Fighting Fires and Other True Stories

Sittin’ Around Sunday: Fighting Fires and Other True Stories

1JUL

Sunday is my sit around and do nothin’ day. I thought to myself, “Self, what are you going to write about today? You don’t go anywhere or do anything exciting on Sunday.” This will be a tough one.” I fed the dogs, made my tea, grabbed my iPad and went to sit out in the backyard. It wasn’t so hot this morning and there was a powerful breeze. As the bright pink blossoms from the crepe myrtle trees started snowing crimson, I thought, maybe I’d make another music video. (Saving that for another day.)

I sat with my green tea, and the dogs tussled and ran around the yard. When I glanced up from my emails, I saw black billowing smoke coming from my next door neighbor’s back yard. The trees between our yards have gotten very tall, maybe fifteen feet or more. At first I thought, maybe someone was barbecuing or using a smoker.The dark smoke rose high above the trees.

I ran over to the fence, only to see huge white flames flashing almost to the garage roof. Panic! I yelled out, but no one was in the yard. The dogs were confused and barking, so I put them in the house and ran next door. I rang the bell and pounded on the door. No one was home.They were probably at church. Now what? If I ran home and dialed 911, it might take ten minutes or more for a fire truck to get there. The house could burn down.

A garden hose was just a few feet from the fence. Should I try and put out the fire myself? What if gas or electricity was involved and I made it worse, or God forbid, something explodes. The fire was coming out of melted pipes and singed connections from the pool equipment. My greatest concern was, if I didn’t act quickly, the house might catch on fire, so I grabbed the hose and said a prayer. After only five minutes or more, the fire seemed contained, but I gave it a few more minutes, wedging the still spraying hose between pipes, aimed at the black melted pipes. Then I ran home to dial 911.

The dispatcher asked for my name, location, etc., and I tried to be calm, but I’m sure my adrenalin induced voice sounded more like panic. I explained that the fire was out, but I’d feel better if the fire department checked it out. The truck arrived in just a few minutes. They turned off the circuit breakers for the equipment just to be safe and inspected the damage.

I felt pretty good when they said I did a good job and may have saved the rest of the equipment from catching on fire, and perhaps reaching the house. They were kind enough not to say anything like, “What were you thinking, lady? Just call 911!” Firefighter Simmons recognized me from my last cupcake drop-off at Station 5 last month, so I think he was being kind.

Needless to say, the neighbors were more than grateful when they got home. I told John, “Well, you saved me from that big snake that climbed into my dryer vent. I think we’re even.” A lot of hugs were exchanged and I was SO happy that I was in the right place at the right time. And yes, now I had something interesting to write about on an otherwise sleepy Sunday.

If I told you the nickname that my Mom calls me, you wouldn’t believe me. But, that’s another long story.

Share this:

• Twitter
• Facebook1

Strangers and Other Frienships

Saturday: Strangers and Other Friendships

30JUN

Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?
Walt Whitman

Wow! I love that quote. That totally describes my philosophy. Thanks Mr. Whitman, well said. The majority of my friendships have been made in just that manner. I talk to strangers.

After Zumba class on Thursday morning, my friend Karen and I stopped at McDonald’s for a cold drink. We met over a year ago, hiding in the same back corner at the YMCA, commiserating, mumbling, and laughing at our attempts to zig when we should have zagged. (Strangers now friends.) As we stood by the iced tea dispenser, we noticed a couple of ladies chatting and showing off an embellished Fourth of July T-shirt. We admired the home-made shirt, commented and proceeded to our table.

Karen and I spent over an hour visiting, talking about friends and family, joking to the point of tears. We walked out to our cars, but then, I felt compelled to turn around and talk to the two friends with the T-shirt. I plopped my iced tea at their table and said, “Would you ladies mind if I join you for a few minutes?” They were most cordial, and after brief introductions, we were talking like old friends.

Brenda and Debbie explained how they met at church less than a year ago. They agreed that sometimes just extending a kind word or talking to a stranger could result in a special friendship. That’s how they met. We exchanged names and Facebook info and promised to keep in touch. It’s funny! I told them that people give off a distinct electrical energy, and I knew when I first glanced over and saw them laughing, that I knew they were fun, welcoming friends.

Brenda and Debbie (My new friends) Walt Whitman knew what he was talking about.

Share this:

• Twitter
• Facebook1

Paper Bead Demonstration. Friday Vriends

Friday Friends: Baubles, Bangles and Beads

29JUN

The fabulous Young At Heart senior artists of Towne Creek were thrilled to have guest jewelry maker, Krys Watson, visit today. Krys gave us a quick and easy paper bead demonstration and brought supplies for us to make dozens of our own beads. Everyone had great fun! Thanks Krys.

