Flickr photo by joshhikes
No, I haven't lost my mind.
Didn't you hear?
Way back in December, the American congress passed an energy bill banning incandescent bulbs by the year 2014.
I don't know about what's happening at your house, (what's happening there, by the way?) but at my house we're slowly switching over to these guys.
Flickr photo by Grey Wind
They look like ice cream cones to me.
Flickr photo by billyhc
I'm not sure I like that.
Besides giving me a constant urge to hop in my car and hightail it to the Dairy Queen, those fluorescent bulbs just aren't as quick to light up as my old favorites were.
Don't hate me or call me an Earth Hater. I'm not. The earth is my favorite planet!
I know I'm a little nutzo for begrudging the split second longer that the fluorescent bulbs take to light up. I recognize that. And I'll get over it. I'm sure I will.
I'm switching to fluorescent bulbs also because they're four to six times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. And they last longer. So they don't crowd the landfills as much.
Yey fluorescent bulbs. I'm all for less in the landfills.
But I do love my old favorites.
So does Michelle over at Dadadreams.
Flickr photo by Dadadreams
I love her caption: When they danced together, no one was better. They loved to trip the light fantastic. They were incandescent. They lit up the room. They fit together like a bulb in a socket. More than anything else, they were light on their feet.
Click Here for her etsy site and find all sorts of wonderfully fun things!
Oh well. I'll get used to my new ice cream lights.
But until then, every time I see a white crocus, I'll pine for my old love.
Flickr photo by Lani Barbitta
Don't they look like light bulbs to you?
And what about the old light bulb over the head thing?
If they draw an ice cream bulb over Sally Forth, everyone will think she's craving ice cream!
We could go back to candles
Flickr photo by tamelyn
But it just isn't the same.
And what to do with all those old incandescent bulbs?
Have I got ideas for you!
Take off the end.
Flickr photo by Jpl3k- JonathanL25
You can find directions here. It also tells you how to make it into a Sea Monkey Condo! What more could you want from me people? A SEA MONKEY CONDO!
Or how about a light bulb terrarium?
Flickr photo by JohnKit
Or a light bulb aquarium?
Flickr photo by czuppongergely
Or how about Christmas ornaments?
Flickr photo by Jnlevision
Or something more groovy, with polymer clay?
Flickr photo by nogadin
Aren't those gorgeous?
But you know, as long as we're saving the world, we might as well be flower children!
You can find the stand here.
So what do you think? Love the new bulbs? Hate them?
Will you actually make a sea monkey condo, or are you afraid of sea monkeys?
Have a Wonder-full Wednesday, y'all!
And before you go, linger just a few seconds longer to watch one of my favorite commercials. It's full of light bulb love. Enjoy!
Love, Becky
23 comments:
Hi Becky
I loved this post, and the ad. You are so clever with words and ideas!! I have heard that these new lightbulbs have mercury in them and that if they break the mercury will spill out. How bad for the environment will that be? I wonder
Higs, Rhondi
I actually REALLY like the idea of Christmas ornaments!! seriously!! I'm going to do that this year. I've seen homes that were "all green"....and I knew we were heading this way eventually. Brilliant post:-)
Hi Becky,
Boy, have I missed your posts! I have been laughing and my eyes have tears as I've read through. Both you and Sarah will get through freshman year. You've done a great job raising her and she will be just fine. Just remember to breathe-lol.
Ben driving, oh my. Jeff's first driving experiences are etched in my mind forever. Enough said!
Your posts always brighten my day.
many hugs,
Barb
Hi Becky,
I am going to have my husband read your great post today. He works for the Electric Co. Loves lightbulb stuff!!
Have a great day!
Rosemary
You really should watch this about light bulbs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg
Do sea monkeys prefer Syvannia, or GE? LOL!!
I have been saving my burnt out bulbs to paint up as snowmen for Christmas ornaments. I am going to re-think using the clear ones to use to help homeless sea monkeys.
