4-Bell Alarm for "Only Crandall" or "Only You" - I Know, Because I've Had 49 and Counting Years of Being Me. I Can't Make This Up

I was back-to-back work from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. yesterday and when I wasn't doing something in person, I was doing it digitally. I had a window from Lowe's of 8 a.m. until noon, where they would come to retrieve the unnecessary dishwasher. It works fine, but after almost losing an eye, my old one decided to work again. I carved space at home to be here for them, working with students, colleagues, and schools via ZOOM. 

At 9, I was called and told Lowe's was coming at 9:15. At 9:45, they still weren't here so I decided to brush my teeth...I had a window before my next meeting. As I reached for the toothpaste, I hear this horrendous alarm coming from the upstairs. Edem came home from his overnight job and was sleeping, but he was quickly awakened...so I knew it wasn't his alarm clock. When I ran upstairs, I found the fire alarm in Chitunga's room going off (so loud). I had a 10 a.m. ZOOM call, so we opened the windows hoping it would stop. There was no smoke...I wondered if it could be carbon monoxide (as my older sister had a scare and I didn't want to repeat that). 

Ah, but this alarm is way up on the A-Frame ceiling and I would need a ladder to get to it. Nope. My ladder was borrowed by a friend several months ago and not returned. I went into a brief-panic mode so called the fire department for a recommendation. I told them, it's not an emergency. I was told to go outside and wait, so Edem, the dog, and I stood out front. Of course, we hear the sirens from far away as they get closer and I said, "Watch. Lowe's will show up at exactly the same time."

Wola! They did. And all my neighbors were outside wondering what the commotion was.

The photo is actually the fireman and fire woman blowing dust out of the alarm. They had to bring their own ladder. The culprit? A faulty fire alarm. 4 years old. They usually last 14 years. The alarm wouldn't stop going off and they suggested I take a hammer to it.

Now, this was all from 10 to 10:15. By 10:30 I was online with students again.

And that was my morning...never broke a sweat, joked with everyone that this is the way my life rolls, and Lowe's drove away with the dishwasher.

Meanwhile, Karal thought everyone came to play with her. She was sad when they left and Edem went back to bed. 

Fa la la la la la la la la.