OutdoorType

It seems tonight my destiny was to be enveloped by darkness.

First we attempted to attend the semi-final round of the Funniest Fed competition at the Draft House. Before the show the sky had that ominous green colour that all mid-westerners know well. A storm was a comin’ and it was coming soon.

The packed house helped to drown out the thunderous crashing outside, but I was nearer to an emergency exit than most and made out the unmistakable sounds of a strong summer storm (never mind that the calendar still reads spring). About thirty minutes into the show the first “comic” was trying out his “impressions” when he gestured towards the back of the house and the lights went dark.

For a moment I thought it was part of his act, but quickly realised how still the air had become. All power to the theater was gone! Good times. After some discussion between comics, organizers, and the Draft House mgt it was decided to postpone the show until next week. Bummer. We (over)paid our waitress and left for parts with power.

Outside the worst of the storm had passed. It was raining, but not very hard, and we made our way back to the car. An hour or so later I was walking into my house, my lovely, well lit house where I had a delightful Plan B evening of photo editing planned. Alas, it was not to be… though the rain outside had slowed to only the faintest misting, five minutes after walking through my front door my world once more cut instantly to black. I was living my very own Groundhog Day/Soprano’s series finale.

It was over an hour ago that the power went out and twice now an instant surge of yellow light has come and gone with the groan that only hundreds of electronic devices attempting to turn on all at once can achieve. I lie sprawled across my bed, laptop on, connected to the series of tubes thanks to an old viking king and my trusty Sprint phone (both of whose batteries are dwindling).

With little faith in the ability of Dominion Power’s restorative, um, powers I think I’ll just un-plug to the night and read a little from Walden. Forced to live a simple life and all that, some Henry David seems appropriate just about now.

Update: It was around 1am that my ceiling fan began to spin once more, cooling off the room and forcing me under the covers for a somewhat restful sleep…