The blackout was fun. I can't say that everyone had quite the same experience, but regardless, stars in the night sky over Toronto is quite a spectacular thing.
So, I work with computers right? We're sitting there about 4pm when, literally, the shit hits the fan. We normally have regularly scheduled power outages which we're prepared for and even the occasional brownouts are weathered easily.
This was entirely different. Mad scrambling to get everything turned off in time before the UPS's gave out (they didn't last long enough) while listening to the radio and wondering how I was going to get home (it was actually easier than I thought it would be, thanks to the TTC).
That wasn't the fun part. This is:
I get home fairly early, find out that my work is closed until Monday due to continuing instability in the grid and I have enough food to cruise through the weekend.
All's good, except... I don't have any wine. I walk up to a liquor store (two in fact); both closed. I'm in a panic (those that know me know why) so I decide I'm going to start calling on friends and acquaintances. Two or threes doors later, about 2 hours after I started looking and I'm still dry.
Crap.
So, I trudge on home with my tail between my legs only to find that my landlords (who live two floors up) have an excess amount of wine (they bottle it themselves) and they need to get rid of it (they're moving next month).
Yay for me.
So, I light up the candles, crack over a bottle of free (and quite good) wine, and settled down with a good book in the backyard. When it was dark enough I took a walk up to High Park (quite drunk at this point) and stood around with about 200-300 people who were happy and free-spirited.
Lots of hellos, a few scattered handshakes, some flirtatious laughing and smiles, and a night I wish never ended.
I wish the damn power would go out more often.
Oh, one last thing. I'm incredibly impressed at how well the city responded. Not only the public service workers, but the regular citizens themselves. I never saw one person panic, looting, or even violence. My hat's off to Toronto. There's a side of it that I never anticipated until last night.
So, I work with computers right? We're sitting there about 4pm when, literally, the shit hits the fan. We normally have regularly scheduled power outages which we're prepared for and even the occasional brownouts are weathered easily.
This was entirely different. Mad scrambling to get everything turned off in time before the UPS's gave out (they didn't last long enough) while listening to the radio and wondering how I was going to get home (it was actually easier than I thought it would be, thanks to the TTC).
That wasn't the fun part. This is:
I get home fairly early, find out that my work is closed until Monday due to continuing instability in the grid and I have enough food to cruise through the weekend.
All's good, except... I don't have any wine. I walk up to a liquor store (two in fact); both closed. I'm in a panic (those that know me know why) so I decide I'm going to start calling on friends and acquaintances. Two or threes doors later, about 2 hours after I started looking and I'm still dry.
Crap.
So, I trudge on home with my tail between my legs only to find that my landlords (who live two floors up) have an excess amount of wine (they bottle it themselves) and they need to get rid of it (they're moving next month).
Yay for me.
So, I light up the candles, crack over a bottle of free (and quite good) wine, and settled down with a good book in the backyard. When it was dark enough I took a walk up to High Park (quite drunk at this point) and stood around with about 200-300 people who were happy and free-spirited.
Lots of hellos, a few scattered handshakes, some flirtatious laughing and smiles, and a night I wish never ended.
I wish the damn power would go out more often.
Oh, one last thing. I'm incredibly impressed at how well the city responded. Not only the public service workers, but the regular citizens themselves. I never saw one person panic, looting, or even violence. My hat's off to Toronto. There's a side of it that I never anticipated until last night.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
large groups of people often frighten me, and yet constantly manages to pleasantly surprise me.
take care sweetie,
gothy.