Fire

Here I am beginning with the mundane events of today, just as I said I would. Today drew itself out normally, although I did sleep in far too late for my liking, but other than that. I went shopping with my mother and two younger sisters and we returned just in time for me to run. The days are rapidly getting shorter and the window of opportunity to run is decreasing with it. Upon completing my run, I ate dinner and then was settling down, catching up with e-mails, etc, when a billow of black smoke emerged from the laundry room. My mother who immediatley set in "panic mode" which in turn made the rest of the house pandemonium, started screaming for everyone to leave. Little Monsieur was running in circles hysterically and my father was searching to no avail for a fire extinguisher. I grabbed Miss Claire along with a blanket from her peaceful slumbers and was one of the last to leave the house because at first, I thought this was another overreaction of my mother.
If I had had to stand and watch the house burn, I would have watched with tears running down my face. But I didn't watch because the house didn't burn. I have no idea how long my father was in that room with an extinguisher trying to put out the fire, but he stayed until he was quite sure it was out. I am certain he isn't sleeping tonight.
All the local departments responded and remained here until in was safe. Everyone is totally unharmed and the only problem is that we can't use our washer and dryer, oh, and the ever-present scent of burned clothes.
It was strange when my mother first started telling us to leave. I was thinking of how to stop the fire, and I was picturing myself grabbing the hose and hauling it up the stairs and turning on the kitchen sink. What good would turning on the sink do?

Now that that is over...

I am leaving for a "nanny" job on Wednesday. I am going a bit south, but not far enough to hope on good weather. I should be gone until the middle of November, depending on how things go. I am a bit nervous about driving so far in old goldie, but not enough to deter me from going. I have started my list tonight. I am doing all my packing tomorrow. I have so much to do: clean my room, wash all my clothes, pack, go to the laundromat. But what can I say, a women's work is never done.