Power outage and surprise party!

We'd had a quiet dinner on Saturday, with a candle in the banana bread. Happy birthday Joe! The actual day of his birth. We had a Facetime with Aster, JL, and Caitlin. Later on, we had a Facetime with Jordan, from his dorm room at Queens! He had two midterms on Thursday. Crazy busy!

 

That was a fun day Sunday! Someone got up at 5:30 a.m., since we expected the power outage from 6 - 10. Joe wanted coffee, as I did. The lights woke me, so I figured I'd get up. By 6:15 the power went off. We had our 2nd coffee in the dark. 

I made another mistake. I neglected to have breakfast. I was hungry by 10:00. It was cold, but I thought they'd be accurate, since they usually are at HydroOne, figuring I'd have a not breakfast then. Nope!

 

I followed the power outages online as 6 a.m. approached. There was ice rain, and winds, across the province. We were worried. It got worse, too. 

⏻ Our power outage was planned, we had email and phone messages to this effect. In hindsight (20/20), I should have done what I usually do, fill up the watering cans and put them in the bath tub. This is just prudent, and since we lose our well water pump, it means we can flush. I thought that since this was planned, they would be one and done in the 2 hours it normally takes. HAH!

🔥I didn't make a fire in the basement, as I thought we'd be good. I didn't make one until noon, when I realized it was getting cold, and we weren't going back on line until later. It was getting cold in the house.

🎉 🥳 We were sitting there in the amazing quiet just reading. I knew the three of them were coming. 

Fortunately, Caitlin and I had planned shrimp tacos for lunch. I heard them arrive. Well, they have an EV, I heard the car doors slam. I waited as I saw Aster go by the window. Grampa saw her. I think Aster is the only red-head who visits us! 

Aster brought her guitar and played for us. She has a playing exam on Tuesday, and she has written a song, as well. She played those. She has a lovely voice. She thinks she is going to take Physics in university. We had some great chats as we waited for the power to return.

Jean-Luc cooked the shrimp on the BBQ. He loves to cook. Fortunately. Also BBQ!

Caitlin made a 'crazy cake' (AKA Cockeyed Cake, Whacky Cake, etc.).' Joe can have these, as there is no dairy, yeast, or egg in it! (His food intolerances.) They think it came from the 1940s (<= read more here), when used during cooking demonstrations. I've had this book since the 80s, I think.

Peg Bracken died in 2007. She had a wicked sense of self-deprecating humour. Here is a piece she wrote in the Saturday Evening Post in 1958. 

This is from the 1960, I Hate to Cook Book!
I found some research on Peg Bracken↑ !

Aster had iced the cake, she lit the candles, as well. Not 76 of them, but we got the gist.

The kids gave him a gift card, and read him a poem they had collaborated on! It was really touching. Grampa's gone by Brian. His mom did as the priest told her, and named him Joseph for a saint, but his second name is Brian. She always called him Brian. When we moved here, he went back to being called Joe.

Grandpa Joe’s Birthday Poem

There once was a Grampa named Brian

Who had lots of funny hats to try on.

He’d charm the cashiers

And bring them to tears.

In the aisles they’d be laughin’ and cryin’!

We know this particularly fine gent

With a penchant for puns - heaven sent!

His ‘stache white as snow,

Sometimes he’s called Joe,

We feel all his love at every event.

Dr. What as he is known by some

Brings us chuckles and laughs and fun

He’d wear a fun costume

Make us all join the tune

When the Ballad of Tom Dooley is sung

He takes a walk every day,

So sprightly and quick,

With a laugh just so warm,

Always a joke in the mix,

He’s got stories galore,

And told a third time to be sure,

A guy full of so many tricks,

We’ve loved you for so many years,

Congratulations on the big seventy-six!

We had some lovely conversations. I had a text at 10:30, saying power would be up at 11:00. Then, another text, up by 12. Another: 1:00 p.m. Finally, they texted saying it'd be up by 2 p.m. That was a long haul. It came up after 2:00, and we were relieved.  

The furnace came on, and we were able to flush. Life was good.