coincidence? or: if at first you don't succeed...

I rolled out of bed just before 4:00 this morning, let Jeff outside, gave him a snack, and sat down at my computer to check my email, etc.

Naturally, it's usually very quiet early in the morning. But right around 4:00, I heard a loud "WOOT! WOOT!" or "WOOP! WOOP!" outside on the street. I looked outside but did not see who was yelling. Kassie and Jeff heard it, too.

I went to the bathroom. Apparently, Kassie heard a loud sound that sounded like "someone hitting a dumpster."

A few minutes later, we heard sirens, and they stopped close to our house.

There's a small building at the end of the block across the street. It houses a Mexican bakery, a hip-hop clothing shop and an empty store. There's a really nice mural on the south end put up by our neighborhood in anticipation of the Wall Dogs coming this year. Here's a pic I stole from our neighbor Tisha.
The fire engines were in front of that building.
It didn't seem like it was a real big deal. The fire engines were there for about an hour. The firefighters had their speakers turned up loud; we could hear them through the window. Apparently, the fire hydrant at 34th and Nicollet needs to be fixed. Also, they may have said something about vandalism.

Anyway, I drove the 18 this morning, and the bakery was open when I drove by.

I got done driving and came home for a nap. I was asleep for about an hour when the sound of fire engines stopping nearby woke me up.

What the ???
This time it looked bad.

I guess the fire hydrant in front of our house works.
Metro Transit provided a bus for warmth, but I don't think anyone needed it.
I went to the doctor at around 1:15, and when I got home, there was one fire truck left on the scene. The street was still blocked off.

It's 4:30. I'm trying to get this post finished. And what's this?
Yes, they're back again. I don't know what's going on, but you can see a ladder on the front of the house next door to the burned-out building. I saw some firefighters go into the house.

It's a sad day in our 'hood. Kassie and I never got to try "the best pizza in town," which is what the Mexican bakery promised they made. That clothing store had its share of problems, but it sounds like they were finally doing pretty well. And the beautiful mural is probably history.

I hope they remember to put down some sand on those sidewalks or they're going to get a letter from the city...

In the papers:
Southwest Journal
Star Tribune

***Update: 8:00pm and they are still out there dumping water on the building. They have put up barricades on the streets. They seem to be in it for the long haul. -Kassie

***Update #2:
It's coming down.
It's too cold for me to get any more photos tonight. Maybe I'll see what it looks like in the morning.

I Fought the House

...and the house won.

This fine morning I stepped outside to catch the bus, which I thought I was early for, to see people lining up at the stop. Clearly the bus was coming.

I quickly shut the door, and, well, I didn't shut it. The doorknob fell off, again. Panicking, I put the doorknob inside the house and tried to shut the door, but couldn't. (It was early; I don't think my best before 10:00.)

The bus went by, I had missed it, so I started to put the knob back on. I've done it a few times this week already. But it wouldn't go on. I think the threads are now stripped.

As I played around with it for a few minutes, another bus went by. Damn. It seems the bus I missed wasn't my bus, but the bus before running late.

Well, I ended up jamming the knob on. Who knows if it will stay? I ran/walked down to Lake Street, on unplowed sidewalks, to catch the 53. No big deal, but I was annoyed.

But, on the bright side, I had a much better morning than the guy sitting near me on my bus. He realized he didn't have his wallet in his pocket. Freaking out, he went through all his pockets, his bag, his suitcase (he was on the way to the airport) and the back of the bus. He called the coffee shop where he last was to see if they had it (they didn't.) Last I saw, he was getting off the bus to try to check out the bus stop where he caught the bus. He probably missed his flight. I feel really bad for him. That would be a terrible morning.