Pancakes, elevators & firemen!

Recently me, Tiffany and Nikki decided we would make pancakes for lunch. I mixed up the batter and Tiff got the pan heated up and started making the pancakes. A few minutes later I heard a familiar noise...it was the elevator alarm! Someone was stuck in the elevator! For some reason, the three of us panicked a bit, wanting to help the poor person stuck in the elevator. I picked up little Bonbon (she came over with Tiff) and the next thing I know, I'm standing in our hallway with Tiff and Nikki walks out of the apartment with her phone and the door closes. I instantly got a sick feeling because I knew I did not have my apartment keys...neither did Nikki! Being locked out of your apartment isn't such a big deal, except in the case when you have your gas stove on with pancakes cooking!!

In the midst of worrying about our apartment burning down, the elderly woman stuck in the elevator was panicking; continue to hit the alarm button and pounding on the elevator.

Tiffany ran back home to drop off Bonbon and get her dad's phone (her phone and mine were in the apartment). Nikki ran to a nearby locksmith to see if they could come open the door. Tiff called the fire department and I tried calling the elevator company to tell them someone was stuck in the elevator (I had to do that one time before...same woman stuck too!).

At this point I could smell smoke from our apartment. Finally the fire truck arrived and 4 firemen. They were very laid back and not stressed...I suppose that is a good thing, but Tiff and I were frustrated that they didn't see how serious it was (in our minds!). I had to go outside (in socks), down the street to enter in our courtyard with 2 of the firemen to show them where our apartment windows were. When I got to the courtyard I could smell the smoke. Can I just say that I was convinced that at this point (maybe 20-25 minutes after being locked out) that there was some serious damage going on. Again, the firemen were very calm...

By the time we got back to the apartment, the locksmith had arrived and got the door open (only 86 Euros!). There was no damage at all...praise God! We just had to air out the apartment. After I ran up all the stairs (we live on the 4th floor...5th floor to Americans), the other firemen passed me and jokingly said, "Time to eat!". I didn't find it too funny, but I was just happy that there was no fire!

The firemen were able to get the woman out of the apartment. Poor thing...she was very shaken up. It was the second time in the past month she got stuck! I'm not sure if it's her or the elevator, but I really hope it does not happen again!

There was no damage at all! Not even any black on the walls or ceiling!


The pancakes charred and shrunk...


Thank the Lord the kitchen window had been open or the place would have been filled with smoke!