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I had the delightful experience on Wednesday morning to be at home when we had our fire alarms tested in the apartment building I live.

And if any of you have ever experienced this yourself, I'm sure you would agree that it's about as delightful as eating a box of thumbtacks while drinking them down with a glass of hot battery acid.

It's PAINFUL.

The property manager gave us a written notice last week that this would be happening and that they were very sorry for any inconvenience it would cause, but that it was necessary to have this done for safety regulations, which I totally understood.

However, they said it would be done in a timely manner to minimize our discomfort.

Um...really?

The testing was supposed to start at 9 AM and would last until 4 PM.

I guess SEVEN hours for testing fire alarms means timely.

Yet, the testing didn't start until 10 AM, and was still going on when I left my apartment at 1:45 PM for work. And let me tell you that I was never so happy to get the hell out of my apartment and go to work.

When the first BLARE of the fire alarms started, I literally JUMPED out of my desk chair. It was so startling that I thought my head was going to hit the ceiling.

I immediately ran to my bathroom and grabbed two cotton pads to stick inside my ears to dull the SHRIEKING.

One thing that drives me crazy is any high-pitched noise - and this went BEYOND high-pitched. It sounded like Minnie Mouse was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs.

I sat at my computer and did everything I could to distract myself from going INSANE.

Finally, I grabbed my camera and decided to film myself so that you could see what I had to go through and witness how well I did during the fire alarm testing.

Well, allow me to tell you that the fire alarms tested very well. However, I failed the test at dealing with an inconvenient experience that was done in a timely manner.

Take a look...

*make sure your volume is turned up to get the full effect


Have a CRAZY weekend everyone! 
X

53 comments:

  1. Ron, I hope you'll forgive me, I didn't play the video. Your description and my memory of fire alarms going off was more than sufficient. Really I don't see why they have to be so loud. Although they could, I don't believe they will wake the dead anyway.


    On a dif subject I'm wondering if you would be okay with me putting a link to my blog in the comment? I'm reluctant to sign in with my e-mail as my password is required and this does not appear to be a secure server.

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  2. Yikes, that sounds like something they do with lab rats.


    My office building sets off these loud alarms every so often. We all freeze in our tracks until the security people come over the PA and tells us everything's fine. I don't feel very safe, to be perfectly honest.



    Great post, funny video. I have you have a nice, quiet weekend, buddy. But keep the cotton handy! Take care...

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  3. Okay, okay, I'm awake now. For goodness sake, how many fire alarms are there in your block? I didn't turn up the sound and I confess I stopped the clip a quarter of the way in.... the noise was AWFUL even at low volume. I felt it penetrating my brain. Of course, alarms have to be LOUD to alert people to danger.... but honestly, I don't think I could cope with it in real life. No wonder you rushed out to work.


    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  4. Seven hours of that is insane! Seriously, this is one of those WTF moments! I couldn't handle that, as I'm just about the jumpiest person out there.

    At this new house, the doorbell is somehow connected to the electric. I don't really understand it, but everytime the power goes off, the doorbell rings. Halloween night, our power went on and off about 20 times in a wind storm. I thought I'd lose my mind!

    Have a QUIET weekend!

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  5. Well, colour ME stupid for following the instructions. ROFL. Yup--me and the volume up--hit play!
    O.M.G. 6am and I'm scrambling for the stupid mute button and darn near spilling the coffee.
    Okay.....in all honesty, the volume was up already for a lovely, soothing bit of cello music.
    OMG. O!M!G!
    Dunno if it woke he-who-coulda-been-sleeping, but I don't see him out here to bring me a refill on the coffee. PRETTY good sign he rolled over and made a note to take it up with me at another time. ;-)


    Yup--I'da been happy getting out the door to go into work. Fact is, I mighta even gone in early.....dusted shelves, swept floors, had a battle with Ninja invaders from space that supposedly hold smelly stuff. LOLOL


    Happy Friday, sir! Let's celebrate that drills are advertised (albeit falsely!) and plan something really FUN for the next time. Like a block party for the whole building where ya'll disconnect everyone but the one by the managers door. :-/
    Just a suggestion.

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  6. They tested the alarms all day?????? Crikey that must have been excrutiating!

