Burning Down The House

So yesterday wasn't the first fire incident I've had.

It was just the first fire incident I've had that wasn't my fault. The first time it was all me.   I was living with my boyfriend and decided that I would surprise him by making dinner.  He used to make these amazing fried potatoes. I don't think I had ever had them until I met him and I thought they were fantastic. So I decided that I would try to make some of those with dinner.  You know, I was going to make a big country dinner spread - really knock his socks off.  Impress him with my dazzling domestic skills.

Well, I didn't exactly accomplish that...

I was in the middle of cooking when I turned to the sink to rinse off a knife. When I turned back around there was fire.  I remained uncharacteristically calm and grabbed some baking soda, like I had always been told, to smother the fire.  I aimed the box and poured.

And the flames shot up.

Just FYI the baking soda thing only works if you have enough to suffocate the fire - otherwise it acts as a fan and spreads the fire.  At least, that's what happened to me.

In the next second is seemed the whole tiny apartment was filled with smoke. Really it happened in an instant. And then I did panic.  I ran across to our really crappy neighbors, who I KNOW were there, but they pretended they weren't home and did not answer their door.

I ran back inside, frantically found our cat and then this guy was just there, in the kitchen.  I actually didn't see him at first - it was too smokey but I heard him yelling something to me. I had no clue what he was saying - I was just wondering where this man came from.

He worked maintenance at the apartments and happened to be walking by when I ran to our neighbors. I never even saw him. But he ran in and put out the fire and saved the day.

The only thing actually burned were the bottoms of the top row of kitchen cabinets but there was black soot in every single room.  Over everything. But the only thing I cared about right then was that I wasn't totally dressed.  I hadn't noticed until then that I had been running around in nothing but panties and a t-shirt. And I don't know why - but to me, in that moment, that was the big deal.

I quickly came back to reality when my boyfriend got home and saw the place. He couldn't have cared less what I was or wasn't wearing - he was just upset that I almost burned down his house...

Puttin Out Fires

Had a little "incident" at work today.

I was in a closed door meeting with a student when I began to smell something burning. It really just smelt like someone burnt their popcorn.  In the next few moments it got stronger.  Just as I was getting up someone opens my door and as they say "Something's smoking out here." I see a billow of smoke start to drift in from our counselor's office.

I immediately go into emergency mode. I run in and the first thing I think is electrical fire.  It didn't matter that I didn't see a fire - I just start unplugging everything I can see. There was no logic or thinking - it was just reaction.  I'm just trying to get this thing under control. So I'm just pulling plugs as fast as I can.

Then our counselor comes in and explains that a student was using our microwave and apparently the sandwich she was heating was wrapped in something that was not suppose to be put in the microwave. Something that was obviously flammable.  The whole entire floor was smokey and people from the first floor came up because they could smell something. It was bad and I was shocked (but eternally grateful) that the smoke alarm did not go off. Or the fire sprinkler system. Oh my gosh - can you imagine how embarrassing that would have been?

Apparently, it was caught just in time.  The student put her stuff in the microwave and left to go back into our lab. There wasn't anyone watching the food.  One of the mentors came in and happened to notice the smoke. It was really just lucky timing.

So guess who won't be using our microwave any more...

Monday Funday

Happy Monday!

Trying to recover from a busy, busy weekend - I needed just one more day. Just one more, that's all.

Friday evening I took a group of participants to the ballet to see The Wizard of Oz. It was such a good production!  I really think M would have enjoyed it. It made me think about getting season tickets. I don't know if we could squeeze that in but I think it would be fun. For me. Not for the hubby, who is not into that kind of stuff. At all. But I wouldn't expect him to go - it's not his thing.

My mom kept the girls Friday night, since it was guys weekend at the lake.That meant I had the house to myself. All. By. Myself. It's been a loooong time since that's happened. Of course, I didn't get home until after 11:00 so it's not like I had the whole evening. But still, it was nice. I stayed up really, really late and made all kinds of noise - just because I could.

Saturday I got up really early - which did not go well with my late night. The bags under my eyes were almost as big as my ears. It was rough. But I had to meet my sisters to work a family garage sale. We had a whole house full of furniture and stuff from my grandfather's Oklahoma property. It's been in storage for several months and it we needed to get rid of it. At least I got to sit outside and soak up some sun. I was in desperate need of that - not so much for the tan aspect, because it was cold and I was completely covered, but just so I could actually see some sunlight. Being stuck in an office all day kinda puts a damper on that...

I took the girls to a Powwow that night. They got some little tom-tom drums so the rest of the night all I heard was "I yiy yiy yiy" and drum beating. Over and over and over. I'm not too worried though - they'll be onto something new and forget about those drums by tomorrow. And then they might have to mysteriously disappear.

