Out. Again.

 Power’s out.  Again.  Fortunately I was on a Skype call that was being routed through the 4G network and not my home wifi.  So my call wasn’t dropped, but the computer shut down and all the lights were suddenly cut.  Its mid morning, so the interruption is minimal.  We don’t have to run for candles and matches to see.  I’ll finish this call then take stock of things.

Without raising perceptible noise, I gestured to the ayi who poked her head in the door, that it was a charging issue.  I did this by running my hand back and forth and back and forth, to suggest what I’d do when I got the card:  I'd swipe it in the power meter.  She looked confused, as usual, so I muted the call and tried to explain verbally.  Standing, I took my call into the bathroom and shut door.  As I did I realized that the light switch I’d automatically flipped when entering wasn’t working any better than anything else that relied on a current.  I pulled the door ajar and considered how to relieve myself discretely. 

Once again, the burden is on us to go out and monitor our electric usage so that we anticipate when it's getting low.  I don’t know if that’s what everyone else in the neighborhood does or if that’s what my ayi does.  We don’t.  And so, at approximately six to eight week intervals, we look up and notice the power has gone off again, like today and run off abruptly, to deal with it.

The Mrs. has gone out to secure cash from the ATM so she can go to the front desk to pay the management company, in cash to charge up the card.  I look around for things I can do off line.  Writing then, for a few more minutes at least, is one way to be productive.  I’m racing against the computer’s clock, as it will announce its intention to shut down, shortly.  (Twelve percent remaining!)  Dozing off, I’m reminded of another fine, traditional way to kill time when there is suddenly nothing more to plug into.  Rest seems more appealing than typing emails with my two thumbs into my phone.