wtf???
so, it's about 11:40pm, i'm talking online to a friend, and i keep hearing these crackling sounds. annie is laying on my bed and keeps looking at me, her ears perked up because of the strange sound. i stop and listen, but don't really know what to make of it and go back to my computer. a few minutes later, there's a knock at my door. now, i was in bed earlier, so i am scantily clad. i throw on some clothes while my neighbor keeps yelling her name so i'll answer the door. i open the door and she's squatting at the faucet next to my door filling up buckets with water. she asks if i have any buckets because the fence next to us is on fire. holy sh*t!. i dash inside, open my kitchen window blinds, and, sure enough, the fence separating our complex (which is made of wood, mind you) from the complex just south of us (made of brick), is merrily blazing. i grab my empty trash can, fill it up outside the door, and run around to the fence. we poured 6 or 8 buckets of water and couldn't see any more embers but poured more water anyway. we finally decided we ought to call the fire department. i called information and they gave me a number that led to an answering machine for some austin fire department location. i gave in, called 911, and they transferred me to the fire department. i made sure to tell them we thought the fire was mostly out so they didn't have to have the lights and sirens on. the big truck came and four firefighters got out and inspected, feeling for hotspots and looking at the burn pattern. they found a very charred and barely recognizable sterno can under the fence and of course, on our neighbors' patio was a warm hibachi grill. the firemen poured one more bucket on an area that felt a little warm, told us good job, and left. needless to say, i really wanna throttle some neighbors right now. i thanked my neighbor profusely, because she might have saved my life and at the very least, my material possessions. what an adventure and one i hope i never have to repeat. too bad my lease isn't up until december....