Wednesday, August 17, 2011

About Those Curly Bulbs...

Somebody keeps playing with my dimmer switch. 
Really, it's true.

At first, I thought it was just that whole approaching 50 thing. They say the first thing to go is the eyesight, and the reading glasses living on my nightstand would tend to agree. It seemed reasonable to blame the dark shadows on the aging process as well.


But then, I noticed a little pattern emerging. It seems that my eyes weren't always stuck on low wattage.

Nooo...
It was directly proportional to the presence of
this little beauty in the room. 


Curly Top. 
She's everywhere, and I'm just not a fan.

I don't care what *they* say, she has about as much oomph as a kerosene lamp. Working in a room full of  Curly Tops is like playing shadow tag on a hazy day.  That's the first beef that I have with her; she's  a dim wit.


Now, I realize that  a lot of folks love their energy efficient curly tops. I just don't happen to be one of them.

In fairness, no one is forcing me to burn them right now. I brought them into my home of my own free will. I'm nothing if not a tightwad after all. When that little piggy went to market boasting a ten year  life span, I brought her all the way home.   

That was about ten years ago.
Since that time, I've replaced them more than once.
I keep expecting a different result.
That's my second beef. 

Truth is, Curly Top is a bit of a tease who rarely  lives up to her reputation. Apparently, there's a reason for that, too.  Apparently, florescent bulbs  weren't really designed to be switched on and off like a regular old light bulb. They were designed for places like factories where they can burn for long periods of time. 

Who knew?

I certainly didn't.

I didn't know that breaking one was akin to committing an act of act of bioterrorism either, but that's another story. I'll call it my third beef. 




And then, there's the whole attractiveness thing.
There's the beef.

I could more easily tolerate the lying little dim witted bio hazard in the interest of savings if she weren't such an eyesore. I think she should be banished behind the shade of a table lamp. Unfortuntely, the besotted testosterone who lives with me likes to spread the curly wealth all over the house. This makes the estrogen very unhappy.


Yes, I realize it's a little late to worry about style when you have a rattan and brass hovercraft dangling from your popcorn ceiling, but I do. I have gray roots and crow's feet too, but I still don't walk around with broccoli between my teeth.  Same principle.

Kind of.

I actually stopped that project midstream and claimed a small, temporary victory in the invasion of the Curly Top. The husband might have given in, but he's not interested hearing me harp about it.

So I'm harping to you instead.    


What about you? 
What's your relationship with Curly Top?

40 comments:

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Nope, not a fan here either! Won't even allow them in my home for lots of reasons, #1 being that they're not aesthetically pleasing. In other words, they're UGLY! I like curly hair (how I wish I had it!) and curvy furniture (think Louis XV), but whoever invented these "next generation" light bulbs really needs to go back to the drawing board. Thank goodness Renaissance Man agrees with me! Otherwise, I'd have to pull out my design degree and pull rank on him. Someone I admire greatly once said, "Let there be light" -- and then called it "good." Too bad that's not true about Curly Top...

Chatty Crone said...

My husband LOVES them and I don't. I an kind of a health nut about certain things (can you believe that?) and florescent bulbs - their lighting is not healthy either - in my opinion - beef number 5.

Crickit said...

I DO NOT like them either! My husband is a big fan... me not so much. I don't think that they look very attractive in my ceiling fan lights, especially because of their size and shape. The light cover to the fan light won't fit over those bulbs...and the bulb sticking out is very un-pretty! In this case... looks count!

lailani said...

Aesthetically can't stand them. But before replacing some of my traditional bulbs, I was going through a bunch! so for the past 3 or 4 years I have not had to replace the little piggys. I have a light in the kitchen that they are banned from - and I will have to stock pile those bulbs before they are gone.
I read an article several months ago - Texas will be the land of traditional bulbs. There is company still making and there is a "resistance" movement to the curly bulbs. I like the option ;)

Oh, as for disposal - I did have one blow, I set it aside - since we supposedly are not to throw away. I heard that Lowes has a box for this curly bio weapons. But you know how they dispose of them? They chunk them in the trash anyway...guess you know where mine went.

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

We're not fans at all. I bought into the cost savings hype a few years ago, so I plunked down the cash to try them. I've tried several brands now and they're all the same, lousy light output, lousy light color, and really lousy lifespan. So now we're buying all the incandescent bulbs we can get our hands on.

Tanna said...

OMG! I have about peed my pants reading this, Debbie! LOL! Oh, I'm with you, Sister! And, the dang things will RUIN your dimmer switches, too (apparently even the ones that are 'made' for dimmers)!! Haven't gotten close to ten years from a single one of them either! I'm glad you got off the ceiling fan diatribe, I thought I was going to choke myself chuckling! The broccoli in the teeth analagy did me in! LOL! THANK YOU so much for this fun read! Hope you have a great day! blessings ~ tanna

Miss Char said...

You couldn't attract a moth with these things, HATE THEM! I'm buying a case of "real" light bulbs before they stop manufacturing them, hopefully that will allow me to live out my life in peace.

Kelli said...

