Get Ready. Get Set. Boil.

Since last Friday, our neighborhood has been under a boil order. I can't say we understand the particular plot behind the order, something about water main, it broke. But we do get the directive: boil water.

Unfortunately, we didn't get the directive until today (re: issued Friday, received Sunday.) Oops.

But we've been dutiful. We've been boiling. We've trashed our ice. We've filled one pitcher with water. We're learning what it was like--very approximately--to live before water heaters. And what a dark time that was.

If you haven't figured it out yet, we've been rather spoiled by life. This is our first boil order, so we're not really hip to what you're supposed to do. How long do you boil? For what purposes do we need to boil? Where do you store it?

I thought about filling a tub, but that's something you do for hurricanes (and I can't say exactly why). We did figure out that in lieu of ice cubes (uncivlized!) that we can use our super Costco jumbo stash of frozen fruit to chill our sterile bevs. I will supply photos as they become available.

Here are some other things I learned from my handy search engine:

• Pour water back and forth between two clean pots to cool and add air. Air makes water taste better.
• A pinch of salt per quart may improve the rather "flat" taste of boiled water. Salt makes water taste better.
• Water should be boiled somewhere between 2 and 10 minutes.

Or you could just drink bottled water and skip the history lesson.