Fire! Fire! (alarm)

So, I told you yesterday about getting our MCI back...well, another issue that we addressed was the lack of a carbon monoxide detector. We decided to buy a fire alarm/CO combo, and while we were at it we decided to go ahead and update the other fire alarm as well.

The task itself was fairly simple. Just detach the old, hook up the new to the existing 120V connection and attach to the wall. The end.

We tossed the old alarms in the trash and went on the next item on our "Fix it ourselves, before we get charged $150 to replace a $2 light switch cover" list.

Late Sunday night, right in that peaceful just about to drift into dream state, I hear a little beep beep beep beep beep beep beep. I shook Shan (who irritatingly is able to go from awake to sleep in the snap of the fingers) awake, to see if he'd heard it. We thought maybe it was the new fire alarms? Although, hopefully those would have sounded more like this: BEEP BEEP BEEP. Remember this was of the softer (or in this case, smaller font) variety. Just as we were ready to write it off as a fluke and go back to bed...we heard it again.

We both start wandering around the house trying to figure out what the crap is deciding to show it's butt NOW. I mean, it's had all night...it could have interrupted River Monsters, or the folding of the laundry...but no...it has to be now.

Is it timers on the stove? Maybe we need to set the clocks since we turned the power off? Is it the water softener? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT BEEPING?!?!?!? Did we throw something away that beeps?

Epiphany: The old fire alarms! We left the old batteries connected. Of course! We're so silly! Just disconnect the batteries, and all will be well!

As we're patting each other on the backs for our wondrous Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson abilities, especially late at night when our faculties aren't necessarily at the sharpest, the fire alarms decide to let us know that they've yet to be bested with a "CHIRP!"


Shannon: How is this happening! They don't have any power! I have to get up in three hours and drive three hours! I hate these stupid things! They have to stop in a minute, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY POWER!
Jenni: Honey, I don't think they're going to stop. Ironically, they're letting you know that they don't have any power. They want a new battery.
Shannon: Oh, I'll give them a new battery!
(At which point, he opens the garage door, and hurls them frisbee style into the ditch that runs along the side of the house)

Problem solved!

(Don't worry, I did go out and retrieve them the next morning)