New Year's Resolution

I am resolving to post to this blog once a week in 2010! 

I will end 2009 with a post that has been swirling around in my head for several months.

When the daylight savings time change occurs, it is suggested that people check the batteries in the smoke detectors to insure they are working properly.  My husband, Ed, is very conscientious about home maintainance.  He decided it was time to replace the entire unit and start fresh with new ones. 

It was much later that night (10 p.m.) when our neighbor knocked on our door to report that our garage was sounding an alarm.  We looked confused and Sam suggested that the sound was probably coming from our trash can.  I have to tell you that it is a joy to claw through coffee grounds, egg shells, soggy muck in search for any number (8, eventually) screaching alarms.  Who knew that they would erupt in song when they reached a certain temperature?

There were the first easy victories.  The units were found and the batteries were removed.  The clamor continued.  We dug deeper into the bag until all were found (we thought).  At least the bag was inside the garage when it began to wail at 11 p.m.  A final search located the last noisy pest and we went to bed.

The morale of the story is to remove batteries from all items before discarding.  I understand it is suggested that people actually recycle those pesky things.  We will try to be better neighbors in 2010.