Powerless

We had a big storm here on Monday. It was one of those wicked summer storms that sneak up on you, uproot a few trees, and cause a power outage so your two-year-old can't watch Spongebob Squarepants. It knocked out our power, along with estimates of as many as 800,000 households in ComEd's territory, if we are to believe the spokespeople. I believe everything I hear, you know.

We discovered that a power line was broken and just lying in a puddle behind the garage next door to us. Whoa! The Chicago PD stationed officers in our alley for about eight hours, standing guard so no one messed with the line, which apparently had 12,000 volts. I googled 12,000 volts -- it sounds like a lot, but what do I know -- and got some weird web sites, including sites about Chevy's Volt car. Huh. Anyway, one sticky night and 36 hours without power and we're back in business.

Then I think about it. In other countries -- let's say, oh, Iraq. Or other peaceful nation. The power goes out. I bet they would think people freaking about losing power for 36 hours and having to sleep one night without a/c were a bunch of ninnies. So yeah, I'm a ninny. But now that I have power, I can blog about being a ninny.

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So I was going to stick to my Week 2 pledge of getting up at 5 a.m. or before to run this week. I made it Monday, after the storm, since I had no power and couldn't fart around on the Internet, running three sultry miles. This morning I was going to meet my 5@5 friends, our weekly 5-mile run at 5 a.m., but overslept and got up at 5 a.m. instead. I ran four solo. So, it mostly counts.

One last random thought barely related to running. After Saturday's 10-miler on the lakefront, I was heading to my car and saw a pregnancy test lying on the ground next to a row of parked cars. It was face-up, with a very visible "+" sign on it.

I keep thinking about that test. Did she pee on the stick right there in the lakefront parking lot? Or did she bring it with her to surprise her boyfriend/husband/whatever at a romantic lakefront picnic? Or did she bring it with to show him and scare him into taking responsibility? Don't you ever look at someone and wonder what is their story? I keep wondering what that baby's story will be. I hope to god it's a happy one.