time delay of 24 hours due to something funny w/ the computer (life)

originally called OATMEAL CAN KILL YOU (life)

Today, I returned home to the smell of gas filling my apartment. I went to the stove and jiggled the handles, accidentally creating a somewhat larger than normal puff of fire when I moved the broken knob for the back burner. I opened up all of the windows and (not realizing I was taking my life into my own hands for the second time in a few moments) turned on my roommates fan to exhaust. After making a few phone calls, I realized that I needed to go evacuate my landlady, her baby granddaughter, and 4 big dogs just in case.

Turns out, I probably hit the broken knob for the back burner this morning while I was making my oatmeal. The nice man from the gas company said that the whole oven/stove is weird and I should not, I repeat NOT touch the knob for the oven.

The whole episode taught me to never, ever, turn on anything electrical when you smell gas. Don't switch lights on, don't turn on exhaust fans, etc. It reminded me of my other run in with deadly gas (carbon monoxide in a basement apartment in DC) and the lessons I learned from that one; a headache can be caused by stress or carbon monoxide and, yes, carbon monoxide can kill you.

Beside learning some basic safety rules, I also got to play with the baby granddaughter for a little bit while waiting for the gas man. I am a big fan of the babies. I think something maternal kicked in while we waited outside the house.