So it was a good day. Cold, but good, with a forecast of even more cold and lots of snow later this week. Today, however, it was just warm enough to start the thaw on the top layer of snow (which will ice over soon enough).
I leave my apartment this morning noticing a hint of something burning in the air. It's very faint so I just figure one of my neighbors (six in my building) burnt something cooking. I notice the smell is still there when return from clinic.
The night was going to be a busy one...I had a bunch of contact lens problems to go over and some reading to do, so of course I must waste some time on Final Fantasy Tactics Advance before I start.
I'm about a half an hour past when I last saved (grumble) when the power goes out. I look across the street...power's on over there. I look at the rest of the comples...power's on over there. I hear the beeping of the emergency box downstairs. So I grab my flashlight and head down, meeting with a few of my neighbors on the way. The smell of something burning is thick.
A maintenance man is down there, stopping by as his last duty of the day to deliver a piece of mail to a resident. He smelled the smoke and the lights just happened to go out as he was leaving. He immediately called the fire dept. and the maintenance crew.
So there I was stranded outside in the cold (as we had to evacuate) with a few of my neighbors when several fire engines, ambulances, and the fire chief's ride show up. I guess it was a slow night in Richmond Heights. They're not telling us much other than we best look for options for a place to stay tonight.
After about forty-five minutes outsides, in which I got to meet my neighbors finally (silver lining), the maintenance guy comes over. He tells us that melted snow (water to you laypeople) has been seeping through a crack in the basement and has been dripping on the fuse boxes. Specifically my fuse box. He thinks that the other apartments will get power soon, but mine won't. We later find out that no apartments in the building will have power until morning.
I've been trying to call my girlfriend through all this, but her phone is off because she's watching American Idol. I pack up my stuff and head over anyway, as I assume I'll be able to stay. I was, and am, which is how I am writing this now.
Best of all, I got the work done that I needed to. So tonight, while a bit inconvenient, was a bit of an adventure and all turned out well.
You'll have to do better than that, Winter.
