Two Fires

Well, I didn't get to see my youngest daughter for Thanksgiving. She first visited with friends in Orlando and was coming to see us on turkey day and Black Friday. Instead I received a phone call on Wednesday afternoon that her home had caught fire and she was going to fly home before seeing us. Thankfully most of the house was untouched.

Since that time she and her husband have found out it may not help to have a house inspected before buying earlier this year. Both the house inspector, hired by them, and an electrician, hired by the sellers, missed the fact that the house is wired with aluminium wiring but connected to copper only outlets and switches. The inspector for the insurance company told them if the inspectors had opened the fuse box they would have seen the aluminium wiring which should have triggered a look at the outlets and switches.

You just never know. The good thing about the fire is that their roommate came home early enough to smell smoke, get the animals out and dial 911. Only the top floor was affected by the fire that started at the connection of a switch. Trouble is they cannot return to their home most likely until after the first of the new year.

They will not have a first Christmas as first time home buyers this year, but are very

grateful to have had so little damage compared to what could have happened.

Their fire was the second in the family this year. 

The first fire was my brother's home, a total loss. His wife and mother-in-law had to climb out of a window to get out in time. 

All their pets perished.

Theirs started in the garage that is attached via a closed in breeze way, all sharing the same roof. The fire traveled through the attic and burnt the entire ceiling getting the kitchen and living room areas, and mostly just the ceilings of the bedrooms, though a lot was lost.

The three of them lived with our mom for several months while deciding whether or not to rebuild. In the end they bought a house not far from mom and put a new roof and windows on their old home. Slowly they will rebuild the interior on their own.

Holidays are coming, I'm tired already

I don't know if it's just because of how busy we've been at work in the pharmacy or because I'm just not feeling prepared, but I'm already tired just thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Ugh.

How have working women before me and with me do this? I've only been working full time since 2007. I waited until both girls were pretty much out of the house.

Ugh.

I haven't even begun my Christmas shopping.

Ugh.

Just thinking about dragging all the Christmas stuff out is exhausting.

Ugh. 

Christmas just doesn't seem to last long enough for all the stuff we've collected over the years. Yet I know once I start bringing it out I'm not going to be able to limit myself. Just too many memories involved. 

Ugh.

Not only is there a house to decorate but a very large tree at church to do. But I'm kinda ok with that. Kind of gives me a burst of energy thinking about it. There are also garlands and wreaths to set up, and then there is the Christmas breakfast with tables to decorate. Need some ladies (and MEN) to show up to help us. There were only three or four last year to set up the tree and decorate the worship area. Got to remember to set the large wreath a little lower so we can still see it with the projection screen down. Also the "command hooks" to keep from adding holes and staples in the walls.

Wonder if we need more poinsettias?

I should make a call to see what day we are going to be setting up.

Can't wait!

Allergy Season is Upon Me

Just when I thought I had escaped!

My allergies have been activated!

Sneezing, coughing, sniffling oh woe is me!

What I don't understand are the men and women heavily 

cologne'd and perfume'd who show up at my

window at work (I work in a pharmacy, remember)

to get all kinds of allergy medications.

Don't they understand that their heavily scentedness (yep, it's a made up word, by me)

could be part of the cause that they need these medications?

How do the doctors who examine them handle it?

Why is common sense so hard to comprehend?

On the other side of the spectrum......are those older individuals

who think that because they are home not doing

much that they no longer need to bathe.

Mostly, it's men but there have been a few women too.

At least I'm no longer contributing to the stink factor at work,

since my diet changes. No longer having my greatly

missed bowl of whole grain cereal in the morning I'm no longer trailing a 

bunch of SBDs through the workplace.

Though I am still getting accused, just don't understand it.

Maybe I should get a Neti Pot as my doctor suggested.

Anyway, it's back to Allegra and Flonase for me!

Missy E ready to get the show on the road.