Smiley Anders for September 10, 2008

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: Sep 10, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Several readers who described their post-Gustav experiences felt that the storm had transported them to another, simpler time.

For instance, Annie Fugler of Denham Springs wrote on the sixth day of no power (“no generator, no radio, no TV, no computer, no lights, no phone for most of that time, no BlackBerry, no fan even).”

She discovered that her enforced idleness was “sort of like a guilt-free, mini vacation.”

Annie, who describes herself as “a person who is always working and always on the run” says she’s on her third book and has caught up “on my backlog pile of Advocates.

“And for the first time in years, I am going to bed really early and not constantly checking my schedule.

“I don’t even have to make excuses to myself for doing nothing.

“It’s go to bed or sit in the hot dark and stare at the wall and think.

“And that could be another danger related to the storm.”

Cool move
Aimee McHugh says, “My experience with power outages this week has motivated me to contact my congressman and demand that they move hurricane season to the wintertime!”

(Hey, don’t laugh — they’re already controlling how much daylight              we get.  …)

Hold that Twinkie
Barbara Biggs thanks the staff of Portobello’s Italian Grill on George O’Neal Road:

“Although power had recently been restored to my house, the cupboard was bare of anything worthy of a dinner to celebrate my father’s 91st birthday.

“Portobello’s boxed up a delicious dinner for us, topped off by a slice of five-layer chocolate cake.