TOPIC: And There Was Light, And It Was Good

One problem with growing older is that my eyes are less and less able to process light.

So, I need more and more of it inside the house.

We built our house almost 12 years ago now.  And we have done lots of remodeling over the years.  One thing I have always done is replace light fixtures we don't like.

So when the bulb in the light over the kitchen sink burned out, I took the opportunity to put in a new one.

That's it, the $2 builder's special you have probably seen before.  It's a beaut, much like Charlie's Wordless Wednesday boat (see my comments on the, um, boat in his photo...).  Here you can see my new light's reflection just over this builder's special.

The bulb was a 60 watt incandescent.  It lasted 11.5 years.  I wanted to replace it with a new, chic mini pendant light.  I see them all the time on inspections and like them a lot.

But I needed one that gives light (see the original senescence plight above...).

My problem:  my doctor tells me not to use CFL's for any reason.  They exacerbate migraines.  Not just for me, but for tens of thousands of people.  We sufferers all know this.  There is no need to wait for some  bloated, wasteful, 20-year-long government "study" to tell us we are right.  Or some website...

In fact, the doctor tells me, the light waves produced by these little wonders make other auto-immune problems worse, as well as neural conditions like Parkinson's, MS and Alzheimer's.

So, I have a 200 year supply of incandescents in my house.  Why shouldn't I?

Well, none of the pendant lights I could find use more than 40 watts.  And most have the small screw thread contact at the bottom, requiring those little bulbs you see in dining room chandeliers.

That is not enough light.  Not enough for me.  I needed a big boy light.  But I can't find them in my country.

No problem!  There are other countries out there.  So I went to ELK Lighting.  I found some great mini pendant  lights that take 60 watt incandescents!  Wow, what do you know.  There is still some freedom in the world!

It took some time for the light to arrive.

I selected one that is hand-blown glass.  It is a piece of artwork.  I had to wait 10 weeks for the artisan (in Australia) to make it!  And ship it!

It casts a beautiful yellow light into our kitchen.

More importantly it sends a lot of bright light downward onto our sink.  I can see!

My recommendation:  One thing I learned in the Boy Scouts, and teach to my Scouts now, is to leave a campsite cleaner than when I found it.  I have done that every place I have ever lived.  This beautiful addition will be left for someone else to enjoy too.

There is a greater light to rule the day, and a lesser light to rule the night:  and it is good!

Very nice Jay. Looks great!

Do I understand you right that you're incandescent bulb lasted 11.5 years?

Yes.  All my incandescents last like that.  And it was the one the builder installed!  They say one reason to buy CFL's is because they last so long...  hmmmm.....  I have never had one last 11.5 years.

Awesome Jay!  I hate CFL's...I'm refusing to change any of my lights!  I have dimmers in almost every room (great for when the kids aren't quite ready to wake up!) and you just can't use CFL's on dimmers. 

They'll ban those dimmers next Casey...

They can have them when they pry them from my cold, dead hands...;D