The Geriatric Follies

Makes for good reading, you really must experience it! LOL!

Outside Low-Voltage Lights
For some reason, my Mom decided she wanted to replace the lights out front because they didn't work. I'm thinking now, it's because the timer wasn't set correctly, but who am I?? So, being the dutiful daughter (and bored out of my mind) I offered to help. What was I thinking??

Knowing that they really don't like change much, I decided the best way to do this was to put the new lights exactly where the old lights were, so there would be no problems. I would unhook the old transformer, hook up the new transformer, lay the wire down and connect the new lights. We asked Daddy to hook up the transformer as he's very bored and very nasty so that would give him something to do. Then IT started. I wasn't doing it the right way, we had to start from the far end of the old wire and then splice the extra length to the end, then attach that to the transformer. I asked, knowing I was Starting Something, what difference did it make, if we spliced the extra to the far end or to the near end.

While we were fussing about that, Momma tried to get started, but she had to find her hat, the new tie she made for her hat to keep it on and the bug spray. When she got all that together, she decided she had to trim some of the azaleas. I called my Baby Sis to let her know she Owed Me Big Time and she, darn, couldn't talk much, she had a meeting (sure!). Then Daddy started rooting around for some of his tools to splice some ends to the wire to hook it up more properly to the transformer. 20 minutes later he's still looking and still cussing. I sat on the front porch and put together the light fixtures, all 10 of them. Then I called Big Sis to let her know she Owed Me Big Time, but I had the pleasure of talking to her husband for awhile and left a message. I went over to check on the geriatric crowd to see what was going on, and Daddy had found his Ohm meter and was testing the transformer. (?) It was a new transformer, but he's bored and he is a man and they love their tools. I had wanted to seriously start drinking at this point, but I knew I had to make a run to the wine store, so I couldn't start, but boy, that Makers Mark really sounded good! (Bourbon is my Drink of Anxiety. Nothing like a Jack and Coke to make things right!)

While all this is going on, the skies are darkening. A rainy afternoon had been predicted, so I wanted to get all this done before it started raining. The humidity had really shot up and we heard some rumbling in the distance. FINALLY, everything was tested and hooked up. I was able to get the last lights in place and working just as the rain was coming down. We still have to splice about 10 feet on the FAR end of the wire and put in place 2 more lights, but that will wait until the next rain storm.

If nothing else, I'm learning patience.

More to come...
As things happen, I'll be posting. Thanks for taking the time to read. You're opinions are welcome but if you have to start calling me names, don't bother, I won't read them. As my Dad says 'Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.'