[September 7] Labor Day

It's Labor Day and the power's gone out...completely out. Nothing seems to work.

It started out as a normal work day (except that it was a holiday). The lights went out around 10am. We sat around for an hour or so, half hoping we could get out of the day's work. No power, no computers, no work.

Then things started to get strange. The phones were down too. Not just the landlines, but ALL the pho cell phones too. The weird thing was we couldn't even turn them on! We went outside thinking they might work there and that's when we saw the fire. A crowd had gathered outside to watch the huge column of smoke.

Something was burning somewhere near the middle of [the] City. A big fire!

Our supervisor sent us home...the day was a wash. But my car wouldn't start. I went back to the office to see if I could get a ride. NOBODY'S CAR WOULD START! We were all a bit freaked out by then. Nothing electronic works! How could something like this could happen. EMP? Solar flare?

We all felt a strong urge to get home. Without cars, that would be tough. Most of my office mates live in Marin...I am the only one from the East Bay. The guys decided to head for home even though it was after 3pm. They said they'd walk all night if necessary. I'm waiting to until morning since I'm on my own...maybe I'll luck out and the power will come back on again.

I'm staying inside since the air is hazy with smoke. There's no one else is at the office now and there's not much to do, figured I'll start filling this notebook. Sun has gone down already and I'm losing light. Doubt I'll get much sleep tonight. I hope my wife is keeping things together at home.