MetaChat - OMFG

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30 May 2008

OMFG I'm sitting here eating breakfast and there's an almighty noise out my window. Another fucking crane comes down from a building site *across the street from me*. I'm watching the rescue effort (I can hear the first ambulance right now) out the window. For those of you who pray - please pray that nobody has been killed.

post by: gaspode at: 07:12 | 57 comments

Whoah. This hasn't hit the news sites yet. Oh scary scary. Glad that you are somewhat ok, even though you must be stressed as anything.

posted by rainbaby 30 May | 07:22

Ugh, if it had been 10 minutes earlier... it fell the way mr. gaspode walks to work.

But thoughts like that are crazy-making. I just wish he turned his cellphone on in the mornings...

posted by gaspode 30 May | 07:25

Oh no. There are many, many cranes around my office, and the other week two men were edging their way along the boom of one of them, 30 floors up, no hard hats, no harnesses. It made me feel sick and I had to look away. Then I couldn't see them where the crane went behind a building, but no ambulances, so they must have been alright.

I'd have thought after the last NYC crane tumble that safety would have been double-checked on all sites.

Can you leave a message for Mr G at his workplace for him to call you as soon as he gets in?

posted by essexjan 30 May | 07:27

Oh my god, gaspode. That is terrible. I hope nobody was killed.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 07:27

Oh, hell. I didn't even know about the other one 'til I looked it up just now. Aaiiiii. Do what Jan said. And go to the other end of the house and stay there.

posted by taz 30 May | 07:30

jan - no he has rounds all morning until 11ish, which is why his phone is off. And I lost mine a few weeks ago and forgot to program his pager no. into my new phone.

gah. Well, I said goodbye to him at around 7.45 and the crane came down just after 8 - he would have been nearly a mile away. There are definitely people trapped though. Fuck.

Helicopters are here.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 07:32

rescue dog team is here.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 07:36

Ick, Gaspode. That must be so stressful, I'm sorry to hear that.

posted by msali 30 May | 07:38

Holy crap, this is near you?? I've been watching it all morning here at work. It looks like an incredible mess... took off a small corner of the apartment building that it hit.

Glad you're okay, and I know Mr. G is fine, too, but do let us know when you've talked to him. He's bound to have heard it or seen some of the chaos, even from a mile or more away.

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 07:39

I'm watching live coverage on MSNBC. Oh my god. How horrible. Even though I don't pray, I pray for the crane operator and the people below. It is terrible wreckage.

** Two people killed so far. Crane operator injured.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 07:41

I feel bad for saying "so far" as if there will be more. Gaspode, I hope you're doing OK. Your husband is OK.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 07:43

Near me? BP, it's caddy-corner - I'm like 20 yards away from it. I was sitting here about to check mecha and looked out the window and saw the crane fall.

Thanks, Lori.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 07:45

gaspode, do you know the name of that apartment building? The folks on our air are having trouble figuring it out.

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 07:46

Lori, CNN is just saying two injured, no deaths... MSNBC is reporting deaths?

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 07:47

The one that is damaged? The Electra.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 07:48

Yes, BP. They are reporting two dead.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 07:49

I have to remember to watch CNN. Allegiances and all. I'm on CNN now.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 07:51

THANKS. 'pode, check your email if you can.

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 07:56

OH I think my building is being evacuated.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 08:02

Yep, I have to leave. Cops just banged on my door. There's still an unsecured crane up there. Best I get to work then (I'm very very late)

posted by gaspode 30 May | 08:03

Wow, good luck gaspode... keep us posted!

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 08:05

News report.

posted by essexjan 30 May | 08:09

Wow, yikes! I saw the headlines before I hit the 'Chat, and suddenly it seems so much closer to home. Stay safe gaspode! That goes for the rest of you bunnies too.

posted by Joe Invisible 30 May | 08:41

EEEE Gaspode! I just saw this on Gothamist! Hope as many as can be are safe.

posted by brujita 30 May | 08:47

Wow. I hope everyone is OK! This is exactly the sort of thing that would freak me out.

posted by muddgirl 30 May | 08:50

! i'm glad you're okay gaspode.

so many cranes keep falling in NYC over the last two years. It's incredible.

posted by stynxno 30 May | 09:13

Just got to work... talked to mr. g (yay!) and my parents in law. Don't know if we'll be able to get back into the apartment this evening.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 09:32

Good news, podey! So glad to hear that!

posted by taz 30 May | 09:39

Awesome! Glad to hear it, except for the maybe not being able to go home tonight, gaspode. How was the walk to work? I imagine it had to be a little chaotic!

