Saturday encore ~ Problem-solving, alone and in the middle of nowhere

Has it really been a year since I changed the battery in the smoke detector? 

Guess it's time to move the scaffolding in place and put in a fresh one. 

*** 

 My problem originated last Sunday morning. The battery in the smoke detector near my office started chirping its "I'm-dead-change-me" alarm. No big deal. I hauled out my five-foot ladder and changed it. But then I got to thinking it was only a matter of time before the battery in the smoke detector in the living room would start chirping. That would be a big deal because it is 12 feet off the ground and I would have no way to change it.

So I pondered my dilemma all week, thinking there had to be a way to get up there without buying a taller ladder. I happened to be pondering while eating breakfast one morning and my solution stared right back at me - the sturdy dining room table. I could put the ladder on top of it to reach the ceiling! Whew. Now I could stop worrying. Whenever that alarm started chirping, I'd be ready.

But then I got to thinking it would be stupid to wait for it to start chirping to replace the battery, since that would probably happen in the middle of the night, and who wants to be executing this well-developed-yet-somewhat-dubious maneuver half asleep in her pajamas?

So Sunday afternoon, I took action. Step one: move the sturdy-but-insanely-heavy dining room table under the smoke detector.

I put a rug under one end, picked up the other end, and sort of lifted/pushed/slid it across the floor.

The table and the ladder were about the same width, so I put a wider piece of 1" particle board atop the table 

so the ladder wouldn't slip off the side. I was confident that my makeshift scaffolding would hold, 

but I put the telephone nearby just in case. Looking at this picture, I now realize that "nearby" 

should actually have been the floor. Oh, well. I can't think of everything.

The OSHA inspectors double-checked my worksite.

Smooch: Are you sure you know what you're doing?

Snapper: On the surface, this looks like it will work...

...but who will feed me if it doesn't?

Me: Thanks for your vote of confidence and concern for my welfare, Snapper.

After triple-checking that a fresh battery was in my pocket, up the ladder I went. 

Yes, I took my camera. How often do I get to see my house from this angle?
And if my plan did go south, I could document it.
(Admit it – that would be an interesting series of pictures.)

Me: Hey, Snapper! Smooch! Look up! 

They ignored me. 

Me: Daffodil, it's toasty warm up here. Why don't you join me?

She ignored me, too.

There are several lessons learned from this problem-solving adventure:

1. Measure twice, climb once.

2. Don't wait for the alarm to sound before planning an escape.

3. Dining room tables – they're not just for eating.

4. Don't build a house with an unreachable ceiling.

5. Don't expect your pets to call 911 if you're in trouble.

6. Living alone in the middle of nowhere is always an adventure. And I wouldn't have it any other way.