The morning came, the morning after the Great Blow of Aught-Six. The sky was momentarily blue, and the denizens of Number seven, Port-au-Patois (aka the Cove Apartments), were curled up together on the couch.

Part one of this documentary outlined some of the Day After. This part, deux, will continue the narrative. Apologies to Steve Zissou (the fictional one, not the NY attorney).

I puttered through the day. First order, after nearly blowing up the propane bottle on the Coleman stove, was to find batteries for the radio. Now, I hate this radio. I have considered throwing it away or freecycling it many times. Now that I'm back on the island, I'm glad I have it. Until, of course, I purchase a crank radio. I had to scavenge batteries, three AA and two AAA, of all things. These were found in the now-useless TV and VCR remotes.

I did the dishes. Found there was some hot water, so saved it for later. (I'm not sure if I have a propane hot water tank, or electric. I guess I'll know after several days without power, now, won't I?) I rearranged an entire room's worth of stuff, making way for the futon I will buy this weekend. Sleeping on the floor isn't cutting it. Lots of stuff went up into the loft.

I figured out that I can put a metal kettle or pot on my propane heat stove (fake woodstove thing) and eventually get a slow, rolling boil. This is good to know for the next time I will spend several days subsisting on cup o'noodles, Campbell Vegetable Beef soup and hot chocolate.

The motorcycle was fine. No damage to it or the cover, nothing had hit it.

I drove around the island, partly so I could see what was up, but mostly so I could charge my cell phone. It will only charge when the engine is running. Stupid, I know.

The first thing I noticed was that my side mirror was pushed all the way forward. I thought, "that was some kind of wind!" until I pulled it back into place and saw that something hard had hit it, and it was cracked really badly. Then I noticed the dent on the door, just below the driver's side window. Not wind, honey. Branch. Big, swift branch.

No problems getting up my road, but once on the Westside Highway, I could tell things were much worse than I had anticipated. In the first mile, I encountered a tree down, leaning against power lines. I took a picture. Then, as I drove farther south, I quit taking pictures because I didn't want to stop so often! In the space of 6 or 7 miles, I saw at least 8 trees hanging against power lines, and drove under three that spanned the entire width of the roadway. "Duck and cover driving," I thought. Every 6th power pole had a wire hanging from it. It was clear that it will be days before power is restored.

Stopped in at T and J's house, and played a rousing game of Harry Potter UNO. Continued back down the highway on my phone-charging expedition. I saw the only work crew of the night on the Burton road, working just behind the Burton store. They looked like they were working hard. Dark, dark, and more dark settled around me as I drove north again toward town. There were 6 trucks at the PTI building, which is where our small phone company equipment is. So maybe folks will have phones sooner than power. Don't anyone hold your breath.

My sister called as I coasted into town. She was planning to stay in Edmonds, so I told her of my predicament. (I'm now there, at Harbor Inn, enjoying wi-fi, TV and heat.) We made a plan for me to join her at Alderwood Mall (ugh) and then to go to the Inn with her and my niece, Greta. The mall was a nightmare. I hate it on my best days, and after no sleep, driving, waiting, ferrying, driving, waiting, waiting, and parking, I wasn't in the mood.

The plan for the rest of the weekend is to eat, sleep, and do kid stuff. I might take off a half day on Monday morning, but I won't if I can help it. Then again, with as many wires as I saw on the road today, I doubt there will be school.

Don't worry. In fine island fashion, the kitties and I will shelter in place at Port-au-Patois, number seven. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

And as soon as I have more power, I'll let you know what the rest of the weekend brings.