CMA

    I watched the show last night, sort of. I was reading, and it made a welcome change from politics. I saw only one person wearing a mask, so it seemed like the old days. I recognized only a few of the performers, and even fewer of the musical numbers. Except for the few old standards, the music sounded much the same.  Charley Pride appeared frail, and grew emotional accepting his tribute, a moving moment. A female singer wore a dress that looked like a Rorschach  Test. and a big winner, Maren something, may have forgotten to wear underpants. 

Stan Lee ...and Ted Williams

 I just read "The Last Days of Stan Lee," David Hochman's account of the heartbreaking tragedy of the Marvel Comics creator. As Lee grew old, and after his wife died, Lee was pretty much controlled by his dysfunctional daughter and a trio of his onetime inner circle employees who chiseled away and drained much of his family fortune, as well as being participants in elder abuse. The writer describes an account of Lee becoming completely dependent on these associates. They would present him at Signing appearances, where according to some observers, they would place  a Sharpie in his hand and dictate to him how he should sign the Marvel Comics presented to him by his adoring fans, who paid $80 for each signature. He was tired and fatigued but he was forced to oblige.  A complicated and tragic tale still unfolding, as I understand it.

     Some years ago, when we had an avid baseball card collector in the family, we drove to a Card Show, at the Polish -American Club, a large venue which had dozens and dozens of booths set up. That was where the young collector's interest lay. I noticed a raised platform along one wall. On it sat a slightly  disheveled and definitely disgruntled-looking Ted Williams, autographing his cards for $25 a signature. Ted William's golden hour was too long past to interest our collector, so we didn't buy his signature. Since he was seated on a riser above floor level, I  could see Ted Williams was wearing white socks slouched down over a pair of scuffed brown loafers.

K's Suggestion

 

Alarm in the Night

    It's 3:00 a.m. and the detector starts emitting a loud steady sound, more than a beep. I take the detector from the bedroom to the kitchen, trying to figure out what to do. There is nothing  written on the unit, and it is the type with a 10-year battery, not replaceable. I seem to remember I bought it only about 3 years ago. I can't find any instructions, and I also seem to remember it's a combination First Alert Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm. I find a notice : "--Actuation of your CO alarm indicates the presence of carbon monoxide, which can KILL YOU."  I open the windows. It starts to get chilly.

   Another detector in the hallway remains silent, so maybe I have a chance. First Alert #1 will not stop beeping, so I put it outside on the porch railing. It's very loud and I can still hear it. I close the bedroom window and turn off the furnace. I've checked for fire and I figure CO can only come from the furnace. It gets chillier.  I turn on the computer to try to assess the alert, but I can't see the Model No. because it's not visible on the cardboard backing under the sealed unit. I get first a screwdriver, then a can opener to make the hole a little bigger, and finally see Model No. P1210E.  Just as I try to check this model number to see if it has a history of premature beeping, the internet goes dead. It's 4 a.m. I grab a few extra blankets and go back to bed. What is the alternative.

   I do wake up  a few hours later, and find the internet is back on. I research the product and find I am not alone with this alert. Others have complaints that it did not last anywhere near 10 years. And I'm still breathing.

   The next day, I go to Wiley's and buy a new alarm, again the combination sealed unit. I mention my issues to the clerk who is showing me the alarms. He said he had the same problem, was unable to stop the alarm. We know that once disabled, these units are useless, defunct, but the beeping persisted. He said

he put his in the driveway and ran over it with his car. 

   

Battery 11/9/20

 

Cat & Caterpillar

 

EeK!

Well, it looked like a mouse to me.