a light in the darkness
Saturday night I flipped on the light switch in the kitchen, saw a flash, heard a pop, and realized that I was once again down to one working bulb out of seven.
I don’t mean to not replace the bulbs when the burn out. It’s just that the darn things all go at once. Two weeks ago, the first burned out. And there’s been a steady progression of burnout in my kitchen ever since. And I didn’t have any spare ones. And for some reason when I’d stop at the store to pick something up, my focus on that thing would take up both of my remaining brain cells and there was no place left to store the need to do something about the growing darkness. Until last night when I realized I was nearing a total eclipse of the kitchen, and I would be reduced to cooking by flashlight if I didn’t do something about it soon.
If you’ve been visiting here for very long, gentle reader, you will recognize this situation. Yes, I can be taught, but sometimes it takes many repetitions.
So today at the store I concentrated really hard and managed to remember light bulbs — and even remembered to buy some extra ones. Of course I forget TP. But that’s a different story.
When I got home, I replaced all of the burned out bulbs. The light has returned.
And I have a question for you. Have you tried the florescent bulbs? I think in some parts of the country, the incandescent bulbs are no longer being sold? We can still get them here in Oregon. But I bought one of the florescent bulbs just to see what I thought of it. And I’m not really diggin’ it. It’s bright enough and all. But here in the rainy, dark, northwest winter I really appreciate the daylight type bulbs I usually get. Florescent light is cold. brrrrr The bulb fits a little strangely in the can, too. It doesn’t go flush with the ceiling. I compared it to an incandescent bulb and it’s longer. It’s certainly bright enough, though. And it’s much better for the environment, uses much less energy, etc. The jury is still out for me.
What do you think?
No knitting. I haven’t had time to knit. I’ve barely had time to do anything by work. Another couple of weeks, and I think I’ll start to have a bit of spare time.
Don’t tell anyone that might want to find a way to use it up. 
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We still use regular lightbulbs. I’ve wondered about the florescent bulbs and asked DH a time or two if he wants to try them. He said that he would rather not if we have a choice because he does not like that kind of light.
I think in an office setting florescent lighting is fine because you usually have a lot of light fixtures and it is all overhead. (We do have one florescent light fixture in the kitchen that uses the long tubes.) But for general lighting in other parts of our home we use mostly table lamps and we like the “warm glow” given by incandescent bulbs.
1Remark from Bonnie — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 4:15 AM
My lips are sealed – your spare time secret is safe with me!
As for the florescent light bulbs, I do have some. In an effort to be ‘greener’ and to lower energy costs I have some, but I have to tell you – I so dislike the light they emit. It feels institutional. Not homey. I don’t prefer them – but they sure don’t burn out like incandescents do!
2Remark from Kat — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 5:13 AM
I’m trying to let the flourescent ones infiltrate the house. We’ve got two kinds — and one is rather like the old ones we used in can lighting. I think they fit the same way, but I’m not sure.
I really do prefer to use the full spectrum lights. I too am ambivalent about these fluorescent things. Though I think I may have found one that claims to do the full spectrum thing. The very first full spectrum light I saw was a fluorescent (the long kind).
However, I battle the gray day blues with a Light Box. It’s got fluorescent bulbs (which will screw me royally if they ever burn out, as I’ve no idea where or how to replace them)… and puts out 10,000 lumens. I turn it on for my morning email and blogging adventures, and sit with it basically shining in my eyes for at least 20 minutes. It still amazes me how dramatically it can affect my mood. 20 minutes a day in the dark months, and I’m fine and dandy.
3Remark from Helen — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 5:33 AM
Here in the land of the Maple Leaf, I think we only have till 2010 with the regular old light bulbs. In this household, I have replaced most of my regular light bulbs with the cfb’s. The other thing to consider is that they are continuing to do research and there are brighter cfb coming out all the time. I know it is dark in the winter, especially where you are, perhaps you can get some specific task lighting that is brighter for some areas of your home.
4Remark from Susanne — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 6:00 AM
How funny … I’ve been slowly replacing my halogens in the kitchen with the CFLs … I call them “curly” bulbs – and have been experimenting with the different ones. Yesterday, at BB&B, I found DAYLIGHT CFLs, bought a pack of six!
They do last a lot longer than the halogen spots – those babies pop dead at an alarmingly fast rate.
5Remark from margaret — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 6:07 AM
We’ve gradually changed our whole house over to curly fluorescents over about ten years or so.
They come in different light “temperatures,” warmness and coolness of light. The cool white ones are probably what you are thinking of. Especially in the winter, I really appreciate that they now come in warm white.
