picked a handful of violets in my name

So today at work I am checking the contents of a very large number of 3.5" floppies. Some of them were used in Macs but can be read by the PC I'm using. I can tell because the Mac system files are visible: DESKTOP, RESOURCE.FRK, FINDER, etc.

The disk I'm currently evaluating? Two of the hidden Mac system files claim to be last modified on March 17th, 2034.

I am only online right now through the grace of UPS.

The power went out at my apartment. zachens has confirmed that the neighbors one house up the street are also without electricity.

NStar has been called. They didn't know what was wrong but they did give me an automated callback. My power should return by 10:30.

The weird thing it, the power isn't 100% totally and completely dead.
* zachens dragged out the voltmeter and the outlets are all putting out ~9 volts.
* The GFCI near the kitchen sink was buzzing for long enough that we called Dad. It stopped, though, while I was on the phone with him.
* The motion-detector and light in the front hall of this building work.
* The light in our front room works, but the outlets don't power anything.
* The light in zachens's room works, but the outlets don't power anything.
* The ceiling light and fan in the bathroom works, but not the GFCI or the lights over the mirror.
* The refrigerator is running. Light comes on and everything. Pantry light is out, though.
* Some basement lights work, but others don't. The dryer works.

Current theories include: electricity is one fucked up force of energy; we have a poltergeist; the house is possessed. Two of those would require judicious application of Winchesters. Other theories are, of course, welcomed.

Yes, zachens has already twiddled with the circuit breakers. Twice.

EDIT: All lights in apartment (so, front room and zachens's room, then) have gone out. Afraid to check elsewhere. Also heard a high-pitched beep. IDEK.

EDIT 2: zachens is listening to "Danger! High Voltage" during the power outage.

EDIT 3: \o/ The electricity! It returns!

YOU GUYS

My carpet is spontaneously producing soft black lint.

WTFWTFWTF

The governor shall annually in the month of December issue a proclamation setting apart January eighth as New Orleans Day and recommending that it be observed by the people with appropriate exercises in the public schools and otherwise, as he may see fit, to the end that the memory of the services of the soldiers and sailors of the war of eighteen hundred and twelve, and the lessons to be learned from the successes and failures of our arms in that war, may be perpetuated.

\o/ So I think zachens and I are going to have to throw a New Orleans Day Party.


Also, I went ahead and grabbed sofiaviolet @ GJ and IJ. So if I haven't found you yet, let me know what your usernames are.

Not that I'm jumping ship, but I'm way attached to this username and I wanted to grab it.