August 25, 2005

• Need to upload some pics from yesterday.   The roof is going on, and right now the crew are frantically trying to get all the sheeting installed on it as the weather forecast has changed.    We weren't expecting any chance of rain until tomorrow evening, but it looks as though Mother Nature decided to speed things up a bit, and there's rain headed our way.

  
  

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  This morning when taking the girls to school, we ran into a bit of excitement and potential disaster.  As I pulled into my normal parking area, I noticed a van with it's hood up.   I parked not far away (my usual spot...on the end for a quick turnaround when I leave) and when I opened my door I heard this awful sound coming from that van....and this nasty, acrid smoke.  Uh Oh....that's definately not good and it definately smelled like burning electrical stuff.   The owner (mom to one of C's classmates) indicated she couldn't get the engine to shut off....and the smoke was getting worse.   I ordered C to close her door and I quickly moved my truck....that van was gonna catch fire!    Mrs. S also realized this, so she hopped into her van, and backed it way up so it was away from the other cars and further from the school building.   I dashed inside, grabbed the first school official I could find, and asked for a fire extinguisher.   As we headed down the hall, we closed the classroom doors as the smoke was beginning to fill the hallway.    Thankfully, Mrs. S was finally able to get the engine shut off.   I drove a few blocks away to the local auto repair expert and we asked him to come right away and look at the van.  By the time we returned, the smoke had slowed to just a wisp, but Oh My Goodness that smell just lingered and hovered over the parking lot.    Initial diagnosis is the starter and ignition system had a major problem, and there looks to be some major damage to the electrical systems of the van.

  
  

  So.....this brings me to my "DUH!" thought.    WHY don't I have a fire extinguisher inside my truck???      Seriously....we've got them in all the farm vehicles, stationed in the old cars, and I've even got a few right here in the house.   So why on earth have I not thought enough to put one in the vehicle I drive quite regularly....the vehicle that almost always contains one or more of my children?!   How could I have let that safety factor escape my brain!!

  
  

  I'll be doing a bit of shopping this afternoon and will certainly remedy that situation.  Both my truck and hubby's will have a fire extinguisher tucked away.   Hopefully we'll never have to use it, but I'll feel so much better having that safeguard in place....just in case.

  • 10:36 am
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