September 26, 2008

  • My Generator, The Comic Irony

    "Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result: when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. Likewise, cosmic irony is disparity between human desires and the harsh realities of the outside world."

    The 14kw (yes, 14,000 watt) auto-starting natural gas generator that I ordered directly after Tropical Storm Gustav, has sat in it's shipping crate in my garage for the past 2 weeks, untouched. It was delivered the day I was evacuating for Ike. If I'd had an electrician and a plumber handy that day, it could have been installed and working, but I still would have been out of town (because Ike appeared to be capable of causing damage and internet outages that a generator couldn't help with).

    Another supreme irony is that my garage, which is very old and run down, and needs to be demolished and replaced, some time over the next 5 years, survived Ike without so much as a scratch.