Wednesday

So, here we are! And yes, we've been here many times before, but this seems to be the worst yet. The electric companies say that it could be 2 - 4 weeks before everyone has power again. Walter is certain after seeing the damage for himself that it will be a month before we have power again. I really don't think it will be that long, especially with all of the help that is coming from electric companies in other areas. We will have to wait and see who is right!! There are 2 main electric companies and fortunately, we are with DEMCO, the smaller of them. In Baton Rouge, Entergy has about 250,000 people without power, whereas in our area, DEMCO has about 90,000, so maybe our company will get to use quicker.

Regardless, we are doing fine with our backup generator. The propane for our generator is expensive though, and the truck will have to come at least once a week to keep our tank full. My next door neighbor's backup generator still isn't working, but someone is supposed to be coming out to look at it today. We had them over for some of Walter's homemade Gumbo last night, but they haven't wanted to stay here. They have a gas generator running their refrigerator, a fan, and a couple of lights. I will say again that our backup generator is probably the best investment we have ever made. I wish now we'd splurged and gotten one that runs the whole house (a/c and all), but we are far from being uncomfortable here and I feel extremely lucky to be riding out this time with a house full of power.

It is being said that the winds and wind gusts during Hurricane Gustav equal Hurricane Betsy's in 1964. Betsy was the worst storm here in many years. We are starting to see a few gas stations open and it looks like today there are more groceries stores opening using generator power. Walter & I did our hurricane supply shopping thinking it would just be the two of us here, then Cameron decided to ride the storm out here rather than his dad's house, then we adopted Bryce & Bradley through the storm, so i've been worried about running out of drinks and snacks (which obviously aren't necessities, but we enjoy them), but so far we are doing ok. I may try to get out tomorrow and pick up some more.

Cameron & I don't have school/work until at least Monday. I can't imagine that the schools will have electricity next week and there is no type of generator systems in the schools, so there is no way to go until all of that is back on. I guess they'll have to shorten our other holidays throughout the year to make up for the days or something.

All of our families and friends are doing ok. My brother-in-law, Ed, had some damage from falling trees at his house, but nobody was hurt. My parents were going to come out and stay with us today, but when I told them we had 3 teenage boys here, they decided to go to Houston to my sister's house. God forbid, someone have to spend time with teenagers, much less their own grandson! My step-son, Sean, & his girlfriend tried to come here from Baton Rouge yesterday, but they couldn't find gas to get here. I've kept in touch with my friends throughout the storm and everyone seems to be doing ok. I'm grateful for that!

I haven't left the house other than a couple of trips down the street. There are still trees and power lines in the roads everywhere you go and I really don't have any desire to get caught in that!! We went to visit with Cathy, Brent, & their house guests last night, and then Cathy & Brent came down here to drink hurricanes and get a break from their house guests! Today, Cameron, Bryce, Bradley & I will be cleaning up trash in the yard.