Mission Log: January 28, 2014

As darkness sets on day one of the devastating ice storm that has paralyzed the South, I am glad to report that we are doing well. Our dwelling has retained it’s strength under the weight of the icycles, and has so far been able to hold in warmth, and keep frostbite at bay.

Since the South was closed today, I was able to stay nestled under blankets till at least 8:00 AM.

I was able to make contact with both people who were suffering through the same trials as I, and those on the outside. The situation was dire. Bridges were being closed all over the city. People had to use the more primitive feeder roads for travel. People were encouraged to stay off the roads if travel was not required. My transportation was encased in a thick layer of frozen moisture that I had no desire to chip away at. I thought best to follow their pleas.

I tried to lose myself, if but for a short time, in the recorded travels and thoughts of a fellow adventurer. His stories gave me renewed hope in the goodness of people.

After a short time, my need for physical nourishment, as well as my felt responsibility for my shelter mate, kicked in. I had to hunt and gather for sustenance. I was able to scrounge enough, using only the ingredients that I purchased yesterday from my neighborhood Kroger, and the rudimentary pots, pans, and utensils that I was able to locate in my kitchen cabinets and drawers, to prepare a goodly portion of chili, sufficient for 2 people to survive a couple of days.

Having filled our bellies sufficiently, I sat down for a cup of coffee and to catch up on the happenings outside of the frozen tundra in which we now found ourselves. More road closures. And the announcement that most of the South would remain closed for another day. We’ll have to ration what is left of the chili, and the PB&J.

I ventured outside of the shelter as it began to get dark this evening, to see if what they say is really true, that, “neither rain nor snow…nor gloom of night…”. I tread slowly, testing to see where the ice might pose a walking hazard. I ventured the distance of the drive without incident and opened the correspondence receptacle, removing it’s contents to see what matter of life I may have missed since the beginning of this great storm. I gathered also the contents of another box to hand deliver it to it’s owners who were hold up inside their own shelter from the storm. As I walked the distance back to my shelter, I sifted through my box’s contents that I now carried. A 15% off discount from Kohl’s. If only I could get there. And a $10.00 off card, as well. Such cruelty of the universe to deposit this in my box on the very day that the South is closed for business. And what is this? A birthday gift from Victoria’s Secret. Really? Oh, never mind, that’s not my name on the envelope.

Having arrived safely back inside my still-warm abode, I put away the dishes from our meal, kicked off my shoes, and decided to journal my survival to this point in case I don’t make it out alive. The temperature has already dropped back down to 33 degrees. This could be bad.

Please note that this blog entry was done in fun and out of boredom, and just to break the drought of writing. It’s actually kind of humorous how a little ice can close our city down. We’re just not equipped to keep all our bridges and overpasses de-iced, and our citizens have so little experience driving in ice. It’s better to stay safe. It won’t last long, after all.