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  7. I would have had to leave the building immediately, take up shop at a Starbucks and not come back until night fall. I had a serious bout of tinnitus this year and any noise of that caliber would have sent me into a bad attack. It's ludicrous what they made you go through. Thanks for the video. I love seeing my Ron going crazy because you do crazy so well :)


    Have a blessedly quiet day!

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  8. OH. MY. WORD! I just couldn't have lasted more than a few minutes with that noise. I would have to have gone somewhere else, until it was over. It hurt my ears listening to the video! Mo came in half way through and said "What's that noise?!!!!". It was only at half volume too.

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  9. Goooooooood morning Valerie!

    "Okay, okay, I'm awake now."

    HAHAHHAHAHA! Wasn't that noise HORRENDOUS????

    " For goodness sake, how many fire alarms are there in your block?"

    We have one (alarm blaster) in each hallway on ALL 25 floors and one in each apartment, so that when they go off, it sounds like the whole building is shaking.

    "Of course, alarms have to be LOUD to alert people to danger.... but honestly, I don't think I could cope with it in real life. No wonder you rushed out to work."



    One time (at 3 AM) the alarms went off accidentally, so we all had to leave our apartments; walk down the stairs; and then had to stand outside until the fire department got there to check out the building. OMG...it was horrible.


    Much thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Have wonderful weekend!


    X

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  10. Hiya Bijoux!

    "Seven hours of that is insane! Seriously, this is one of those WTF moments!"

    Yes, can you believe it? SEVEN hours!!

    The alarms would go off, stop for a few seconds, go off again, stop for a few seconds, then go off again.

    And like said, it was still going on when I left my apartment at 1:45 PM - Oy vey!

    " I don't really understand it, but everytime the power goes off, the doorbell rings. Halloween night, our power went on and off about 20 times in a wind storm. I thought I'd lose my mind!"



    OH. MY. GOD.!!!! I would have lost my mind as well!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a GREAT weekend and I hope all is going well with your Thanksgiving Day dinner plans.


    X

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  11. Hello Pearl!

    " Crikey that must have been excrutiating!"



    Yes, EXCRUTIATING!!!!!


    I left at 1:45 PM, and they were STILL going on.


    But the time I got to work, my teeth were chattering - HA!


    Thanks for stopping by, m'dear! Have a lovely weekend!

    X

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  12. Helloooooooooo Mel!

    "Well, colour ME stupid for following the instructions. ROFL. Yup--me and the volume up--hit play! O.M.G. 6am and I'm scrambling for the stupid mute button and darn near spilling the coffee."

    Bwhahahahhahaha! OMG, I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh but the way you described that was HILARIOUS!

    "Dunno if it woke he-who-coulda-been-sleeping, but I don't see him out here to bring me a refill on the coffee. PRETTY good sign he rolled over and made a note to take it up with me at another time. ;-)"

    Bwhahahhahahhahaha! Mel, that CRACKED ME UP!!!

    Please tell himself that it was MY fault and that I'm sorry.

    "Yup--I'da been happy getting out the door to go into work."

    I actually thought of doing that, but I kept thinking that they really didn't mean it would take SEVEN hours and that it would stop sooner. But alas...it didn't :(

    " Like a block party for the whole building where ya'll disconnect everyone but the one by the managers door. :-/"



    HAHAHAHHAHA! Sounds like a great plan!!!!


    Thanks oodles for stopping by, dear lady. Have super-duper weekend!


    X

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  13. Hellooooooooooo Kathy!

    "I would have had to leave the building immediately, take up shop at a Starbucks and not come back until night fall."

    Yes, that's exactly what I SHOULD have done. But I kept thinking that they really didn't MEAN 7 hours and that it would be over sooner than I though it would. NOT.

    ". I had a serious bout of tinnitus this year and any noise of that caliber would have sent me into a bad attack."



    One of my dear friends here in Philly has permanent tinnitus and she said the same thing. In fact, any loud noise is so painful for her. She actually tried using a hearing-aid at one point in her life, but it didn't seem to help.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend!


    X


    P.S. aren't you lovin' this cooler weather we're having???

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  14. Hey there Suzi!

    "Ok, I couldn't watch the video...hurt my ears, even Wylie looked at me like "PLEASE STOP IT!"

    OMG...please tell Wylie I said I'm sorry. And you too. But wasn't that noise HORRENDOUS?

