Eveything Demands Change.

[tablesaw]

Shortly after we finally forced ourselves into bed on Tuesday night, at about three a.m., we heard the sounds of change.

Specifically, it was the intermittent squeal of our smoke alarm, informing us that its battery was dying. "WAKE UP!" it cried. "CHANGE IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU MUST CHANGE NOW NO YOU CANNOT SLEEP CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!"

Of course, we had no 9V batteries on hand.

At my old house, this problem was solved by removing the battery entirely. Because this was the only source of power for the alarm, I was left alone until I could get to the store after, you know, sleeping. But since I'm in a fancy-schmancy apartment, the alarm was connected to the electrical lines, meaning it had plenty of power to keep reminding me every ninety seconds that, even though it had enough power ot beep at me, it still needed a new battery.

So I had to schlub myself out to the CVS to get a new battery. Not that I was able to get back to sleep, but at least I could enjoy my sleeplessness in peace.

---

theviolentbelle also demands change.

Some of the first items ojouchan listed in her Etsy shop were her adorable mini hats. Now, facing looming bills and a need to roll out a winter line, she's slashed prices on all of them. Some of them are now going for below cost. If you've ever wanted those hats but lamented the price, the time for change is now. (She may even entertain more creative offers if you contact her.)

Comments

[zundevil.livejournal.com]

I admire the consistency of the 9V batteries put into the smoke alarms by the previous owner here, as they all died at about the same time. Which meant...they all started chirping at about the same time as well.

I did not, however, head to the drugstore at 3am to replace a battery. The first one to die wouldn't stop chirping, so I did what I figured anyone else would do: wrapped it in a towel and put it inside the washing machine. I could no longer hear it at least, and replaced its dead battery (and the rest of 'em shortly thereafter) at my leisure.

[jrw.livejournal.com]

Word on the street is that people should use the occasion of switching to/from daylight saving hours to change the batteries in all of their smoke alarms. This meme got started a few years ago but I'm starting to commonly hear it on the news when they do the twice-yearly clock reminder.