Electricity

Monday night when I got home I found a mysterious piece of paper on the stairs saying that an electrician needed to get into "your" apartment for rewiring or something and to please move all furniture away from the walls, May 20 and 21. 8:30am-5:30 pm. It wasn't addressed to anyone...and it was sorta floating on the stairs on the floor like someone had dropped it. It also said to call the landlord if you have any questions so I debated forever about calling and seeing what it was about if it applied to everyone and such since normally things are taped to the wall by the entry like when they are going to put the stuff under the sinks for roaches and when they put the fence in back.

As of 11am Tuesday no one had showed up to invade my apartment so I continued to hope it was the guy across the hall from me or something because me moving all my stuff away from the walls is next to impossible...if not actual impossible. So I decided if someone does show up I would play dumb because a piece of paper on the floor is nowhere near sufficient notice for this sort of thing.

I heard hammering and sawing noises all day coming from downstairs. Then I went out to get a snack and there was a sign taped to the front door of the building (on notebook paper and taped with electrical tape...) that the electricity would be turned off in the building for 4-5 hours on Wednesday. That reassured me that no one would be invading my apartment, but still annoying they didn't mention WHICH hours that would be. And of course I half-joked to Travis that the electricity would probably go off in the middle of my shower because I am deathly terrified of dark bathrooms and then I would cry.

(Oh, by the way, in case you missed it, I have Tuesdays and Wednesdays off instead of Saturdays and Sundays.)

I woke up around 9:30 this morning and the electricity was still on. I hopped in the shower and, yes, I live in annoying stupid Chicago where it is May and still only 50 degrees, so I closed my bathroom door to keep the warmth in the room for when I get out of the shower.

In mid-shampoo the lights went out.

It was as dark as a cave.

I didn't cry, but I wanted to scream...but I was too afraid to scream. It was horrible. I want to cry now thinking about it. Some people are terrified of clowns, heights, needles....I am terrified of dark bathrooms...for reasons I made up in my head when I was a wee tot.

I managed to rinse my hair and step out of the shower to open the door to let the sunshine from the other rooms in...and I had to continue to shower because my hair would die without conditioner and what is the point of a shower without soap? haha it wasn't so bad after I opened the door but until I did I was freaking out on the inside. And I was rather upset because I really wanted a bagel but no power for the toaster oven! booo.

So then I decided to leave early because I was having lunch with Annie and wanted to look for shoes and needed some groceries, so I got shoes first which took no time at all (love when that happens...good ol Payless had exactly what I wanted) and then went to the post office and then to visit Annie. She had to finished up something before we ate so I hung out there. Then we ate and sat and chatted a bit. Then I headed home by way of the grocery. When I got home around 3:30 I still had no electricity! I was upset mainly because I am afraid my refrigerated goods could have been not cold enough during this time and are no longer good. Also I was anxious to do laundry AND do everything that required electricity.

Of course all other things were unappealing like reading and playing DS and washing dishes...I was sorta wiped and my eyes wanted to close so I half-napped on the couch with Hobbes for a while and FINALLY heard my refrigerator kick on! It was like angels singing!

So it ended up being off for around 6 hours, which is really annoying, but I'm glad it's back now! I would suck at being Amish.