Archive for March, 2013

Burned or Burnt

March 7, 2013

We’re taking toast.

As in, “Burnt toast.”
Or is it, “Burned toast.”

Whichever, it cost me about 3 hours this afternoon.
The toast, sourdough, ended up darker than intended, and emitted those small particulates that alert smoke detectors to emit loud, ear-piercing noises.

Our, “no it is not a drill,” activity went pretty well.
Better than our last drill.

I must have been asked by about 10% of evacuating people whether it was a drill.
Not one that I put together, was my stock answer.

Roll call went very well. Only one person unaccounted for.
It was not too cold.
It was not raining.
And after we finished roll call, I asked whether anybody knew why the alarm had gone off.
And one person admitted to be the Burnt Toast perpetrator.

About that time we got to meet the nice firefighters, and provide them with a limited tour of the office.
The fire panel, the kitchen (with said toaster), and the smoke detector with the blazing red light.

I have to admit to a bit of an Alexander Haig moment in all of this.
Usually during drills I prompt our GM to do the roll call, and follow through on everything.
Today I just took charge, and ran with the response.
(I don’t think he minded, but I have not had an opportunity to check in, and to apologize if necessary.)
((In truth, being in charge of Emergency & Security might give me the right to step up.))

The only down side to this drill that was not a drill, is that it will continue tomorrow morning. Most of the time wasted on this little exercise was spent trying to reset our automatic drop-down door over the reception desk. It makes the wall a fire wall. It is a pain to reset. It requires climbing into a very small space and wrestling with a gear, chain and pin. When I wrote the directions for resetting the door I included the statement, “This is where you swear.” [I wrote the directions listening to the people doing the work tell me what they were doing. This was done because they always hoped they were not asked to do it again, but there would need to be directions for the next minion assigned the task.]

We are back to having it down.
I am sure more fun awaits us in the morning. 

On the up-side. We walked to and from Yoga tonight, and did the Yoga class as well. I am nicely tired.

Homecoming

March 4, 2013

It has been a hectic few days.
A large part of hectic for me was doing the work of two.

Not at work.

At home.
I do truly understand what an easy life I lead.

I had to fend for myself from Friday until today. Although technically it would seem that it will be tomorrow when Carl actually arrives home.
Fending for myself should include some explanation.
I had to prepare (juice, heat up, maybe slice or spread) all of my meals.
Make my own coffee. Wash my own dishes.
[Like I said, I have it pretty good.]

The biggest effort of the weekend was working to clean up/out one room.
The girl’s room.
How can one house have sooooo many pens and pencils.
And shoes, and earings, and make-up, and lots of things that are fairly easy to throw away.
And one kindergarten train that will remain in our possession.
One recycle bin of paper later, the house is now starting to rise off of its foundation.
[We really need to get that earthquake nailing done.]

There is a rummage sale that will be getting a few box loads.

It did provide my exercise for the weekend.
Stairs, lifting, and lots of sorting.

Now – after a long day at work, my support system is going to arrive back home.
Of course I need to be at the airport at midnight to assist him home.
And he will be more tired than I am, so I guess I will need to be his support system.

Easy, peasy. There is still meatloaf left in the refrigerator.