this just in: CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL

You may remember that just over five months ago we had a massive fucking snowstorm in which I (and tens of thousands of my neighbors) lost power for days on end.

Ten and a half days ago (i.e. last Thursday), my power went out for no apparent reason, and was out for a couple of hours - you'd think it would be an overloaded grid, but that was actually a (relatively) cool weekend between weeks of record-setting heat, so I don't think that's it. The following day the power went out around 1pm and flickered back on and off all afternoon and evening, finally being restored for keeps around 11:30. This doesn't have to do with climate change in particular, but it does mean I've had it up to here with power failures already.

Yesterday there was a nasty but very brief storm in the middle of the afternoon. The power went out at 3:30 pm and, long story short, it's still not back and they don't know when to estimate it might be back. When I first called the automated line to report the outage, the computer voice told me they estimated they'd have my power restored by approximately August 14, 3am. Later estimates went through August 18, August 6, and 9pm last night. Then 10pm last night. Then they stopped giving me numbers. At one point I waited on hold for an hour and a half to speak to a real person before giving up. This morning I only had to wait on hold for a couple of minutes, and the very sympathetic woman I spoke to said there's no estimated restoration time on my account. I can't get the map to display on the website. The man on the radio seems to be suggesting it might be tomorrow (tomorrow!), but I don't see how anybody can really predict anything, given that a crew has not yet been assigned.

Two knock-out storms in under six months, at opposite ends of the temperature scale? Not that I know what can be done about climate change, but the next person who looks at a big snowstorm and says "so much for global warming, lol" is going to get my fist in his throat. (Side note, dear Pepco, yes, there are a lot of trees in Montgomery County. SO WHY THE HELL IS YOUR SYSTEM STILL ABOVE-GROUND?!)

All of you whose power has been restored already: I love you, dudes, but I hate you right now.

I don't have much in the refrigerator that can't handle being un-chilled for a bit (fruit, for example, doesn't really need to be refrigerated in the first place), and what there is, I can toss. My freezer is pretty full, so assuming the power does come back tomorrow everything in there should be okay. I also don't have hot water. I bought two more flashlights on the way to work this morning. I am miserable.

on top of which

Other things besides the second multi-day power outage in just over five months that are making me grouchy today:

• I have a mysterious and extremely itchy insect bite of some kind on my arm.
  
  
• They took away our spiffy new water cooler at work. (It was about eight steps from my office and dispensed Deer Park, I believe, instead of going aaall the way to the kitchen, which is around two corners, and in which the refrigerator dispenses tap water with all the stuff in it tap water usually has - which makes a ring around the bottom of my water bottle.)
  
  
• I'm more or less confident the young man I went out with Saturday evening will call me (for modern internet values of "call") again, but he has not yet done so.

At least my office mate isn't here. Don't get me wrong, I like her fine, but today of all days I am really glad I can close my door and not have to deal with other people in any way.

today's heroes and other updates

cinco offered me an air-conditioned place with hot water to come and shower in, today. neotoma offered me a couch to bunk on. And then sadcypress offered me both! None of these people have cats or other allergens present, but sadcypress lives right across the street from me, so she wins the houseguest and the meringues.

Latest estimate from Pepco is that most of us should have our power restored by Thursday, but in certain complicated cases it could be later. I'm still hoping for tomorrow, of course, but FUCKING ARGH.

Itchy bug bite is still itching, as is rashy spot on my chest that I think keeps getting aggravated by my seat belt.

No word on why they took away our water cooler.

Also no contact from the boy.