We are having some nasty thunderstorms in IL.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294340,00.html. More than 185,000 ComEd customers in Northern Illinois are without power.

We have been on generator power since 8/23/07 at 6:08PM...about 8 hours so far.

I have a feeling we may be without "easy" electricity for a few days.

This will be a good test of the generators before Winter, and an opportunity to compare the estimated math to my actual operating costs for core and comfort items.

Here are the items running on one Honda 3000 at the moment:

1. large Side-by-side refrig/freezer
2. Full size upright freezer
3. Tivo box
4. Cable TV box - service still functioning
5. Television
6. Router/Switch/Cable Modem - service still functioning.
7. Laptop computer

In the morning, a server, two more desktop computers, and a few lights will come on-line when we open for business.

Unfortunately we have heavy storm damage on our property. A 100 year+ Oak tree fell across our driveway. There at four other large trees down and several cords of debris strewn about. Our next door neighbor had an impressive electrical fire in his backyard. Thankfully, the fire department took care of it amazingly quickly.

Kind of a scary night....and more storms are coming.

At least we will have enough firewood for a few seasons.