Jeff, Jim

You guys are right, thanks for the replies... I'll just get someone to
come look at it here in a few weeks. And Jeff - thanks for the little
lesson, yes, it's two duplex receptacles - creating a place were four
plugs can be put in... there are little orange lights next to each one
- if I plug in a machine that is turned off (like let's say, a blender)
- the lights stay off, if I turn on the blender, however; all four
little orange lights come on.... *if* I plug it in to the left side
(either top or bottom 'plugs')

While if I plug it to the right receptacle, none of the lights come on.

So, guess it's time to pull up the yellow pages.

Thanks Jeff!
(my camera is in one of 20 random boxes packed... won't be another week
or so, but I thank for the offer of checking further into it)