Facebook Outage - Memories of Powerless Nights in Northern Ontario

Up on Yonge Street (Toronto), when the lights went out, well, you got out a flashlight, turned on a portable radio or sat and talked to the person you were with. Some of you remember talking to people . . . right?

Up in Ontario cottage country - for me it was Muskoka, lots of beautiful places have no electricity, so that was good training for the times we have lost power here in East Texas. When it was 'way too cold, we could get in the car and turn the heater on.

How did we survive? Quite well, actually. We heated water on a wood-burning stove to wash dishes, wash ourselves. Of course, we had all that water from the lake and we also had a nifty creek which not only yielded water but also small fish. We usually cooked on the barbecue. Ah, to recall the time some of the fellows wrapped some stones in foil to replace Uncle Jimmy's potatoes. There was lots of kibitzing!

What did we do up there in the evenings? We played cards or board games by battery-powered lanterns or candles. We sang - my favorite was an improvised, "I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskokee" . . . a knock off from Merle Haggard's famous hit.

I guess I forgot to mention we also had an outhouse and an uncle who liked to scare us with bear noises after dark. No indoor plumbing?

There is a phenomenon in Ontario where people work very hard to purchase a beautiful, fully equipped City Home and then when they have really made it, they purchase a place up in Northern Ontario where they have no amenities. They rough it, as it were. Roughing it . . . camping . . . it is a nice way of life, really. People interact with each other and have lots of good times. We have lost the ability to sit down and talk to another person, to sing songs, to tell jokes and stories.

Here in Texas, we lose power because it is hot and all the air-conditioning systems tax the electricity sources. Sometimes we lose power because there is a storm - heavy rainstorm, hurricane, tornado - and the lights go off.

When the lights go off in Texas, especially in the summertime, we got trouble - yup, Trouble Right Here in River City, as the song went. We have had an extremely hot summer this year and there are some people who live in small homes who don't have enough to eat, much less air-conditioning. Those people - hopefully - are visited by neighbours and church members who take them to somewhere cooler.

Well, when the power goes off, so do computers, internet, TV - you name it!

We have come to rely heavily on communication and automation and frills which we consider necessities. We do not live better, just different.

So, today, it looks like Facebook - the love it or hate it social network is down - at least for a while. Guess we will have to talk to someone in person!

I will miss the Farm (Farmville/Farm Town - take your pick) but I think I can survive.

There is lots of talk these days about Facebook - a 1600 pound gorilla that is probably not going anyplace any time soon. It invades our privacy, causes people to divulge information they may later be sorry they did. Some people make comments that they might not even realize could be hurtful to someone. Some people make inappropriate remarks that someone they did not think would see it, in fact does see it and has hurt feelings from it.

Some people give a burglar a perfect opportunity but telling everyone with access to their page when they will be leaving their home.

I won't go on, because you know the the good, the bad and the ugly of Facebook and Twitter.

I kind of like Twitter, especially, because I can quickly let people know I have posted a new blog and more people will read it.

But mostly . . . just miss the farm.

Up On Yonge Street - That's Where We Were . . .

After being in East Texas almost 14 years, I can tell you that one thing that absolutely defines Texans is their vehicles. They like them big and when they pull up to your house, well, they just pull up to your house!

Well, in Toronto, land is at a premium - because that is where everyone comes to get a job. (Must mention here also that Toronto's TTC - Toronto Transit Commission is among the best and there is nothing quite like The Subway.) There are tidy curbs on every street and you park your car parallel to the curb. A driveway at someone's house . . . well, that generally is occupied, probably with one of the owner's vehicles.

We have not been back very long from our trip to the wedding of "This Bride" (see blog below) and one of the fun things was the wonderful family party at the bride's father's home the night before the marriage. (The rehearsal was during the week - how organized is that?)

Hubby & I checked into the hotel and got ready to go to the Party. Then Hubby went to bring the car around from the Parking Garage. (No, we do not have even one of those in the city where we live northeast of Houston.)

How was Hubby to know that there was a space M-14 on all four levels of the garage?

So, we were late arriving at the Party and Hubby looked at all the cars parked on the street. I think he was thinking we would have to park elsewhere and take a taxi . . . Lo and behold, as we came right to the house, there was one tiny spot in the driveway.

"I think we can fit in there!"

Hubby: "Do you think we should park there?"

"Oh yes!"

Our Texas-size SUV just fit and we got out and went up to the door.

This bride's sister-in-law was waiting at the front door and we were escorted inside and eventually out to the deck where you see Hubby and Daddy chatting in the photo above.

Caribana Festival was being held that weekend and so we were blessed to have several musicians play in the garden for us.

For me, it was like being home. I have known this family for about 52 years and their offspring must have heard some of the stories and those they had not heard, I told them.

Like when B left me to watch Daniel the baby while she went to the convenience store back when they lived in a small apartment on Avenue Road. I tell you, I did not know babies could cry that much and I sure didn't know that people upstairs would bang on the floor to let me know that was too much noise!

I didn't know a lot about babies, so I was rocking him and gently asking him,

"Don't cry, Danny!"

Those upstairs neighbours taught me to ask Dan just a little louder to "Hush Little Baby, Don't You Cry".

Yes, yes, I had to tell Dan about that. I don't think he was embarrassed. He and his wife, Carol had flown in from London, UK and I think that story was the least of what they were thinking about.

We were treated like royalty and so were others who flew in from Washington State, Italy and Iran.

Oh . . . This Bride . . . well, you might have to wait to see her picture. But, I will tell you she was radiantly beautiful and her groom was very handsome.

And B . . . my Dear Friend, B? Oh, you could feel her presence. She was the Angel in the hearts of all of us who had come to see her only daughter marry her college sweetheart, the I.T. fellow with the droll sense of humor who we met many years ago.

Like it was yesterday:

"And what are you studying?"

"I.T., Sir."

And silly me, just had to ask, "I am sorry, exactly what is that?"

"Information Technology, Ma'am."

You stick around a fellow like that, you get smart! You stick around a family like that and you feel pretty special!