While everyone was busy making lovely beads, I had yet another light bulb moment. What’s a good song to go along with a bead making video? Then, being the “show tune queen” of North Texas, I remembered the song “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads.” I found the song on You Tube and played it on my iPhone while recording on my iPad. I’m not techno savvy enough to figure out how to dice and splice sound and video like the young folks, so I cheated. (Tip: cheating is OK if you’re old and challenged.)

Here’s Miss Bonnie. She’s very proud of her handmade beads.

Sharing art, crafts, music or anything with a group of friends is always fantabulous.

Share this:

• Press This
• Twitter
• Facebook1

Dogs Best Friend

Theme Song Thursday: Dog’s Best Friend, Bunny’s Worst Enemy

27JUN

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.
Milan Kundera

Our dog, Bucky, doesn’t realize he isn’t a puppy anymore. He wants to play all the time and doesn’t understand why his old buddy doesn’t share his enthusiasm. He’s always doing something goofy. Thank goodness a camera is always nearby.

As I was writing this post, our dear little Buck scratched at the door, wanting to come in. He had something in his mouth. I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but it wasn’t the usual stick or rock. No!!! The tiny legs protruding from his mouth, wiggling in desperation led me to believe a small creature had been captured. Yikes! Now what? I chased Buck around the yard with a broom for ten minutes yelling, “Drop it!” He jumped up on the levered door handle and ran in the house with his conquest. I finally cornered him in the family room, spritzed him with one of the many handy water spray bottles and clobbered him with the broom. (Gently clobbered) I grabbed a page from the newspaper to retrieve the stunned baby bunny and then carried him back outside. He was still alive as I placed him safely beyond the fence and away from harms way.

Poor Buck didn’t know it was bad to capture and toy with the bunny. He’s a hunting dog. It’s instinct, not malice. I think he just wanted to play with the little fury thing. It reminded me of Lennie from Steinbeck’s, “Of Mice and Men.” He just wanted to hold the soft bunny. (I hope the little thing makes it.)

https://toniandrukaitis.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/theme-song-thursday-dogs-best-friend-bunnys-worst-enemy/

@toniandrukaitis: Wednesday Words of Wisdom http://t.co/YhSeafZqsy

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

27JUN

“Perhaps one day, all these conflicts will end, and it won’t be because of great statesmen or churches or organisations like this one. It’ll be because people have changed. They’ll be like you, Puffin. More a mixture. So why not become a mongrel? It’s healthy.”
― Kazuo Ishiguro, When We Were Orphans

One of the Crepe Myrtle trees in my front yard makes a definite statement. For some reason, whoever planted this tree decided to integrate three different color trees in one grouping. They are intertwined and blossom with bursts of bright pink, white and pale pink. Looking at the trunk and protruding branches, it’s difficult to see where one color starts and the other finishes. This made me think of the integration of our world. Why can’t people of different colors, races and religions blossom as one. The varied colors are so beautiful. The strength of the many roots and branches are much stronger.

When I was a little girl growing up in Chicago in the 50′s and 60′s, our neighborhood schools were integrated, but we didn’t think of it as something special. The kids were just kids. We noticed the different colors, but we didn’t think it was a bad thing or a big deal. We all studied, played and went to the same church. It wasn’t until I got a little older that I learned that the whole world didn’t see through a child’s colorblind eyes and heart. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep those eyes and heart of our childhood?

In the lower left you see white, the middle is pale pink, the right is bright pink and the rest mingles here and there.

1954: Students in an integrated classroom in Fort Myer, Va., the year of Brown v. Board of Education.
Photo: Bettmann/Corbis. New York Times

SOMEDAY!!!

Anything Goes

Theme Song Thursday: Anything Goes by toniandrukaitis

The song "Anything Goes" was written in 1934, but certainly applies just as well today. The First Amendment to the Constitution is brief and concise, but all sorts of liberties have been taken with its interpretation. Along with these rights, we have responsibilities, don't we? Is shocking or offending the only way to get attention? I think not. How about..."Anything Goes"... as long as no one gets hurt or offended? Put THAT in the Constitution!

"I live in America. I have the right to write whatever I want. And it's equaled by another right just as powerful: the right not to read it. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend people."

Brad Thor

Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Cole Porter: Anything Goes 1934

Times have changed,

And we've often rewound the clock,

Since the Puritans got a shock,

When they landed on Plymouth Rock.

If today,

Any shock they should try to stem,

'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,

Plymouth Rock would land on them.

In olden days a glimpse of stocking

Was looked on as something shocking,

But now, God knows,

Anything Goes.

Good authors too who once knew better words,

Now only use four letter words

Writing prose, Anything Goes.

The world has gone mad today

And good's bad today,

And black's white today,

And day's night today,

When most guys today

That women prize today

Are just silly gigolos

And though I'm not a great romancer

I know that I'm bound to answer

When you propose,

Anything goes ......