I haven't posted anything for a while. I mean, I have stories, but I didn't feel like they were worthy enough of an entire post. Now, I have something interesting...
So here I was, Saturday afternoon, frantically trying to finish a conference paper that I completely forgot is due on Monday, when I hear this crackling outside my window. Then I look. Oh, it's a fire. Oh shit, it's a big fire. To me, when there's a fire, and it's large, this is usually cause for some concern. I quickly threw my computer (with the conference paper open) and wallet into my book bag, made sure I was reasonably dressed, and ran outside. I see some other people from the neighboring building kind of leisurely looking at the fire moving up the hillside toward the apartment building. One guy is kind of looking around for a garden hose. There is literally no look of concern about my neighbors.
Assuming that everything was somehow going to be okay and now hearing the firetrucks in the distance, I took off down the street for a photo opportunity. Unfortunately for the photo, but fortunately for the building, the firetruck had arrived by the time I got to a decent vantage point and the fire isn't as big as it was. My building is the second one behind the one you see on the left. I haven't gone down to see the aftermath, but I certainly have a much clearer view down the hill now.
So here I was, Saturday afternoon, frantically trying to finish a conference paper that I completely forgot is due on Monday, when I hear this crackling outside my window. Then I look. Oh, it's a fire. Oh shit, it's a big fire. To me, when there's a fire, and it's large, this is usually cause for some concern. I quickly threw my computer (with the conference paper open) and wallet into my book bag, made sure I was reasonably dressed, and ran outside. I see some other people from the neighboring building kind of leisurely looking at the fire moving up the hillside toward the apartment building. One guy is kind of looking around for a garden hose. There is literally no look of concern about my neighbors.
Assuming that everything was somehow going to be okay and now hearing the firetrucks in the distance, I took off down the street for a photo opportunity. Unfortunately for the photo, but fortunately for the building, the firetruck had arrived by the time I got to a decent vantage point and the fire isn't as big as it was. My building is the second one behind the one you see on the left. I haven't gone down to see the aftermath, but I certainly have a much clearer view down the hill now.
While there are a lot of little problems here every day, people know how to deal with them. Less than 30 minutes after I packed my bag and busted out of what seemed like a rather serious situation, people are back to their lives: cutting stone for the building under construction and kids are playing. I think there's a lot to learn here about how to live a better life.
Well... now to rid my apartment of campfire smell and get back to that paper. But I could really go for a hotdog (with ketchup) and smores.
