Carbon Monoxide!?

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Weird. The smoke alarm went off, not incredibly odd when I am using the fireplace, but it wasn't the smoke detector. It was the CO alarm. I was totally surprised. It had never gone off as long as I have had one, over many many years. Yep, after resetting it a few times. It was getting a reading over 200 ppm CO. When I took it downstairs I got a reading near 300 ppm. I started getting light headed at this point. After thinking maybe the furnace heat exchanger failed and puzzling around a bit I figured out what happened. As part of the huge winter storm that recently covered almost half of the US, we lost our electricity. So, being well prepared, I rolled out the generator and started doing what I normally do. The generator (although it was completely outside) was creating CO to get in the house. Using the fireplace draft (and possibly other leaks) the whole house created a vacuum around the seal of the basement garage door. After the CO got into the house the forced air heat...
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This week is exciting. I have a mission. I am the self-appointed designee to get American Style Potato salad to Russia in time for back yard BBQs. The logistics are challenging, but I think with special attention and a detailed supply chain action plan the effort will pay off. Potato salad is a bit like democracy. It must to be brought in from America. Someone has to do it!

The other thought is that the smell of American Potato Salad will surely draw Edward Snowden out of the "in transit area" in the SVO airport as I pass through. If he does not emerge drawn towards the smell of fresh Walmart potato salad he is surely not in the airport. Proof!


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