7.18.2008

i smell... hair.

we have gas appliances, and i am a moron.

that statement, coupled with the title of this post, should clue you in as to what happened during my latest adventure in mexico: lighting the oven.

all i wanted to do was make brownies.  i'd seen matt light the oven once before, and i had him give me explicit instructions over the phone on how to proceed.  i was still hesitant to do it by myself because gas has always struck fear in my heart.  i just don't feel comfortable with it, and something about putting a match into an oven filled with flammable gas just screams medical emergency.  but i was sick of being scared to do anything by myself here in mexico, so i placed fox in the other room, safe from the action, and i decided to just buck up and do it.

gas running...
match lit...
here goes nothing...
WHOOSH!

the heat knocked me over like i'd been hit by a truck, and i immediately felt the hair on my head and face crisp up.  and there it goes, i thought -- i am going to be disfigured and bald.  in a sheer panic and still not sure if my clothes were on fire or not, i ran to the bathroom to face the mirror.  i was spared from disfigurement, and praise heaven nothing else on me was burning, but there, into the sink it fell -- clumps of charred, orange hair... from my head, my eyebrows, my eyelashes, my arms... and the smell.  oh the smell.  

i said a quick prayer to my Maker to thank him that i was still alive and that the only casualties from my shinanigans were my hair and my dumb pride.  i'm still not sure what went wrong, but needless to say, i don't think i'll be trying my hand at baking with lard anytime soon.  anybody know any good mexican cosmetologists?


i tried to capture a bit of the beauty, but pictures really don't do the damage justice.

upon further investigation, i realized that even my poor, curious dog had been singed. gunther now has twizzler eyebrow whiskers.

13 comments:

dani said...

Danty Duff: God bless your soul... poor Joe Donnelly...
[everyone is quiet, they turn and Joe comes back to life]
Joseph Donnelly: All saints preserve us! We thought you died, Da!
Joe Donnelly: I did son, I passed away... I've come back to tell you something. You're an especially odd boy.
Joseph Donnelly: You came back from the dead to tell me that I'm odd?
this quote reminds me of you today erinspice.

hilary said...

wha??? are you serious? i'm so glad you are alright, geez! yeah, maybe don't try that again unless matt is around. scary. but i like the title :)

Mommydew said...

this is like one of those moments when you don't know if you should be kind or just laugh...but considering you were brave enough to post about it (since no one would know in a few months when you get back) I'm going to say...LAUGH!
Erin, I'm so sorry you burnt your hair and I am very glad you are ok, but wow that is hilarious.
And I mean that in a loving friendship kind of way :)

Jami said...

You poor girl! That's something I would have done. Sad about your hair...but I could go for some brownies.

Lori said...

poooor erin. kinda reminds me of the time my mom's hair caught on fire from my birthday cake candles...

the hair-burning smell is one of a kind, that's for sure.

i'm glad you're okay. goodness girl. mexico is full of all sorts of surprises for you, eh?

Sherwoods said...

Been there...done that. Thanks for wanting to make the brownies! By the way, the ones you made at our house are delicious. We had tons of fun last night. We need to do that again soon!

A and L said...

Wow! That move happened fast!

I {so far} have dodged the whole stove explosion thing. My roommate has not been so lucky, she's done it at least 3 times.

You really are so great to be doing this. I threaten to go home every time I am on the brink of a meltdown.

kate said...

scary! glad you're ok! wish they had head size oven mitts for just such an occasion. maybe with little peek holes for the eyes.

Brittney Daniel Liechty said...

Oh my! What a fright that would have been....but in the name of brownies...I would have done the same thing. I'm glad you & the pooch are ok.

Starley Family said...

Wow! Glad to know you're okay!

Mardi and Jeremey said...

Jer has a story like that from when he was in Mexico too. I feel for you. I had an oven like that in Ecuador and I just didn't bake. Screw it, it isn't worth the risk!! Thank goodness you are okay!!! Your hair just looks like you got a choppy hair cut....not too bad.....just breathe....and lol....poor gunther. Enzo would totally be the same way. He has almost burnt his nose on the oven so many times.

Anonymous said...

did you call Matt and tell him you are heading back to the US with or without him????!!! Someday, Erin, you will live in America and can make brownies..start to finish..in a lovely kitchen, with ingredients you are familiar with AND an oven that gets hot without any assistance from you except to turn the knob to the desired temperature. You keep dreaming of it...it will happen!!
love you guys!!

Net said...

oy. I would highly recommend not waiting until the entire oven is filled with gas before lighting it. but I'm sure you know that - now.

old me.