Agree wholeheartedly! We have yet to have one last as long as promised. So our disappointment level keeps dropping. Ugly too boot! I'm ready to go back to regular bulbs!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

my shoulders are shaking just laughing here all by myself ... you say it better than I can even think it! I'm on the exact same page with you about those curlies.... get em gone!

I've had my laugh for the morning!

xo

Barbara F. said...

Hi Debbie, yes I have them everywhere in my home, and I feel as if I am living in little house on the prairie, it is dark!!! But they do save money and last forever, so maybe I should just get accustomed to it. Unfortunately, they won't be manufacturing the other kind. xo,

Anonymous said...

Oh, Debbie . . . I love you! What a WIT of WATTAGE you are with WORDS!!! This article should be published! I mean - really - you need to shop it around. You realize you should be getting royalty checks for some of your meanderings, don't you . . .

Say . . . are you? Syndicated, I mean . . .

Loved this. Just got my husband one of those library desk lamps in green that came with a curly top boasting years of reading happiness. WOW! Give me sunglasses when he has it on! Bright and glaring - totally clashes with the soft lighting I have in the rest of the room.

For reading clarity - as we age - e-books like the NOOK are great. They come with their own light on the page and you can set the size of the letters!!! Much nicer for me - I'm not even finished paying for my last pair of glasses that I know my prescription has changed and they're outdated for reading. With my Nook - I just make the font larger.

Loved the way you placed the photos to make your point. The ceiling fan had me laughing out loud, to be sure!

Love ya!
Kathy

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Debbie,

You are definitely singing to the choir at our house. I HATE these things and I don't think my husband's keen on them either. We really like the incandescent, daylight-spectrum bulbs the best -- especially in winter. I don't know how I'll stand it if we eventually have to switch completely to those curly things. I'm hoping we'll clean house in the government in 2012 (like we did last November), and maybe they'll overturn that stupid law. I think we're all capable of finding ways to save energy and care for the planet without having every single choice dictated to us. Woops -- I didn't mean to give a polictical speech, but this post really pushed my hot button. Needless to say, I agree with ALL of your points about the curly bulbs. Thanks for sharing!

Denise

Ann said...

I too dislike those things ..... but I have discovered there are "soft" light versions and "bright" light versions. We have to have the BRIGHT lights in this house. But they all have a delay when lighting!
At least the state of Texas has the right idea. They overturned the law at the state level and have opened a light bulb factory to keep producing the "normal" bulbs! Job creation at its' finest! : D

Cheers!

Cindy said...

Your so funny. What a great post...wish I would have thought to write one like this. :)

I'm not a huge fan of them myself, but they do seem to last quite a bit longer for me. And I do leave lamps on all over my house....but not crazy for the light they put off. Hubby loves them too....so most likely they are going to stay.

Thanks for stopping in the yesterday. Hope your having a blessed week.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Oh the fan is sooo funny. Those curly bulbs...Useless!

Carol

Lynn said...

Well, I'm ok with them. The thing I like best is they seem to last longer in the ceiling lights than the other ones did. So I'm neutral:@)

Jennie said...

Okay, this:

"Yes, I realize it's a little late to worry about style when you have a rattan and brass hovercraft dangling from your popcorn ceiling, but I do. I have gray roots and crow's feet too, but I still don't walk around with broccoli between my teeth. Same principle."

...hands down, hardest I've laughed in weeks.

The Charm of Home said...

Yes! We just bought new lights for the kitchen and we did the math on the "new" bulbs because we will be made to switch at the end of the year. What we found out was that there isn't a single bulb out there they are offering as a replacement that has the same amount of lumens. Which means they are dimmer, a lot dimmer. So they are making us save electricity by living in dimmer lighting. Not happy! We purchased the most bulbs per light fixture we could afford for the kitchen because if you have a single bulb lighting an area it will be equivalent to a light bulb now. And, can you just picture Victoria magazine lighting a Christmas tree with led's. They don't glow! At all. It looks completely stupid in a photo. I will be stock piling normal bulbs, especially Christmas lights. I really want my glow.
Love your posts! Thought provoking and fun all at once.:)
Sherry

Denise said...

As with many other products, I'm stock piling (maybe hoarding would be a better word) those incandescent light bulbs. You know, they changed the wattage from 100 to 90 on some brands. The last time I was in Wal-mart, however, I found the old 100 watters! I would rather replace the same good 100 watt bulb than try 3 of those curly ones to achieve the same amount of light. How many do you think I'll need for the rest of my lifetime?

And, I've known you ALL of your life, and you almost never have broccoli in your teeth! Point well made. Just sayin'...

Ruby Jean said...

Oh I hear Ya!! and Totaly understand all BEEFS...

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Another beef would be the different 'color' in the lights - maybe I didn't read the package but some are yellowish and some are whiteish and they do not last as long as the box claims.
- Joy

Red Couch Recipes said...

