Desperate times.
I was actually eager to come to work this morning because – omg, two days without Internet access and my fingers had started to shrivel and fall off ... because, you know, I clearly didn't need them anymore.
On the Eve of Christmas Eve, the power in the master bedroom went off. Hubs fiddled with the fuse box and got part of the room powered up, and then there was this pop and a hideous burning smell.
"Fire in the attic!" Hubs yelled. "Call 911 and get the kids out of here!"
Tootie and my stepdaughter were already up, having smelled something strange in Tootie's room. I snatched a sleeping E-man out from his bed and we all headed outside.
Minutes later, the first fire engine pulled up. The E-man was agog.
So was his mommy, during the few seconds, that is, that she forgot the house might be on fire.
Firemen! Oh, goody! Merry Christmas to me!
Then all rationality returned when I remembered the state of our bedroom — which, given that we had just returned from a weekend away — looked as though 20 sugar-fueled toddlers had romped through it.
And yes, fleetingly, I did wonder: Could I maybe dash in and tidy up before they start, you know, putting out flames?
As it turns out, there was no fire. There is, obviously, a problem with our wiring. An electrician is coming tonight. Meanwhile, we have no power in that part of the house. And since the previous homeowner did terrible things with the phone lines underneath the house, the wireless unit thingy is operational only in our bedroom.
I'm not sure who was more horrified by the realization that we would be without the Internet — me or my stepson.
"You mean I can't get online?" he asked over and over. "At all?"
Hey, buddy, you're supposedly grounded from MySpace. I'm the one who's going to be suffering here.
By Christmas Eve, Hubs was curled up on the couch, hacking and whimpering under an afghan, while I hurriedly assembled and wrapped toys.
"I think I hab a feber," he sniffled. "Can you beel my borehead?"
It's been joy, joy, joy around these parts, let me tell you.
So. Hubs remains ill. We still have no power. No Internet. *sob*
But hey, I can now say I've had firemen in my bedroom.
If only they hadn't been greeted by the sight of my old, stretched-out maternity bra dangling from the closet door, which, of course, is conveniently located next to the fuse box.
*blush*
14 comments:
This post needs to become the next great Christmas movie. The color and joy of it is right up there with "A Christmas Story."
What a great story. I loved "And yes, fleetingly, I did wonder: Could I maybe dash in and tidy up before they start, you know, putting out flames" - this is so something I would think too! And I loved that last line!!! I'm glad there was no fire and I am sorry your husband is sick. Hope you get it all worked out soon (especially the internet)- see you later. Kellan
Hahaha! Poor you. Reminds me of the time there was a chemical reaction in our garage, which created smoke but no fire. Middle of the night -- always, right? -- and I'm in the nattiest sleepwear possible when the firefighters show up. And I was about 20 years old, too. Sigh.... I hope your hubs feels better and you get back online soon.
oh poor thing! a feber....
I'm going to have to share this with my fireman husband, he'll totally chuckle -- and then he'll share with you the horrors he's seen inside people's houses when responding to emergencies and then you won't feel so bad.
Glad it all turned out fine, and hope your hubby feels better soon.
Sorry to hear life sucks. Here's something that'll make you laugh.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rXLHWmjA5IE
LOL. Oh those firefighters...I'm really reaqlly glad you did not have a fire in your attic. I've total empathy with your teenager issues and drama and angst. I'm glad you'r ehappy to be at work. Heehee. My hubs just started being sick but he's pretty good about not being a baby, which is good as he is SO NOT a nurturer, and I would resent taking care of him if he were a baby. Things are actually pretty good here. :)
While I feel for you on the lack of internet access, I feel worse for me. The heat to my building went haywire last week. Over the weekend, inside temps were in the 80s and 90s with windows open (20s to 40s outside). Then on Monday the heat went entirely off after the boiler/furnace was "fixed".
The "fixer" didn't work Christmas Day. He didn't show up yesterday until late in the afternoon. The heat was on (partially) for about five hours and then went out again. We are once again waiting for the "fixer" with no heat. Temps outside are in the 30s and 40s, inside in the 40s and 50s.
I'd trade my internet access for heat in a heartbeat right now.
roflmao...ok this post is hilarious, but seriously glad there was no fire!
Holy COW! I am glad there was no fire but YOU! I can't believe you were worrying about mess (I would be too). LOL
Hope all is well now?
Julie
Using My Words
Dude!
Remind me to tell you the story of when I lived in a city and the fire department came to my apartment b/c the heater on the wall sparked and I was afraid that there would be a fire...
My bras were hanging over the shower curtain rod.
I wanted to d-i-e.
Glad that you're all right.
Hope hubster is feeling better, that you have power back...and that those firemen were CUTE. Maternity bras be damned!
Happy New Year!
Heidi
ha - the only time I had to race outside in the middle of the night for fire alarms were because the water from the incessant rain due to the cyclone was tripping the alarm.
Still, we were at a girls boarding school, so both the firies and us got a kick out of part of the experience!
Good luck on getting all modern conveniences (including a functional husband) back by the New Year.
I'm not sure exactly how you made fevers, no internet and firefighters storming through your bedroom sound so fun, but there you go - what a great story! Hope you're ALL better by now! Happy New Year!
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