wiring 101

Hello.  It's me.

I have been trying to decide

what to share with you

about wiring.

I've come a long way

in the wiring world.

I now know the difference 

between 12 guage, 14-2 and 14-3 wire...

I now know how to drill holes in the studs

for the wire to go through,

and I know how to 

shove that wire through the holes

from one outlet to another.

I now know what single boxes, double boxes and heavy duty fan/light boxes are.

I now know that climbing up and down ladders all day

makes your legs ache.

I now know that holding your arms up over your head all day

makes your shoulders ache.

I now know that being an electrician's assistant

is not for sissies.

One thing that has been hard for me to learn

is that my electrician wants me to learn.

He wants me to understand why he does things

the way he does.

He wants to teach me about electricity

so that I can anticipate what tool he will need next,

or what room we will move to next,

or where I will want to put the switches and plug-ins next.

He wants me to remember all the lingo

he taught me yesterday

so he won't have to explain it all again

day after day.

Every time I sit down to ponder whether to paint the

library Quiver Tan

or the bathroom Night Owl,

he hollers

bring me the small battery operated drill,

or 

bring me another box of staples,

or 

switch out these bits....

I now know that 

wiring is slow-

but it must be done,

and it must be done right.

You can work at it for days

and not see any progress.

Wiring in winter is cold business.

I now know that one must wear two pairs of everything

and you will still be cold.

Two gloves, two pants, two socks, two hats...

hot coffee in a thermos and lots of granola bars to keep

going

Sometimes 

there is a little lull in my duties

and I get to gaze out at this scene

and this,

and this.

Who could ask for more?