Fire, fire!

I won't bother with excuses. But, for one thing, I've had no phone, hence no internet (DSL) for over a week. Yesterday the Verizon guy finally came, and, after several hours, reported that the line was working, but that I'd have to get a new phone. (Old one, and also the new Zoom router/modem that provides my wireless connection both zapped by lightning, it seems.) This accomplished, I wait the requisite sixteen hours for it to charge, bringing us to this morning.

Ring! Ring! (unfamiliar sound - the first call!)

Me: Hello?
Voice: This is the alarm service calling about the residence of H.B. The fire alarm at their home has gone off, and the fire department has been dispatched....
Me: Eek! I'm her mom. I'll run over there right away!

False alarm, thank goodness, and as I expected. There was some water damage in the basement during the recent Nor'easter, and concrete workers were there creating a lot of heat and dust. H and D were both there too, as it turned out, and the most pressing issue was figuring out how to turn OFF the alarm, which alternates a piercing siren with a loud, disembodied male voice that shouts, "Fire! Fire! Clear the area immediately!" It took quite a while to silence the thing.

Never a dull moment over there.