So glad someone writes what I think. The home we bought 4 yeas ago had some of them in place. I thought I was living in a cave! My scientist husband believes in theory that they are better, but his wife doesn't feel that in practice they work out well. I call them spaghetti lights. I broke one and didn't realize (oh horrors!) what an environmental nightmare I had released. I just cleaned it up like I would a normal glass spill -- is there a warning on the box (these were from the lady who lived in our home)? -- I have never bought them. I should be stocking up too -- but was hoping that Congress would come to their senses....Very funny and true post.

Anonymous said...

I. Hate. Curley Top.
Ugly, harsh light. Can't use a dimmer switch with it.
Mister and I actually bought a case of regular "old fashioned" light bulbs to avoid Curly Top as long as possible.
Oh, and turning 50? It's great!!! I've loved it and then I read last week in the paper, that it is apparently one of the happiest ages for people! Yay for 50!

Knitty said...

I detest them too! They're ugly and I don't think they are safe. On top of that, last I knew, not one single one is made in the USA, they're all from China. I'm honestly not China bashing, but I don't think their regulations match ours when it comes to health and safety standards.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

I am banning the curly top...which we are given for free at our electric company...because if you have ever read what happens if they break, and the process you need to go through to get the toxins out of the house, and the harm to children...well forget it!!
I agree, we replace them just as much as other bulbs...I can't see...etc, etc...

Now if I come your way I will help take down the popcorn ceiling and give that fan a face lift...LOL Remember I am the one who gets control over my negative hormones by doing a project.
Hugs...you are so creative, I will trade popcorn ceiling transformation for writing lessons.

Joan Hall said...

Debbie - I was very much in need of a laugh today. Thank you!

Those little curly bulbs drive me crazy. I recently started replacing the old incandescent bulbs as they burn out. And you are right - they are NOT as bright as they claim to be.

Oh well, someone's "bright" idea.

Sharon said...

I am not a fan of Miss Curly Top. She is so much more brash and glaring than her warmer sister Miss Incandescent. I've decided to set up Miss Curly with Mr. Florescent Tube on a blind date. Should I warn him that she is NOT a cheap date?

I figure they can go to the landfill together, where they'll probably make the dirt glow for like 10,000 years.

Sigh...I miss candles.

Sharlotte said...

Hi Debbie,
I can SO relate to this. I don't like them either...for all the reasons you've stated. And I've actually heard of people stock-piling the "old type" bulbs so that they'd have a lifetime supply when the "government" forces the companies to stop making them. Any truth to that? I don't really know...but I think I might stock-pile a few as well!

Sharlotte said...

PS...I've read through all these comments and I think you truly need to write a book! Everyone loves you, your thoughts, and your writing!You are amazing!!!{I'll be the first one in line!}
Sharlotte

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
This really made me laugh out loud...so funny and sooo true. The curly bulbs are ugly and dim and I. hate. them. I, too, have been stockpiling the incandescent bulbs like crazy. I think you really should consider publishing your "meanderings" as some others have suggested. I love the way your mind works!


~Jean

elizabeth said...

LOL!!! I HATE the curly top. I will be black market buying regular old lightbulbs once they're outlawed. Wanna join me?

Poetic Soul said...

I don't like harsh lights, the dimmer the better and curly here gets my voteI don't like harsh lights, the dimmer the better and curly here gets my vote

no spring chicken said...

Can you get tired of praise? I have the hardest time commenting on the content of your posts because it's the set up, and the vocabulary, and the wit! Who else could post about a light bulb and make me eager to come back and see what else ya got?

Then, I must say that I'm always right there with you on the content too. I think, hmm. She's not just funny, she's RIGHT!

Blessings, Debbie

Decor To Adore said...

Oh I am happily jumping on your bandwagon!

Tami said...

Oh my-this is too funny. We have curly tops-I'm looking at one right now. Do I like them? Well, I can't say I notice the poor lighting, because I don't turn lights on that much-we have a lot of windows, but I do think they look a bit funny. A little too mod for my cottage/antinque house. But here's the thing-the Other Nut is an engineer so the curly top it is! Gotta love engineers-how he deals with a free spirit sanquine like myself beats me:)
One of the funniest things about this post though, is that I have that exact same fan in my gameroom! Not a fan (get it!)-and now I have curly top light bulbs in it. Thanks for making me laugh-I need it right now.

Marlis said...

just split my side, picked the broccoli out of my teeth and peed my pants.. this is a hoot. I hate those things. They are banned from the house. I live in Texas.. if I have to I will fill the cellar with cases of the others.. I will go kicking and screaming.. NO CURLY TOPS!! LOL

corners of my life said...

My biggest complaint is that in the kitchen I have to turn them on five minutes before I need them {so they have time to warm up and get bright}. Frustrating!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I do not like them either. Can't put one of those clip-on lamp shades on them. When I first turn them on, they are so dim, I think the switch didn't work, so I turn it off and try again which makes the "dim" last longer! Another fun post. You are so clever. laurie

Donna said...

Hate 'em. And "ditto" to all your comments. :)
D

Mindy said...

I only like the fact that I don't have to try to get a chair into my closet every two weeks and try to climb on that chair, which is sitting on whatever happens to be in my closet floor at the time, to change the other bulbs. Once every few years is much better.

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