"You should really be grateful that i am a smoker and carry a lighter with me all the time!!!"
This is what i overheard as i was walking through the dark streets of ann arbor armed with an energizer lighter, 4 spare batteries, a bottle of water and tennis racket as i experienced first-hand wat is hailed as the worst blackout in US history. MUAHHAHA... and it really sums up my experience. I tot it was a really cool experience although it was awfully inconvenient.
The blackout started while i was still working in the dentistry library. The lights went fickling for a few secs then went off completely. followed by the ventilation and everything. The head librarian, Pat, called DPS (dept of public safety... which is a useless bunch of nonsense tat just drive around busting parties. HAHAH) and found out that even the state capital east lansing is having such a problem. Five minute later, we found out even ohio and most of michigan are out. A little while more, we knew tat toronto, New York City and most of all states eastwards of michigan are having such problem. Of course, the dreaded T word start to surface. so the decisions are made to shut down the library and future decisions will be made with regards to the fate of the library tomorrow. I.e. we will continue to monitor the situation.
Got back home and it was around 5.15 already. Dare not open the fridge coz all my food are inside and i dun want them all to go wasted. Pray tat US fridge are as dependable and can trap its coldness as much as they can. I was hoping things will get back within a few hours. So i took a freaking cold bathe and decide to take a nap.
Woke up at 9 and lights are still not back on. Hmm.. try to call ppl on my cell and nothing worked. At least those ppl in michigan. But i was able to contact Greg Darmono who is in Berkeley right now and called armhawan's roommate in UCLA. She was most pleasant and helpful as she read me headlines off the web on CNN. Well, idiotic Bush knew nothing as usual and say it is probably a fire in the powerplant blah blah blah. NAH... i am really skeptical of wat the hell actually went on. So i start to walk around the campus. Interestingly, streetlights were on along state st and on south U. they have light in angell hall and east hall. it was a weird pattern of light but other than these, ann arbor is in total darkness. really freaky. The worst is when i walked to this campus phone outside Icenter and cambridge house. It was in complete darkness and i had to rely on my torchlite. really scary. but i was able to contact those folks up north campus and was glad that everyone is alrite and having a good time chilling outside at the car park. yeah, the land lines are working just fine. hmm... expect those land line companies to get some really good sales figure once things are back. HAHHA... well anywae, while i was on the phone with azwan, i saw another torchlite coming my way and i really felt scared. man... this is gonna be the worst possible place to get mobbed. not a single soul is like around to hear me even if i scream my throat out. so i start to walk away. running only show tat you are afraid, so i walked and hugged closed to my racket (now you guys noe why i carry a racket with me now yeah!!! HAHAH) so i can whacked tat !@#$%^&*( in case he try anything farni. it was really scary coz i had to walk towards him since the closest route to humanity is towards state st and it is in his direction. I dare not go towards South Quad coz tat place is even darker and i saw figures flickering in tat direction oso. Well anywae, i was really prepared for the worst as i walked past him and i really stuck to my side of the path. hahaha... tat guy OSO stuck to his side of the path and almost glued to the wall as we went past each other. so obviously he was wary of my presence oso. even though he was onli holding on to a torchlite while i had an extra racket. god noes wat nonsense he may have in his pocket. so after i went pasat him, i really start to walk fast. well, it was probably nothing now tat i said it. but it was REALLY dark and you really have to be there to experience wat i went thru. HAHAHAHAH...
Well, anywae, after a tour round central campus, i got back to my room and with the room so blardy hot, i filled the bathe tub with water. IT was only then i realised that there is HOT WATER STILL!!! how come there is still hot water when the electricity is out i oso dunnoe. but as if i care, so i mixed the hot water and freaking cold water a little and soaked myself in the bathe tub for a hour. Man... it was really cool to be in tat bathe tub for so long in COMPLETE DARKNESS. no diff between opening my eye and closing it. REALLY REALLY freaky and COOL!!!! MUAHAHAH. coz there is no moon up there oso, so it was hardcore darkness baby!!! well, anywae, i went to bed again, after feeling much cooler and cleaner!!
Went to grad library to report to work but the libraries are all closed. So tat means i got a day off!!! yeah!! but dunnoe i will get paid or not. most probably not. but as if i can do anywork even if i have to report in. without computer there is really nothing much i can do. and i bet the air inside the library must be filthy like crazy by now. Well, so i went over to angell hall, WHICH SURPRISINGLY HAS AIRCON !!!! MUAHAHAH... tok about saving electricity eh?!!? so anywae, i stayed inside there for like 2 hours as i read some novel. It was awesome. the aircon is so cooling and it was just totally enjoyable.
Anywae, my cellphone was working again by around 1pm. So i managed to call satchi and realised those folks up there tried to called me after i contacted azwan last nite. they wanted me to go up to join them. it was so nice of them, but hahah, didn't have the luck to enjoy it. HAHAH. oh well, as i was walking back home and talking to satchi on the phone, i noticed that the street lights are working again. still no electricity up north, but i have this strong feeling tat everything is back in order down at central. well, obviously tat was the case when all the floor lights in my apt are back on (yeah... in midnoon... save electricity eh?!?! hahaha)
well, inviting those folks up there to come down to my apt to get some food and sleep over or something. anywae i had a REALLY NICE fried rice and i am totally enjoying myself now man. MUAHAHA... but it was an experience. yup... totally cool if not a little inconvenient!!!
posted by David at 8/15/2003 04:53:00 PM