I do LOVE my generator! It never let me down.

[DemoTex]

I just shut it down and gave it a pat on the back and an "ATTA-BOY" after 48 hours of exceptional service. I have had basics (well pump, freezer, re-fridge, lights, TV, and computer) since the tornado came through with Ivan 48 hours ago. Now I have the real thing.

Sir Generator will soon get an upgrade. I am getting a propane tank and a propane conversion kit for the generator. Most of my neighbors are already on propane. Storing and schlepping big Gerry cans of gasoline sucks.

Strangely, I lost all telephone service at about 9:30 last night. I still do not have dial-tone, but just got DSL back. Hence my first post in about 24 hours.

I've cooked my entire meals on my wood cooker the last two nights. Meat and corn in the cooker and a pot of collards on the hickory-stoked fire box. A big stew-pot of water on the fire box was near boiling by the time I finished dinner last night. Perfect for washing dishes, pioneer style.

I had a Texas Chainsaw Massacre against downed trees all day today. I can barely move. My back is killing me. The Shiraz helps. The mountain place is shaping up .. slowly.

[Champion Jack]

1. Yeah! being prepared is a great thing

What kind of gennie do you have?

[DemoTex]

A Gillette Gen-Pro

It also serves as a shaver. Maybe? Hey! It came with the house. What do I know? It is a 9 kW genny that is hard-wired into the house. It is manual on, but auto-off when the power is restored.

Look-it. I wish I had had a generator at my downtown Dallas home. It makes life so much better a few times a year.

My Gen-Pro is very noisy. I would recommend shopping for the quietest, propane-powered, auto-start generator that might be in your budget.

However, I realize you can't have it all. I'm just damn glad to have old "Big Red."

[havocmom]

2. Glad to hear from you. Glad you are OK

Have a flight question for you when I figure out how to phrase it. About those small prop jets (think that is what it was) and safe altitudes for flying them. Can they go under radar? Saw something a tad out of the ordinary up here in the hinterlands of 'West Dakota' and am thinking smuggling op.

[DemoTex]

5. Hmmmm.

It would probably be extremely easy to duck radar in the hinterlands of 'West Dakota.' But getting there "low-level" is not that easy. Navigation and weather problems come to mind. Low-level in a turbo-prop or turbo-jet burns much more fuel than flight at a higher altitude. Smuggling? Could be, but I doubt it. There are such closer drop-off points in the south. An airplane smuggling from Latin America or the islands needs to land and off-load sooner, rather than later. However, there might be a new MO going here. Got high demand in 'West Dakota' (pardon the pun)?

Call the FAA and report it, if you are concerned or bothered about your safety or your communities safety. That is my gut advice.

[havocmom]

9. Thanks, mac

FAA was my thought too. Think it would be easy to bring just about anything from Canada through here. Hardly anyone but cows and antelope for zillions of miles. He was coming in so flat and low that he had to come up to get over some of the buttes around here. Straight line from north to south... from nowhere to nowhere in this particular corridor and about half way between Malstrom & Minot.

[dolo amber]

3. So glad you're safe

:hi:

We've not had to use ours *yet*. We've had several scares, but thus far we've been lucky (ice storm last winter especially :scared:).

Get in a hot tub and relax those sore muscles. ;)

[DemoTex]

6. Ooooh, wish I had a hot tub!

I'm just waiting for that big water heater to get things fired up. Then I'll be in the hot shower. I am nasty. Really nasty.

[cmd]

4. Glad to hear that all is well

Has anyone heard from Trof?

[DemoTex]

7. NO AND I AM CONCERNED! THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP!

Obviously, TROF was at ground zero (eastern shore of Mobile Bay - Foley). However, TROF is a smart guy. Hell, he was a Boeing 747 captain for TWA and a real fighter pilot in the Alabama Air Guard. I think he evacuated. Let's hope so.

[DemoTex]

10. I just called Trof's house and left a message.

I ask him to contact me. As soon a I hear from him, if it is before he posts, I'll update DU. Trof is too weather wary (as a Boeing 747 captain and real fighter pilot) to get caught by this storm. His property is another story indeed.

[Red State Rebel]

8. We lived by generator for 2 weeks once..

We had a fire at our house and rather than stay at a hotel and put the pets in boarding, we stayed home in our camper on the driveway. That generator saved our butts!

Glad things are shaping up for you!!