WW: Fire {Linky}

We went camping for the first time in about 3 years. Yep my allergies, and nose were so bad prior to my my surgery that I just didn't even want to try to camp. It's not that my allergies are perfect, but I can breathe through my nose now. I'm not walking around with a migraine headache 24/7.

We did it. It was kind of a spontaneous decision.

What did you do on Memorial Day?

 Travis teaching the boys how to make a fire without matches:

Isaak collected sticks, and Mica was the smore maker.

We all like our marshmallows burnt. Of course I'll eat them any which way. How do you like yours?

 An up close fire shot:

What an Explosion

I'm taking vacation time this week, and Travis is off on Mondays to work on sculpture.

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch in my living room. All the sudden I felt a jolt, and heard a boom. We don't have noticeable earthquakes in Nebraska. If I could imagine what an earthquake feels like, it was similar to that.

Travis was downstairs grinding with headphones on, so he didn't notice a thing.

I went outside to investigate, and noticed nothing. I even made Travis go up to check the roof. He only found a Nerf gun dart.

About a half an hour later I noticed a house blew up in Benson, not too far from me. Number wise the house was on 65th and I live on 76th. It dawned on me, My kids are at Benson Park for camp. My first instinct was to drive over there to see if they were ok. Travis said, "Don't be silly. They'd call us if anything were wrong." So I stayed in my house.

I saw on the news that houses by the one that blew up are unlivable. All those people were sitting outside on a hot day. I thought, Maybe I should do something for those people. Someone brought them water, and another person bought a boy sandals. He was running around barefoot because his shoes were in his house, which was destroyed. It looked as though they were being taken care of. My heart went out to them. I couldn't and can't shake the story from my head.

Before and After Found Here

My first thought was a possible meth lab. That thought disappeared when I found out that the house that blew up was vacant. There was only 1 person in that house, and that was a 30 year old lady that was inspecting it after a tenant was evicted. She was found under the rubble by her husband. Her injuries were so bad that she died. :( Another thought was a gas line, which they do have a gas leak, but that was due to the explosion. I keep wondering if this all has to do with the guy that was evicted. I'm not there, and it's all speculation. There is another adult and a 14 year old child that are at the hospital.

The whole area is taped off. The only people that can get on that street are people that live there. The homicide unit was there last night. Apparently they are called whenever someone dies. Firefighters put out the fire at the home next door that started last night. I just can't imagine being those neighbors, staying in a hotel because their homes are unlivable. Even worse yet the families that have loved ones in the hospital, or the family of the wife and mother that died. It breaks my heart!

When I went to pick up the boys they said the boys saw the explosion, heard it, and felt it. Their camp counselor was able to tell them what had happened from facebook. 

WW: Goodbye M's Pub {Linky}

There's something cool about old buildings. What makes a building that doesn't talk cool? Maybe it's the old painted signs, the texture, and vines on the outside brick facade. Perhaps it's the fact that you know many souls have been in that old building. People older than you that enjoyed that same space that you were in. It could be the food, the lighting, or the art that hung on the walls inside. It's as if buildings really can talk.

We've had a lot of talk around town about old buildings. First there was ConAgra Foods that decided to uproot their business to move to Chicago. They've been here as long as I can remember. The town tore down old buildings just for ConAgra. Omaha even gave ConAgra tax cuts to stay here. When they talked about moving many people were pissed. Jobs are being cut, the historic buildings were demolished long ago, and we can't have them back.

The guy that owns Omaha Steaks also owned a few historic buildings. The city wanted to buy those buildings to make parking garages. That didn't set well with people around here.

Then a fire happened. Not just a little fire. A big fire. There was a -20 wind chill the night the fire was tackled.

Source

One of the waitstaff at M's Pub smelled gas. No one else could smell it. She ran outside to see if someone was working on anything. Sure enough there was. Those people are more than likely going to have a huge lawsuit! The waitstaff told everyone to get out of the building! Shortly after an explosion occurred. Only a few were injured from glass windows. Thankfully no one died.

I was worried about my brother-in-law who is a firefighter. Years ago he helped put out a different fire in the old Butternut building - also downtown. He was not on duty that night.  Firefighters from all stations were called to tackle this fire.

Now M's Pub looks like an ice building. They have thawing machines out there. Other businesses are shut down from water damage. It's like a ghost town in our downtown area. It makes me sad. I think about jobs lost, people loosing their homes above the space, and sadly this building spoke to me; proving that building do in fact speak.

Source

When I went there this weekend instead of people playing music by the cobble stone streets, shoppers going from one shop to the next, it was like a ghost town. 

Mica was staring at a bit of history. Remembering when he went to eat at M's Pub.

Someone's apartment; no longer livable.

 

A historic building left burnt, iced over, and fenced off.

 

I'm happy no one was hurt, but I'm sad this piece of history is gone. 

 

Magnesium Survival Fire Starter Review

I recently got a Magnesium Survival Fire Starter by Pernix to Review. We go camping in the summer time, so I thought this would be so helpful to start fires.

