Blackout!

Last night our apartment building had its first blackout! I was on my computer when the lights flicker twice, which concerned me a little bit but I just kept on working. Then the lights went out completely! I was home alone with the only light being from my computer screen. Now sometimes the electricity will go out in just one of apartments, so I went over to Sarah's only to discover that here lights were out too. So I went into the staircase and tried duringn on those lights, but they were out as well. I went back inside and looked out my back window only to see darkness. NO lights in any other building behind mine were on. Luckily I was able to find the flashlight and get two candles going. Since it was almost ten o'clock anyhow, I decided it could just be bed time. I wrote Sarah a note and left her the flashlight once I was situated. The heat had turned off as well, so I put on long underwear underneath my sweats to stay warm.

After trying to fall asleep for some time, I realized that the gas heater was still on, even though it wasn't doing anything. Having just read a student's essay about Sylvia Path's suicide through gas inhalation, I became very anxious about the possibility of gas leaking into my room and killing me in my sleep. I didn't know what to do, so I wrote Sarah another note went something like this "So the heat has turned off and I'm afraid gas is leaking into my apartment. Do you think I will die? Can we talk about this? Come get me. Wear layers to bed. <3 Colleen."

A little bit later Sarah arrived home with one of her younger sisters, Claire, in tow. Sarah had gone to meet her in Ostrava. Somehow, the two of them managed to make it up our deathly staircase in the dark. I perked up when I heard the door open and got out of bed and helped them find the flashlight. Sarah and I assessed the situation and decided to turn off the heat completely; we would be cold, but we would be alive. For the third time, I settled into my bed and attempted to go to sleep. Luckily, I was finally successful.

At some point during the night, the electricity kicked back on so we were able to get ready in the light this morning! The sun doesn't really show up until 7:15 so we really do need the light. All of the food kept in the fridge, and I eventually figured out how to get the heater back on. I'm really tired today from all of the excitement, but none the worse for the wear. I am going to look into buying more candles though just in case we ever have a next time.

Peace,
Colleen