Things You Can't Do During a Blackout

(...for 8 1/2 hours.)

• cook
• read after dark
• play games after dark
• shower after dark (not advised, anyway)
• blowdry your hair
• light candles (too hot)
• use A/C or fans
• get online
• use power tools to finish putting up crown moulding
• snuggle (too hot)
• sleep in the bedroom (too hot)
• set the alarm clock

Things You Can Do During a Blackout

• order pizza
• read before dark
• look at stuff (offline) on the computer until the UPS's power runs out
• listen to the UPS warning beep for forty-five minutes
• discuss home improvement projects
• look at the IKEA catalog by flashlight
• be thankful that it rained so hard that the drought-hardened ground is actually muddy
• fold a paper fan and cool yourself the old-fashioned way
• fold laundry
• sleep on the couch because it's cooler in the living room
• set the alarm on your cell phone
• be startled awake at 1:34am when the power comes on, simultaneously turning on the kitchen light, living room fan, bedroom light, and TV
• (thereafter have trouble getting to sleep and then have really bizarre dreams)

(Also, I got Blogger Beta from Google--hooray! Nifty features like categories to appear soon in a blog near you.... er, this one, to be exact.)