Since I've been out of work, I've been starting my days kinda late. I wake up when Peat wakes up, then go back to bed for a while after he leaves for work. Sometimes I shower right away, sometimes I don't. Generally, I check my email and job sites (Monster, Careerbuilder, HotJobs, MediaBistro, CriagsList, etc), have breakfast (Cocoa Puffs) and play with the kittens. It's been a nice change of pace. A slower pace. With kittens.

I do get out of the house at least for a little while most days, either to meet with headhunters or go on interviews or even just to go to the quickie mart and get groceries. Yesterday, I took a long walk all the way up the park and back (about a 20-30 minute walk each way) and bought a new kitty carrier for Max Powers. It was a lovely walk.

Today, I was leaving the apartment to pick up our tax info from the accountant, when I heard an alarm going off somewhere in the building. At first I thought it was an alarm clock and got annoyed at the thoughtless person who left it on while they were out. Then I thought it was an ADT alarm and got worried that I'd be shot at by burglars as I went down the stairs. As I reached the apartment in question, I realized that an ADT alarm would be much louder (I've set mine off by accident before and thought my ears would start bleeding). It was a fire alarm! And I could smell smoke! Holy shit!

I tried knocking on the door and ringing the bell, but no one answered. I went downstairs to talk to the super, but he wasn't in either. I went back upstairs and was about to call the fire department when an upstairs neighbor came down to investigate. We both decided the fire department should definitely be involved, so I called since my cell phone was right in my purse. They arrived in about 3 minutes. How's that for service? I feel much safer knowing their response time is so good.

Anyway, they assessed the situation and said it was most likely burning food (it smelled kind of like my oven). They went back and forth on their walkie-talkies and were about to try to break into the apartment via the front door as well as through the fire escape, when the occupant of the apartment came home. Apparently, she had left something cooking while she ran to the store, and it burned. I hope her food and the pot she cooked it in were ruined, stupid bitch.

On the positive side, she may not have burned the building down, but she sure ruined my nice, relaxing day.