Immediately after the tornado, which they are now calling an inland hurricane that tore apart Southern Illinois and neighbouring Missouri there was something like 120,000 homes without power, now, just before midnight on Tuesday it's down to just over 14,000 and we are one of them. We should, they say, have power tomorrow, which will be wonderful, I never realised just how much my day to day living requires power, you don't ever think about it, until it's not there. From simply making a cup of coffee, having fresh milk or cheese, or indeed fresh anything. It's difficult to see to pee in a bathroom with no windows and no lights! There's nothing to heat the water for your morning shower, or to wash the dishes with, how can you clean the clothes with neither power or hot water - yep power is the food of life, as we know it and to be deprived of that food is like starving your own human existence.
Matt and I are the lucky ones, we've not had any major structural damage to our apartment (or that we can tell) the building next door had half it's roof blown off, plus we've been able to escape the cold showers and living by candle light but shuttling ourselves between the apartment and Matt's parents, Betty and Steve's house in nearby Vienna. It's only 34 miles away, which is kinda local by American standards, and thank goodness for them, they have been bloody wonderful during this whole ordeal. They have feed us and taken us out, given us shelter and all sorts of comforts, which without would have made this whole situation a living hell. I really don't know what we would have done without them, I really don't, I suppose we could have stayed in a hotel, but most in town have either lost their roofs or are filled with workers from the power companies, plus it would have meant spending money that we don't really have, so it's thanks to Betty and Steve, that Matt and I have survived what they say is a once in a lifetime event, and I say a huge thank you to them right here and now.
There is a bit of a distance between Matt and I at the moment, not because we have to have separate rooms at his parents house (their house, their rules) but it's something else. I fear that Matt was not prepared for having at having a relationship, keeping an apartment and working a proper job, I think it's may be just a little bit too much pressure on him, lord knows, I'm not easy! Maybe the novelty has warn off a tad by now, maybe he's bitten off more than he can chew. And god knows I'm a lot to chew! Oh, he no longer works at Wal-Mart now, nope he's in charge of the telephone orders at a restaurant in town, which is great for him, it means less hours and more money oh and it's inside. I did ask him a few times to come on line and blog about it, to fill you in on what it's like having me over here, but he never does, he just prefers to play one of the multitude of games consoles he has, oh well, you can lead a one eyed raccoon to water, but you can't make him drink!
I'm so hoping we have power back at the apartment tomorrow, not that I haven't enjoyed staying at Matt's parents lovely big old house, with the corner plot and the stunning views, because I have, and the beds been really comfy. But I want to sort out some clothes, plan some things, after all I've only got 7 weeks left here in America and there is still loads more I want to do. Still, I suppose I could rather get used to having the best darn fried eggs I've ever tasted for breakfast, relaxing all day round the house with a good book, talking to Steve about life in America and just chewing the fat about this and that and then having a lovely conversation with Betty about what she's got up to at work. She's a nurse, up at one of the local hospitals and boy has she got some tales to tell about her career and the things she's seen and done!
While we wait for things t get back to normal around here, I thought I'd share with you some of the photos of the aftermath of the inland hurricane that swept through this part of America on Friday lunch time.
First these from WSIL channel three local news ( just up the road)
There is a house under those trees!
Don't light a match!
View from the balcony as the first tree started to fall!
From the bedroom, if you look closely you can see a funnel cloud on the right.
I took this as we drove along, those nise shiny new cars are not all that nice now!
Downed signs and downed power lines!
More soon (If there is power!) 
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