~ Teresa
I've been using the florescent bulbs since before it was even cool to use them (pun intended!). But here's my beef... They truly, truly, truly do NOT last longer in my home that the incandescent. Usually they last about 1/2 as long. In my bathroom, I have 3 lightbulbs. 2 are the original bulbs from when we bought the house 7 YEARS ago. One is a florescent bulb that we've replaced 3 times. Riddle me that???
I never thought of making Christmas ornaments. A sea monkey condo is a fantastic idea. LOL
Hi Becky,
Despite your disdain for the "ice cream cone bulbs" making a terrarium or an aquarium out of a light bulb seems VERY green to me! I LOVE the vase (or is it VAAAAAAAHHHHHS?)
Anyhoodlyhoo, you're a hoot! Love the post...
Hi Becky,
Yes, it is quite dim when you first turn them on, and it sure drives me crazy when I go into my pantry and try to find things until the light decides to get up to speed. I am over 40, you know, and the old eyes don't work quite as well as they used to. I'm finding that I need longer arms in addition to more light! I will say the only advantage to that dim light is when you first wake up and go to turn on that bathroom light in the A.M. it is not so blinding as a regular incandescent bulb:)
And I would agree with CC that some of them really do not last any longer than the old bulbs we used and the price of these bulbs is ridiculous! Tammy Whitley
Becky your posts are always such fun. I don't always have time to comment... but I'm around!
Your themes crack me up.
Funny how many of them hit home too... like I've been to the Space Needle and the Corn Palace, lol...
Get yourself and your lovely daughter some chocolate and all will be fine! That's what I'm gonna do, and my baby is just starting Preschool next week!!
this post was cute and interesting..I am deffinitly gonna try to make something cute from my old light bulbs..ohh and I thought you may find this interesting about a light bulb..its the oldest burning light bulb..107 years..and still going..check out this website..
http://www.centennialbulb.org/
ps:meeting the parents went awesome, they are such great people!!thank you for the words of encouragment!!
cool post! so interesting! hope you have a fabulous day!! hugs!! xo Britt :-)
You light up my life;)
Those are gorgeous "arty" bulbs. I like a mix of both--leave it to Congress to ban the choice (hahaha) but explore drilling in the Arctic so we can keep driving our SUVs.
ahhh..I love the penguin bulbs. :)
I did not know that about the ban! wow!
Those are BRIGHT reuse ideas! :)
Hey y'all. I love your comments. I'll try to catch you on your blogs, if I haven't already.
And welcome to the blog, MushroomMeadows!
And Tammy, I'm with you on the dim light problem. The eye doc basically said that's what happens after forty. Boo. We should get some kind of prize to make up for it.
Hey Becky, Great post. Can anyone say horde? Yes, I have already started stocking up on the 100W, as they will be the first to go, supposedly. Love the alternative uses, I have actually done several of them. Thanks for keeping us in the know. Take care, Susan
Becky, LOL! I'm scared of those new bulbs and have yet to purchase any....I guess I'd better start buying the old ones and hoarding them? LOL. LOve the painted ones for Christmas ornies...may have to give that a whirl! : D
c
Well, now I feel bad for even saying this but I love the old regular bulbs...the new ice cream cone ones are just plain ugly - lol. But I do love the terraium idea!
Hugs,
P
THe new bulbs DO look like ice cream cones! Love all the wild and wacky things to do with the old ones.
Everything about this post was fun! From the sea monkeys to the psychedelics ornament. The finale in the post is the United Airlines "life is a light bulb."
You know ror years we have used the traditional light bulb as the illustration for ideas. Your post makes me wonder if the new ice cream cone light bulb will be used in illustrations by 2014.
This post should be an NPR commentary. Great work.
Hi Becky~ Thanks for including my light dancers in your de-light-ful and en-light-ening post! Your wit is incandescent and I always enjoy reading your blog. Have a great day!
~Michelle
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