Yesterday, after a lovely breakfast with Patti, I returned home to the guys. Scott exited soon afterward to go get his hair cut, so Devin and I were pondering what we should do with our snowy morning. During the debate, I filled up the tea kettle and switched on the stove.
We played a short-lived game of “Stop and Go!” before the kiddo lost interest. Then I remembered the yummy smoothie recipe we’d been eyeing the day before and announced to Devin, “Let’s run out to D&W and grab some stuff to make chocolate smoothies!” (You already know where this is going, I’m sure.) So I grabbed socks, put on his shoes, then put on his boots because he didn’t want to wear his shoes, put on my own boots, stuffed us both into outwear, grabbed my bag, threw some treats to Juliette, and locked up the house.
We only needed a few things at the grocery store, but I was having trouble finding the rice milk (eh, we’ll use soy instead) and the chocolate sorbet (raspberry will have to do). Then we meandered to the check-out lanes and finally made it back to the car.
Juliette greeted me at the door. And so did a very strange sound. A high-pitched sound. A whistling sound. Then I noticed that my dog looked a bit freaked out. I also noticed a strange smell in the air.
OHMYGOD!
I left my house with a tea kettle on.
I am an idiot.
I almost killed my pets.
I almost burned down our home.
I shoved the kid aside as gently as I could and sprinted to the stove to turn off the kettle. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized that I’d filled it up with quite a bit of water and there was still about half left. The smell was the hot water, I think.
Scott sauntered in a second later. I was still shaking with the realization of how careless I’d been. I just blurted it all out to him. He was nonchalant about it all, but I still feel guilty about the whole thing.
I swear, if I lose any more brain cells I won’t be able to function at all.
Ugh… I can feel that stomach sinking feeling now as you tell this story. You poor thing!
I’ve done that. More than once. I’ve also burned two bamboo steamers because I forgot and left the water beneath them simmering until it ran dry. Last time I did this, the smell of burning bamboo alerted me to the problem; luckily, I was still in the house. Both the pot and the steamer had to be chucked, but at least the house is still intact.
I’m always afraid of leaving something on. It makes me a compulsive checker.
@Melinda…It was definitely a sinking feeling. I swear my biggest fear in life is my house burning down while I’m away. And there I go almost making it happen!
@Lori…Oh, wow! Very good that you were there to smell it burning. That would be so scary.
@Serena…I tend to lean toward compulsive myself, but I’ve made myself crazy about things like that in the past. Like checking my alarm to make sure I set it. Ten times! So I’ve been trying to reassure myself that it’s all OK. Maybe I need to revisit those behaviors again. 🙂
@Melinda…It was definitely a sinking feeling. I swear my biggest fear in life is my house burning down while I’m away. And there I go almost making it happen!
@Lori…Oh, wow! Very good that you were there to smell it burning. That would be so scary.
@Serena…I tend to lean toward compulsive myself, but I’ve made myself crazy about things like that in the past. Like checking my alarm to make sure I set it. Ten times! So I’ve been trying to reassure myself that it’s all OK. Maybe I need to revisit those behaviors again. 🙂
i’m like serena. when i used to live with my brother and sis in law, i left the iron on, good thing my sister in law was home and turned it off. i felt so guilty. now, i get obsessed with double-checking stoves, iron, candles, door locks and garage doors.
i’m like serena. when i used to live with my brother and sis in law, i left the iron on, good thing my sister in law was home and turned it off. i felt so guilty. now, i get obsessed with double-checking stoves, iron, candles, door locks and garage doors.
omg … yes I know how you feel. Thankfully I haven’t forgotten anything (yet) that could result in major damage, but I swear I have gotten dumber since pregnancy! I would forget entire conversations with co-workers, etc. Even though I heard that during pregnancy you actually generate new brain cells. Apparently they are dormant kind for me 😀
omg … yes I know how you feel. Thankfully I haven’t forgotten anything (yet) that could result in major damage, but I swear I have gotten dumber since pregnancy! I would forget entire conversations with co-workers, etc. Even though I heard that during pregnancy you actually generate new brain cells. Apparently they are dormant kind for me 😀
NPR had a segment on some recent studies wheich show that adults can regenerate brain cells! There is hope for all moms!
NPR had a segment on some recent studies wheich show that adults can regenerate brain cells! There is hope for all moms!