Monday, March 31, 2008

Electrical malfunctions

Geoff would be grinning right now. My hair straightners died a miserable death this morning. This is a national disaster, or maybe not really. I mean BIG hair could be making a comeback, who knows. I could be a trend-setter.

Anyway.

I had nasty visions of lots of money for an industrial strength replacement. And then I had a moment of great inspiration. I removed the fuse from the plug with a kitchen knife, as one does. And I rifled through the serviette drawer (of course) and found a replacement fuse with the right number of amps, and popped it in before I resorted to tossing the defunct straightners in the bin, and VOILA!!! It worked!! I am a genius.

This was my husband's area of expertise. I never had to fix things. I just dumped them on his lap and looked pathetic. Or started waving the credit card about, which spurred him to immediate action, and he usually managed to fix whatever was broken. In fact, he managed to fix just about everyone else's stuff too. He is missed for more than one reason. Frequently. Many people around here sigh in a long suffering way when they announce the new purchase of electrical goods and then look at me and say...well, Geoff would have fixed it... Sigh. I know. It has been a great irritation to me too. Like when the toilet broke the day after he died. I had some choice words to say then too.

So he would be grinning. There is just one piece of equipment in his tool box which fascinates me more than anything else. A test meter. I have no idea how it works. But I do know it is an easy way to see what is broken. You stick one end of the wire on something and the other on a another thing and the reading does something. See?? I am a whizz. I know what it does but how and why and what it actually means is a mystery. But I will work it out one day. Why on earth didn't I ever ask him? Do I need one? No. But it is here and paid for and there must be some way to work it. Hmmmm. There are some minor gaps in my education.

For those of you who have asked - I could possibly have done the damage by carrying a laptop case stuffed with paper and files around all day and every day at work. It weighs a ton. Not to mention heavy trays of equipment as I move classrooms. I had commented on the weight of the things, and it had been noted as unsustainable. And it still feels just the same, so I am going back to the doctor to find out how long it will take to heal and what I am supposed to be doing. The first appointment I can get is for tomorrow afternoon. I teach a practical subject, which requires me to use my right hand to exert downward pressure a lot like using scalpels etc, and stretching to write on the boards won't be easy. Never mind carrying cutting boards etc about.

I worried about letting the kids I teach down, as there is no-one to replace me at the moment, but then a good friend said quite simply....who is more important? The kids you teach or your son? No contest. I need to be healthy and well. There is only me left. And that has never seemed more real than in the past week.

32 years ago last week, I got married. It seems like a lifetime ago. I was just 21. Two years older than my youngest child. Who is turning 19 this week. My baby. Where on earth have all the years gone?

Anyway, the enforced inactivity continues. My hands are itching to get on with the sewing, but I am being good and resisting. Remember how I was not looking forward to going to work and wanted to stay home? I got that. But not quite the way I would have wished for.

8 comments:

Bronwen said...

Prayers are always answered in unexpected ways!
Have a restful and enjoyable day!
We 've tended to go to the Lincoln Grapevine rather than the busier Spring Harvest but no you're not far and maybe we will get to meet.... I love meeting bloggers IRL!

Kelli said...

Yeah for you! Maybe I'll send some things your way to fix :)

SO glad to hear you in good spirits dear friend.

Susie said...

Hi Linds,
I've been catching up on your news. So sorry you have the forced inactivity because of the pain..Sounds very uncomfortable..
Your walk in previous post was just wonderful. Loved seeing all the beautiful pictures.
Continue to rest and heal, and you're in my prayers..
xoxo

Needled Mom said...

WOW! I am so impressed that you were able to figure it out. It must be difficult to have to pick up on all those things that you relied on Geoff to do for you. We have always marveled at the two separate mindsets in our family -- the mechanical vs. the cerebral type.

Hope that you are feeling better soon and back to things that you enjoy. Take care of yourself.

Susan said...

Linds, I just passed on an Award to you. Please come by and pick it up. I'll be back shortly to read your post.
Susan

Susan said...

I am totally dependent on Mickey for far to much. I am aware of that and trying to modify it a little bit. VERY little.
Susan

Vee said...

Your posts are so intriguing to me because you are able to put into words what I have never been able to say.

I remember replacing a screen once that I never would've had to do in eighteen years of marriage. Now, as I mow lawns, snowblow and shovel, weed whack and cut branches, dig post holes, etc., I find myself thinking back wistfully. Sad how women often find themselves doing things on their own when we're older and should be enjoying our leisure.

Glad that you're going to take good care of yourself!

Dawn said...

What a beautiful walk yesterday! Such wonderful pictures you got. I'm glad you were able to do that. And we do have to be careful what we wish for don't we??

I really can't imagine having to do everything for myself that my husband does for me now. I'm sure you didn't either!