Life Goes On

March 24, 2011 - #1

I am sorry that I have been out of contact for a couple of days. But with various hair raising happenings and blackouts, I haven't had time to get to the computer.

Sunday, the 20th, Monday, the 21st
On the Sunday, the 20th, my husband went fishing about 5:00 in the morning and I stayed around the house. He got back about 1:00 with two small trout which we marinaded in olive oil and rosemary. We watched the news all day. And it was raining hard making it impossible to do anything outside, especially since we are being told to stay out the rain. It rained all day the next day, too. We really didn't want to do much.

Tuesday, the 22nd
On Tuesday, the 22nd, I took Takao to the station very early. A blackout was scheduled for later that day and the Hakone mountain train stops then, better to get out early.



I sent some emails to my neighbor. It was still early and I didn't want to disturb her. She got back to me right away. Her daughter got into Veterinary School and was slated to commute to the university by train from home starting in April when the school year starts here, but after the earthquake that has become impossible. The Odakyu Line is not running its full route, making it impossible to get there. So, they have been trying very hard to get an apartment at this late date. They have to sign contracts, buy furniture and get things ready.

I asked her if she needed any shopping as I was going to Gotemba. She decided she didn't really need anything, so I went by myself at about 11:30. Again the roads were clear of most traffic and I had clear sailing. But it was not a clear day. It was foggy and misty and raining slightly. When I got close to Gotemba, it started to clear up a bit. But, somethings was strange. The traffic signal wasn't green, it wasn't red, it wasn't yellow. It wasn't anything. Oh, they are saving electricity, I thought. Till I got further along. All the lights were that way. Drivers on side roads were craning their necks out of the their cars watching me pass. I better slow down, I thought, as it dawned on me that Gotemba was in a blackout and all the traffic signals were not working.

I dropped into a Mac Hamburger stand so I could get off the road and they told me that they were not working because of the blackout. I got back on the road, but very carefully. As I got further into the city, I could see that stores were BLACK. I had to be really careful of cars shooting out of side streets. I decided it was not worth it to go back home, I would just have to wait in the car till the shops opened.

I went to Kimisawa and sat for 45 minutes or so. The parking lot was empty when I got there, but slowly it filled up at the opening time approached. Obviously they all knew about the blackout. Well, I did my shopping, getting enough to last the week, hopefully. Again there was plenty of food here, enough milk, eggs, fish, meat, etc. etc. People were not panic buying, but the store filled up quickly as well as the parking lot. I also dropped into a gas station and got some gas, which was limited to 2,000 yens worth. There were no lines here.

I got back about 3:00 and my neighbor and I had some coffee and spent a nice, normal hour. With girl talk. Who is being mean at work. Problems with getting her daughter set up in school. Etc. But, we both kept our eyes on the clock, because at the 7:00, a blackout was not far away. We both needed to start cooking diner by 5:00 or so, otherwise doing that in the blackout would be no fun. I decided to make some pasta and got everything on the stove. I got the house ready, turning off as many lights and other electrical appliances as possible, ...the computer as well.

By 6:30, all was ready, so I ate my dinner. Then I got my little camp lights out, my flashlight, my book and glasses, turned off just about everything except one light upstairs and the TV making the house rather dark and started reading. Then at 7:00, PING, the house got dark, well, darker. The weak glow of the camp lights helped. But the flashlight was best. I could read my book. I hunkered down and just started waiting. Luckily, the blackout ended an hour sooner than scheduled. Wonderful. Damages was on later, 3 episodes. Go get 'em, Ellen....

Wednesday, the 23rd
Wednesday was the day someone was coming to take a look at the broken window locks. They still lock but they are bent. Also, I wanted the house checked for any structural damage, that I could not see. About 11:00 or so, he came, and I couldn't believe my eyes, I hadn't really been looking outside. I was cleaning and getting ready for the visit. It was snowing! No way! It was very clearly snowing. Not just little flakes. BIG flakes. Later, I drove my visitor back to the station. He said that he had to get back early because we were having another blackout from 3:00 or 4:00 and the trains were stopping at 1:30 or so in preparation for that.

The good news is that the windows can be fixed very easily, there is no structural damage, the flooring where the leak is can be fixed, too. Again, I cooked dinner early so I could have something to eat at 7:00 when the blackout ended. And then the usual drill, camp light, flashlight, book. This time the blackout lasted the full amount of time. And it kept snowing and snowing outside. It was very lovely, but snow!!?? I have no snow chains. I wouldn't drive anyway, with the ski slope type roads that they have here. No joke, you could ski very well on some of these very steep S curve, and backward S curve roads that terrorized me recently, when I DID DRIVE on them in the snow and without chains.

The wild kitty came to my window as she usually does in the evening and cried for a handout. She always hisses when I open the window to give her a bit of food. I felt sorry for her in the snow, but she is a good mouser and she is fat. I know she eats well!

People are starting to complain that the blackouts are not being handled fairly. For example, althought Kashiwa has had blackouts in different parts of the city, my area in Fuseshinmachi has had NO blackgouts at all. But here in Hakone, I have had 2 late night blackouts and 2 afternoon blackouts.

Thursday, March 24th
And this is what I woke up to.

 I have my woodburning stove going full blast!

I got my daily update from the Hakone city office and they said that we will not have any blackouts today. I think they are worried about people getting cold in all this snow.

...to be continued in March 24, 2011 - #2