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Re:
Thanks so much, Annicita. Sometimes people just don't realize how powerful Mother Nature and her wrath can be. No matter how prepared you think you are, it's faith and perseverance that will get you through. If we had lost our heads, even slightly, who knows what may have happened! Like I wrote, my wife and I are a couple of tough Pollocks, but more importantly, we're a great team, and it's the bond of our love for each other that really helped each of us weather this tragedy. You can't ask for anything more than that! 
posted by
JimmyA
on November 7, 2012 at 7:54 AM
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Re: JimmyA
Thank you for the very kindly offer, Wiley. We would love to visit the Great White North someday, but not necessarily under these conditions. If worse had come to worse, we have lots of family scattered around the country that we could have relocated to if needs be. We had kept the faith throughout this entire ordeal, and we were brought through it by the grace of God. There are still others suffering with even worse fates, and we will now focus our prayers and attention on them. Thanks again for your very generous and thoughtful offer. Hopefully, we can get back to "normal" soon . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on November 7, 2012 at 7:48 AM
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I remember when we had the big ice storm in the midwest and lost power for over a week. It pales in comparison to what you are experiencing....God bless you and all on the east coast affected by this hurricane... Will keep all of you in my prayers.
posted by
Annicita
on November 6, 2012 at 5:51 PM
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JimmyA
Horrible situation for you folks and we have you in our prayers my friend. Look if you get to some situation where you absolutely must leave your area or home, we would make you welcome here in the north, but close to Ottawa so you could fly into there and we'd pick you up. Keep the faith my friend
posted by
WileyJohn
on November 6, 2012 at 4:59 PM
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Re:
Thanks, FSI. I do understand that the power companies are working together to get large areas of people and homes back on line first. But you would think that, once the teams moved on, they would leave at least one truck and worker behind in certain areas to help people like us. Many transformers were destroyed. But once they were replaced, whole blocks were restored. Our situation is different, because trees ripped out the lines from the pole when they came down. One worker with a truck with a cherry picker could probably rehook us up in less than a half hour! However, there are none to be seen . . . anywhere! It's extremely frustrating to look out of our windows and see our entire block lit up, while we sit here cold and in the dark! We're hanging on, but sometimes I'm just not sure for how much longer . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:48 PM
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Re:
Thank you, Amanda. Yes, my wife and I are "hangin' tough," but it gets increasingly difficult with each passing day. I suppose it's not that much different from being adrift in a small lifeboat after a ship has sunk. Each day we scan the horizon for any signs of a passing ship or look up for a low-flying plane we can flag down. And each night, we huddle together, cold, tired and frustrated, hoping that tomorrow . . . maybe . . . just maybe . . .! Thanks again for keeping us in your prayers. 
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:36 PM
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Re:
Thanks, Utah. You brought up two very interesting points. First of all, our Governor Christie actually received some flack from some of his party members for praising President Obama's visit and response to our situation. Christie himself was angered, trying to inform these cretins that there are some things that are above politics. They actually looked upon his sincere appreciation of Obama's response and aid as an endorsement for the president. Can they get any more ridiculous? He's the president! What did they expect him to do? Say "Well, since they have a Republican Governor, they're on their own!" And what did they expect Christie to do? Refuse the president's help because he's a Democrat? Please! The second point is, someone placed a letter-to-the-editor in today's local paper, wondering why, after all the aid we give to the rest of the world when they have natural disasters, where are our allies offering to help us in any way? If you're familiar with the song "Catch Me Now I'm Falling [Captain America]" by The Kinks, I think that says it all! Thanks for the well-wishes!
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:31 PM
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Re:
We're trying, mariss, we're trying! Both my wife and I have great survival instincts, and continue to do what we have to do. Last year we went through an ice storm that knocked out power for about two and a half days, and we weathered that. This one has had us without power now for eight days and counting, and it's getting increasingly difficult to keep doing what we've been doing, especially with the nightly temperatures dropping into the twenties! I'm not sure how, but I think we'll get through this. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:20 PM
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Re: Glad to hear your news, glad you and your wife are managing.
Thanks, Ciel. Yes, I hope so too. We can deal with almost any other inconvenience this storm has brought upon us . . . if we could just get power back! Each day we look out of the front window, praying we'll finally see a utility truck coming down the street to hook us back up. And each day we're disappointed. I know it may not sound fair, but we're starting to feel somewhat abandoned, and there's simply nothing we can do about it. All we can do is trudge on . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:14 PM
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Re: Jimmy, anyone talking of relocating en masse to Florida?
Not that I've heard, dsm tchr. However, since Florida has its share of hurricanes and tropical storms, it may not be that much of an improvement over our current situation. I think more people are thinking of heading west instead towards the Rockies. At least out there all you have to worry about are occasional avalanches, and the trick there is to not build your home too close to the mountains!
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:09 PM
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Re: Thank you for the update and I have been praying for you, all of you who
Thank you so much, Kabu. Yes, we plan on staying that way, but for how long we're not sure. Word is, there's a Nor' Easter on its way that will hit us some time Wednesday afternoon . . . and we're still without power or heat! We also still have two trees dangling precariously, one aimed toward our house, one aimed towards our neighbor's. One good gust and they may come down as well, and cause further damage and distruption. We just have to take it day by day, and hope that this upcoming storm does no further damage!
posted by
JimmyA
on November 6, 2012 at 1:05 PM
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My heart continues to go out with you...I know that in Maryland as well the individuals without power are at the back of the list to get fixed while the larger blocks are fixed first.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on November 6, 2012 at 9:18 AM
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Thank you for the update. I am so glad you and your wife are doing ok. Your family is in my prayers.
posted by
Amanda__
on November 6, 2012 at 9:17 AM
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It is good to know that you are faring Okay. Good to here from one who knows as most news stations are hush, hush as not to dampen the Presidents chances tomorrow. Perhaps when the elections are over the world can know how bad it is where you are. Wishing the best.
posted by
UtahJay
on November 5, 2012 at 9:34 PM
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I am glad to hear you are weathering this alright. Your family is in my prayers; thank God no trees injured you, and even your cars were spared. Keep warm.
posted by
mariss9
on November 5, 2012 at 8:22 PM
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Glad to hear your news, glad you and your wife are managing.
I'm thinking of you daily, and I hope it's all sorted sooner rather than later, with the power and all.
posted by
Ciel
on November 5, 2012 at 7:44 PM
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Jimmy, anyone talking of relocating en masse to Florida?
posted by
dsm_tchr
on November 5, 2012 at 7:33 PM
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Thank you for the update and I have been praying for you, all of you who
are suffering. You just cuddle up under those warm comforters and enjoy trying new food flavours together as you eat your way through the fridge. Thank God that you are safe and you just stay that way!!
posted by
Kabu
on November 5, 2012 at 5:00 PM
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