Living … One day at a time

Good Morning …. Tuesday it is.

Dark out and that will be our reality for the next few months as we enter winter.

Yesterday was a crazy day.

Started out with my carpool not going in to work.

Grateful that I was able to catch a ride to work with Humphrey’s Mom.

So grateful.

I was prepared as I had a winter coat and boots out and ready to wear.

When catching the bus you have to be prepared for anything weatherwise.

When I got to work I was pleasantly surprised just outside the office building by the approach of a man.

The man turned out to be my brother from another mother.

He feels like my younger brother.

In fact, I quite often refer to him as such.

We used to work together and he is such a nice guy.

It was wonderful to see him and catch up.

Throughout the day it was busy.

 

At 3:45 p.m. the fire alarm went off in our building.

The alarm is deafening.

I grabbed my phone, purse and coat (not in that order).

Not realizing until I was outside that my house keys were in my big bag.

Four fire trucks came out to the call.

We waited semi patiently outside in the freezing cold and wind for the all clear to go back inside.

I did think to text Humphrey’s Mom and thankfully she was able to come over and let Alvin outside and feed him.

I had no idea of how long it was going to take before we could go back in.

It was almost twenty minutes later before we got the call.

The other half of the building is under construction / renovations.

This is not the first time the alarm has gone off and was not a test.

Once given the go ahead I rushed back into the building and up the stairs.

Got to my desk.

Turned off the computer.

Put on my boots, grabbed the big bag (checked for house keys), threw my purse inside the bag and ran to the bathroom.

Cause everyone knows when you get cold you have to pee.

Yup, I said that word.

Once done, I made a hasty exit of the building and walked as fast as I could for the bus stop.

I was pretty certain that I was going to be late but held out hope that I would make it.

At least at the end of it all – Alvin was fed and let outside.

So I did not have to worry about him.

Luckily I managed to get not the first bus but the next one.

We passed the first one at some point and I only had to wait at the bus terminal for a few moments.

Even got home near the same time as usual when I catch the bus.

Whew.

So grateful …..

 

Well almost time to head downstairs.

That was my Monday.

Today will be quiet and easy.

Let us hope.

 

With kindness and respect, I shall get through each day.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday December 31st, 2015.

Happy New Year’s Eve.

Normally Alvin wakes me up around 5:00 a.m. to have his breakfast.

Not this morning ….

I was laying awake when just after 7:00 a.m. the sound of sirens came closer to my house.

Jumping out of bed, I saw the first fire truck stop just on the other side of our duplex and then a second one stopped right in front of my house.

SCARED ME.

We went running downstairs ….. I could not see a fire anywhere ….

I opened the front door and did not see anyone out front.

We could hear the neighbour (not in the other half) but next door’s dog HOWLING.

I quickly fed Mr. Alvin his breakfast.

I put on my boots and we went out onto the deck and all of their lights were on …. Capone, their dog was pacing on the deck.

Something was wrong.

Alvin howled alongside for support.

There did not seem to be flames and no one from inside the house including the firemen were outside.

So that was a good sign.

I did not want to go out while the firemen were there so I just kept an eye out.

They were there for almost one hour ….. then they were gone.

So I decided to go to D & K’s and see if there was anything that I could do.

D & K and all four of their children and Capone were in the living room ….. reeling from what had just happened.

K said that the alarm detected smoke and went off but they were unable to find the source.

The fireman diligently checked every electrical outlet and the walls and could not find any fire.

While I was there …. we determined that the smell which the firemen said smelled like burnt wax was coming from the furnace register/vent by the front door.

We surmised that perhaps one of the young ones put a plastic figure or wax crayon down the register/vent.

The furnace had not kicked in so they turned up the thermostat and that smell definitely came from the front register/vent.

*********************

I decided it was time for me to go home and offered my home for them if they needed to have the vents cleaned or whatever.

So home I came …. figured I had better get my blog wrote and have breakfast just in case they come over.

What a morning …. thank goodness everyone is okay.

This is a reminder to folks with small children to make sure that toys do not get put down the registers/vents.

We can breathe again.

Mr.  Alvin was worried for sure when he heard Capone howling he had howled in return.

So glad that all is well.

 

I was going to blog highlights from this year …. or perhaps plans for this next one but instead the Universe decided differently.

So I shall take this opportunity to put the word out:

A reminder for all …… be sure that you have smoke detectors and that they are in working order.

A fire extinguisher …. they have one … I do not, and I will be purchasing one right away.

Make sure that you have a plan in case of an emergency.

DO NOT LEAVE CANDLES BURNING UNATTENDED.

Your life can change so quickly …. make certain that your house is safe on this New Year’s Eve and every night.

 

Take care.

 

Special Hello to: EVERYONE …. Happy New Year’s Eve.

Always, Carol and Alvin