# I'm waiting for the power to fail **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927 "2003-01-06T13:07:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/1 "2003-01-06T13:07:24Z")
It’s a little windy in Los Hideous. Yup, Santa Ana (or Santana) winds. They repeatedly woke me up last night, as I have vertical blinds that clack together when they move. (I had the windows open because I like it very cool – even cold – when I sleep.) One gust was so strong I woke with a start, thinking that there had been an explosion. So very little sleep for me! I’m expecting the power to go out at any moment. (Although I have insurance. The power never goes out as long as I have a Coleman lantern near at hand.) The worst part about Santa Ana winds is that they signal high temperatures. It will be in the mid-80s today, and it’ll get warmer over the next couple of days. I watched _King of the Hill_ last night, and one of the characters said that she was closing her business so that she could move “somewhere where it’s always cold.” I’ll second that. I don’t like the heat – especially in “Winter”! Anyway, despite my lantern hanging nearby, I would not be at all surprised if things suddenly go dark. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/2 "2003-01-06T16:56:59Z")
Yep. Hot and dry. I can’t say I like it. Plus, it blows the smog out to the coast (where I am) and reminds me that I’m breathing all that crap on a daily basis. It was just a little windy down here this morning, but the advisories are up. Generally I don’t worry about losing power, as it’s not too bad where I live. But you never know. The weather reports were talking about some STRONG winds. Jeez. 80 degrees in the first week of January. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/3 "2003-01-06T17:00:10Z")
When Tennessee gets hot weather in winter, we start hunting for a hole to hide in. It usually means a violent outbreak of very severe storms, with large #s of tornados. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/4 "2003-01-06T17:03:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > **I watched _King of the Hill_ last night, and one of the characters said that she was closing her business so that she could move “somewhere where it’s always cold.” I’ll second that. I don’t like the heat – especially in “Winter”!** **Johnny** , speaking as someone who used to live in “Los Hideous” but now resides smack upside the Canadian border in the Lake Effect Zone, I say be careful what you wish for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/5 "2003-01-06T17:21:41Z")
We already have the power to fail. We also all have the power to succeed. Please excuse me, I very rarely get the chance to make a “play on words”, and this was too good to pass up. 😃 Be safe, **Johnny L.A.** Quasi ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/6 "2003-01-06T17:34:37Z")
What I always loved about the santa anas was the fact that the humidity would drop to about 2% and then everything and anything that I’d touch would give me a nice, powerful static electric shock. Even after I used anti-static fabric softener and sprayed static guard in my shoes and on my socks. One time my car door handle shocked me so bad that it actually left a little black burn mark and a blister. Damn that hurt. Now I live in the Bay Area, and we don’t get those winds up here. In fact it’s been a bit too chilly for me as of late. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/7 "2003-01-06T17:56:34Z")
**Duke** : Trust me. I know exactly what I’m wishing for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/8 "2003-01-06T18:41:30Z")
Hey, at least it’s better than losing power in Minnesota, Toronto or some other place where you’d freeze to death in an hour. Personally, the only problem I have with the weather is that everyone in the northern U.S. who watches the Rose Bowl/Parade sees the clear blue skies and wants to move out here thus driving up housing prices and clogging the freeways. Then, once they get here, all they do is complain about how they hate the warm weather. Waah, there’s no seasons. Waah, there’s no winter. Waah, someone’s pointing a gun at my head and preventing me from moving back to the snow. (Rant over) Good luck with the power, **Johnny**. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![scablet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@scablet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scablet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/9 "2003-01-06T18:53:20Z")
I feel ya. The Santa Anas are currently attempting to remove my roof by force - most uncalled-for. ---
**Author:** ![Kaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Kaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/10 "2003-01-06T18:55:34Z")
Bleh, these Santa Anas are making me feel all out of sorts. Too dry, too windy. At least its nice and warm unlike most of the rest of the country. I think the over/under for the power to go out is 2pm. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/11 "2003-01-06T19:10:58Z")
My cats are walking around all pissed off because everything they get close to gives them a static shock in the nose. When I pet them their fur crackles. I’m afraid one of them might spontaneously combust. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/12 "2003-01-06T19:15:44Z")
I agree with you \*\* Johnny L.A.\*\* I totally hate the heat and it’s just WRONG in January. I didn’t sleep well either and I’m totally creeped out by this. I seem to be whining a lot…I think I’ll go find a hole to crawl in. Sighhhhh :eek: ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/13 "2003-01-06T19:54:16Z")
\ And my hair just _won’t_ curl!!! \ I just left the building to go to the bank, and it’s really blowing out there now. It wasn’t HOT yet, but it was nicely warm. I’m headed inland to La Mesa tonight, so it should be nice and toasty when I get there. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/14 "2003-01-06T21:34:17Z")
I would _love_ to live in a place with the kind of weather you’re all complaining about! Cold is death. warmth is life. Cold is hate. warmth is love. Cold is the devil. Warmth is God. ---
**Author:** ![Jonno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jonno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonno)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/15 "2003-01-06T22:55:44Z")
My cat is still hiding in the closet. Even this afternoon it sounds like a hurricane outside. I’m not looking forward to cleaning up. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/16 "2003-01-06T23:09:43Z")
**cuauhtemoc** : Cold is invigorating. Warmth causes laziness. Cold is not-hate. Warmth is… What’s this “love” thing everyone is talking about? Cold is Father Christmas. Warmth is Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/17 "2003-01-07T02:00:05Z")
Oh, it’s gotten as high as 95 in LA in January - back in 1971! ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/18 "2003-01-07T02:18:53Z")
It kept me up all night in Orange County, and then it took me a while to find a breakfast bite n’ coffee place that wasn’t closed. Back here in L.A. county and hoping I can get a bit of sleep tonight. I hate this weather. Craving rain! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/19 "2003-01-07T02:25:13Z")
Yeah, me too. Fortunately I’ll have all the rain I can eat next week. (Hm. Looks like this is merging into the “Mandatory Vacation” thread.) I too, hope I can get some sleep. If it’s windy, my blinds will make noise and/or it will be too bright in my room. If I close the window, it will be too warm. **cuauhtemoc** can have this weather if he wants it. I want snow. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927/20 "2003-01-07T02:31:44Z")
I hate these effing Santa Anas because it guarantees I’ll be sick. Frickin’ sinuses. And now, thanks to either exercising regularly, the lovely SoCal air quality, or both, I have asthma to factor into the picture. BTW, **Johnny** , I swung by a teacher supply store on the way home from work only to be greeted by a sign that said “Closed due to power out.” Several street lights were out this morning, too. As if driving in SoCal weren’t hazardous enough. Weren’t you moving up north? I thought it was a done deal. Is it still, or did I miss something? The wind also guarantees the kids (students) are going to be NUTS. Rainy days are nothing–it’s _windy_ days that whip them into a loud, obnoxious, wild, unfocused, and uneducable frenzy. And on the first day back from vacation. Whee! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-waiting-for-the-power-to-fail/146927.md?page=2)