The Native Iowan

Thursday eve this side of the globe. We’re being thrashed by thunder storms. Power has gone off.

Itz Lightz Out.

These kinda storms are in my vernacular a “Willis” storm. In reference to my old storm chasing compadre, W.E.

This is the kinda weather W.E. thrives on. Wild, smelly, powerful weather. A sailors storm. A sailor happy to be on land as this kinda storm runs you down…

I had to rush out shirtless to get my truck out of the hail and into the shed. I got battered by hail getting to the truck, sat in the shed deafened by the sound of the hail drumming the tiny roof, then walked back to the house in a light rain, with a magnificent rainbow close enough to touch, exhilarated and happy. All within 10minutes.

What a world!

The day was quite mild. Not very hot and nicely breezy. The clouds were building up, then late afternoon the squalls started. A number of heavy, quick little storms, racing across the surface. Followed by a calm, then a heavy squall, a storm that carried hail. In 45 minutes we went from nice day to hail on the ground, and1inch/25mm of rainfall.

Followed by a glorious clear sky and gentle breeze and… a killer rainbow…

That was less than 2 hours ago. Now it’s a torrential deluge complete with good thunder and great lightning. A proper storm.

Power went off a while ago. No big deal in my book…

I live in low light by choice and every eve light candles around the house. I turn lights on as per need, but prefer low light. I have a couple of ol-skool “Fever Hand” kerosene lamps if need be. They are nice outside.

I buy candles in bulk. I like fire. Power off, no need to worry or rush, light a candle.

So power off aint a big deal… not unless you want to heat water or cook (the stove is electric) or use water (we live on tank water and rely on a pump) or watch TV or use the sauna or… My computer and phone have good charges. We can crank for quite a while.

And it’ll be bed time soon…

The average Gringo can’t live without power. I think its to scary for the average bear in the woods. The dark. The quiet.

Being a Solomon Islander I’m use to it. And very much like the quiet that comes with no electricity.

Light can be annoying. I claim that light is noisy. I claim that I was taught to see in the dark by my wolf, Nuke.

Nuke and I shared time and space over 40 years ago. He a young wolf and I a young human. We learned to survive in the mordern world symbiotically. I helped him be civilised and he helped me be wild.

It’s a long story. Here’s part of it… https://nativeiowan.com/2021/02/25/2021-v2-dawgtales/

But tonight the timing is just right. Power can be off. I can complete my day without any more electrical power than I have available in a couple devices. I’m fed and watered. It has been a good, productive day. I got a good blog-piece out of it. And got the thrill and youthful pleasure of being in an intense storm.

More fun than getting bucked off the Segway…

Funny thing is that we’ll go to bed, powerless, content and happy, then about 2am the juice will come back on and the lights and TV and such will pop back on, scare us and make the dogs bark.

And the beat goez on…

Smiles