Yikes, Tep.

Like I said, better than a middle-of-the-night inferno. I like to think I pre-emptively saved our lives. (Better than focusing on my inability to sear scallops, damn it.)

I'm saving my life by eating mostly take-out.

I love this, and feel much the same way about my future kids. And it sounds like you and Wallybee are doing a wonderful job of raising him. (So glad she found her wedding ring, by the way!)

He's doing well so far. It's just so much fun picking up on the little advances he makes. Back at the playground, he loves the slide; Sunday was when I first noticed that on the dismount, he now reliably lands on his feet.

May Ryan always land on his feet!

In my news, I seem to have had a bout of fairly mild food poisoning. Quite unpleasant, but not too serious. I spent Friday through Sunday in bed, gradually reintroducing this thing called "food" to my body. Today it seems reconciled to it.

It could be the humidity. It's humid here almost all the time. But they cheep when there are no batteries or dead batteries, too. Gotta find a solution. Madness encroaching.

Once, in an office I worked in, the fire alarms went off and they evacuated us. Turned out that the dust from construction on one of the floors had set off the alarm.

I think that was the same construction project during which they managed to rip out the wiring that provided electricity to a section of our office. In dealing with several hysterical people who NEEDED their computers right away I ended up string extension cords around.

But they cheep when there are no batteries or dead batteries, too.

If they are wired into your electricity, then there should be a connector you can disconnect and remove it completely.

I had a smoke detector with a 10-year battery get to low battery beeping stage, and since the battery couldn't be removed, the detector wouldn't stop beeping. In desperation, I put it outside, but it started raining, and it had enough juice left to whoop so that it was audible several houses down. I got calls. I finally read the tiny type on the back and found there was a screw that could be turned for blessed silence.

If they are wired into your electricity, then there should be a connector you can disconnect and remove it completely.

Yes, there is. I've now removed three beeping smoke detectors and pre-emptively changed the battery in another one that seems to be working fine. I noticed the connector was warm in the one that's working and not in the other three, so I suspect I need to buy new smoke detectors.

The mere reminder of Ryan's existence makes my day better, every time. That cute little smiling face!!

Some smoke detectors go on heat, some on particulates, IIRC. So steam or dust can set them off. I had one that would go off every freaking time I boiled water, so I took it down.

amyth, I was trying to remember when you moved out, and it took me a good minute to remember who my roommate was after you. And I still don't know when you moved to the compound. 2009, I think?

The dealer won't patch my flat because it's too close to the edge, so I have to get that one plugged, too, because I really don't want to replace 6-month old tires. So now this afternoon I have to get a ride to my house, get a credit card, get a ride across the river, pick up my car, either get the tire plugged or ride back over on a donut (less than ideal), feed the animals, walk Frankie, change clothes, and go practice my recycled bead pitch from 5:30 to 8:30. Nooooo problem.

I also discovered yesterday that my new credit union doesn't do ATM deposits. WTF year is this, 1991? I think I'm going to need to switch banking again, dammit. It's just too hard to get to a bank during business hours, even though I get off at 4:30 pm. They don't have many branches, and I don't think there's one on the side of town I work in.