Well, that was too easy, no wonder it took days. My wireless keyboard wouldn't type alpha, only numeric. But it's a small apple with no numloc. Tried all the alt-x combinations I could, still nothing. So have been using the big usb keyboard I keep around just in case...it's got a numloc - wait a minit - what if I just pressed that? Yes! That made the wireless keyboard work properly again.
@Kurtroedeger I could have had the USB keyboard plugged in and when I pulled it off the desk hit the num lock - the only thing I can imagine but since I have several keyboards and monitors I'm really not sure. I just assumed I pressed the control alt function and I couldn't rediscover it.