Or: “I don’t think wire is supposed to look all crispy like that”

Today I was all over the house. First, I made a map of all my circuits by turning off each breaker, then checking to see what still worked. As I suspected, every light and outlet is on one breaker except for maybe 5. That means I am much more likely to trip a breaker while using my toaster oven, for example. It also means that one junction box, hidden somewhere under the insulation in my attic, is sending wire all over my house like nobody’s business.

Sigh.

I don’t mind spiders. If I find a spider, I am just as likely to put it outside as I am to kill it. I understand that they provide a valuable service to our environment by killing flies and mosquitoes. But spiders I can’t see that may or may not be burrowed into my insulation are really. fucking. scary. Nevertheless, I bravely made my way into the attic, traced the path of the wiring from outlet to switch to junction box, and dug through the insulation to move the switch wire to the other side of the room. In fact, I have used up my entire supply of bravery for the month of February. Don’t even ask me to help little old ladies cross the street. I’m done.

Then I drew a little picture detailing the wiring necessary to install a switch and an outlet in the same box and attempted to replicate said drawing in reality. 12 gauge wire is a bitch to bend, and I’m all out of electrical tape, so I’m calling it a day early and I’m going to study bees. The test is next weekend!

These are the trees that fell in the yard. The back one next to the garden was dead already, and broke off right at the ground. The one closer to the house did send out some leaves this year, but was looking pretty rough already.