How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

Fire Alarms and Killer Carbs

in Travel on

Sometimes the best laid plans hit speed bumps.  This past week, during a Dance Competition, I spent four nights in a hotel that came equipped with a fabulous kitchenette.  This wee kitchen had a microwave, a fridge, a stove, a dishwasher, a coffee maker and a toaster.  You get the idea; everything we could possibly need to make ourselves truly at home.  We packed healthy groceries a variety of snacks to power us through long dance days and maybe even some delectable treats; all set for the week away and ready to make the most of our “home away from home”.

So what did I do to make ourselves feel truly at home?  I set off the fire alarm.  Sigh.

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Distracted by all the goings on, the dance schedule, the applying of make-up, the taking of the ever important Mama/Daughter “We made it!” selfie.  I popped a fat bagel in the toaster and let it toast.  Or shall I say burn to a crisp!  Before I knew it there was smoke spiralling up towards the ceiling and the fire alarm perched on the pristine white roof was screaming at me “You dumb blonde.. BEEP..the bagels on fire…BEEP…didn’t you smell the smoke…BEEP…pay attention….BEEP”.  With fat cat like reflexes I jumped up on a chair, ripped a designer scarf from the dresser and began fanning like a wild woman.  I started ever so gently yelling at my daughter to STAND BACK.  I then jumped off said chair, unplugged the toaster and pried that fat smoking bagel out of the toaster.  Back to the chair and fanned some more.  Visions of firetrucks pulling up to the massive hotel swirled through my head.  Thought of Managers and housekeeping breaking down my door and escorting me off the property flashed through my brain.  I was sure they would have to empty the hotel and the entire conference hall currently stuffed with hundreds, no thousands? of dancers out into the cold in their teeny tiny outfits, all because I needed some carbs and cream cheese.

It was the longest 60 seconds of my life.  The screaming BEEP BEEP BEEP stopped.  The hallways were silent.  Nobody even checked on us to see if we were okay?

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Dear Daughter and I admired our handy work, the burnt up bagel, and vowed to never speak of this incident again.  Well, at least until I blogged about it!  The day of the burnt bagel and the fire alarm.  Huh, turn out carbs really can be dangerous.

 

    • Comments

    2. The joys of smoke alarms! But it’s better to have them than not. Glad everyone (except the bagel) is safe. Thanks for the laugh.

    4. Hahaha that is hilarious! And while it is odd no one came to check on you, I’m sure you are somewhat relieved to not have to deal with the embarassment of hotel staff & firemen realizing all that fuss was over a bagel!

    9. LOL….I would of been panicking too when the smoke detector went off. I am surprised no one check it out though. At least you can laugh about it now.

    10. I can just imagine the panic when the smoke alarm went off. A little worrying that there wasn’t even a phone from the hotel to check that all was well. It probably happens a lot but what are the alarms for if no one takes any notice?

    15. I have to admit I got a chuckle out of this! At least you know it was working. One time that set off my smoke alarm when I had decided to do some baking in the wee hours of the morning, 4:30ish am, nobody stirs in the complex til like 7:00. That alarm went off with a fury and I couldn’t stop it – I was thinking of smashing it I was so freaked!! I opened windows, tried to pull the alarm apart, you name it!!! On top of it, i wasn’t dressed, so if ppl came to the door I was a mess in floury pj’s and up to my elbows in gook as I was still doing more prep for making bread. It finally stopped, and after that, I never do anything in the kitchen without opening the windows – even if there is a hurricane! esp in the morning!