Wednesday, March 11, 2009

And people wonder why I stick to writing and running...

So, tonight I had a conference call with the editorial team for the upcoming Runners' Lounge book. I don't normally, um, do that sort of thing. That telephone thing. And after tonight, I know that it is probably best that I avoid the phone at all costs. Email, that's more my speed. Email, blog comments, the solitary pursuit of running . . . all fine. Phone? Not so much.

It started innocently enough. I was on the phone with the other bloggers/editors, talking submissions and whatnot. Then there was a beep. It was pretty loud but, I don't know, I was busy on the phone and so I didn't think it had anything to do with me. Clearly it was something related to my husband's exercise stuff in the basement.

Another beep. Then many loud and fast beeps and before I knew it, my hubby was running upstairs and then the whole house alarm was going off and there was smoke everywhere and in the midst of all of this, I got off the phone.

He had been boiling sap to make maple syrup and oops! he forgot about it when he went to work out. So, the sap burned in the pan, causing sticky-sweet smoke to fill the house and the alarm to blare for much, much longer than it needed to. The alarm company called to say they were sending the fire department over to our house since, in my husband's haste to turn off the fire alarm, he turned on the full alarm, which sent some sort of panic message to the alarm company, raising their response level to heights much higher than those needed to deal with burnt sap. I told the kind alarm company lady that it was just sap, so no fire trucks were needed. And then moved on to help my husband ventilate the house, all the while hoping, with fingers crossed, that my son would not wake up.

He didn't. Phew! That kid can sleep through anything.

Pretty embarrassing, huh?

Yeah. I believe I will stick to writing and running -- alone -- from now on.

20 comments:

I Run for Fun said...

What a thing to happen when you are on the phone, trying to have a serious discussion! Glad Conal slept through it.

Dr Wednesday said...

Only been reading you for a few weeks- and love your blog. I really like the first paragraph here. Your blog image demonstrates what you are saying perfectly!

What a day!

Lindsay said...

haha. good lord! quite the day at your house. at least it was an excuse to get off the phone :)

Anonymous said...

something which would totally happen to me as well.

I have a phone interview schedule next week and NOW Im thinking I cant plan to let HORTON HEARS A WHO distract the toddler :)
I need to plan a second and third back up...

Mel-2nd Chances said...

LOL, at least Conal slept through it. :D

Abby said...

Ha, glad you all (and the house!) came out unscathed :)

Anonymous said...

Glad your son didn't wake up. Sometimes getting them back to sleep takes forever.

Denise said...

Oh man, that stinks! I bet it wasn't fun to clean up!

Unknown said...

oh my gosh! what a fiasco!!

Heather said...

Glad your son didn't wake up during all that - that would have been my first thought too!

Bridget said...

I think you need to keep Owen away from the stove! Between this incident and the incident with the gas in the house - he is done with cooking!!
Ha.

Janice {Run Far} said...

oh my... funny. So glad the little one didn't wake up.

Aileen said...

You should copyright that...I feel like it could be a scene from a movie!

Marlene said...

Your hubby makes maple syrup? Yum!

tfh said...

I'm with Marlene-- reading this, I was less impressed by the multiple alarms and smoke-filled house (been there, done that), than with the fact that your husband boils sap for syrup on the stove. ;) I do love how you ignored the initial warning beeps and smoke beginning to waft through the house...

Chic Runner said...

wow that must be some bomb syrup! :) I'm jealous. and how funny that happened when you were on the phone. That's happened to me before and it's awkward and I wasn't even on the phone!

Marcy said...

OMG go figure, right? That stuff always happens to me as well LOL. Glad you and the fam are alright!

J said...

Crazy! Glad everything is alright though!

Aron said...

haha this made me laugh... definitely something I would do :)

I hate talking on the phone!

RunnerMom said...

Writing and running are my two favorite things, too. Oral communication (especially public speaking).... not so much.

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