I did cleaning/reorganizing yesterday. We got the Expedition ready to sale.  Not real happy about that - I love my truck and don't really want to sale it. Hubby has never really been a fan - that was my baby and we only got it because I wanted it. But it's a gas guzzler and the mileage is starting to creep up so on the market she will go.  Not gonna lie, I'm gonna miss that ride...

Time to get this day going - got a list of things to be done. Gonna try to knock it out...

Doctor In The House

No, that isn't my way of announcing I'm getting my doctorate degree.  You know, there was a time in my life when that seemed impossible. I honestly couldn't even wrap my head doing something like that.  Then there was a time when I decided that would be my reality.  I was absolutely convinced that was the direction I wanted to go.

Now...well, I just don't know. Goals change, priorities change.  Is it something I want to do? Yes, it is. I'm just not sure how much I'm willing to sacrifice to get it.  It's less time for the girls, who are already cheated in so many ways.  It's more for me to manage, when I am already stretched in so many ways. 

It just doesn't seem like I can fit that into my life right now. Or maybe ever.  And that's okay too.

That doesn't mean, however, that I don't enjoy playing Dr. Mom, which is why I'm so excited - I bought a Otoscope tonight! That's the little ear thing doctors use, in case you didn't know.  I realize my enthusiasm about that says a lot about the level of excitement in my life...but I really am excited.  I've already looked in everyone's ears. Multiple times. And if I could figure out a way to do it,  I would look in my own.

See, it really doesn't take much for me to get excited.

Now, how can I get my hands on a stethoscope?

On The Edge

I have been so tired lately. Dead tired. Like sit down on the edge of the bathtub to brush my teeth tired. Which can sound a lot like laziness but it wasn’t – that would have been just skipping the whole brushing the teeth thing.

And as I’m sitting, brushing my teeth (the tired but not lazy way) it dawns on me that I know exactly why I’m so tired. It all has to do with a magic yellow pill. A little pill I should take every day. A little pill I haven’t taken in…way too long.

I have no idea why it’s so challenging for me. I make sure the girls take their vitamins every morning. Okay, almost every morning.  Mondays can be a bit challenging.  But I do a pretty good job of staying on top of it.

But when it comes to me – I can’t seem to make it a priority.  Even though I know my body needs this to function properly.

I used to do really good, it was just part of my morning routine. I would only get messed up when I ran out because it would take me a while to get a refill. And I’m not sure why that’s so hard…I mean, really?

This time it took me several months. I waited so long my prescription actually ran out and the doctor’s office wouldn’t give me a refill until I came in. But then I told her how long it had been and they called me in a temporary.  And that’s what I’m still using.  Because I haven’t been taking them.

And I swore I would never do that. I swore I was never going to be one of those women let themselves go. And I’m not talking about looks – I’m talking about being so busy taking care of everyone and everything that you forget to take care of yourself. 

I’m not there yet. But this is an indication that I’m creeping in that direction.  Next thing you know I’ll be wearing granny panties, flannel pajamas and crocs…

Lord help me!

Small Fry

Our first school program tonight. I can not believe my baby is so big! It was so cute and they did so good! It's the one time that I'm really glad my girls are runts like me - it ensures that they will always be on the front row.

Although I'm sure that isn't enough consolation for M.  Last night at dinner she sighed kinda heavy and said "I'm the littlest in my class." I said "So, what's wrong with the being the littlest?" And she said "Well, I just don't want to be the littlest. It's not fair."

Um, yeah, sorry baby you've got a lifetime of being the littlest ahead of you...better learn to overcome that disappointment real fast.

Of course, she won't always hate being a shorty.  When she realizes she can date even the smallest of guys and still make them feel big,  she'll be thanking me...

I'm Not That Good

I just read my last blog post and I don’t like the way it makes me sound. It came across as a bit martyrish to me…and  I think it’s a little misleading in a lot of ways. 

First, I’m not as moral or ethical as it seems. Yes, I made the right decision in this instance. But I’ve also had instances in my life when I did not make the right decision. So they kinda cancel each other out. 

I also wasn’t trying to make it sound like I was some super hero for sparing this woman from knowing the truth.  I had just a second to decide how to respond and that was my instinct. But I have no illusions; I wasn’t really saving her from anything. It was before they were married and had happened so long ago that I seriously doubt the truth would have had much impact at all. 

So yeah, I try to do the right thing but I’m no saint and that wasn’t really the point of the story. It was really just about how sometimes things come full circle in a completely different way than you expect. And about how strange it is when two people’s realities clash…