No Power - No Problem
Day three of the power outage in Ohio/Kentucky
Sunday around 2pm the power went out in the Crowley House. Although our power has gone off many times in the past, this was different. The winds were howling around 70 mph with no end in sight. Hurricane Ike had just left a path of devastation in Texas and was on its quick ascent through the Midwest and into Canada.
Because we live in a newer development, our power tends to go out in heavy storms, something having to do with the fact that we are at the end of the circuit.
I had to make a quick decision: Do I react similar to how I have in the past by just waiting a few hours for the power to return, or do I go a different direction?
I decided to go to Home Depot and purchase my first ever generator.
Thank God I did.
It is currently 2pm Tuesday and there is no indication we will have electricity in our home any time soon. When the winds hit our area, there were approximately 900,000 Duke Enery customers without power. This represents a total population of close to 1.5M people in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.
As I listened to the radio in the dark Sunday night, I heard concern from many people. Many people wanted to know if they should show up for work the next day. Many small business owners were worried they could not open their doors indefinitely. Restaurants were worried about inventory going to waste.
I gave thanks that
#1 I don’t have a job
#2 My income does not stop flowing if power goes out
I purchased the last generator in Home Depot Sunday afternoon. I brought it home, put gas in it and fired it up. It’s been running non stop since.
Our neighbors have all put their frozen foods in our freezers and used our refrigerator to store everthing else. Their children need milk and food and we are more than happy to be there for them. Actually, Angela and I feel blessed that we have been given the means to do this small favor for many.
Neither of us work outside the home, so we can watch other kids in the neighborhood if the parents have to take care of other issues that have arised during the power outage.
We are in a place financially to be able to purchase a generator on a whim and food to store for days.
This is a perfect example of why you should strive to be financially free. It’s not about how much of the money you get to keep. It’s about how many blessings you get to give away. It’s about lifestyle and not having to call and ask someone (boss) what they think about your situation. It’s about being there for your family and friends in time of need.
I emailed all my coaching clients yesterday from a local Marriott lobby to let them know the situation and thanked them for their patience.
I sent the email after I rented a chain saw to take down a tree which had fallen on one of my rental homes. I woke up yesterday at 2am, poured gas in the generator and proceeded to go shopping at the only store open in the city. I then came home, got our other car and filled it with gas at the only gas station that was open. Then off to HD for the chainsaw, to the house for tree removal, back home to tend to the family and hang out with the neighborhood kids.
When I speak of being free, it’s not so you can bathe in money or buy 25 BMW’s - it’s so you can create choices for you and your family. Most people in the Greater Cincinnati area have limited options this week and are waiting for direction from someone further up the organizational chart.
A few years ago I decided the direct reports at home were more important than the ones at work.
I’m leaving the Marriott to go home and cook burgers on the grill. You don’t need electric for that. Now our kids are FORCED to spend time with mom and dad due to their beloved television not working:)
No power, no problem.
Sam
September 16th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Sam,
That is such a great perspective to think about right now with all the uncontrollable weather events that are happening all over the place. Your ability to see your success in all the finer details of your life is really inspiring. I completely agree that real freedom means the power to create your choices and your opportunities to improve your life and the lives of others around you. You truly exemplify that quality.
Thank you for a great story and thank you for all you do as a mentor. It is a privilege to know you.
Sincerely,
Ruby
September 16th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Great stuff, Sam.
Indeed, freedom is priceless. Thanks for sharing your latest adventure.
Adios,
Jeb
September 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Thank you Sam,
It’s really some thing we should at least start thinking seriously of. I can recall part of that feeling when I am in my vacation.
It really amazing to feel that you are the one who control your life and to have your own plan for your life rather than being dedicated for implementing plans of the others.
Thank you very much again.
Majdi A Rahman
October 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Chapter One
Mira, Mistress of Destiny
By
Skeeze Whitlow
1
In Search Of…
“Yes we can!”
Mira’s voice echoed from eastern forests to western mountains. Her aura illuminated shadows, her resilient voice resounded. “The ‘Other’ must be driven out! We rely on the motion of heavenly bodies, the calendar of our ancestors will carry us through the onslaught of the ‘true cross.’ Aztec treasure is now the responsibility of our Bearers. The life given us shall flourish.”
A rise in the stone roadway, brought the immediacy of death’s tang. Mira’s visual shock led to disgust. Her Bearers saw, and tasted disappointment: Indigenous bodies hanged by the neck; drooping , dripping strung like ornaments of disbelief. Male and female, desecrated. Treachery of the ‘Other.’ Barbarians, who wasted human life, allowing precious blood to seep away. The consequence for holding back treasure.
A mother was hung by the neck from a branch, lines were strung from Mamma’s ankle. There, the child’s body dangled. These unfortunate people could have seen another sunrise — in exchange for submission to a distant belief. In an unpronounceable language, the Spanish proclaimed, “We will make slaves of your people — we will do all the harm and damage possible.” This type of behavior, the conquistadors thought, would secure riches.
“Cut them down. Seven Q’a’ah, you know what to do.”
“Mira, time prompts us to depart.” Seven Q’a’ah drew a deep sigh. “The Land of Plentiful Fish awaits.”
“Yes, yes. But, these are our kindred spirits. We have a responsibility to them. Their auras were snuffed. Denied access to an acceptable level of Heaven, their spirits drift without direction. We owe them some dignity.”
Seven Q’a’ah met Mira’s eyes. “It is said that those who die prematurely, leave their souls behind in a forlorn search for satisfaction, still smitten by life’s fruit.”
“Yes, Seven Q’a’ah, auras of unresolved desire now linger in these forests. They keep soothsayers in a frantic rush.”
“But, what are we to do?”
“What can we do? It is our obligation to deal with demons?”
“No.”
“We deal with the human factor – nothing more, nothing less.”
“Ahh. But we are not human beings in search of spirituality. We are spiritual beings in search of humanity.”
“Maybe so, My Friend, but we’re not going to find it here.”
When Seven Q’a’ah’s burial squads had completed their duty, Mira gave the word to carry-on. Resolve, drove them. Seen as fields of light energy, they moved without falter, hefting Motecuzoma’s gold. People of the Maize considered the shiny metal to be ‘excrement of the Gods.’ Pushing on through forests of Queztalcoatl toward the Land of Plentiful Fish, to a land the conquistadors would never defile. She and her Bearers were sworn to safeguard the Aztec treasure. This treasure motivated barbarian ruthlessness.
They had to remain a step ahead of the ‘Other.’ Further up ahead, bird species sang by the hundreds. Dense foliage supported myriads of life. Shooting through Mira’s mind’s eye, a vision stirred – the premonition of a wizened woman. Her soul had been agitated by this vision for quite some time. Only, now, it was more intense.
Dry cactus reached, alongside palm trees. Experience told her more would be revealed. Black howler monkeys screeched like angry jaguars. The jungle’s canopy seemed to quiver. Pyramid combs peeked through trees.
Coming out of the jungle, a line of Bearers, led by Mira, shouldering the bundles wrapped in white cotton, sewn along the edges. Many of these bundles took on different shapes; rectangles, being most prevalent. They stepped into the city, past the crowds, sculpted statues of cherished Gods, past high stone-carved stelae telling of the people’s history, past the ritual ball court and around a series of buildings serving the temple. Toward the temple pyramid.
December 20th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Sam,
A man in California sunk a lot of money into my 2nd novel, ‘Senate Parking.’ The novel has been turned into audio format.
You can listen to ‘Senate Parking’ by going to
www.NewFiction.com
select ‘Senate Parking’ by Skeeze Whitlow
See what can happen when you don’t give up before the miracle happens…