The Sparks Lady

The bucket truck was built on the frame of a Ford with dual rear axle, and turbo diesel engine. Some might know it as a cherry picker, the kind the hydro or communications companies use when making repairs on the road. We used it for fixing and replacing high up bulbs and fixing parking lot pole fixtures.  This particular day, I had finished the service calls requiring the use of the boom-arm, and was on my way to a simple ‘re/re’ (Remove & Replace) of an under counter light fixture. I had not been to this building before, and parking the beast of a truck outside the main entrance. I could move it later if needed. I called the number on the work order for the superintendent for the building. A lady answered, and was already out the door to great me before we hung up the phone. She paused mid-step as took me in, looking over my shoulder at the truck, checking out to see who was with me. “Are you the electrician?” She asked, surprise more than just a hint in her vo...

I never thought being off for 4 weeks would knock me on my ass so much. I suppose it wasn't just the fact I was off, but off injured. Going from hardly walking to back to full time at work was nothing short of exhausting. My legs felt like I'd run a marathon. Well, walked one at least. I'm usually a quick worker, but I felt slow, and lagging. Coupled with having a cold that first week back, and being fearful of sleeping in past my alarm, sleep was a luxury not afforded to me. During the day I kept telling myself,  "just one more light," or "just one more receptacle."  One more, after one more, after one more got me through the first couple weeks. Week three started to get better and i felt back at my regular pace again. I still had one more follow up appointment and xray to confirm the fracture was healed. That x-ray looked good! You could see the bone filling in the gap left from the fracture. I was giving the all clear to resume all normal acti...

I've never had my feet fail me before. There have been years of dancing in studios, across the stage and even down the grocery isles. Years of training, years of trusting, and years of knowing that my body knew what to do. 13 years to be exact. Unlucky 13, as it turns out. Oh sure, I've taken falls before. But my feet always found a way to get me down to the ground safely without injury, or at most a minor one. Not this time. I've replayed it in my head a thousand times. I know exactly how I landed on my foot, and I've got the x-ray to prove it. I know the sound of a sprained ankle, having done my right one a couple times. The closest thing I can equate to that noise is the sound of popping a balloon with a pin. But this, this was definitely a crack. I knew as soon as the rest of my body hit the ground that I wasn't going to be getting up right away. My first thought was of work. Being injured means I don't work. If I don't work, I don't get paid...

Well, the rough week of tests and assignments from week 10 of my Intermediate had passed. My bonus week for the Solar Photovoltaic Systems course was quite interesting. I'm glad I took this course after Intermediate as some of the theory I learned crossed over into the solar course. The biggest things I took away from the solar course was the different types of solar modules, how to size solar panel systems, how to size battery banks to store the energy, and the different ways you can connect to the hydro grid, or have the system work off-grid. It was definitely worth the extra week off work, and I was glad I had the chance to take it. Our school has solar modules set up on the roof, and we got to check out the battery bank in the Renewable Energy Lab, which has a small 2 story house built inside. They also have a small renewable energy trailer, which has a combination of solar modules and a small wind turbine that charge a set of batteries. These batteries are used to power re...

Well, this was a hell week. Tests, assignments and labs in just about every class, which translates to 1 or more assessments each day. That alone was enough to keep my brain busy. Unfortunately, I had some personal stuff to cope with as well, and that only served to take up some much needed mental capacity. I was determined to start this week off right. I knew it was going to be crazy, so I was trying to have the right attitude to serve me through all of the tests to come. That didn't last long. I had a test in my second class on Monday that I somehow was not aware of (which is not like me to not be on top of those things.) This misstep seemed to set the tone for the rest of my week. I passed the test, but it wasn't with what I would normally be okay with. I had to let that go, so I could carry on. I still had another test that afternoon.   Wednesday was most certainly the hump day. Sometimes you don't realize how much you are holding yourself together until you fall apart....

One more week to go! Or so I thought... There is an extra week that I've opted to take. The school is running a Solar Photovoltaic Installation course that is funded by the Ministry of Training as an update clinic for any apprentices and journeymen. I figured that I'm in school mode anyways, and if I don't have to pay for it, it would be good to add to my skill set.  Apart from that, the learning is done! Now just review and study, study, study. Next week we have at least one, and sometimes two tests per day. A couple of classes include both a written and a practical portion of testing. Just about every evening next week is going to be dedicated to review stuff for the test the day before. I'm not going to get too carried away with as. I figure if I don't know it by now, cramming isn't going to add much more.  I was putting away laundry this weekend, when I realized I'll have to go back to wearing work shirts and pants 5 days a week. Over the last 9 weeks of...

I came across this project stumbling around the internet for interesting things, as I tend to do from time to time. I thought it was a great example of a practical use for some of the electronics stuff I have been learning in school. It also serves to feed my Harry Potter hunger. (Long live Dumbledore's Army!) I might not be at this stage of the game yet, but it would certainly be cool to work towards.  It makes use of LED's, and a micro-controller connected via wi-fi. It connects to each family member's smartphones via an app (If This, Then That) to geo-locate the family member and communicate that location to the clock. This lights up the corresponding family member with their pre-set locations.  That app has many more uses. It can be used to connect to your HUB wi-fi connected light bulbs; NEST home thermostat; Belkin's WeMo, a plug adapter that you plug your corded device (like a coffee maker, or your Christmas lights). The WeMo is a wifi enabled device tha...