    "The one in our kitchen was super sensitive and went off every time I opened the oven; and no, it wasn't my cooking, lol! DirtMan relocated it just a tad farther in the room and now the alarm and I are friends!"



    Before we had these new fire alarms installed in the apartment building I live, the same thing would happen to me. They went off constantly. We had more false alarms in this building than I can even tell you. That's why they had to get new ones.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a FABU weekend!


    X

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  15. Hey there Babs!

    "OH. MY. WORD! I just couldn't have lasted more than a few minutes with that noise. I would have to have gone somewhere else, until it was over."

    I actually thought of doing that but I honestly think it would take SEVEN hours to complete the testing. Boy, was I WRONG.

    " Mo came in half way through and said "What's that noise?!!!!". It was only at half volume too."



    OMG...sorry to you and Mo. But wasn't the noise horrendous?


    Thank god they only have to do this once a year.


    Much thanks for stopping by, Babs. Have a lovely weekend!


    X to you and Mo!

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  16. Helloooooooo Debbie!

    "Ron, you crack me up! I've got to confess I didn't play the video.."

    HA! That's okay, A LOT of my readers didn't play it, or only played part of it.

    "I guess the good thing is, they tested the alarms. And found they all are working."



    Exactly. We used to have very faulty fire alarms in this building that would go off a few times a month, so that we ALL had to evacuate the building until the fire department came by to check out the building. The apartment company was fined every time the FD had to come out, so last year they installed new alarms. And yes, they now work, but OMG...are they LOUD!


    Much thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Have a terrific weekend!


    X

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  17. Hola Denise!

    " I had the volumed turned up on my computer at work when I watched your video and I was laughing so hard in my office that someone asked me what that noise was and why I was laughing? I showed him your video and he laughed too."

    HAHHAHAHAHAA! OMG...how funny! But can you believe how LOUD that noise was? I thought I was going to lose my mind!

    "I can't even stand the sound that the grass blowers make after the lawn guy cuts our grass at home."



    I can't believe you mentioned "grass blowers" because when I was still living in Florida, the same thing would happen to me. That's all you ever hear in Florida....grass blowers! And that sound is soooooooo annoying!


    Much thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a most excellent weekend!


    X

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  18. If had to listen to that alarm for as long as you did, I would have probably jumped out the window and killed myself.


    "it's about as delightful as eating a box of thumbtacks while drinking them down with a glass of hot battery acid."

    ROFLMAO

    Ron, how do you think of these descriptions?

    The video clip is brilliant. How did you edit it? Hilarious!

    You, dude, are CRAZY!

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  19. Hiya Matt!

    "If had to listen to that alarm for as long as you did, I would have probably jumped out the window and killed myself."

    HA! Trust me, I thought of it!

    " How did you edit it?"

    Thank you. Glad you enjoyed vid.

    I used Windows Live Movie Maker - it's a program already installed within my computer. There are so many cool things you can do with it. Editing is something that I'm learning more and more how to do because that's the tricky part - splicing various scenes together. But it's been a FUN learning experience.

    Much thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a fantabulous weekend!

    X

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  20. I didnt even wait till the end of the video that screeching was so unbearable! And you had to deal with that for hours?!? I do not know how you did it I would have gone insane. There really has to be a better way to test those things. And really why does it take so long?!? Some things never cease to amaze me!

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  21. That is a truly horrible noise.
    We have our work fire- and man down-alarms tested every Friday and I thought they were bad, but I'm glad we don't have to put up with that shrieking horror every week. Don't blame you for the cotton wool, I'd go for proper earplugs next time. Get yourself prepared and save your poor ears.
    Hope the rest of your week is more peaceful.

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  22. "That is a truly horrible noise. "

    Ditto, Dale....HORRIBLE!!!!!!! It felt like sharp pieces of glass being shoved into my ears - HA!

    "I'd go for proper earplugs next time. Get yourself prepared and save your poor ears."

    Awesome idea! And I'll also be able to use them for the countless times I hear the police sirens blaring down the city streets from my 21st floor apartment - oy vey!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a super-duper weekend!

    X

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  23. Ron, I just noticed that my PC also has Windows Live Movie Maker too. I've got to try it now. Thanks for letting me know.

