There is nothing like the smell of dust in the morning. Serious dust.

Every male loves explosions. Literally or figuratively, blowing up something is a top 10 activity. So, last Sunday when it came time to implode the Holiday Inn at Central Expressway and Royal Lane, I knew we couldn't miss it.

With two extra boys in tow we sped up Central to Royal, hooked a left onto the access road and found a space to park among the masses. Being the cool mom that I am, I boosted all five of them to the roof of the minivan thankful for the luggage rack up there that would hopefully keep them from falling off the van and onto their heads.

The buzz of testosterone was palpable as cameras were adjusted and stories from the last implosion of a building off Central two years ago were traded. Yes, we were at that one, too.

Just before 8 a.m., three long warning alarms were sounded. Those alone were so loud that I thought about the possibly sleeping, uninformed apartment dwellers nearby.

That wake up call may be second only to having a toddler in your face screaming for waffles at 4 a.m.