Got home from work today, yes, work on the holiday, and went straight to the stove as usual to clean the ash and clinker build up on the burn pot. Opened the door and scraped away, closed the door and admired the flame as it built back up. But, hold on, what's this, three nickel-sized circles about three inches apart in the center of the glass. Oh no, I think, are these chips from too much heat or something? I kneel down to inspect, and as I do, I hear my 10 year old scamper from the room. That's the first hint that my stove didn't overheat. I thought the circles were on the inside and was about to open the door again when I ran my nail over one of the circles. I could feel it. I scraped a little and it started come off. I turned around to look for where my son ran off to and then I spotted it- a Nerf Gun, the N-Strike Long Shot, thank you very much, Santa. I also thought, hey, that's a nice tight pattern he shot, I wondered what distance he shot from? Well, my son fessed up pretty quick once I got him down by the stove. Luckily he only shot the glass, those rubber heads would have melted and been a groan to get off the metal surfaces. So, if Santa brought Nerf guns to your home this holiday, watch for the circles, and check for the patterns.
