Candles- Let's Be Careful Out There

As people often burn more candles during the holiday season, let me be the first to offer a warning about being careful with candles.

So there I was, having cleaned off my fridge door of outdated party notices, reviews of books I want to read, etc. I leaned back on the kitchen island and thought,

"That looks great. The photo of Nancy Coughlin from last month’s Outside magazine will remind me of why I need to lose more weight.

Hmm, my lower back is hot. I only did a run today and it doesn’t usually hurt there after a run. Or that much.

(Puts hand on back)

Fire! I left a candle on the counter! Take off the shirt! Do a stop, drop and roll in the 3 feet between the island and sink!"

Anyway, I lost a sweatshirt and a t-shirt. My back is OK, but I have a first to second degree burn that runs from first ring finger knuckle to the thumb on my right hand (which was already sore from a bicycle wreck and volleyball.) It’s starting to hurt as I write this, and will really hurt tomorrow morning and the ten days until it heals.

Damn, I’m going to show up for volleyball (where I’ve been trying to impress this woman) with more bandages on my right hand than the Mummy. Taping two fingers together because of a mountain bike wreck = cool. Serving left handed because I set my right hand on fire . . . totally uncool.

So the moral is, be careful with candles. I usually don’t use candles, don’t use candles that aren’t in a jar and never take them off the stove.

Until tonight.

Can I make Pier 1 pay for this?

Whistlepig

Another tip-if you burn tea lites, do NOT put them out with water.

One of my professors did this when we were at his house for a get together and he almost set the kitchen on fire!