda 2k sine-wave? units (for the computer) at OSH last year, plus the parallel doo-dad to hook them together and the sub-panel to run the major circuits at the house. Each unit weighs 47#, so they are reasonably easy to move around. Total cost ~2k. Aviation expense since I'm in the biz, OK?

Not enough power to run the dryer and A/C, but freezer, fridge & other stuff is good to go. If A/C is a necessity, I can pull the trailer out from under the carport (assuming it didn't blow away) and stay there. For camping, one unit will run everything in the trailer except A/C, need both units to start the compressor.

Busienss expense. I looked and though the Hondas are too expensive.

I know I can get by with 6-8KVa and I can pick up name brands around $800.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...294&Ntt=generator&Ntk=i_products&N=4294961544

Just renting one for day cost me $90.
I'll be one of the guys in line with a credit card on power failure #4 this year.

My plan is to have the connector outside for the switchover panel. I was worried that the neighbors wouldn't like the noise so I'd have to put in back but I didn't have any complaints.
Like this: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200317085_200317085

 

[wabower]

Not to worry. They won't be peesed, they will all be sitting in your living room watching the news and drinking your cold beer, trying to figure out when the power will be restored and using your power cord to charge their laptops.

Busienss expense. I looked and though teh Hondas are too expensive.

I know I can get by with 6-8KVa and I can pick up name brands around $800.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...294&Ntt=generator&Ntk=i_products&N=4294961544

Just renting one for day cost me $90.
I'll be one of the guys in line with a credit card on power failure #4 this year.

My plan is to have the connector outside for the switchover panel. I was worried that the neighbors wouldn't like the noise so I'd have to put in back but I didn't have any complaints.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

My plan is to have the connector outside for the switchover panel. I was worried that the neighbors wouldn't like the noise so I'd have to put in back but I didn't have any complaints.

Mine is REAL noisy. But I run extension cords over the fences to the neighbors refrigerators.

No complaints.

 

[SCCutler]

Mine is REAL noisy. But I run extension cords over the fences to the neighbors refrigerators.

No complaints.

See, also: Good Neighbor.

 

[mikea]

Not to worry. They won't be peesed, they will all be sitting in your living room watching the news and drinking your cold beer, trying to figure out when the power will be restored and using your power cord to charge their laptops.

Mine is REAL noisy. But I run extension cords over the fences to the neighbors refrigerators.

No complaints.

See, also: Good Neighbor.

Did that. My house is on my own separate transformer from the 11 other houses. That one time only I was out. Another time they were all out and I wasn't.

My neighbor's sump pump runs every 2-3 minutes. I ran him an extension cord.

I drank beer and watched (recorded) TV on my rented generator. Ironically my UPS didn't like the power from the generator.

 

[Diana]

Reason #378 why to move away from here. This was in my stove top the other day. I just hate it when they come in the house.

 

[tonycondon]

what a cute little guy diana. but have no fear. tomorrow afternoon you'll put on your flying shoes and wild hair, and walk a few feet to your airplane and fly to kansas and have supper with kim, my student, and I. and then you'll think "i kinda like snakes and living with no electricity"

 

[Diana]

what a cute little guy diana.

But, he was over 4" long.

but have no fear. tomorrow afternoon you'll put on your flying shoes and wild hair, and walk a few feet to your airplane and fly to kansas and have supper with kim, my student, and I.

You have a point. I'm looking forward to walking out the door and flying to meet you guys tomorrow.

and then you'll think "i kinda like snakes and living with no electricity"

Well, I suppose. I guess it's a good thing that we don't find big snakes in the house on 363 days of the year. Kinda like the glass is almost full.

 

[wby0nder]

What KIND of snake is that.

 

[Diana]

What KIND of snake is that.

I think it's a black rat snake. The other day Barb found a copperhead in her hangar (at her farm)...it's not the first time she found a copperhead there.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

What KIND of snake is that.

A dead one.

 

[wby0nder]

I think it's a black rat snake. The other day Barb found a copperhead in her hangar (at her farm)...it's not the first time she found a copperhead there.

So it's taking care of the rat population. Whats the prob?

 

[akite]

I dont get along with snakes. But I try to mind my own buisness if they are not eating me.

 

[alaskaflyer]

I'd rather have a rat snake than a rat on my stove - every day of the week and twice on Sundays

 

[Kaye]

Yikes! I haven't had one on the stove at the farm.....I think the husband and I would have a talk. But we do have them living under the house, and once in a while we find a snake skin in the attic........and that's just a little too close to the bed. I do admit to feeling bad when I nailed one with a bush hog.....but the vultures loved their mid-day snack.

 

[Diana]

A dead one.

Yep, he broke Rule #2 and wouldn't leave the house when I gave him the chance.

