You have reached a quiet bamboo grove, where you will find an eclectic mix of nature, music, writing, and other creative arts. Tao-Talk is curated by a philosophical daoist who has thrown the net away.
When temps dip below zero, wind moans bite- numbing frostbite song; at midnight, quiet sighs, a clicking trip: mini-split dies.
Layering buffer works for pudgy humans, cats; wee fishies not so much.
We, at mercy of Mother and Machine, fire troubleshooting; ah! warm again!
Notes: I've had 3 power outages this winter. One was via the power company with downed trees, with power/heat restored within 8 hours. Two were my "mini-split" which is a wall unit with a condenser outside, where it just doesn't operate. The first time, I called and hvac tech determined the unit was "confused" for some reason and heat was restored after a half-hour after his arrival. Before leaving, he said a remedy is to shut off the 2 breakers to the unit at the fuse box, wait 15 minutes and flip them back on. Another outage via mini-split a couple of weeks ago, and I tried the remedy -- and it worked.
My son wasn't so lucky this weekend. His apartment lost heat. He put in a work order online, with no response. By Saturday, his apartment was 59 degrees. He tried calling the after hours number and was put on terminal hold. He's been trying to stay warm with space heaters, which will jack up his electric bill. He had no heat as of this morning when he left for work; however, he checked the online system and see the work order has been assigned to someone. Praying he comes home from work to a toasty warm apartment.
Punam is today’s host of dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. Punam wants us to write a 44-word poem using the word trip.
Never The Machine Forever Soundgarden
I can't live when it lives It won't live if I die Machine has no heart to give Heart it takes could be mine
Come on, come on Come down, come down Come out from where you hide
Follows me down the river Shadows me through the sky A sideways glance in the mirror Stalemate machine in a tie
Come on, come on Come down, come down Come out from where you hide Get up, get up Get off, get off Get on with your life
Forever means all is not seen Never means forever brings everything
I fashion will and desire Always I and I survive Mercurial mind the fire *Ferrivorous direction and drive
Come on, come on Come down, come down Come out from where you hide Get up, get up Get off, get off Get on with your life
Forever means all is not seen Never means forever brings everything
Get up, get up Get off, get off Get on with your life
Now I see myself clearer Why time I visualize I spy device in the mirror Checkmate watch machine die Written by: Kim A. Thayil Album: Down On The Upside Released: 1996
*I had ferrivorous misspelled. Had to go to the album's liner notes. Then I looked up the definition of ferrivorous. It means eating or consuming iron.
Thank you for the blast of Soundgarden. Lisa, and I do hope the power cuts don’t continue. We get quite a few of them in our village. The latest storm and snow are just missing our little corner of the UK, but it’s still cold, and your poem resonates, especially:
You’re welcome, Kim. I just remember that last line of the song and had to use it. I’m glad the latest storm is missing your corn of the UK. Thanks very much <3
Nancy, thank you. He should be getting home soon and hoping he will text me good news. Of course he was too stubborn to come over this weekend and thaw out.
first: :::knock on wood::: Question: are your power lines buried or above ground? Thankfully, the wind has been very calm so far :::knock on wood:::. Thanks, Bjorn, trying!
Merril see my comment to Nancy for an update. Around here they have a way you can hook a gas-powered generator into the fuse box, but it’s really expensive and is a real chore to keep adding more gasoline in to keep it going. I end up going to a hotel if the outage is more than 2 days. But that’s expensive also! Knock on wood and hope you keep your power on.
Power outages really suck, especially when leaving you with no heat at all. I hope your son’s outage will have been fixed by the time he returns home. At least he had some space heaters.
I was really concerned this bloody winter storm would knock our power. We got a portable generator at the last minute. It’s strong to power our gas heating system and at least one fridge.
I’m glad we didn’t have to use it this time. That said, given how poorly the electrical infrastructure is built in much of the country including my area, the next outage is only a matter of time. Overhead electric powerlines are accidents waiting to happen!
Christian, I still have wood backup waiting. My son isn’t so lucky but he has the space heaterr as you said. See my comment to Nancy for update on his situation.
