smoke detectors

Why do smoke detectors decide late at night is the time to start beeping about their battery? We were home all evening and it didn't beep once.   Right after we turn off the lights to go to sleep, and there it is... the smoke detector is on the highest part of our bedroom ceiling (probably story and a half tall at that point) so we had to pull out our ladder (its a collapsible kind) and pull it out to full length.  Neither of us are good at heights, luckily Kevin thinks things through and had me put shoes on before climbing the ladder (socks + ladder would've been bad).    Its not what I wanted to do after turning in for the night, but safety first! and thank you past self for having purchased 9V batteries ahead of time! (still not sure why we happened to have them)

election 2016

I am still devastated by the election results earlier this week, and the hate that we've been seeing come out the rest of this week.

I work at a very diverse university, and they had planned a post-election breakfast.  I attended (along with over 200 others) and while it was a tough event - I didn't follow the rule of talking to someone I didn't know as I'm just not ready..was afraid I'd just start crying - I'm glad I went. I need to start to talk about it and where we go from here.   

Many individuals all over this country are legitimately scared and the news that has come out since over the plans of the next administration are increasing the fear. 

I alternate between trying to just take a break from it (and reading articles about how to deal with post election anxiety) so I can get through the day and trying to think through what I can do to support others and make sure that all voices are heard, groups that need to be protected are protected.

Putting together some mail this morning, I saw this stamp - I will keep this in mind, and work to make sure we take steps forward, not backwards towards equality for all.