When it Rains...

When it rains it pours... Or maybe "when it snows it dumps" would be more appropriate. I dunno.

During Snow Week 2011 our lights started dimming anytime we used a major appliance, ie. the washer, dryer, microwave, etc. It was one of those "please don't let us lose power" weeks. In the meantime, our Internet connection had been whack (which isn't unusual, but it had finally gotten on my last nerve). My parents were here for a visit at the end of Snow Week, so I used the opportunity [of them entertaining the kids] to finally call both the cable and power companies. One said they'd be out that day between one and three and the other said, "maybe tomorrow." Well, whaduhyaknow, the two service trucks showed up that day at the EXACT same time. I mean, seriously?? The odds of that ever happening again are like 1 in a bazillion. It was nice in lots of ways, but pretty not nice when the power guy had to cut the power in the house, which means the cable guy couldn't do his thing. But they worked it out between the two of them, and everything was fixed in a timely manner. Amazing! Oh wait - except the power guy forgot to tell us to turn OFF the main breaker in our house, so when he cut the power, it sent a MASSIVE surge of electricity into our house and blew all of our surge protecters, our printer, our telephone modem, our cable box and Eli's baby monitor to Kingdom Come. There was smoke coming from the surge protectors and I could've sworn I actually saw flames when I first checked the one behind my desk, but now I'm wondering if I just imagined flames. It was scary! When it happened, there was loud pops and crackling throughout the house. My parents and I looked at each other like, "WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!"
The cable guy had fixed his problem and left before the power came back on and we assessed the damage, so it was only later that we realized we were going to have to schedule a NEW appointment with the cable company to come replace the fried telephone modem and cable box. In the meantime, I called the power company to file a claim for our surge protectors and baby monitor. They promptly sent our claim to a third party who then in turn promptly sent us a letter the very next day, which, in a nutshell said, "SORRY FOR YA." They said that an animal had caused the problem with the dimming lights (true...a squirrel had chewed the line), but the dimming light problem had nothing to do with huge power surge that fried everything. Anyways, I had to write a letter of appeal in efforts to reverse our denied claim, but I'm sure another "SORRY FOR YA" letter is on its way. That's why the power company hired the third party to handle their claims...because they specialize in denials.
Soooo, the cable company came back to our house two days later, on Saturday, to fix their end of the damage. The guy was here for about 45 min and did his thing. After he left, I went to jump in the shower, and the shower was full of water!!! As in, up from our drain (sewage) pipe. Nasty. We had to call a plumber who came five hours later for literally five minutes and charged us UP THE WAHZOO to unclog our line in the yard. Needless to say, I didn't get a shower that day and D pulled out the bleach and went to town on both showers.
So I never want to see a utility worker ever again. EVER!!
Actually, to be honest, I can't tell you how grateful I am that we could promptly get our problems fixed (minus the damage to our stuff). I can't imagine just having to deal with it. No power. Poop-water in your showers. I mean, people have to deal with stuff like this! I worked on a woman's house on a mission trip in which the sewage pipe was flat out leaking into the basement. And had been for months and months! On her children's toys! The lady couldn't pay anybody to fix it. And this was in the USA.
While none of the above experiences were fun, and even though they certainly hurt our pocketbook, I really just have to keep it in perspective. And here's the part where the lights dim and the music plays and Uncle Jesse talks to DJ and Stephanie about the lesson they could learn....BUT, Charley's awake and I gotta go.
Have a great day, and be grateful you have electricity and no sewer water in your tub! :)

Snow! And lots of it.

The highly anticipated "Winter Storm" of 2011 arrived late Sunday and dumped around 8 inches of beautiful snow in our area. Nothing says, "snow is coming" like a line five-people deep at BiLo. There's never a line at BiLo.
Schools were canceled before the snow even started falling, and the entire city pretty much shut down for three days. Most doctor's offices are closed, which means D can't go to work, which means snow day for the entire family. I decided I love Spann family snow days because it's like the world is on pause and we can slow down and take a breath. So far this week we have accomplished two things: much needed time at home with family AND much needed cleaning!! One of which we did yesterday (fun!) and the other we are doing today (not so fun, but productive). Snow days also require eating waffles (homemade of course) as this is a tradition I grew up with. Mmmm.
I realize that snow days look different for each family (some people have to work anyway...boo), and I also realize that snow days can only happen like a couple days a year or else our economy would shut down, not to mention life at home would get lonely and boring. You can only do so much cleaning. And by the end of the day today, I was cheering, "Cabin Fever yes I do, Cabin Fever how 'bout you??!" But, the couple days we get...I'll take 'em!
Here are some pics of our time in the snow!

Look!! It snowed!!


Our snow angel and I made a snow blob, I mean snowman. Charley had so much fun!


Our sweet little boy was all bundled up!! And good thing because we took a walk to our friends' house up the street...in the snow...uphill (both ways). I used the jogger as a walker...otherwise I would have busted my tail.


We borrowed Jeremy and Kelly's sleds (and yard)...both kids got a few turns, and Charley even went by herself! It was so fun to watch...she laughed and laughed. So precious. Thanks friends for sharing! Otherwise we would have been using cookie sheets!