Charlotte, NC

When I heard about the 7,000 or so still without gas around the area (it’s due to an “accidental turnoff”, they said. Hmph. I’ve done that before … just not with gas …), I was reminded of two incidents that turned me against it:

MAMA AND THE PILOT LIGHT

Y’know how, sometimes, the pilot light would go out on the old-timey stoves … and you wouldn’t know it? ‘Course, tryin’ to light it then could send ya to glory if you weren’t careful!
And that’s almost what happened to Mama years ago. I was lyin’ in bed, readin’ (yup … before the internet was born!) late one night. Daddy was outside, workin’ on his truck. She wanted to fix something in the oven, but the pilot light was out. After she lit a match and got it close to the valve, a tremendous explosion occurred that literally rocked the house!
When Daddy ran in to check on her, he found Mama was thrown all the way across the kitchen! Fortunately, no damage had been done — to the kitchen or her (except she was a bit dazed and bruised) … but, shortly afterward, we had our first electric oven!

A TRAGEDY THAT COULDA BEEN PREVENTED

Once, my sons and I had rented a single-wide from a landlord who … well, he just didn’t have both oars in the water (no, I won’t tell you where or who it was)! Y’see, he never kept the trailers up, and was thisclose to goin’ to the slammer for breakin’ a number of rules.
Well, one of those “rules” was proper maintenance of the appliances in the trailer park — especially the gas stoves. One morning, at about 7 AM, I awoke to the odor of gas! I woke up the kids and told them to get their clothes on — we had to get out!
By 8 AM, I was on the phone to the landlord, and he said he’d do something about it. By noon, we’d packed our belongings and headed out — we weren’t gonna stay there anymore!

About two weeks later, another tenant noticed the strong odor of gas around 5 or 6 AM. He woke up his teenage son to get his clothes on — they, too, had to get out!
But, while the boy was dressing, the man went just barely outside the open door — and lit a cigarette!
Sadly, the son lost his life in the ensuing explosion and fire; an explosion that could’ve been prevented, not so much by a lit cigarette but by a landlord who wouldn’t maintain the gas-fed appliances!

So, if you’re one of those whose gas is cut off momentarily, remember: When it comes back on, check every valve — every appliance — to make sure they’re okay. If you need assistance, call a repairman … don’t try to fix it yourself! And, if you smell any gas leaking, get out of the house immediately and call someone qualified to fix the leak!

FENCING MADE EASY

Okay … let’s say you wanna fence in your deck or patio. Of course, you’re gonna want the best people for the job, but … well, you just don’t know where to find ‘em!
Well, if you’ll click on the link I’ll give you in a moment, you’re going to find the best deals on fence installation anywhere!
After filling out a short from, you’ll get bids from up to four different suppliers! Whether it’s residential or commerical, you can find the best deals for fence installation right behind that link you just passed.

But they also offer quotes for decks and railings! So why not save big by checking ‘em out? It saves money, gas and time! Do it NOW!!