Yikes! I haven't had one on the stove at the farm.....I think the husband and I would have a talk. But we do have them living under the house, and once in a while we find a snake skin in the attic........and that's just a little too close to the bed. I do admit to feeling bad when I nailed one with a bush hog.....but the vultures loved their mid-day snack.

We have snake skins in the attic, too. And that's near our bed, too. I don't want/like to kill them, but they break my rules.

Matt, one night I almost stepped on one bigger than that in the hallway between my office(your bedroom ) and the bathroom. He had to be removed, too.

 

[Pilawt]

We have snake skins in the attic, too. And that's near our bed, too. I don't want/like to kill them, but they break my rules.

My dad used to say he had reached an accommodation with the family of skunks that lived under his deck -- they got cat food, he got protection.

 

[PLAirpark]

Bringing this up again since you just had tornado's confirmed touch down near you tonight. You still hangin on? Power out again?

 

[Diana]

Bringing this up again since you just had tornado's confirmed touch down near you tonight. You still hangin on? Power out again?

Thanks for asking.

We had two different tornado warnings for our farm today and I spent some time in the closet twice.

We are now under yet another one, so we'll head to the closet again shortly. I'm growing weary of these.


bulletin - eas activation requested
tornado warning
National Weather Service springfield mo
849 PM CDT tue jun 9 2009

the National Weather Service in springfield has issued a

* tornado warning for,
barton county in southwest missouri,
northern jasper county in southwest missouri,
southeastern crawford county in southeast kansas...

* until 945 PM CDT.

* at 847 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
tornado near pittsburg, moving east at 30 mph.

* the tornado will be near,
mindenmines by 900 PM CDT.
jasper and 6 miles south of lamar by 930 PM CDT.
golden city by 945 PM CDT.

the towns of nashville, oakton, lamar heights, boston and kenoma
are also in the path of this tornadic storm.

BTW, Boston is one mile north of us.

 

[bbchien]

..sigh......

 

[purdue1014]

Let us know when everything is done and past and OK!!!

 

[PLAirpark]

Glad to hear nothing hit there. Im right at the west side of springfield it it got pretty nasty here. The next round does not look pretty at all.

 

[Diana]

Glad to hear nothing hit there. Im right at the west side of springfield it it got pretty nasty here. The next round does not look pretty at all.

The worst is past here now (whew), and headed your way, I guess. Not as many tornado warnings with this system as there were this afternoon. So, hopefully you won't have any bad stuff. This has been a l-o-n-g day. At least this isn't going on during our fly-in.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Wow, the fun never ends at the Richards farm!

 

[wabower]

Can you get a computer extension cord that will reach the closet?

Thanks for asking.

We had two different tornado warnings for our farm today and I spent some time in the closet twice.

We are now under yet another one, so we'll head to the closet again shortly. I'm growing weary of these.


bulletin - eas activation requested
tornado warning
National Weather Service springfield mo
849 PM CDT tue jun 9 2009

the National Weather Service in springfield has issued a

* tornado warning for,
barton county in southwest missouri,
northern jasper county in southwest missouri,
southeastern crawford county in southeast kansas...

* until 945 PM CDT.

* at 847 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
tornado near pittsburg, moving east at 30 mph.

* the tornado will be near,
mindenmines by 900 PM CDT.
jasper and 6 miles south of lamar by 930 PM CDT.
golden city by 945 PM CDT.

the towns of nashville, oakton, lamar heights, boston and kenoma
are also in the path of this tornadic storm.

BTW, Boston is one mile north of us.

 

[4763E]

Bless her heart...

 

[4763E]

And Toto, too...

(well she is ALMOST in Kansas)

 

[somorris]

Diana:

Glad you are OK. I read your post on the Citabria and Decathlon at your place a few days ago and thought "Maybe Diana can start enjoying her farm again now." What a drag.

 

[Diana]

Can you get a computer extension cord that will reach the closet?

Well, I WAS on my iPhone checking the radar and texting from the closet. Tom was in the furnace room closet across the hall on his iPhone. We have so much fun on the farm.

Diana:

Glad you are OK. I read your post on the Citabria and Decathlon at your place a few days ago and thought "Maybe Diana can start enjoying her farm again now." What a drag.

Thank you Stacey. Well, it sure has it's good moments and bad moments. Sometimes there is too much drama with this weather. Things should settle down with the weather in a few weeks. It would be nice to have a basement at times like these.

The NOAA weather radio alerts were going off all afternoon and evening yesterday and I got so frustrated with it last night I was yelling at it. That's not a good sign. A few years ago it went off all night long and we finally just ignored it. At 2:00 a.m. a tornado passed by here (on the ground...I have photos of the aftermath) 1/2 mile south of the house and we slept right through it and the NOAA radio blaring away.