What is the best way to learn of a fire? (This is not an esoteric exercise - the neighbor across the street and 4 houses down burned up last night at about 10:30 PM.
Option 1) As Ed and I did, suddenly watching the flashing lights of Fire Engines race up the street.
Option 2) As Elizabeth did, watching the 10PM local news and seeing the house 1/2 way up the block on fire on the TV?
Option 3) As Bill did, having a drunk Scooter and Ed run up to your door, demand the neighbors key to save the animals next door to the fire?
The fire didn't spread (we have a quick ass Fire Department in the hills). But I did learn a little too much about some neighbors (like who was late because they had to go back inside to put clothes on). By the way, the annoying rhymes with witch next door with the barking dogs couldn't be bothered to come outside and see if everyone was okay. She made her husband move their cars.
FYI - Eddie and I weren't that drunk, we were winded from running to Bill's. And, we did get the animals out - a big hairy brown Saymoed-ish dog, a little Chiwalla and a cat shoved in a crate too small for it. Eddie spent most of the next hour making sure the little Chiwawa was okay. He was kind of shaky.