SAM SIGHTING, LABOR SAVER AND ONE BOLT

SAM ELLIOTT UPDATE

Just a quickie for those of you who like Sam Elliott and I was pleased that it was most of you. We really have good taste. Saw on a promo that he will be on a TV special called “November Christmas,” Sunday Nov 28th, CBS, 9-11 Eastern time. I have it set to record in case I forget. Can't wait to hear that voice.

LABOR SAVING DEVICES

I love gadgets that save me time. So when I saw a coupon for Zip'n Steam bags to cook veggies, etc quickly in the microwave, I immediately got a bag of 10. You would think I were some time starved working gal instead of a retired woman with tons of time on her hands by how quickly I jumped on this.

What actually intrigued me was the recipe offered in the ad. It called for sweet potatoes, apples, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon. After dumping everything into one of the wonder bags and just 8 minutes in the microwave, it would be ready. Sounded like a really quick,no clean up, simple meal that would almost taste like healthy pie filling. Win/win??

Well, the granny smith apples cooked to mush and the sweet potatoes never made it to anything other than crunchy. Maybe it is my microwave but think I will stick to the old fashioned way of steaming on the stove top . Also there is that cooking in a plastic thingy that turned me off. Anyone else have better luck??


ONE BOLT

Sometimes major problems are caused by simple triggers. I remember being with out power for half a day in Florida because of a squirrel that committed suicide in a sub station. That poor little fellow shorted out the whole system and put half a town in the dark.

The other day as dusk approached, I was typing along on the computer when the lights went out. My computer is a lap top so for a second or two, I was frozen as the screen kept glowing. Along with the lights out, I heard snarling, snapping and the sound of something big running across my roof. Still haven't discovered the source of that roof sound and am not sure I want to.


I went out side and checked the lines. (Old power company employees never die, they just lose their spark).
First thing I always check for is a line down and sure enough, there was a line that had fallen across the rest and dangled over the street. Then I checked my pole and saw I had a broken cross arm. So I called it in , fixed some tea on the gas stove and waited.

Soon a little truck arrived with a man who surveyed damage, then a bucket truck quickly followed. When they saw my broken cross arm, they decided they needed more supplies and called for more help. In no time, I had a team of five trucks tending the problem. Two trucks parked on the side of the road and all the men went to work.

I supervised my side of the street and my neighbor watched on his side.The workmen were very nice and quite professional. I was always been proud to be part of such a company in my working days. These guys do serve and protect. They often work in freezing weather, pouring rains and in Florida, during tropical storms, all for our comfort. I do believe they are unsung heroes.

Notice I have no grass any more, just beige stuff the recent frost left me.

This day was coolish (50 degrees) and windy which tends to turn "cool" into uncomfortable. My broken cross arm was the hard part and required two of the trucks but in a reasonable amount of time, they succeeded and all was repaired.

The rest of the crews worked on the dangling wire across the street.

I was talking to one of the guys and he said the whole problem was from a broken bolt. One new bolt, a new cross arm and 5 trucks later, life was good again. The light switches worked once more.

Isn't it funny how terribly we miss power when it is gone and how quickly we resume back to normal the second it come back on? All discomfort is quickly forgotten.

We tend to treat electric power as one of our inalienable rights. We don't appreciate it till its is gone and rarely appreciate the men who put their lives on the line to insure our comfort.

I personally know of a lineman who lost his life, one who has two hooks instead of hands and one who is embarrassed to wear a shorts because of the deep scarring burns he received on his legs.

These guys make sure we are able to enjoy all our creature comforts at the flip of a switch. Next time you see a power company truck going down the road, give them a thumbs up and a smile. I always do.

Hoping you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving .