& here i was planning a quiet morning at home

let me preface this story: our subdivision is getting new light posts--for no apparent reason b/c the current ones work, except that these new ones *look* much better (i think it a bit frivolous). i have been annoyed that we are paying (via taxes) for new *light posts* when the current ones work (did i say that already?! let me reiterate, the current ones work, they just aren't as aesthetically pleasing as the new ones; it just doesn't seem like a good enough reason to spend such a large amount of money on something unnecessary). so for the past week there has been construction going on in the street lawns on our street. kind of annoying, especially when they block the driveway (they did warn me about that, to their benefit). but it's also noisy & a big mess. & i just don't see the point--remember, the current ones work? however, as my friend kara pointed out--this whole mess of it is giving jobs to the construction workers, good point. i should just leave it at that! but i'm just wondering why this money isn't going to schools or police departments or fire departments or road construction or public services, etc. but to *aesthetically pleasing* street lights. hhmmm...
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sadly, yesterday adeline had to miss school due to a fever & croup. over the night she amazingly recovered & was well enough to go to school today. *sigh of relief* from the mama. how have i gotten used to her being gone for the morning after just 1 week? i dunno, but i have. amelia still has a touch of a cold, as do i, so i was anticipating a lot of sitting on the floor with my coffee playing with amelia & watching the today show while amelia dances to the commercial music. it was a fuzzy, warm, & pleasing thought to just hang out at home with amelia who seemed very much in love with me already this morning. hugs, kisses on my back! then...

8:20 a.m: hear fire sirens, they seem very very close. interesting. see fire truck stop in front of house, don't think much of it (cat in tree? lol).
8:24: smell gas, everywhere, in every room--start to wonder what's going on.
8:28: start to load girls into the car to take addy to preschool & notice very strong gas smell in the garage. i take a peek out of the garage window & wowzers there was about a dozen firemen in full gear, all the construction workers grouped with them--& they were across the street, looking into a hole in the ground.

apparently, the diggers broke a gas line while putting in the new underground wires for the unnecessary (*smile*) light posts. & then the police & fire department closed down our street, evacuated the 4 surrounding houses (us included)...and i was still in full pajama gear. the firemen made it sound as if i could go back in very soon but once i returned from dropping off addy & was told that yes, i could go back into my house--the columbia gas guy flagged me down & told me that i was *not* to go back home at least for another hour or two. oh, wonderful. i was like do you see what i'm wearing?! & he was like what a cute baby you have {change subject quickly before i tell this lady that yes she looks very, uh, sleepy}.

so here's the gist of it, baby crying b/c she's been put in & out of the car seat 4 times in 20 minutes, me still in pj's, no baby wipes or stroller or snack or even water cup for amelia. did i mention i didn't even brush my hair yet & didn't have my handy white hat with me? still, off we go to the mall, hoping to score a cinnabun at least. an hour later i realized i didn't have my wallet with me (thankfully, cinnabun was closed so it's not like i ordered then was like CRAP! i don't have my wallet, do i have to do dishes?!). i do think i was the most disheveled looking parent there but oh well! we weren't sucking gas vapors. i've seen others there is pj's.

90 minutes later i attempt to go back to our house & the columbia gas guy walks through the house with his gas sniffing machine & says it's okay now. amelia & i hang out in our house for 20 minutes & open the garage door & i get hit with a gas smell. so out we go, telling the gas co dude that there's gas in our garage, pick up addy, & then off to a friend's house for the next few hours.

but we are back & wow is there a very large earth digger thing across the street now. wes is probably *so jealous* that i get to be here observing all of this machinery use. sorry, but dear you weren't at the mall in your pj's. & then you also didn't step in the rushing stream of water from the fire hose & fire hydrant, soaking your shoes & socks (pre-mall also). okay, i'll stop complaining.

this is 1 of the 3 fire trucks. i'm not exactly sure what the 3 loads of firemen were doing as most of them seemed to be sitting on their trucks...ensuring my safety? *wink*

hole 1. notice the working light post in this picture, soon to be taken down.

hole 2 (see the guy in the green vest standing & digging in a big hole?)

a bit of an odd start to the morning & day, eh? & as of 2:30 they are still digging out there. i am guessing that part of the problem is the neighbor who mows his lawn every freaking day (not even kidding) moved a flag showing where the gas line was buried. anyhoo, now he has a ginormous hole in his yard. so our street is *still* closed, even though the construction guy let me know residents can drive through (as i was walking by holding adeline's hand so she didn't stick her hand into a machine, carrying amelia, a diaper bag, 2nd cloth bag with lunch stuff & halloween costumes from judy, & addy's book bag. i was like gee, *now* you tell me i can drive through? didn't you see me unpacking & loading myself up like a mule for the past 5 minutes at my car?).
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anyway, i hope to get some pictures & maybe even a video of addy's birthday party. folks, it was a blast! the kids had fun! the parents enjoyed each other! grandparents enjoyed seeing it all go down! but i'm glad we've decided not to do this again for another 2 or 3 years *smile*