<p>Yes, once again my friends, we have been powerless for a long time. This time we are on day 8. In my neighborhood, they just finished “assessing” damage. We were never underwater or washed away. The damage was caused by falling trees, and failed substations. The substations failed for the third time: Irene, Freak snow, and Sandy. Does that mean they are “out”?</p>
<p>I say Dr. Zhivago meets the Vampire Chronicles because we are spending our night in a more internal room, and soon I think the other rooms will start to look frozen over like they did in the movie if you saw it. I thought of the Vampire Chronicles because of the scene in the movie where they are at the house of Brad Pitt, and all the candles are burning in the dining room. I got out the candelabra my mother in law gave us for our engagement, and I am lighting it at night. It has that Vampire glow to it. We aren’t drinking blood yet, but I feel like turning to drink.</p>
<p>I have sent letters to my state and federal legislators. It seems to us, that our area is constantly relegated to the bottom of the heap, and this is not understandable. I never do that kind of thing, but I had to cry somewhere.</p>
<p>I know that many have been left homeless, and my heart really does go out to them, but that is a big project, and is not something that would be solved with a little manpower, which is all that I ask for.</p>
<p>Anyone else out there still in the dark?</p>
<p>anothermom2, are you in NJ? I’m in Somerset County. We seem to go in and out with power. The house is very, very cold and now with the storm tomorrow we may see snow!</p>
<p>I am growing deeply angry at the grid, the infrastructure and my tax rate. Where on Earth do these counties, cities, towns and states put our money??? The jobs are leaving this area because of the tax rate mostly. What is the public sector planning do? It is lunacy. Have lived in many different regions of this country and never seen such dysfunction. Oh, and let’s not forget the loud, egomaniac politicians! </p>
<p>Bury the darn power lines, fools!!! Maybe suspend a COLA a year or two for the public sector workers! Oh, and exhibit a modicum of competence, please.</p>
<p>My old dog is shivering and I worry about her. I think I will have to join the exodus to Pennsylvania and check into a hotel. DH is in Phoenix, bast him!</p>
<p>Sewhappy, we are in the same county. We are cold, and one room of my house is down 40 degrees. I have all the same complaints as you re taxes and lack of basic services. Yes, they need to bury the power lines. </p>
<p>We have a pets too. This makes it more of a problem in trying to go to a hotel. </p>
<p>My 87 year old father in law is in passaic county, and he is without heat and electric too, but he refuses to leave his house.</p>
<p>We have services at my office, so at least we warm up a bit here. However, the majority of the gas stations that we pass on our way to work are still closed - out of gas or out of power. When we run out of gas, I will cry.</p>