Ice STORM apologies to all!

United States
February 2, 2009 8:49pm CST
Yes, it is true. Redyellowblackdog was in one of the worst ice storms ever! The power is out and will be for another 3 weeks at least. How am I posting this? Solar power! Using four 1.5 watt solar panels all day on days the sun shines allows me to store enough electricity into a battery to get on line for a short time. I will not be able to post hardly at all until the power comes back on. This will take maybe a month. Remember they said it could take three weeks? Then it could be a lot more than that. I say, SORRY, to all my myLot friends. I will be responding again regularily to your great posts soon. So, all of you who thought I was finally gone, better luck next time. What do you say?
3 people like this
14 responses
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Well, you gotta love that solar power... of course the politically correct method these days is wind power... Pelosi has said it... of course she is heavily invested with Pickens, and probably Gore too... so it's got to be good. We got some snow, but not the ice that you got, and the way the lights were flickering we thought our power was going for sure. Hope you get back on soon.
2 people like this
• United States
7 Feb 09
In spite of the high volume of hot air emanting from these parts, wind is in short supply in Arkansas.
@VKXY62 (1605)
• Australia
8 Feb 09
Incredible Red, I'll wish some of our weather across to you Red and you send some of yours back to us. Melbourne's all time high temperature was smashed yesterday when the heat soared to 47C (116F). Last week we had 3 days in a row over 42C about 105F, I've seen these ice storms on the tele. They just sit there and get colder.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 09
Now, it is unseasonably warm here. No more ice! The power came back on, too! Hurrah!
• United States
8 Feb 09
The ice storm took down all my antennas and a tree fell across the guy wires of my 115 foot tower. I had to drop it for safety considerations. I'm off the air, too. Darn weather!
@VKXY62 (1605)
• Australia
8 Feb 09
This is strange alright, Red, what happened, yesterday was high 40's, today, low 20's and raining. ?? Nuts.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Feb 09
Just take care of your family and neighbors. Looking forward to hearing about your experiences.. when they are over. Praying for all of you!
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Feb 09
I've already learned that I need more powerful solar cells, and a power inverter to use my car batteries for electricity.
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Try to stay safe and warm. I am impressed with the use of solar power.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Feb 09
I had some cheap low power cells on hand. So, I used what I had. I will soon be upgrading to more powerful solar cells. They are handy for emergencies.
• India
3 Feb 09
well when thereis worst ice stroms then you will not get proper sunlight then how wil your solar panels work because solar panels will need sunlight to work
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 09
The ice storm only lasted 2 days. Normal sunshine after that.
• United States
3 Feb 09
Hang in there, Red! You will be missed but we'll keep the place warm for you until you return. Stay Safe.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 09
Thanks, for the kind words and good advice.
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
3 Feb 09
I say I think it is fantastic that you are able to use the internet via solar power. There, you are doing something to mitigate your carbon footprint. Ha, I thought maybe you had dissapeared like so many others on Mylot but I am glad to hear otherwise. Take care and see you soon.
• United States
7 Feb 09
I'll definitely be back as quick as possible.
• United States
3 Feb 09
My thoughts and prayers are will all the unfortunate people who are affected by this terrible lack of electricity causing lack of food and warmth.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Feb 09
Fortunately, I heat my house with wood and always have an ample supply of food and water on hand. I'm safe, warm, and well fed, only bored.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
3 Feb 09
3 weeks??? That's not good at all RYBD. I do have to admit though, I'm pretty damn impressed that you posted this discussion while online using solar power! Most of us will still be here when you return I'm sure, so I'll see you when I see you! (I say most because who knows WHAT the heck is happening around here lately! lol)
• United States
3 Feb 09
The solar power trick is not that hard to do, if you have some solar cells. Fortunately, I've been experimenting with that for awhile. Time to get some more powerful cells and do this in a serious way. What I've got is too low powered to be seriously helpful.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Well Red, I am going to go out on a limb and say you are in Kentucky. Your solar panels sound great. Maybe when you get all the wrinkles ironed out of this situation, you can tell us more about these panels. I think we could all stand some learning. Good thing you are pretty much self-sufficient, you are probably doing better then most people. We are all worried about you....please hang in there and come back soon..and btw, in December they told us 7 days to get our power back on and it was on 2 days later.
• United States
7 Feb 09
Kentucky apparently got hit worse than here in Arkansas.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Im glad to hear that at least you are doing alright, I cant imagine being without electricity that long. At least with the solar power sounds like you are surviving! I would love to have things like that! Luckily we hardly ever lose our electricity even in the winter storms.
• United States
7 Feb 09
That's what I thought, too!
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
3 Feb 09
How ingenius of you...I would have never thought of that. At least you can get on for a little bit of time. I would have been going nuts if I were without power. Thankfully we haven't lost ours (knock on wood). Hope to see you back up and running soon. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG AND TRUST IN GOD**[/b]
• United States
3 Feb 09
I am looking for a power inverter that will allow me to run my computer off my car battery. That would allow me to get on more, but as you might imagine, stuff like that is in short supply around here right now.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I imagine that everything that has to do with power and heat are outrageously expensive right now. At least you have the knowledge of how to hook these kinds of things up...I'd be lost. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
3 Feb 09
So, you are one of the unlucky ones who is without power. I cannot imagine being without power that long. I hope you are holding up ok. Are your solar panels helping you out with other things fairly well too?
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Feb 09
The solar panels help, but I only had on hand some very low powered ones for experimentation. They are working out well enough that I will be upgrading later to more powerful cells.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
3 Feb 09
My goodness, redyellowblackdog, had no idea why you were 'missing in action'. Just knew you hadn't been around. A month or more is a long time to be without power in this weather! Will be praying they get yours fixed quicker than they think! You need to be online! We haven't had any bad weather, just low temps. It rained last night, so it's getting colder outside. Right now, it's 34 and feels 27! That's cold where we are and it's going to be much colder by Wednesday.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Feb 09
Thank you for the prayers. All help is appreciated.