Well, we've had some excitement here. On my way to the laibdromat, about 30 minutes ago, I could hear in my hallway an alarm going off with a high-pitched series of beeps. I couldn't tell if it was a smoke detector, carbon monoxide alarm, or an alarm clock, or which apartment it was coming from, but it sounded to be on my floor. I rang all three apartments at the end of the hall where the sound was loudest and no one responded. I got my laundry, came back and arang the super's bell; no response. When I got up to the third floor, the alarm was still going off, so I rang all three apartments again; no response. I called 911 and gave the operator all the information and, since I was dubious about what it could be, she directed me to a fire station and I explained everything again. Five minutes later a fire truck, five or six firemen showed up, and of course the alarm had stopped. They checked out the building and left. They were all very pleasant.
In August 1971, in Oxford, OH, the building next to my apartment caught fire and burned to the ground, killing a fireman when the building collapsed. My building was closed for structural examination so I had no apartment for nearly a month and had to drive to and from my parents' home to Oxford every day. In August 1973. my brother Randy, then a 16 year-old pothead and general screwup, coming and going from the house around midnight, left something burning in his room - I always suspected a joint although the report blames it on too many outlets heated up - and around 4 am, his room went up in flames and my room suffered extreme water damage from the firemen going through my room to his. I do not want to live through a third fire, so I get jumpy whenever something's suspect.
DR MBarnum, I believe you should stop cruising retired sword & sandal bodybuilder/actors and concentrate on retired firemen: no egos and they're in great shape.
