Cell Phone Adventure

Some weeks ago, my cell phone quit working. Nothing came up on the screen in response to the buttons being pushed and it wouldn't charge. After checking everything I knew how to check, and reading up on the subject in the User Guides, I went online. Found nothing that helped. So I researched new batteries and ordered one.

It took a couple weeks to arrive, during which I decided it really wasn't at all crucial that I even have a cell phone. Still, in the case of a dire emergency, it would be good to have. I have a deep fear and dread of being stranded in my car somewhere in the middle of the night, and that's why I got a cell phone in the first place.

When the battery finally arrived, I went back to the user guide to make sure I inserted it correctly. But nothing happened. No lights, no sound, nothing. Well, of course it needed to be charged first! Duh. So I plugged it into my charger... and again, nothing except the tiniest beep. An all-night charge accomplished nothing.

Mike tried the new (charged?) battery in his phone to see if it was a bad one to start with. Not only did the new battery not work, when he put in his old one, it didn't work anymore either! Sheeesh.

Fortunately, a trip to Sam's was scheduled, and Mike took both phones and all three batteries to the Sam's cell phone lady. She removed the battery doors, blew lightly on the contacts inside the phones, inserted the batteries one after another, and everything worked like a charm. Go figure. We were defeated by a teeny, tiny, invisible speck of dust.

Another lesson learned. Exaggerated problems only get worse. Keep it simple, stupid.

Seeing is Believing

For some time now I have been bemoaning the lack of good lighting in my kitchen. It has dark cabinets, dark floor, a north window hidden by a pantry and one small window on the west side above the sink. When the sun comes in that west window, I have to close the blinds or get blinded as I move around the room... so, still not enough light. I'm not overly fond of track lighting because it looks to me like a cheap stage set. Even a larger/brighter light hanging over the table would only add shadows to my working space along the counter tops. For a while I was enamored of the idea of skylights, but the more I researched, the more I was put off by the cost. Then, too, even the most expensive ones occasionally spring a leak. And, after all that, would a skylight give me the kind of light I want?

I suppose I am still spoiled by our Lost River house where there were 6' windows on the east side and along the entire 40' south side, bringing the brilliant outdoors inside. That makes the one little kitchen window in this house look pretty pathetic.

Today, I finally put up the new under-cabinet lighting fixtures I bought a few weeks ago, and by George, I think I've got it! The only downside is the all-too-obvious electrical cords, but I didn't want to search for battery-operated lights. Besides, if I live long enough, lights will be turned off and on by simply willing it. I can see the headline now: "Brain waves remove need for electrical grid."

These pictures show the before and after. I had to use the flash to get the left-hand "before" picture to show anything. The "after" picture was taken with the light coming only from the new under-cabinet fixtures. I am VERY pleased.