GOOD PURCHASE. Always good to have a plan b. I’m still mystified why they have no trouble at all burying natural gas pipelines but make excuses why they can install underground power lines. It’s prehistoric and so dangerous. It’s a blessing the wind is low here these days, which is surprising, or it would be so much worse.
No fun losing heat in the winter! Your machine sounds like my computer. Sometimes needs a hard shutdown and reboot to make it work. Hope you stay warm in this frigid polar express!
Oh, poor wee fishies, and your son, I hope they get the heat on for him and glad you could get warm again. I live in fear of the air conditioner failing on a hot day. I really loved the word play, especially when spoken, it has the sound of all the little clicks of the machine. :)
For sure, K. His heat is still off but they brought him more space heaters. Supposedly they are coming back tomorrow with someone who knows how to fix it. They should put him up at a hotel!
I hope your son got his heating straightened out. Mine went out once this year- but it was -40 F so they were here in 15 minutes! and fortunately it was an easy fix. (I live in a 10-unit building- and if my heat went out- the pipes to the whole building would have frozen since we are on a boiler system- that is why they are so fast)
He still has no heat. They are supposed to come back with help today. They made sure to put space heater in kitchen by the pipes. It’s a good thing he is young and healthy. Trying to imagine elderly in a situation like that.
V, I’m very happy your apt maintenance arrives quickly. At -40, it wouldn’t take long to get deadly.
Well, the last comment you left gave me my answer. I am so sorry you and son and thousands of others have been impacted by the severe weather. My son, both of my sisters too. Though their misery is the ice/snow … neither lost power. Yet. But temps are hovering in the -zero range for Sister in southeastern Ohio. Stay safe, sending warm warm energy your way.
Helen, I have heard of a couple of blogmates in Canada who are getting hit much worse, so I guess it could be worse. Thank you for sending your warm warm energy <3
The awful reality that stuff doesn’t always perform well or even work. I hope your sun gets his power functioning properly! The line about ‘wee fishies’ made me smile.
Tao Talk 
Thank you for the blast of Soundgarden. Lisa, and I do hope the power cuts don’t continue. We get quite a few of them in our village. The latest storm and snow are just missing our little corner of the UK, but it’s still cold, and your poem resonates, especially:
‘…wind moans bite-
numbing frostbite song’.
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You’re welcome, Kim. I just remember that last line of the song and had to use it. I’m glad the latest storm is missing your corn of the UK. Thanks very much <3
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Good luck to your son. Be safe and sound, Lisa.
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Nancy, thank you. He should be getting home soon and hoping he will text me good news. Of course he was too stubborn to come over this weekend and thaw out.
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Men …. no matter how old, they’re so reluctant to listen to reason! I hope it’s good news. Very welcome, Li.
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Still no heat, but he called the office and was told, “they’re working on it.” He’s stubborn, but he got that from both me and his dad :(
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Ah… I feel blessed where we live with no power outages so far. There were areas a bit further north where a lot of trees fell… stay toasty.
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first: :::knock on wood::: Question: are your power lines buried or above ground? Thankfully, the wind has been very calm so far :::knock on wood:::. Thanks, Bjorn, trying!
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Hi hear you, Li! I can only imagine how cold it must be. Wish you no more tripping !
I hope your son’s power outage is restored.
Stay warm. ❤️
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Punam, thank you for the well-wishing. It’s a toasty warm 11F with winds 11mph.
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You are welcome, Li. Good to know it is toasty now. You turned a power outage calamity into a fantastic Q.
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:) Hope you are enjoying your trip, Punam.
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We are on the road again, Li. Will reach our final destination in a few hours. So far it has been good. Thanks.🙂
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This poem warms me up! Good job!
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The entire city had a total blackout a few months ago. Luckily it was summer and only lasted about an hour.
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Oh my! What was the cause?
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I hope your son comes home to a warm apartment. I’m worried about losing power. I don’t know what we’d do.
