The Trouble Sisters

These two are known as the Trouble Sisters:

They've earned that title: a Florida home burned down last year and the Sisters know all-too-well how the fire started.

Look at the trouble they've gotten themselves into this time:

Along this pantry window lined with canning jars, one sister is in a pickle and the other is in a jam.

Public Service Announcement: Don't play near jars of fruit and vegetables. 

You might fall and submerge yourself!

Even if they escape from this predicament, it's likely that these siblings will again find trouble or trouble will find them.

They are, after all, the Trouble Sisters.

Before the Incident: Shirley Stocksdale and the Sofabed

These days, there are many online articles about individuals meeting death in odd ways. The news items float by like terrible-yet-quickly-forgotten ghosts. But this 2001 newspaper article has haunted my thoughts for nine years:

There are many reasons why Ms. Stocksdale's final moments are so disturbing...

First, she was alone. No one was there to help or comfort her.

Secondly, she was physically unable to free herself. At 75, would our bodies be any stronger?

It's scary how a comfort-of-home (in this case, a sofabed) became a lethal trap.

Her phone was in view but beyond reach. Reminders of technology's limits are also unsettling.

Finally, I find it most disturbing that Ms. Stocksdale faced a slow, frightening and accidental death.

In the end, may our life be more memorable than our death. May our obituary skip the odd-news sites (or crafty blogs). And may our final passing be more comfortable than that of Shirley Stocksdale, pictured here, just moments before the incident:

Rest in peace, Ms. Stocksdale.

How the Fire Started: Toasting Waffles

Last month, Mr. and Mrs. Tota of Florida began their morning with a craving for waffles but received a kitchen fire instead.

According to this article, Elizabeth and Nicholas Tota's toaster caught fire and caused smoke damage to their condominium. Thankfully, the Totas suffered only minor injuries.

I traveled back in time and space to take these photos of the Tota toaster:

Minutes later—even though the toaster's lever had popped back up—the waffles remained stuck inside:

Then this happened:

Poor toaster. Ah well, it's gone to a better place and lives on as a familiar-looking screensaver:

Downloadable wallpaper:  1680x1050  1024x640  iPhone

On March 9, 2010, the Totas made waffles in a defective toaster...

And that's how the fire started.

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Here's a behind-the-scenes video of how I started the fire: