Well then...
They say to change smoke detector batteries at daylight saving time shifts. Though It did not occur to me of late.
So....2:30 A.M. the dogs are yelling bloody murder , or something like that.
I consider P.T.S.D. as something others have ,or at least I only have mildly.
Barking dog means nothing else exists though.
I bellow shut up a couple times. The neighbors probably suspect a domestic dispute , (one started the day making lots of noise trying to flush the survivor out it seems.)
In a pause between barking and yelling a "beep" can be heard. (No , not Ms. beepbeep.)
O.K. then , no gun needed for this ,it's a %#$@ smoke alarm.
Once a minute , "BEEP" and the dogs holler and I bellow "shut up". Then try to remember what the object of being out of bed was.
After a trip to the bathroom I remember when "BEEP" is heard and the dogs sound off.
Now it is 9v battery Easter egg hunt time.
Found one carefully sealed in a junk drawer. Carefully sealed because they are dangerous if their contact points touch metal. This learned from the last detector battery changes and a removed battery in a pocket with some change/coins got real hot....
Several "BEEP" 's later I'm getting hoarse from yelling , but found a smoke alarm on the hallway ceiling.
Did I mention my steady tinnitus and a bonus roar in the background of my hearing? My yelling and the dogs barking have things all cranked up and locating the source of that %#$@ "BEEP" every 60 seconds it not as easy as it should be. But I'm close...
Standing on the wheelchair on my one leg the smoke detector can just barely be reached flat footed.
Twist to remove , disconnect pinned wire connector to electric (non-battery) supply , get down from wobbly height to change battery and while holding the unit with battery replaced hear "BEEP".
So...What is beeping? The detector or the ceiling?
By now I am revisiting the idea of a shotgun. (For the detectors however many there are ; not for me.
I don't remember anymore in my non calm state how many exist but it does not matter when this one has a life of it's own and holding it to my ear I hear "BEEP".
But it is not the detector being held....
Alright. Stand on chair .Get tiny pinned connector in place and after a couple tries get the detector twisted into it's clips thingy dos.
Back down to ground level and hear "BEEP!". And the dogs are still freaking...
Well I ain't taking that battery out for the next suspected bad one so it's off on an Easter egg hunt for another battery to carry in pocket.
The pinpointer battery awaiting duty on the dresser is the next victim.
To the basement then. Is there one or two detectors down there?
Now I can not in good faith recommend crutches on basement steps by tired wobbly barking dog distracted users. But duty is duty and I need to save the world from wait for it , "BEEP".