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Merril see my comment to Nancy for an update. Around here they have a way you can hook a gas-powered generator into the fuse box, but it’s really expensive and is a real chore to keep adding more gasoline in to keep it going. I end up going to a hotel if the outage is more than 2 days. But that’s expensive also! Knock on wood and hope you keep your power on.
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Well, good luck to him.
I hope you don’t have to go to a hotel!
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<3
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Power outages really suck, especially when leaving you with no heat at all. I hope your son’s outage will have been fixed by the time he returns home. At least he had some space heaters.
I was really concerned this bloody winter storm would knock our power. We got a portable generator at the last minute. It’s strong to power our gas heating system and at least one fridge.
I’m glad we didn’t have to use it this time. That said, given how poorly the electrical infrastructure is built in much of the country including my area, the next outage is only a matter of time. Overhead electric powerlines are accidents waiting to happen!
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Christian, I still have wood backup waiting. My son isn’t so lucky but he has the space heaterr as you said. See my comment to Nancy for update on his situation.
GOOD PURCHASE. Always good to have a plan b. I’m still mystified why they have no trouble at all burying natural gas pipelines but make excuses why they can install underground power lines. It’s prehistoric and so dangerous. It’s a blessing the wind is low here these days, which is surprising, or it would be so much worse.
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All caught in the machine
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No fun losing heat in the winter! Your machine sounds like my computer. Sometimes needs a hard shutdown and reboot to make it work. Hope you stay warm in this frigid polar express!
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Thanks, Dwight.
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Oh, poor wee fishies, and your son, I hope they get the heat on for him and glad you could get warm again. I live in fear of the air conditioner failing on a hot day. I really loved the word play, especially when spoken, it has the sound of all the little clicks of the machine. :)
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Di <3
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Definitely the wrong time of year for a power outage. I hope your son’s heat is back on and I’m glad the technician gave you a tip that worked. (K)
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For sure, K. His heat is still off but they brought him more space heaters. Supposedly they are coming back tomorrow with someone who knows how to fix it. They should put him up at a hotel!
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Yes!
Our water is off due to some frozen pipes on the roof. I hope they get that fixed soon…
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Oh no :( Will keep praying for son and you to get essentials restored.
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Fixed. Hope your son’s is too.
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Good! Yes, his is, finally!
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Great!
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Some trips are certainly not welcome! I’m glad you found a remedy,
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Thanks, Dennis.
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Such vivid tension between cold and comfort — that little triumph when the warmth returns really lands.
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Well-said, Willy. The triumph of relief is what it is.
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I hope your son got his heating straightened out. Mine went out once this year- but it was -40 F so they were here in 15 minutes! and fortunately it was an easy fix. (I live in a 10-unit building- and if my heat went out- the pipes to the whole building would have frozen since we are on a boiler system- that is why they are so fast)
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He still has no heat. They are supposed to come back with help today. They made sure to put space heater in kitchen by the pipes. It’s a good thing he is young and healthy. Trying to imagine elderly in a situation like that.
V, I’m very happy your apt maintenance arrives quickly. At -40, it wouldn’t take long to get deadly.
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As a South African, I can certainly relate to power cuts. Some of ours have gone on for days. I hope your son’s heating is now sorted out.
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Sorry you have so many power cuts. Not sure how hot it gets there, but I’m guessing you need your AC at certain times of the year?
Son is still without heat, other than 2 space heaters. He’s at work now, but maintenance is supposed to be there today to work on it.
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Well, the last comment you left gave me my answer. I am so sorry you and son and thousands of others have been impacted by the severe weather. My son, both of my sisters too. Though their misery is the ice/snow … neither lost power. Yet. But temps are hovering in the -zero range for Sister in southeastern Ohio. Stay safe, sending warm warm energy your way.
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Helen, I have heard of a couple of blogmates in Canada who are getting hit much worse, so I guess it could be worse. Thank you for sending your warm warm energy <3
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The awful reality that stuff doesn’t always perform well or even work. I hope your sun gets his power functioning properly! The line about ‘wee fishies’ made me smile.
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Yes, I used to wig out, now I plod through. I got it done but it was a lot of work — but oh the satisfaction. Thanks on the wee fishies :)
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