posted by BoringPostcards 30 May | 09:42

NYT

posted by Eideteker 30 May | 09:44

Yeah, leaving the building was stressful because I had to keep explaining myself to the cops who had cordoned everything off ("no, I'm trying to leave"). Then I had to dodge camera crews and all the crowds. I decided to take a subway rather than my usual route (bus) because all of the city bus routes along my avenue would have been diverted onto my route. Took me an hour and a half to get to work rather than 50 minutes or so.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 09:45

When I got up and heard that on the radio on my way to the gym I though of you 'pode. I new it was in the area but not RIGHT there! I am SO glad that the *3* of you are alright!

posted by danf 30 May | 09:50

OMG gaspode how terribly frightening! Very glad to hear that you and Mr G are OK though.

posted by gomichild 30 May | 09:59

I also see that on the BBC website they describe it as a 'wealthy' neighbourhood. Just so you know, now we all know you're rich, 'pode.

posted by essexjan 30 May | 10:18

And the way we afford to live in this neighbourhood is that we live in a 350 sq ft apartment and pay 30% of our *combined* net income in rent. Just so you know. :)

(yes, it's stupid to pay that much rent, but it means mr. g can walk to work and is good when he's on call).

posted by gaspode 30 May | 10:23

No, I don't believe it. Your housekeeper, chef and doorman told me otherwise.

posted by essexjan 30 May | 10:30

Wow, crazy. Glad you are all safe.

posted by casarkos 30 May | 10:41

How terrifying. I'm so sorry to hear about it, but so glad all Gaspode-persons are safe.

posted by Elsa 30 May | 10:47

Holy crap! Glad you're alright!

posted by me3dia 30 May | 10:51

Holy crap. Glad you're all okay.

(On preview: Or, what me3dia said.)

posted by elizard 30 May | 10:57

East of Park Avenue was originally middle class.

I'm glad you and mr. g are safe.

posted by brujita 30 May | 11:06

Ditto!

posted by eamondaly 30 May | 11:19

Oh my. I'm glad you're okay, and I'm so sorry for those hurt. Be careful out there.

posted by theora55 30 May | 11:19

I'm glad Mr. Gaspode is OK. I hope you're able to get into your apartment tonight. It's sad to see something like that. Glad you're all right 'pode.

posted by LoriFLA 30 May | 11:46

OMG, I didn't even know this sort of thing was poaaible. I'm so glad you and the Mr. are okay!

posted by rhapsodie 30 May | 11:49

Very happy to know the gaspodians are all okay!

posted by deborah 30 May | 13:56

Jeez, I totally missed this. Glad y'all are OK - what a way to start your day.

posted by bmarkey 30 May | 13:58

oh, shoot! that is SCARY!

glad to hear that you and mr. pode are OK.

posted by jason's_planet 30 May | 14:37

Holy shit.

So glad you guys are all right.

posted by tangerine 30 May | 16:46

Update: our building opened as I was on my way home, so we are here, although we have to be escorted along our block by a police officer.

posted by gaspode 30 May | 17:42

Glad to hear you're home and safe.

posted by essexjan 30 May | 17:53

Wow, insane. Glad you guys are okay.

posted by Hellbient 30 May | 18:25

OMFG indeed!

** Two people killed so far. Crane operator injured.

Holy crap, it must be so jarring to be totally OK and so close to something that just devestated at least three lives (and those connected to those three). I'm glad you're ok. I don't do the whole praying thing, but I light candles so consider them lit.

This is so strange, I knew a few people who worked with a girl who actually lived in the top apartment that was crushed in the last crane-fall NYC (she was fine, she was out at the time but her pink suitcase can be seen in photos of the disaster) - but the scariest was that I was good friends with a guy that sat at his window one morning drinking coffee in Bijlmer (Amsterdam) -92 and he looked out the window to see an airplane to come and him. And turn to hit the other part of the building. He never got over it.

posted by dabitch 30 May | 19:02

(Didn't mean to hijack, by the way, I was just thinking how scary big cities are in general. Cranes dropping, airplanes crashing, earthquakes - like BIG stuff happening right next to you. Lets all go hippie and buy that remote castle already!)

posted by dabitch 30 May | 19:05

hey did you know AJ Soprano lived across the street from you?

posted by meeshell 30 May | 20:38

TMZ commenters don't seem to have great reading comprehension skills. /obvious?

posted by taz 31 May | 06:42

What a view you had. Could you see everyone in their windows trying to figure out what happened?
Is it wrong that as i looked at your pictures i was thinking it was so lucky to live right by a duane reade?

posted by ethylene 31 May | 16:40

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