The Inmates Run the Asylum

At about one this morning, the power in part of the kitchen went out. I was momentarily stunned as the sink light went off and the fan quit running and yet, my computer was still on. A good thirty seconds of confusion, to be sure.

I figured a fuse blew and Dad could take care of it in the morning (I do not mess with electricity).

I get up late this morning to find Dad in the basement using a drop light and staring at something with a flashlight. I asked if there should be more cursing involved.

Yes. Yes there should have.

It wasn't the fuse; the wiring for that particular circuit had gone bad (there's a name for it, but I can't remember what it is). Dad could rewire it, but he had to figure out what was on each circuit because he was pretty sure the list he had was wrong.

You see, only the dining room, living room, foyer, basement, and attic are original on my house; the kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms were all added on later (at seperate times, no less). Plus, when my Dad and Papa redid the attic into a bedroom, they had to rewire it. End result: the funkiest wiring set up a house could have.

This meant Dad made endless trips up and down the stairs trying to figure out what went to what (and he couldn't do it all because Carrie was still sleeping). Well, during one of the trips downstairs, Dad fell and hurt his ankle. I pointed out that Carrie fell down the stairs and hurt her ankle last month and now he did it this month, so I'm probably due next month. Dad predicts I'll biff it on the porch steps.

Anyway, he's not hurt too badly and after Carrie gets up, he manages to rewire the circuit and power is restored. But not before he shuts off my computer three times (only once was with any warning and I was able to shut it down...I left it off until I was sure he was done).

So, yes, power is restored and Dad has spent the remainder of his day gimping around like a cripple and I'm not laughing at him or teasing him too much.

Hey, he can get me back when my time comes next month.