Flaming Furball...

So we just got back from a shopping trip that I expected would take 2 hours, 3 tops. It ended up being 5. And I'm starving. We have refried beans open in the fridge and Mom wanted me to use up leftovers, so I am cooking rice and going to make a burrito. As I was boiling the water for the rice, our old cat decided to get on the stove because it is warm (duh) and this house is an icebox. It all happened in slow motion. "Nooooo!" I saw myself scream. Yep, the cat caught her tail on fire and proceded to jump back down onto the floor. I could see the entire house catching on fire, all because I had to use up food already opened in the fridge. Luckily, no fur got in my rice. And nothing else caught on fire. Well, the cat is okay, but about 1/4 of her tail is gone now. As for my rice, I still have 15 minutes or so. Who knows what other cooking mishaps could occur in this next 15 minutes. It's never a dull moment when more cats than people live in a house smaller than most trailers.