For now, this will have to be just a quick note and an apology. Shortly before noon on Friday, I was writing a course summary for a monthly professionalism program I’ll be doing for lawyers next year when, literally out of a clear blue sky, lightening struck so near to our home in Alexandria that the house shook. Scared the hell out of me.
The crash was accompanied by a loud “snap” sound, and my computer screen went black. The internet modem also went dead: it was fried, and had to be replaced. I couldn’t start my PC (my laptop died a while ago, and I’ve been saving up to replace that). Comcast arrived to replace the modem Saturday afternoon, but the computer took longer: a part was damaged by the strike, and my son just installed the replacement. Fortunately, I didn’t lose any data.
This is the first time I’ve been online since Friday, and I obviously have a lot of catching up to do. I’m just thrilled I can get even a non-substantive post up today, so only one day was missed entirely.
Finally:
- Many thanks to commenter E2. She knows my sister, and my sister passed along my disaster to her while relaying my request that she let everyone know that I wasn’t dead.
- I’m so sorry.
- Live every day to its fullest, because if a bolt of lightning can come out of a clear blue sky and fry my computer…well, you know the rest.
- Thanks to everyone who added quality content here while I was frozen out. (Did any banned commenters take advantage of the sheriff being out of town? I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
Ethics Alarms 
This makes me thankful that a few months ago I became aware that our power company had a program to put a surge protector at your meter — there is a nominal monthly fee, but then they also give you a guarantee against damage due to a surge. If I recall correctly, most appliances are covered and computers are covered up to $1000.
It’s not unusual around here for us to lose power during a thunderstorm, so this is a welcome program.
The weird thing was that we didn’t lose power, not even for a second.
The same thing happened to me once, lightening struck while I was on the phone in our living room. The phone went CRACK and died,and two bulbs in the hanging light exploded, but we didn’t lose power. It was wild. The phone was melted on the inside.
Like an EMP.
Oh, great. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. Now. EMPs are out to get me.
jvb
Look at the bright side. It is better than EMTs coming for you….
Glad to hear that everything is OK, even if not particularly stress free!
Of all the places and times for lightning to strike it had to pick right there, right then. I am glad for the update. I just figured that it was a health issue and wasn’t going to say or do anything until it was resolved.
Was being unplugged maddening, peaceful…both?
Definitely not peaceful, but I quickly defaulted to old friend and pedant Tom Fuller’s motto, “If you have no options, you have no problem.” I actually have several huge problems…a course tomorrow I needed to prep for, two Friday deadlines missed, a looming trial where I am an expert—all of which could have generated emails that I was missing, and had to wait for. I also was stressed about losing a data I couldn’t replace and adding a new PC to the homes and business expenses that have piled up since ProEthics lost about 75% of its regular clients thank to the pandemic lockdown. To a ridiculous extent, I also worried about Ethics Alarms—the whole last week was alarmingly dead already.
But…and I know this is silly…the Red Sox went into the All-Star game break after sweeping three games from the poor Oakland As, with the team playing hot and Fenway fans going nuts. And I could watch all the games without feeling guilty that I should have been doing something productive. That was wonderful.
Wow. That’s crazy. Glad to read everyone is ok.
jvb
Welcome back!
Glad things go turned around relatively quickly and you’re back online.
It was a “censor bolt”….monitoring what you were writing. 🙂
I’m glad you’re ok. A surge protector might not have even saved you, but it sounds like you don’t have to replace your kitchen appliances too so that’s good.
Glad you were not cancelled, that would be unfortunate.