We’re now into our 12th day without electricity thanks to Hurricane Ike. There have been conflicting reports on when our power might be restored. Centerpoint Energy’s map last week said we’d be on by now, but yesterday’s updated map shows that we won’t have power until Sunday at the earliest. Rumor in our neighborhood, however is that we shouldn’t expect to see any power return until Friday, October 3.

So I’ve now entered the generator era. It’s funny that with all the electronic gadgets, computers, phones and toys, we’re dead in the water without a simple watt of electricity. So instead of me being the one promoting to all my friends and neighbors the advantages of the latest hi-tech toy, they’ve finally convinced me to purchase a good ol’ fashioned, gasoline-powered, rock concert-loud Briggs & Stratton 5500-watt generator.

And this morning there was cold air coming from a portable a/c unit sitting by my fireplace, hot coffee in the coffee pot… and a lamp by which to shave with an electric razor.

I guess sometimes getting back to the basics reminds you to appreciate all that you have.

130 hours and counting without electricity. We have been told by local officials that our water supply may be in danger of contamination now, too. Thanks to the car charger, I’ve been able to keep my blackberry juiced up a bit.

Neighborhood still looks like a war zone, but the cold front that blew through Sunday has at least made the temperature pleasant given that we have no a/c. Most stores are still not open. Some grocery stores are running on generators and will let a handful of customers in to buy what’s left. Occasionally there is a rumor that a store will have a shipment of ice or a gas station will have some gas to pump… but usually by the time you hear the news, there are hundreds already in line in front of you.

Since we have to sleep with the windows open, we hear the chorus of generators humming in the night air. As each day goes by and more folks find ways to purchase generators, that chorus gets louder and louder.

Hoping to live-blog the entire event, here are the contemporaneous notes I jotted down during the storm once I realized I wouldn’t be able to post to the blog any longer.

Saturday - 5:00 AM - It appears the winds are slowing down a bit, perhaps this means the eye is arriving.

Saturday - 5:30 AM - Perfectly calm and quiet outside now. Definitely in the eye of the storm. Neighbors are out in the streets with flashlights. Other than their lights, everything is pitch black outside. Hard to tell whether there’s been much damage. Given the strength of the winds and the louds noises we’ve been hearing for the last several hours, it’s hard to believe there won’t be a lot of damage.

Saturday - 6:15 AM - Just got back inside as the rain started picking up. Got a few text messages from friends/relatives in other parts of the country saying the news is reporting the back half of the storm is worse than the front. Hard to imagine.

Saturday - 7:30 AM - So far, the reports were right. The second half of this storm seems much, much stronger. The only upside is that it’s starting to get light outside because of the time of day. Good news is we can now see what’s happening outside… bad news is we can now see what’s happening outside.

Saturday - Noon - It seems like the worst may be over. I’m surprised the house is still standing. That was by far the worst weather event I’ve ever lived through. I’ve been near tornadoes in the past, but those are generally over in minutes… this was like a 12 hour long tornado. The original gusts at the beginning of the storm were bad enough, but eventually the winds were a continuous gust for hours.

Saturday - 1:00 PM - Still raining, but the winds have subsided, with the exception of a few gusts here and there. Going to venture outside and survey the damage.

Officials are saying to expect no electricity for 2 to 4 weeks. Being without power really makes you appreciate the simple things in life.

Heck, I think I’ll climb up on my roof, wait for the gubmint helicopters and demand restoration of my cable TV. It’s my right as an American, afterall… isn’t it? Why does George Bush hate me?

Saturday - 11:00 PM… here we go again. As if Ike wasn’t enough, a cold front is now rolling in. While I’m anxiously awaiting the drop in temperatures, this storm seems as bad as the hurricane… high winds, tons of rain.

Sunday - 9:00 AM - The storm brought another round of flooding and damage to the house. Some of the trees that survived Ike decided to quit fighting the forces of nature and have taken refuge across the middle of streets and houses. More clean up coming.

Here are a few pictures I was able to get uploaded:

Line outside a grocery store:

We survived. It was a bad storm. Eye passed right through our area. Lots to update, but no time now. We still have no power, gas stations in the area still empty with a few exceptions (and those have mile-long (or more) lines. Few grocery stores open in the area and most have hour-long lines outside as they’re only letting a handful of people in at a time. Almost no cell coverage, with the ability to text message here and there. Lots of damage around the area - will upload pictures when I can.

We are close to the eye itself now. Not only does the radar show such, but everyone here almost at the same time commented about our ears popping (similar to the sensation on an airplane). I assume thats because of the low pressure in the eye of the storm. I had always heard the weather guys refer to the pressure dropping, but had no idea we’ d’ actually physically feel it.

I guess in stressful times like this, even the basic things seem fascinating.

As we enter the eye, at least we know we will have a little break from the wind and rain… And then just a few more hours until Ike gets the hell out of here.

I haven’t seen a radar but judging by the ferocity of the wind and rain, I am assuming that the eyewall is passing over us right now. At moments, it sounds like the roof will just peel off and fly away.

I am anxious to see what it is like to be inside the eye. I’ve heard the sudden calm and tranquility in the midst of such a mighty storm is something that can only be described as heavenly.

But it seems at this moment that tranquility is a million miles from here…

I can safely say the “bad part” of the storm is upon us. Nothing but a continuous roar of howling winds outside. Rain is pouring down (mostly sideways). Hard to see outside, but I can just make out the outlines of many of the trees and most look ready to give at any moment.

A tree from the neighbor’s yard has crashed through the fence and the power lines have come down. I can occasionally see them sparking from my neighbor’s yard. At first I thought someone was outside with a flashlight, but then I heard the distinct sounds of popping (like when a transformer blows).

Needless to say, this is not the most enjoyable way to spend a Friday night.

I have some pics and video to load when the power is back up… Whenever that is. I guess the electricity is the least of my worries at the moment.

Thanks for hanging out with us as we ride out the storm. Ain’t technology grand?

More to come…

No sooner did I post the last update than we lost power (sending this via blackberry) and the gusts have become more of the “sustained” variety.

And suddenly it’s both hot and uncomfortable in this place… And the worst part is hearing what’s happening outside and not being able to see anything.

The rain has started coming down in sheets. Winds are the strongest they’ve been all day. Probably gusting over 50mph. Sounds pretty eery, but thankfully we still have power at this point (thank you, Centerpoint).

We’re not expected to get the worst for another hour or two. Nothing like the anticipation of what’s to come…

Local officials just said they expect a storm surge of 31 feet. That’s almost double the height of the seawall in Galveston. Given that Ike is striking late tonight, it’s unfortunately coinciding with high tide.

Meanwhile, in our neck of the woods, the evidence of Ike is starting to be felt as sustained winds are steadily increasing with a few big gusts every so often.

My neighbor has a message for Ike:

It’s been a beautiful morning up until now. The wind is starting to pick up and the dark clouds have moved in. Jeff Masters, the director of meteorology at private forecaster Weather Underground Inc., said there is “a significant chance that Ike will be the worst hurricane to hit Texas in 40 years“.

Looks like we picked the wrong one to try and ride out.