Thanks, Maria. The possibility of a house fire scares me badly, and yet it never occurred to me until today that these things could be a fire hazard. I've discarded the messed-up ones and ordered new ones, and I've set reminders in my calender to check them regularly from now on. No more letting them run empty.

Hooray! I kinda like having you around.

Yeah, that is NOT the dumb way I was planning to go out!

I don't generally worry about fire much, but in the Otter Lake house I was more cautious. It is mostly wood and older, although the last owner was an electrician and replaced the wiring. Still I only plugged in most things when I used them. I had to run the space heaters a lot, but would unplug them even if I was running next door for a few minutes. Kept the toaster and coffeemaker unplugged too.

My reasoning was that although I could get out my bedroom window and hop to the ground from the lower level roof pretty easily, I would never be able to talk Zoe into it.

Hells yeah, Zen. I can think of a whole lot more fun dumb ways to go out!

Thing I am not saying to right wing relative ohhing and ahhing over the star spangled yay America blinding light holiday display: what happened to keeping the Christ in Christmas you were just moaning so loud about? Nothing Christy about that, bud.

Had to get it out.

eta: I don't have any objection to anyone's OTT holiday displays, it is the person posting this right after the conflicting message.

Oh Laura, you know that Jesus loves America best. That's what Christmas is all about, Silly.

Andi, or anyone who knows about Feliway diffusers... I was wondering if I could clean one of the round plastic diffuser "bombs" because it's all gunked up with oil and cat hair. The little plastic "teeth" inside have worn away somehow and one has broken off. I guess just from the heat? Does this mean that plastic vapor have been getting into the air along with the Feliway? That doesn't seem good. I didn't think the diffusers themselves would need replacing, but it looks like they do. Anyone know why this happens?

I know you've already answered your own question, but I think it says in the packaging that they should be replaced every six months. I stretched mine out for a year, but replaced it when it got brittle like yours. The new one, however, likes to fall out of the plug.

it says in the packaging

You know, I probably did read the packaging when I first bought it. More than a year ago. I've forgotten. There's a flaw in my system, and I think it's me.

WEnt to the doctor, she was like "you totally have a UTI." She also gave me the name of a urology practice I can maybe start going to for this kind of thing.

My lower back is killing me so I splurged and got a heating pad at Rite Aid. I had one before but it didnt' make one of the moves and OH MY GOD this thing is bliss. I'm thinking about adding a heated mattress pad and an electric blanket to my christmas wish list.