Just plain terrorized.

Living in North America, it is easy to get paranoid... over such things as home security and safety.

Last week, we received a notice from the condo property management that the yearly fire alarm inspection was going to happen and that a technician would be entering our unit. And the notice included that for $30, a carbon monoxide detector could be installed at the same time as the inspection.

Wait! I have a carbon monoxide detector which I purchased years ago and plugged in the bedroom outlet. It went missing when I moved furniture, and when I was not looking for it, I found it sitting on top of a book shelf. So with the notice on hand, I plugged the carbon monoxide detector, first in the bedroom, then I moved it into the kitchen.

I also brought down the big picture frame of the "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" hanging against the humongous fire alarm contraption on the wall, and took out the small chair by the door to give easy access to the inspector, and removed two candle holders by the hallway where the smoke alarm had been installed.

Then, yesterday before 7 am, the detector made a funny sound - low, continuous beeps - and I got alarmed and pulled it out. I said, it could be a malfunction.

I moved the detector to the living room. A around 10 am, while waiting for the technician, the detector sounded again - once more, low, continuous beeps. I unplugged it and read the note at the back which said: The opening must be vacuumed to remove dirt accumulation. So I vacuumed and re-plugged it, and it made no more sound. I had just finished my brunch of fried rice, egg omelet and tosino, and suddenly felt a slight headache. I thought, could this be "carbon monoxide poisoning or just lots of cholesterol?"

The technician came after lunch, checked the smoke alarm and the fire alarm and was gone in 5 seconds.

This morning, at about the same time as yesterday - 7 am, the carbon monoxide detector beeped again. I heard it from the bedroom and I immediately rose up and unplugged it. I checked myself: " am I feeling dizzy, fatigued, etc? - the early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Though cold, I slightly opened the window to ventilate the house.

Despite the snow and the minus 4 celsius temperature this morning, I drove to Home Depot and picked up a new carbon monoxide detector - it cost me $33. I installed batteries on it, tested it, and it is now lying on top of a dining table, awaiting proper installation in the bedroom.

It was emitting green signal awhile ago, but the manual said, that is a sign of the alarm scanning for any possible CO. If there was any, it would emit 4 continuous beeps, and red light, pause 5 seconds and beep again. No such thing took place. Amen.