Oh What A Night!

I begin this blog by saying everything is okay and we are fine! I knew I would have to include that first after I told my mom, who usually does not jump to the worst conclusion of a story, on the phone this morning and she had to interrupt me to ask. I also have to say, sorry it is so long and without any pictures, but this wasn't the night to be capturing with the camera!

We began yesterday evening with us both being home early due to the weather, and making a decision about if we should cut the water off to the hot water heater. We discovered it was leaking yesterday morning. Fortunately, we have a home warranty plan that we got when we bought the house, so it will help with the expense of replacing the hot water heater. The downside is that they can not fix it until Thursday. So we turned off the water to the water heater and our plan is to only turn it back on for showers. I guess no dishes or laundry until after Thursday! Too bad!

So, we did enjoy our evening at home with a fire, a movie, and a few rounds of Yahtzee. Then around 10:30 the long night began. The lights began to dim and flicker and the heater went off. We assumed that we were having a power outage due to the ice, but thought it was strange that we still had some electricity. So, Joey went to the breaker box and checked it out. We then decided to call the electric company and they told us that there was an outage in the area so we got blankets out to add on our bed. Then we began to hear beeping that we could not figure out what it was, so again we searched trying to find the source. Then as we are getting ready to go to bed, the smoke detectors begin to sound in a continuous beep. We both jump up, put on shoes, jackets, etc. Joey begins to check things out and I begin to panic to the point of tears. We did not see or smell smoke, but they kept going off and the lights had been doing strange things, so I thought some wires might be on fire somewhere. So I said I was going to call 911 and Joey told me to wait a minute, but as the alarm continued to sound he said okay call. So I called and explained what had happened and that we did not see smoke, etc. and they said they would go ahead and send a truck to check it out. There was ice on the roads, freezing rain and sleet was coming down, so it took a while for them to get here. Meanwhile, Joey was moving the cars out of the garage to get to the attic. Before they got here Joey decided to look at the smoke detector more closely because he knew sometimes they were wired into the electricity and that could be the problem. Now we know that ours are, but it was a little late because the fire trucks red flashing lights were approaching the house. Joey went out to them and explained the situation, but they offered to check everything out anyway. The neighbors across the street, Bill and Cookie for those who have met them, were alarmed and came out to see what was going on. The firemen, one of which was a dad to one of the boys in my class, didn't find anything. So we thanked them, and I felt a little silly for my panic. But as they said it is better to know and that is what firefighters are for even though it was difficult for them to get there. As they were getting read to leave, the electric man was in the alley. Joey went to talk to him and what he first thought was a transformer that went out, was actually wires down in a manhole behind our house that had burnt out. So he said he would have to turn our power and several other houses completely off to fix it, but that it would only take about an hour once he was back from getting supplies. So we went to bed and continued to hear the occasional beep from the smoke detectors.

This morning when we woke up, we had electricity again. Now to the job of resetting everything and figuring out why my oven now will not heat. It is all electric, so I am guessing it has something to do with the outage. But since Santo cancelled school today, I guess I will have all day to reset clocks and figure it out.

So, as I began we are okay! We just need to reset the oven and get the hot water heater fixed! It definitely was an experience, but we did learn that if we ever have another power outage that our smoke detectors will go off. I am sure if Joey was typing this he would have some witty way of ending it, but I can not come up with anything! He is much better with words and wit than me!