Professor Percival Penguin Surveys The Destruction
Hi Friends...P3 here (you can see me and my friends, Big and Little Danbo in the left picture where the arrows are and in the middle skinny photo where I looked at what used to be our living room). I was hoping for excitement when @northy and my parents let me move to Chicago last week, but wow, this was more than I had anticipated! Remember I described the three trips from the fire department on Sunday early morning at 1:30 a.m., then 10:30 a.m., and then again at 8:00 p.m.? You can read about it here: http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2014-11-09
Unfortunately, the fire was not out...it was hiding in the floor in the room Danbo Big and Little and I live in!! And it go SO smokey we couldn't even see each other and finally an alarm went off and Taffy and Jim ran out of the house and all these firemen came with axes and hoses and we got really really wet and didn't know what would happen. Hours went by. It got quiet. The firemen wouldn't let anyone in the house for a long time. Then, all of a sudden I saw Taffy climbing over the debris and she reached over and grabbed us (you can see us on the glass shelves where the arrows are -- Big Danbo had been knocked over and I stayed right by him. She got something to dry us off and put us in her pocket. I was SO glad we could leave because everything else had to stay. Now we are in a hotel. I don't know what will happen next but I did hear Taffy on the phone say they have to rebuild the inside of the house from scratch and we won't be back for 6 months. This was not my favorite adventure but it sure was the most unusual one.
OMG Taffy, so sorry for all what you have been through. It's really a disaster, but you and Jim are fine, even if in a hotel. Take care and I'm sending a hug.
Oh, Taffy... Holy cow, such a huge destructive disruption and upheaval. It is kind of great, and kind of a bummer, that you take pictures so well. We can all visualize the total destruction. So glad that P3, Big and Little Danbo are safely in your pocket... and that you both are safe. Hang in there!
Oh, dear God, Taffy, this has certainly been a rough month for you. What an incredible disaster, and what a mess to have to deal with....and, all of that in the middle of your teaching semester. My heart just bleeds for you looking at the destruction, and yet, I am happy that everyone is safe and sound. We deal with the idea of fire pretty often around here considering how hot and dry our climate is, and we are always wondering what we would save and run if that were to happen. I have seen too many houses burned down to a chimney stack in a sea of rubble. I hope it all goes smoothly. And, yes, having insurance matters. Having a good insurance company and an advocate matters even more. Stay warm....stay safe.....will be thinking of you!
@panthora Thanks for the kind words, Osia. We fortunately have excellent insurance...but have not heard of an advocate. Any directions of where I can learn more about that role?
@taffy I don't know what is available in the Chicago area, but I am very aware of an organization here that a good friend of mine was involved with after her mother's house burned down in the San Bernardino fire. They basically worked on behalf of the fire victims and represented them against insurance companies that were not paying fair value, or assisting with relocation. I could get you more info if you need it, but here is their web site for starters: http://www.carehelp.org/ Hopefully, you will not need it, but if you do I will put you in touch with her.
Good Grief! I dont check your photos for a couple of days, and come back to find chaos! I'll have to keep more of an eye on you. So dorry about the destruction, but the main thing is that the alarm did its job. At least you are fit and safe to be abale to start re-organising your life.
@shepherdman This may have been my first laugh in 48 hours! Thank you!!! Scrolling around on 365 feels so normal that it's been a nice hour break to pretend nothing weird has happened to change our lives for the short term.
So true, if only it were a dream. I had not been on here for 7 days and was reading what you wrote and had to re-read as my head and life have been a bit upside down. Today I finally posted but have been super stressed out. I do wish the very best for you and your husband and hope that the months to come are not too difficult. What a huge loss. The place we call home is indeed just that. Your photos sure tell the story. You need to take as many photos as you can and as the cleanup is done and as work is started take photos. You need a vacation. It is a good thing that you took the trips you did and were home when this happened as you can be there throughout this process. Hang in there. It is great to have this escape, 365. Thoughts are with you, Taffy.