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  24. Great Matt! I discovered it when I got my computer about a year and half ago, which I never even noticed at first. It's so much fun! You can upload videos from your camera and then created movies. And the more you use it, the better you get. Enjoy!

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  25. Ohmygosh... how painful! I only had my volume on the lowest setting, and listened for the full 49 seconds, but HOW DID YOU SURVIVE THIS?!!!! Pure torture! Your poor ears. Your sanity! Thank GOODNESS you had to go to work. ::: whew!! ::: Glad that is over. How often do they test?

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  26. Thanks Ron! And just so you know, I've added your link to my links page.

    Here is mine if it works...One Percent

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  27. We had the same thing happen to us last week, but without warning! The alarm just started going off & didn't let up for over 40 minutes. Since I have mobility issues hubby was trying to find out if we needed to evacuate while I covered my ears with my hands and worried! Can so sympathize with you!

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  28. SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH Man, I sure am sorry you SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH had to put up with that for SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH so long, Ron. It would SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH have driven me insane within SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH the first 30 seconds. Luckily, SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH you don't have to hear it SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH any more. Sadly, you SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH do have to put up with smart-ass SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH bloggers like me. Hope your SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH ears stop ringing and you can SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH enjoy your weekend!

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  29. You are so welcome, David. And thank you!

    The next time you leave a comment and want to leave your blog link, I think it will work better if you add it like this:

    http://davidloliver.blogspot.com/

    Because however you did it in you comment above, it didn't seem to work.

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  30. Hellooooooooo Jean!

    "I only had my volume on the lowest setting, and listened for the full 49 seconds, but HOW DID YOU SURVIVE THIS?!!!!"

    HA! I know, even at a LOW setting, the noise is HORRENDOUS, isn't it? I had cotton balls shoved in my ears to dull the sound a bit, but even still, it was LOUD. However, when I got in the shower to bath before going to work, I closed the bathroom door, so it sounded more muffled.

    " How often do they test?"



    Once a year. But when they first installed them, they had to test the blasters to make sure they worked, which took them TWO days!!!! OY VEY!


    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantabulous weekend!


    X

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  31. Hey there Benze!

    "We had the same thing happen to us last week, but without warning! The alarm just started going off & didn't let up for over 40 minutes."

    OMG...they didn't WARN you?!?!?

    "Since I have mobility issues hubby was trying to find out if we needed to evacuate while I covered my ears with my hands and worried."



    Oh, how frustrating that must have been for you.


    Before we got these new fire alarms, the old alarms would go off at least 2-3 times per month accidentally. However, no one knew if it was a REAL fire or false, so I had to walk down 21 flights of stairs each and every time it happened. NOT fun!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a wonderful weekend!


    X

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  32. Bwhahahahhahahahahahaha!
    Bwhahahahahahahahahahah!


    Mark, your comment was absolutely BRILLIANT and HILARIOUS!!!!


    You are sooooooooo CLEVER!!!!!!!


    I give you an A+ for that comment!


    Thanks so much for stopping by and for the LAUGH! Have a stellar weekend!


    X to you and Tara!

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  33. Ron, between what you wrote and the video, I was laughing my ass off at this post. You are too damn funny! Love the faces you made in video clip. I can TELL you used to be an actor, just from your facial expressions.

    "It sounded like Minnie Mouse was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs."


    ROFL

    I don't know how the hell you stood that noise for so long, but I bet you were so eager and happy to get out of your apartment on Wednesday!



    Hope your weekend is more quiet than your week. Peace!


    Marks comment was hysterical!

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  34. Hey ho Robert!

    "Love the faces you made in video clip. I can TELL you used to be an actor, just from your facial expressions."

    HA! I'm such a HAM, aren't I?????

    "I don't know how the hell you stood that noise for so long, but I bet you were so eager and happy to get out of your apartment on Wednesday!"

    OMG...I was NEVER so happy to go to work that day. I could STILL hear the ringing in my ears when I got to work.

    "Marks comment was hysterical!"

    I know, wasn't Mark's hysterically BRILLIANT? He has such a great sense of humor!

    Much thanks for stopping by, bud. Have super spectacular weekend!

    X

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  35. oh heck no, i couldn't even watch it all, ron, but you're so funny. what in the world. why test it for so long, even the emergency test they play on tv last for a shorter time than that. ron, ear plugs save me from going postal and doing something stupid. i can't stand noise and would have been out of my apartment waving my balled-up fist. wow.