It has a compact design convenient for travel, and also an attached lanyard for easy handling!  

I really like how long the paracord is. I do wish the magnesium stick would be a little longer. Sparks were a little too close to my fingers when I was trying to start it.

The Magnesium Survival Fire Starter Can Be Used For: 

• Lighting Camp Fires
• Stoves
• Gas-Barbecues
• Much More

It is helpful to have torn up paper with you. If you are out in the middle of no where dried up leaves, and kindling will work.

With the help of the Magnesium Survival Fire Starter, you will always be prepared for any journey you embark on! No longer will you have to struggle with the use of wet matches or lighters, because this fire starter is easy to use in any condition, wet or dry! The fact that you can use it in any condition is great!

I had trouble getting a fire started. I could get sparks, but actually getting a good fire was a different story. Maybe since I was limited to a video time frame was the problem. I have to admit I'm not the best at starting fires. That's usually Travis' job.

It contains a magnesium rod which creates schorching hot sparks that produces fires instantly! This Fire Starter is made of extremely durable military grade material which lasts for approximately 12,000 strikes. It is guaranteed to function during all of your out-door endeavours, in any weather, including wind, rain, or snow! 

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Question?

I'm participating in A Life Examined Question of the Month.

Question: If your house caught on fire, what's the one thing you'd grab before running out?

That's pretty easy to answer. I'd grab these two hams. I can make them count as one thing right? Seriously how could I choose between them? One would go under each arm, and I'd run, or roll us along.
 

 
If I had to pick a material item I'd grab it would be photos - albums, or my camera - whatever would be closer.

Smoke, Fire, Rain, Snow

It's been crazy in Nebraska and Iowa. It's so dry that we've had fire warnings. I know a lot of people got snow this year, but we were not high among those that did. We got some, and when it did snow people complained about it. We did not get what we should have. Besides the fire warnings, I'm worried about the farms, and what they will have problems growing this year. *Warning if you thought prices were high in the stores now, they probably will go up.

There have been a few fires start by our home. A comic book shop that has been there for years burnt down a month ago. Then last week what used to be a pharmacy for years burnt down to the ground.

My husband woke up to lots of sirens. I slept like a baby. As you can see fire took over this building!

Source

Source

I'm glad the Y that we go to didn't get burnt down. It's right by this building.

On Saturday it was so nice. The boys wore shorts. We actually turned the air on in the car.

On Sunday it was rainy, dark and you could hear thunder rumbling all day. We started off with rain coats, and towards the end of the day we were back in our winter coats.

It snowed Sunday night. We woke up to an ice, snow mixture. At least it will melt off fast.

They said on the news that we had more moisture on Sunday then we had all of March and 12 day of April. It was certainly needed!

Here's what it looked like this morning:

I know others are expected to get snow. Are you supposed to get some this week?

Last Night Our Downtown Was on Fire

Daddy wasn't too far from this:

I'd give credit to the photo, but I don't know who took it. It's floating around on FB.

There was an electrical fire under our manholes. It almost sounds untrue. Even Daddy didn't believe me when I told him. All the power went out downtown. There was plenty of fog, which added to the creepiness. Over 2,000 people were without power. This morning only 100s were without power. They had to repair a major circuit, but were cautious because they didn't know what if it was safe for their workers under ground. 

Experts think the fire started because it's been so dry. We've had moister lately. They thought that moister got into the cable or tape. 

Could you imagine driving down the street and witnessing manholes popping up with a blast of fire?

Camping in Our Backyard

Since Mica's birthday party was postponed, we decided to pop a tent up in our backyard to make up for it. It's something we wanted to do most of the summer and never got around to doing until now.

By the way, I think everyone is over the tummy bug now! *Crossing my fingers!

We started the night out with dinner on our new outdoor furniture. Sorry no pictures of this. Our patio is cleaner, but not that clean.

Daddy wasn't planning on building a fire, but ended up doing so. Isaak and I went to get some stuff to make smores. When we got home Daddy and Mica had the tent popped and a good fire going!

Isaak was super excited to see both the tent and fire! Daddy said that Mica was a pretty good little helper.

When it came time for the smores, Mica didn't want to eat it because the marshmallow had black on it. Daddy and I kept telling Mica that the black was the best part! He finally decided to try it, and liked it. Isaak didn't want to eat his together. He had everything separate.

Mica spotted this in a crate by the fire. It's a butterfly caccoon. Mica came running down the hill and said, "Mommy you have to see this chrysalis!" I love when little kids use big words!

We slept in the tent. It was much colder then we had originally planned for. The ground was all wet just from dew. Isaak kept turning to the middle of the air mattress; pushing me practically off. Not the most comfortable night's sleep. Mica, Isaak and I woke up kind of stuffy. We have good memories though!

This is the Furnace That Daddy Built

Daddy made a furnace awhile back. He installed it into the hole where a tree used to be. We had a blazing fire last night. His furnace lid broke. :( He still got some cool pictures.