Oh my goodness what a terrible time you have had. It is good to hear that you are safe though. Keep taking the photos though. from my experience taking photos is great therapy in times of high stress. Hope all is well again soon.
Last night I read your post just before bed and was devastated thinking about what had happened in your life. This morning I'm seeing this shot showing the chaos inside in the aftermath of the fire. The impact on your life is mind boggling to me-- I can't imagine how hard this must be for you and Jim. You're both safe so that's what matters. Now you get to re-create
your living space - that will be challenging and hopefully satisfying when it's complete. Should be an interesting new year of discovery for you!
Oh my goodness seeing the reality of the damage to your lovely home must be heartbreaking for you!! The positive thing is that you are both safe and unhurt!! The next few months will be very hard for you but be strong. When you want to let rip remember we are all here and can hopefully give you some comfort even if it is from a distance.
This is a living nightmare Taffy but you sound grounded and that will help both you and Jim get through the hassles and traumas to come. My thoughts are with you.
Unfortunately it's not a dream it's a horrible nightmare. The most important thing is that you're all okay. It'll take time but someday you'll be back to normal,
Oh no!! So sorry you had to experience this Taffy. So much damage but thankfully you and your husband are okay. Really hoping for the restoration of your home quickly.
OMG that´s horrible! Thank God you were not hurt! I´m so sorry, this must be very difficult time for you! Very creative to use your little friends to record the events
This is beyond a nightmare. Taffy, I am so sorry about the damage and destruction to your lovely home. So glad the alarms woke you in time to get out. My parents worked in fire restoration so I'm aware of what's involved in ridding everything of the smell of smoke. Have to say seeing Danbo tipped over amid the water-soaked items was so sad. Your telling of their rescue was downright touching. You're so creative, even amid chaos.
I am only catching up on all that happened to you over the past few days, so terrible. Glad you are ok though and the toys are too 😄. Thinking of you x
Wow, just saw this. This is horrible! I wish you the best in the coming weeks and am glad to see you in good spirits! If this happened to me I am not even sure I could pick up the camera.
Wow, I'm so, so sorry about your devastating fire, and amazed that you could still post the caption that went with this collage. I fav'd it just so I could read it again.
What a terrible state everything is in. I feel for you surveying the wreckage of what was a home. I just wish there was something to do. There is, I'll keep you in my prayers.
Thank God that you and Jim are alright! I can't image what you are going through and facing in the days ahead. But the important thing is that physically you and Jim are fine!
So sorry to hear this Taffy - what a terrible time for you all. Relieved to hear that thankfully you are all safe. Take care! x
p.s hope you find Danbo
@amandal Thanks for the empathy, Amanda...it has been a long road and most of the time it feels like it's happened to someone else. Strangest thing I've ever lived through!
@taffy Glad that you lived through it. You know. Sheesh, stuff like this puts life into proper perspective. I'll bet it will be soo great to be home again. But weird, too. Did you lose most of your stuff?
@amandal Yeah, I know what you mean...if I hadn't fallen asleep in my study downstairs, we wouldn't have heard the smoke alarm as the air cleaning machines they'd brought in drowned out the sound upstairs. So, we were lucky. I was the one who woke up Jim, and the guys who have the downstairs unit (as their unit wasn't smokey yet). We lost all furniture in the front of the house -- living, dining, family rooms, and some other stuff like beds and sofa bed through smoke damage. And all electronics as heat releases carcinogens so no food-related things could be saved. And all food. But they restored most of the art we'd collected on trips over the year (not money value, but sentimental), and most of our clothes and soft goods. Could have been so much worse. We had good content insurance so are replacing most things easily. We actually are now thinking we want to move to a high rise...talk about ironies as we'd NEVER have considered it before. But the single level is good, as is the security. We love this one...but complicated to know if we could purchase it. All kept in perspective -- we are alive with no health issues at all. That's what matters.
June 7th, 2015
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your living space - that will be challenging and hopefully satisfying when it's complete. Should be an interesting new year of discovery for you!
So glad you and your husband are safe!
p.s hope you find Danbo