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  36. "what in the world. why test it for so long, even the emergency test they play on tv last for a shorter time than that."

    Exactly, Val! WHY in the world did the test have to take SO LONG?!?! And another thing, why did ALL the alarms go off at the same time because I would think they would have tested each floor separately, by going from floor to floor.

    "ron, ear plugs save me from going postal and doing something stupid."

    Yup...that's what I'm gonna do. Get ear plugs before the next time.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a grrrrrrreat weekend!

    X

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  37. I did the html code with the address. Looks like that was over thinking what needed to be done. I ignored the old KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle. :(

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  38. Thank you! It is a happy day when you find another blogger who likes your work and you like his. People say writing is its own reward. Maybe so. I've found that many people who say that have never written anything.

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  39. Ditto, David!

    And that's one of my favorite things about blogging, the community we form.

    Hope you're having a super weekend!

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  40. In our last apt. block, the kids used to sneak into the hallways to smoke pot, so they would disconnect the fire alarms. This of course would set them off 2 - 3x per week. Only 3 floors to evacuate though, thank God! Have a great weekend too!

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  41. "...the kids used to sneak into the hallways to smoke pot, so they would disconnect the fire alarms. This of course would set them off 2 - 3x per week. "

    HAHAHAHHAHAHA! OMG...that made me LAUGH!!!!

    Thank god it was only THREE floors, you're right :)

    X

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  42. Ron, after you make your videos on your computer what do you do, upload them to YouTube?

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  43. Yes! You have to open a You Tube account, so that when you're finised making your video you can just click on the You Tube icon on Windows Live Movie Maker, and it will upload it automatically. It's very easy.

    Email me if you have any problems and I'll try to help.

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  44. "And if any of you have ever experienced this yourself, I'm sure you would agree that it's about as delightful as eating a box of thumbtacks while drinking them down with a glass of hot battery acid."

    Oh yes. Been there. Done that. And it is AWFUL. You described it perfectly!


    But I can't believe it lasted SO long in your building? Good grief!

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  45. "But I can't believe it lasted SO long in your building? Good grief!"


    I could STILL hear it ringing in my ears when I went to work - HA!


    Anyway, thank GOD it's over for another year.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, Meleah! Hope you had a FAB weekend!


    X

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  46. Hi Ron!

    Wow, why did the test have to go on so long? that would trigger a migraine in my for sure!

    I've missed you!
    XO

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  47. OMG....it's YOU!!!!!!!!

    *clapping*

    Yes! I have missed you too! In fact, you have been on my mind lately and wondering how you were doing. Hope all is well.

    I know....can you BELIEVE how LONG the testing lasted?!?!

    I wanted to scream!!!!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Glad you're back!!!!!!!

    (((((((((((((( You )))))))))))))))))

    X

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  48. oh good lord!
    I would have had to take the cats and run for shelter, they would have lost their minds

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  49. "I would have had to take the cats and run for shelter, they would have lost their minds."

    OMG Dianne, I can't even imagine what it would have been like if I still had my cats during this alarm testing. They would have gone BONKERS, you're right!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, dear lady. Hope you had a supa' weekend!

    X to you, Hope, Athena, Siren, and Isadora!

    P.S. Aren't you lovin' this colder weather?????

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  50. Bwahahahahaha! Man, that video is priceless!

    Yep, I'm quite familiar with this grating sound. Over here it usually occurs when the batteries run low and the detectors start beeping to complain. Or, when you burn dinner, the alarms all go off, and won't turn of even after you've ripped them from the ceiling and hit them with a hammer. It's amazing how quickly one can go from Zen to Homicidal Maniac once the alarms start sounding! Heh....

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  51. "the alarms all go off, and won't turn of even after you've ripped them from the ceiling and hit them with a hammer. It's amazing how quickly one can go from Zen to Homicidal Maniac once the alarms start sounding!"

    Bwhahahahhahahahaha! OMG, Herman...that cracked me the HELL up!

    And it's true, even after you rip them from the ceiling and hit them with a hammer, they STILL go on!

    The apartment building I live just put these new alarms in about a year ago and they are SO LOUD.

    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Hope you had a great weekend and didn't get called into work.

    X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!

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