Close Call

Yesterday evening there were a series of severe thunderstorms that went through our area. Like the brilliant person I am, I decided to grill out on our porch at the same time as the worst of the storm was passing over. We live on the 3rd floor and looking back at it now, it probably was not in my best interest to be out there at that particular moment. The most deafening boom and instantaneous flash of light made me jump out of my flip flops. I thought lightning had struck between the buildings across the parking lot from us. I knew it hit something because I could smell a burning/electric smell.

A couple of minutes later, hubby came home and told me he could smell something funny and asked if I had burned dinner. I told about what had just happened and just as I was finishing my story the buildings fire alarm starting to sound. It was as if we didn't know what to do. We just looked at each other for a minute and then I opened the apartment door and saw all my neighbors making there way out of the building. So we rounded up the cats and went downstairs to stand in the rain (we put the cats in my car).

There was no blazing inferno or any sign of smoke that anyone could see. Two of our neighbors were going around from door to door and checking on everyone. So we stood with the rest of the crowd and waited for the fire trucks to arrive. And we waited. And we waited. When they finally arrived, 15 minutes later, 15 minutes after we were all standing in the pouring rain, 15 minutes after a potential fire could be burning, some firemen went up all sets of stairs and starting checking the building. We thought for sure, it was a false alarm, no one could see any smoke. The firemen then ran out of the building and and made everyone get back away from the building and 4 more trucks showed up.

Apparently, lightning had struck the building and was burning SOMETHING, but when our property engineer cut the power to the building, it snuffed itself out. So after an hour of standing in the rain (actually, after the initial 15 minutes, most of us went and stood under the stoops of the other buildings) we were allowed back into the building and told to pull the fire alarm, call 911 and get out if we saw smoke or smelled anything. They never found the source of the alarm. Which was not overly reassuring. One fire truck stayed next to the building as "fire watch" for about 4 hours after we were given the all clear to go back to our apartments.

So, I guess there was a little excitement for us. The cats are still a little freaked out. The lightning didn't scare them , but that damn fire alarm did. I can safely say that there is no way anyone could possibly sleep through that alarm.

Ahhh, life in the country....

Easter Trip

Hubby and I decided to go to Memphis to see his family for the holiday. We figured it will probably be the only opportunity we will have for a while to get there (I conveniently quit my job just before the busy Easter week). We decided to drive and it wasn't so bad. Memphis is about 11 hours and hubby and I only argued twice the whole trip.

It was so good to see his parents and my niece and nephews. They are getting so big. I will post some pics as soon as my mother- in-law sends some. We didn't do much of anything but relax. I had what I believe to be another Gall Bladder Attack the night before we left and was not feeling that great all week. I did start to feel better by Saturday and we went out with hubby's brother and his wife to Jillians. Drank some beer and played some horrible pool. I really suck and after a couple of beers was not even paying attention to the game. If we get back to Memphis this time next year I would love to catch a baseball game. The Memphis Redbirds has a little stadium there and its super cheap to catch a game (I think seats start at $5).

Hubby finally got a job and he is very happy there so far. I am now in search mode for a new one. I have an interview lined up already for tomorrow, so wish me luck!

Easter Greetings

The Pronko version of that cute little Easter email that always seems to go around this time of year. I don't care who you are, if you know my parents, this if pretty fucking funny. Hubby sent this to them after they had sent us the original "cute" version.

For Adults Only

Have y'all met Paulie???

http://www.thetoiletonline.com/thepubertypals.htm

On A Good Note...

My work schedule for the most part is not too bad. The weekends are long (12-13 hour days on Friday & Saturday and 9-10 hour days on Sundays), but during the week I get a couple of days off and only work 5 hour shifts on the others, so I get home pretty early and I can do stuff with my unemployed husband.

Today, I was off and hubby and I went for a 20 mile bike ride. He wants to get to the point where we can do a 60 mile race coming up in May. To be honest, the workout part of it is not what makes riding difficult, its the damn bike seats. My ass hurts SO BAD right now. We were about 15 miles into it and I did not want to sit my ass down on the seat. We were about a mile from where we parked the car and I got a flat tire. I had never been so happy to get a flat tire in my life. I happily walked the last mile back to the car.

The weather today was absolutely beautiful (about 72 degrees and sunny) and it was good to get outside. I have also joined the YMCA in town and I am back to working out regularly, which makes me happy. My workouts are theraputic and allow me to let out my frustration on the treadmill or stairclimber, rather than on Jon. I'm up to running 4miles 3-4 times a week. All I need to do now if find some people to socialize with. I don't see myself socializing with anyone from work or from the YMCA (seeing when I go to the Y in the mid-morning, it is retirees), I might look into joining some type of club or something. Then I will feel better about moving up here.