I thought that food, points plus, the Patriots winning, having to leave the party early and being sick were the worst things I had to worry about last night. Well, I was wrong.
Our water heater has been weird for the last year or so. I took a cold shower last night before going to the party and at the time I was the only person who had showered that day. So, it was pretty obvious that the hot water heater was dead.
Fast forward to the Super Bowl (TM) party.We arrived at about 6ish and had to leave no later than 8:30. Hubby had to work and we use one vehicle so I had to come home with him My friend Laurie offered to bring me home last night so I could stay later. I thought about it quickly and turned her down because I am sick, had work in the morning and I didn't want her to have to drive that much. The party was a half hour's drive from my house. So, I came home with Hubby at nine, he went to work and I watched the end of the game last night alone. I went to bed about ten. Shortly after I laid down I heard something strange, like a sizzle. Then I saw white light reflecting on the ceiling of the bedroom. I thought our nearly two year old flat screen TV was dying in the living room. If there's light in the living room you can see it on the ceiling in the bedroom with the door closed. I got up and realized it was the water heater.
Our water heater is behind a wall in our bedroom closet. That wall is partially away from the adjoining wall, don't remember why the wall is away from the adjoining wall but it is. I saw the light was coming from behind that wall. There was a shaft of sparks that was about six inches high coming straight up from the cord on the top of the water heater.. I could smell the melting rubber and there was lots of smoke. Luckily enough the fuse box is on the adjoining wall, the one the water heater is behind. So I reacted quickly and turned off the electricity to the water heater.
Well, upon further inspection, the water heater's been dripping. Looks like it's been dripping for a while. So it left a big mess. That's why I'm home from work, as well as being sick. So the goal today, after hubby wakes up from his nap because he worked last night is to clean up and get ready for a new one.
I couldn't sleep last night because I was worried about the toxicology of the smell of melted rubber. My internet search on my phone, that I charge at night next to our bed, confirmed the worst. I probably inhaled some bad stuff last night, but probably not as bad as it could be.. I called my Mother after my brush with tragedy because I wanted to calm down and go to sleep and she mentioned it could be smoldering somewhere inside the wall and it could catch later. Thanks Ma! Needless to say it was a rough night.
I'm feeling pretty traumatized today, If I had stayed later and taken that ride, our house might have burned down. If the wall hadn't been partially away from the wall I wouldn't had been able to find out what it was that was making the noise, smell and smoke. If the water heater had blown up while I was sleeping it would have been far worse. I don't even want to think about it. I'm very lucky to be alive and have a home right now. Food and points seem kind of trivial right now. However....
I did well at the party last night. Came in 12 points under, including weeklies. Brought home the highly anticipated cupcake last night and had it this morning. After last night I deserved to have a cupcake first thing in the morning. My ex-in laws always thought I was weird when I ate food other than breakfast food in the morning. Well, food is food isn't it? It all ends up the same place;-)