I have been thinking of putting my thoughts into a blog for quite some time but it required a major power outage to do so.
On Sep 8, i left work @ 1530 and headed for Bikram's yoga class @ 1630. Just as i exited off the freeway, i saw the traffic back up pretty bad. Then i realized that the traffic lights were not working. I though its just localized to Pacific Beach area. By the time i got to La Jolla, the traffic lights were still not functioning. Well, i didn't bother much, its just traffic lights, i thought. When i got into the Bikram's yoga class, the instructor said that the power outage is for the entire San Diego County but they are still going to have the class minus the hot room. I have never seen a power outage longer than an hour in US in the past 17 years, so i was pretty positive that the power would be back before the class ended.
The class promptly started @ 1630. It was such a quiet class - no mic, no noise of the heaters and humidifiers. It was just 12 adults and 2 kids in a huge yoga studio. I thought the class would be an easier one due to the lack of heat, but little did i realize that certain things have to done certain way. The Bikram yoga's 107 F temp actually warms up the body pretty quickly whereas today i had a tough time to get into or stay longer in any yoga posture. Also, after 30 minutes the room was reeking with sweat odor. How much i missed the hot room with humidifiers...!
As i drove home after the yoga class, the streets were still backed up with traffic. I saw that lot of business/shops had either closed or the owners/staff were sitting outside and chatting waiting for the power to come back up. I was thinking what to have for dinner. I had "Adai maavu" at home in the fridge. But if there is no power, there is no way i can cook. Should i grab a burrito? No, i wanted to see how i cope with a power outage with just the things at home. As a matter of fact, power outages were part and parcel of our life while growing up in India.
The 7 mile drive from the yoga class to home took about an hour in traffic and i reached home @ 1900. I parked the car in the underground garage. There was still some light to take the stairs and go to the 1st floor. Here it was pitch dark. I had to grope my way to the apartment. Once inside the house, i made sure i had match sticks, cadles and vizhakku. It was still not dark yet, so i decided to go to the pool and spend some time reading there. The pool was crowded. There were about 3 outdoor grills and all of them were taken. I sat there for about 30 minutes and continued reading "Ponniyin Selvan" volume 3. When i could see no more, i returned back home.
Once inside the house, I lit the traditional "Kamatchi amman vizhakku" and couple of candles. I was also appreciating the vizhakku concept. How our forefathers invented such a simple thing called "vizhakku" - all you need are oil, fire and a piece of cotton. I am not religious, but days like this i realize why people make it as a chore to lite the lamp every evening in India. I closed all the doors and windows and latched them. I went and turned the faucet and there was still hot water available. Wow! i am happy. Back in Italy, if there is an electrical outage, the life comes to a stand still. There is a water outage too since the pump that pumps water operates on electricity. I checked the fridge and i had "Paavakkai" varuval and vegetable kurma. I just had them cold and had some grapes for dinner.
I was getting lot of messages from co-workers/boss on cell phone. Everyone was SMS-ing the whole group to make sure every one is doing ok. I had just 60% battery left on the phone and didn't want to run out of it. My only concern was that for some reason if my parents in India or DS had heard about the San Diego power outage and tried reaching me on my cell, they would've been worried. Oh well, the chances are slim. I decided to power it down and did so promptly.
After dinner, i started reading "Ponniyin Selvan" in the candle light. Hhmm...what a bliss reading an age old epic in candle light surrounded by stillness. I was transported to 1000 years back. I have never experienced such quietness in my lifetime. No humming refridgerator or laptops or blarring televisions or telephones; no noise of cars or flights from nearby Airforce base. It was just me alone at home. First time i appreciated my 900 sq ft apartment and its coziness.
This long power outage brought such a surprise in my well planned and predictable day to day life. It would have forced everyone to stay home and all families would have enjoyed some long lost quiet and private time much deserved in this fast paced life. Did i crib or complain about the discomfort...NOT AT ALL.
On Sep 8, i left work @ 1530 and headed for Bikram's yoga class @ 1630. Just as i exited off the freeway, i saw the traffic back up pretty bad. Then i realized that the traffic lights were not working. I though its just localized to Pacific Beach area. By the time i got to La Jolla, the traffic lights were still not functioning. Well, i didn't bother much, its just traffic lights, i thought. When i got into the Bikram's yoga class, the instructor said that the power outage is for the entire San Diego County but they are still going to have the class minus the hot room. I have never seen a power outage longer than an hour in US in the past 17 years, so i was pretty positive that the power would be back before the class ended.
The class promptly started @ 1630. It was such a quiet class - no mic, no noise of the heaters and humidifiers. It was just 12 adults and 2 kids in a huge yoga studio. I thought the class would be an easier one due to the lack of heat, but little did i realize that certain things have to done certain way. The Bikram yoga's 107 F temp actually warms up the body pretty quickly whereas today i had a tough time to get into or stay longer in any yoga posture. Also, after 30 minutes the room was reeking with sweat odor. How much i missed the hot room with humidifiers...!
As i drove home after the yoga class, the streets were still backed up with traffic. I saw that lot of business/shops had either closed or the owners/staff were sitting outside and chatting waiting for the power to come back up. I was thinking what to have for dinner. I had "Adai maavu" at home in the fridge. But if there is no power, there is no way i can cook. Should i grab a burrito? No, i wanted to see how i cope with a power outage with just the things at home. As a matter of fact, power outages were part and parcel of our life while growing up in India.
The 7 mile drive from the yoga class to home took about an hour in traffic and i reached home @ 1900. I parked the car in the underground garage. There was still some light to take the stairs and go to the 1st floor. Here it was pitch dark. I had to grope my way to the apartment. Once inside the house, i made sure i had match sticks, cadles and vizhakku. It was still not dark yet, so i decided to go to the pool and spend some time reading there. The pool was crowded. There were about 3 outdoor grills and all of them were taken. I sat there for about 30 minutes and continued reading "Ponniyin Selvan" volume 3. When i could see no more, i returned back home.
Once inside the house, I lit the traditional "Kamatchi amman vizhakku" and couple of candles. I was also appreciating the vizhakku concept. How our forefathers invented such a simple thing called "vizhakku" - all you need are oil, fire and a piece of cotton. I am not religious, but days like this i realize why people make it as a chore to lite the lamp every evening in India. I closed all the doors and windows and latched them. I went and turned the faucet and there was still hot water available. Wow! i am happy. Back in Italy, if there is an electrical outage, the life comes to a stand still. There is a water outage too since the pump that pumps water operates on electricity. I checked the fridge and i had "Paavakkai" varuval and vegetable kurma. I just had them cold and had some grapes for dinner.
I was getting lot of messages from co-workers/boss on cell phone. Everyone was SMS-ing the whole group to make sure every one is doing ok. I had just 60% battery left on the phone and didn't want to run out of it. My only concern was that for some reason if my parents in India or DS had heard about the San Diego power outage and tried reaching me on my cell, they would've been worried. Oh well, the chances are slim. I decided to power it down and did so promptly.
After dinner, i started reading "Ponniyin Selvan" in the candle light. Hhmm...what a bliss reading an age old epic in candle light surrounded by stillness. I was transported to 1000 years back. I have never experienced such quietness in my lifetime. No humming refridgerator or laptops or blarring televisions or telephones; no noise of cars or flights from nearby Airforce base. It was just me alone at home. First time i appreciated my 900 sq ft apartment and its coziness.
This long power outage brought such a surprise in my well planned and predictable day to day life. It would have forced everyone to stay home and all families would have enjoyed some long lost quiet and private time much deserved in this fast paced life. Did i crib or complain about the discomfort...NOT AT ALL.
