What do you do when the management of your condo building decides to perform electrical maintenance one Saturday and informs you that, for that day, all power will be shut down?

First, you contact the property manager to ask why the work can't be done during a week day when the majority of tenants won't be at home.

When you hear that the answer resembles the typical corporate excuse to dismiss rational concerns, you go to the dollar store. There, you pick up 8 mini ice packs ($1 each) and one large ice pack ($2 each). Reason: As Alton Brown recently explained in a freezer-related episode of Good Eats, placing bottles of frozen water through out your freezer provides insurance against spoilage during accidental power outages. The bottles of water act as capacitors, keeping neighboring frozen goods frozen, even as they themselves melt. In my case, because the power outage is intentional and prolonged (power will be off for approximately 8 hours), I substituted ice packs for water bottled and distributed them throughout my freezer 2 days before "lights out." Ice packs are filled with a viscous fluid that has different thermal properties than water. It melts far more slowly. Hopefully, this will keep my well stocked freezer frozen. Otherwise, I am going to heap spoiled foods on the doorstep of my property manager's home and car and wish him an unhappy Halloween.

So, if power is out, how am I blogging? I'm currently sitting in the lounge of a Chapter's (downtown Rideau location) with my ancient laptop, sipping something called a Grande Tazo Chai from Starbucks. After all the years of Starbucks' existence, I still don't understand why a medium-sized cup is called a "Grande." The drink itself tastes somewhat artificial, but the spice from the chai tea is carried well by its dairy ingredient. Given that the drink seems rich, I'm wondering if the dairy ingredient is cream. At $4.29, I hope I bought some time to sit and blog before I'm accused of loitering. At least the older gentleman, sitting in front of me is somewhat entertaining. He's playing the hapless proletariat, trying somewhat unsuccessfully to impress a much younger woman.

On the bright side, my better half and I took a stroll through the Byward Market on our way to brunch at Dunn's this morning. There, we found pumpkins. We found lots of tourists too. They seemed to be very interested in the pumpkins.

Pretending to be a tourist, I joined the crowd and took pictures. This first picture is what a lot of Asian tourists seem to be interested in capturing:

Jack O Lantern-sized Pumpkins

Here's what I feel is a sexier take:

Better side of Pumpkins

Since Jack O Lantern-sized Pumpkins make unwieldy souvenirs, a pumpkin farmer two autumns ago started selling painted mini-pumpkins in the Byward Market. Now they're everywhere.

Painted Mini-Pumpkins

While most people forget that pumpkins can be cooked and eaten, one stall in the Byward Market had sweet "eating" pumpkins for sale. The sales lady suggested that the pumpkins make good pies. I only saw large bowls of luscious creamy soup.

Eating Pumpkins

If decorative pumpkins aren't on your Fall menu, how about lacquered gourds?

Decorative Gourds
I recommend against eating these...