Laurie - did you notice what time it happened? 12:35. I bet someone watched it go from "lucky" 12:34 to "horrifyingly-unlucky-you-never-know-what-can-happen" 12:35. Lucky for you it wasn't any worse.......

Gotta love LA. My DH just called to tell me he'll be late coming home tonight, the power outage caused all sorts of problems for him that he's trying to fix remotely from OC, but will probably have to head up there anyway. Funny how something that might not phase anyone somewhere else is such a disaster here...

I think it's funny how a city's personality is shown in a blackout.. LA must be crazy based on your account. :) The Husband and I were in Toronto for "The Blackout 0f 2003" (or whatever people took to calling it) and ordinary people went into the intersections and started directing traffic... all very polite and Canadian.

During the blackout here(NY) in 2002(or 3? I forgot already), looting was unnecessary as purveyors of food were standing outside giving away ice cream! Best day of the year as far as I'm concerned!

Yikes! But tell the truth you were hurrying out of the building to engage in some yarn store looting! Can you imagine how that would look??

Hi - I was in LA this weekend (down from SF) and noticed lots of billboards of Jodie Foster around - I'm sure you noticed them. She looks like you, or vice versa. Not that I've met you. What I mean to say is, her photo on her billboard looks like your photos on your blog. I can't be the first to tell you that, can I??

Laurie-I'm glad you survived! Of course CNN and Fox made it seem like the city was about to go into total chaos...gotta love the news!

I didn't have a chance to panic...other than the fact I couldn't heat up my lunch! Too bad there aren't any burger trucks outside my job. Sigh...

Whoa, hold on a second. In-n-Out truck? I've only lived in northern California for a short time and have come to love In-n-Out, but what is an In-n-Out truck? Is that like an ice cream truck but serving In-n-Out burgers? Because that would be awesome.

From a person who works at a power company...I sincerely apologize if it was my fault. Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't. Since I'm only allowed to do project management and am not allowed to touch any actual red buttons (or whatever).

And I'm in Oregon. But since all the power companies are tied together...it's entirely possible that it is someones fault who is nowhere near LA. Just sayin'.

It is exactly like an ice cream truck version of In-n-Out! They drive up in a truck and start making burgers (no fries -- just chips) and soft drinks. Awesome!

I knew I could count on you for a first hand accoutn fo the big power emergency.

My current office survived the power outage when the backup generator kicked in. *grumble* Now I have to make this deadline. *grumble*

It gets better...it seems the blackout was started by some unlucky utility worker who *cut the wrong line*, causing a cascade of power failures...I'd hate to be in his shoes tomorrow.

OMG, how cool is that? A burger and fry truck. I'd be the 500 pound woman one chasing it all around town, if I lived in LA (good thing I don't).

Tanya

where the hell was *MY* in-and-out truck?

all i got was the traffic, and parents crazily calling to see if their children were ok. because if there's no power, there's no a/c.

poor children.

I never knew In-n-Out had trucks. Clearly I abandoned SoCal too soon... I miss those old In-n-Out *urge*s!

my son is a result of a snow storm and the resulting blackout.... hmm...guess I know what causes that now!!!

You know what's really tragic about the power outage? My web sites are down. I have no web presence! What will I do? How will I show off my sister's wedding pictures (she leave you comments as Aimee the Sis)? Heeeeeeelp!

I am such a dork, when I heard about the outtages...I thought of you and another California blogger I read faithfully.

In my part of town, we call those in-n-out trucks----roach coaches....and that's in Hawaii.

I left the parking garage under the Central Library just after 12:30. I paid $35 to park there for under 2 hours - I wonder, if I'd waited another 10 minutes, maybe they would have let me out for free?

And they shut down the entire library system around 2 p.m., so I got the rest of the day off.

Also, I have the Rowan Summer Tweed book in my possession, if you'd like to see it.

(With all these books, you'd think I'd manage to knit something once in a while.)

Mmmmm I miss in and out burger.. Mmmmmm

In-N-Out trucks?? I am so jealous! Here in NorCal we have In-N-Out, but not the truck.

How funny. When I heard Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" talking all serious about the "Breaking News in LA", I immediately thought of you and how you might possibly be freaked out. Glad to hear you grabbed a burger and continued on with your life.

In n' Out is the only reason I've ever pondered moving to California. Why can't they come to Florida? WHY? WHYYYYYYY?

OMG! Now I have the desire to drive to Vegas (the closest In-n-out is there) just for a cheeseburger! DAMN YOU EVIL WOMAN!

My kingdom for an in-n-out burger. Glad you are ok girlie... and that no moths have carried you away. Damn that thing was large.

i have to say i love your sense of humor. Thanks for making me laugh. You are my favorite blog read.

Sounds a bit like England when a few flakes of snow fall. It never gets cold enough to get serious accumulation or for it to stay long or anything but everyone goes and leaves work right at the worst time to drive -- when the roads are all slippery. I don't want to think about what happens to folks in LA when they see snow.

Fascinating - the whole power outtage thing. It's not like we've never had a power outtage before...The Wolf Blitzers of the world are just making Alps out of anthills. OK, so I had to fight a little traffic to get to therapy. Big Freakin' Deal!!!

And yes people, In N Out has trucks. So everyone here in L.A. will be just fine. Come join us!

Thought of you when I heard this about LA.
I knew you would be fine with your stash.

My daughter sent me here because I am such a MOM that I HAD to phone her when I heard the "braking (sorry-couldn't resist the traffic thing) news" of the outage. Mind you, she's old enough to handle graduate work, marry, feed herself, her man and her small-but-destined-to-grow Kitty family. Still, she's never actually LIVED in OC until recently, and I wasn't sure if she has yet located all exits or would remember to fasten her seatbelt should an actual need arise.

Up here in Whine Country (Same state, same direction, different valley), primal instincts are all we have to cling to. Should our power grid fall prey to a terrorist dweeb, my emergency plans involve doing an Eliott Ness on someone's arse should the need arise, but I'm pretty sure my kid is a bit more refined and probably not as well-supplied. A mother DOES worry.

In any case, our mutual love of a good read remains a bond across the miles. Thanks for a good laugh! Now, ya think you could find the guy with the wirecutters down there that started the whole mess? I think I need to sever a cord...

Hey, while I can totally understand the cheeseburger and especially the Coke, I still feel you missed a great opportunity. How often does a nice Southern girl get an opportunity to show Californians what "going to peices" is like without any possible social or job-related repurcussions. I mean, they may never have actually seen any handwringing, bless their hearts.

P.S. Did you train your cats to be photogenic? All I ever get is a furry blur as they run away.

omg. i don't know how i landed on your page, but i caught that you live in l.a...i did...do...whatever. i grew up in santa monica and then dun dun dun DUHHH...the valley, care of woodland hills and northridge. i feared the crickets, but had i seen glowing eyes of ee-veeil, i might have moved to orange county sooner.

anyway, i just wanted to tell you that a fellow-valley girl got a kick outta your encino-invader. :)

Oh man! I was in LA last month and had the pleasure of sampling some In and Out burger. That place is. ..yum! That's all I can say about it! Lot's of good looking young men working at In and Out too!

Phew!! Glad to hear you survived intact!!!

Ah! I feel your pain. I used to live in Mexico City and the electricity would go out at least once a month. One learns to keep candles and flashlights handy. Hehe.