sleepus interuptus
Nov. 25th, 2006 10:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisFrom 5:54 a.m. this morning until 6:13 a.m. this morning all of us here in this condo building were serenaded by the ear piercing scratching of the fire alarm. In my case, it was accompanied with 8 cat feet using my sleeping form as an emergency springboard to whatever destination they thought could get them away from that fucking noise.
It was lovely.
After the first 5 or 6 minutes I decided that maybe I could check the hallway to see if there was smoke. I opened my front door to find my next door neighbor who at at least stopped to put on pants. He mumbled 'what is that?'. I mumbled 'fire alarm'. No smoke. Back to bed. I did not hear fire engine sounds. Finally it stopped.
The first time that fucker ever went off - back in the early days - I went out on the terrace to escape the noise. It lasted about 5 minutes. Later that day, Sherry and Lee came up to see if I was alive. "We looked for you outside." Outside?! It had not occurred to me to actually leave the building!
The next time my mother happened to be visiting. So we put coats over our clothes (this never happens in Summer or in daylight) and went downstairs. We stood around with the other building residents until it stopped and then we came home. Mom said "What about the cats? You were the only one out there without your pets... people will talk you know." Fuck.
So I bought two cat carriers and have never left the building when the fire alarm went off since.
We did actually have smoke one time when my neighbor across the hall was cooking up what he swore were not drugs - his unit was snapped up in foreclosure by a lovely couple. Oh and a couple of times Thomasina, down on the 3rd floor, has burnt stuff cooking actual meals. But, she is NOT an early riser so I'm pretty sure we can't blame this morning's adventure on her.
If, one day, the building burns up. I will be up here watching my green and purple paint curl. I'll send Jake and Betty down without me.
It was lovely.
After the first 5 or 6 minutes I decided that maybe I could check the hallway to see if there was smoke. I opened my front door to find my next door neighbor who at at least stopped to put on pants. He mumbled 'what is that?'. I mumbled 'fire alarm'. No smoke. Back to bed. I did not hear fire engine sounds. Finally it stopped.
The first time that fucker ever went off - back in the early days - I went out on the terrace to escape the noise. It lasted about 5 minutes. Later that day, Sherry and Lee came up to see if I was alive. "We looked for you outside." Outside?! It had not occurred to me to actually leave the building!
The next time my mother happened to be visiting. So we put coats over our clothes (this never happens in Summer or in daylight) and went downstairs. We stood around with the other building residents until it stopped and then we came home. Mom said "What about the cats? You were the only one out there without your pets... people will talk you know." Fuck.
So I bought two cat carriers and have never left the building when the fire alarm went off since.
We did actually have smoke one time when my neighbor across the hall was cooking up what he swore were not drugs - his unit was snapped up in foreclosure by a lovely couple. Oh and a couple of times Thomasina, down on the 3rd floor, has burnt stuff cooking actual meals. But, she is NOT an early riser so I'm pretty sure we can't blame this morning's adventure on her.
If, one day, the building burns up. I will be up here watching my green and purple paint curl. I'll send Jake and Betty down without me.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-25 08:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-25 10:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-25 10:50 pm (UTC)of course, now I guess I should give them thanks for not singing!