And I’m happy that they are common enough now that I’m not sinking ten or fifteen dollars to buy one bulb like back in the old days.
6Remark from alwen — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 6:52 AM
My apartment in Brooklyn is old and all the fixtures are flourescent. They sort of drive me crazy
at times as they will without warning start to buzz loudly. I think I may be getting some lamps in the room to have when that happens so I can shut them off and still have light 
7Remark from Karen — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 7:20 AM
I like the curly fluorescent bulbs, but they seem to take a while to warm up. When I first turn them on the room seems kind of dark, but then next time I go in they’ve brightened up. I know they come in full-spectrum because we’ve bought them for starting seeds.
8Remark from Tan — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 10:57 AM
I’m changing over for the reasons mentioned, but can still get the incandescent bulbs at Wally World and such. Unfortunately, SLE is worsened by fluroescent light (and sunlight, too). I’m not sure what to do with that bit of information? Do I tell the government they can’t do away with incandescent completely or will I need an Rx to buy them? lol
I have the long tubes in a couple of lamps made for them, but otherwise am using the curly bulbs. I sit under them at my desk all day at work…hmmm..wonder if that’s why I’m feeling worse this year than last?
(sigh)
But wow do they save money on the electric bill!
9(((hugs)))
Remark from Knitnana — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 11:42 AM
I don’t know about availability where you live, but here in the Netherlands, we now have fluorescent lights in different shapes and ‘tints’ (warm or cold). I don’t think I’ve seen any of the cute flame shapes, but we do have ones the ones that are shaped like a bulb instead of like tubes bent double.
They are a lot better for the environment and should save you a significant amount of money, too.
There’s probably shops where you can see the bulbs ‘in action’, if you want. Some of them (bulbs, not shops) are definitely better than others…
Also, I don’t know if those seven bulbs you mentioned are in the same fixture? Cause if that’s the case, one of them dying will cause the others to go sooner, etc.
10Remark from Mizzle — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 11:47 AM
Since I lived in the PNW for awhile, I completely understand your hesitation to switch. I know it’s good for the environment and all, but I agree .. they are not as bright. Plus they are so dang expensive. I suppose if I can get Full Spectrum bulbs I might be able to afford a bulb at a time, but that could take me years. As it is, I’ve only switched 1/3 of my bulbs and I’ve decided not to switch anymore of them until I find some that are brighter and cast warm not a cold glow. If you find any, please let me know.
11Remark from ~Kristie — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 7:25 PM
Did you get the bulbs for the can lights that look like the regular bulbs, not the curly ones? Ask ToolMan where he got ours. We have moved all ours to the cfls; I really like the ones in the kitchen because they come on “low” and gradually get brigher. A big plus not to have 6 of them glaring in my face at 5:30 a.m. And for our family room, I got the full spectrum ones which feel warmer.
12Remark from Bobbie — Monday, 3/3/2008 @ 9:37 PM
Oh, Oh Pick me *hand waving in the air* I know this one! Not long ago, the New York Times tested a slew of compact fluorescent bulbs for light quality. They were looking for the light that people liked best. While one editor stood at the end of a room, changing the bulbs in a single table lamp, everyone else judged the quality of the light and there were significant differences, some of the bulbs were very harsh and blue, others warm and natural. I wrote down all the bulbs that had the best light, but neither of my brain cells was in charge of the list, so I can’t find it. But you might be able to look in the archives on their website.
I do know that the bulbs my husband bought at Home Depot are awful. Blue and ugly.
13Remark from shelly — Wednesday, 3/5/2008 @ 10:04 AM
They just don’t seem “bright” to me. We use them in closets and on our porches, but not in our main fixtures. When I stay at hotels that have the compact fluorescent bulbs, I have a difficult time reading and knitting, even after turning every single light in the room on. If I can’t see to read under the light, what’s the point?
14Remark from Lynn — Wednesday, 3/5/2008 @ 9:06 PM
So far, anyway, here in California we can still get good, old-fashioned light bulbs. So far. I really prefer them for most things. Nearly everything, actually. I see the writing on the walls. People in some apartment complexes around here are having all their bulbs replaced by management with the fluorescent ones. Egads. Glad I have a house. Can’t dim the silly fluorescent ones without spending a mint on new fixtures and do-dads, either. Care to have a nice, romantic dinner under the bright, fluorescent glare of the dining room chandelier? I think not. Sigh.
15Remark from Laura — Wednesday, 3/5/2008 @ 11:34 PM