We have been without power since Thursday evening. To sum it up, it blows. A huge wind storm knocked out tons of stuff. We did pretty well (camping stove for cooking, candles, flashlights, firewood, propane for a fancy indoor heater) until today. Right now we're at Peter's office holed up in a conference room. I immediately got a cup of coffee (starbucks machine) and jumped on Peter's laptop to peruse Perez Hilton. I do have priorities after all. The kids are running around Peter's office. I am over it. Peter and Hadley have strep. Finn is getting it and my back is still acting up. Dear Vicodin, Thank you for weathering the storm with me. You're a good friend. Love, Emily

Oddly, the timing of this (Christmas) is sort of appropriate. We have each other and in our everyday lives we are very fortunate. More so than most. We have just been sitting in front of the fire to stay warm, reading, playing, singing. It's just like the Olden Days. I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something and then I remember it's not that I'm forgetting anything, it's that there is no distraction for me to retreat to. We have been being a family. Nothing to do but be with each other. Sounds very Tiny Tim I know but true. Peter and I played Scrabble by candlelight last night. Before you puke from us being so wholesome I will tell you now that we went to Target and bought a portable DVD player, plugged it into the car and drove around for a while so the blue eyed devils could get their fix. That's how we roll.

I don't know what we'll do tonight. Hotels all over are booked. There are lines for gas and McDonalds. Peter went out this morning to get gas at 6am and on his way home with Starbucks and McDonalds he hit a patch of black ice and crashed into a guard rail.

Sigh...

Ok, we're done now. No more lessons needed to "make us stronger".

More later. Must check to see what my children are destroying.

Oh and I would personally like to pat myself on the back for buying 100 tea light candles 6 months ago even though when I was buying them I thought "Well, this is a bit much but it's $4.99. What a deal!" We burned through every one.

Goodnight John Boy.