Those are good ideas.

But, while you are waiting, I'd air out the house. Unfortunately, it seems smoke lingers as I think it permeates the walls, drapes? Maybe?

But, we've had things like this happen. Once while watching t.v., I kept noticing sparks from alongside the wall unit. So I called the hubby over and it was indeed sparking and, like you, it was night so luckily we caught it. He did something, no problem since.

Hopefully it wasn't internal wiring but rather the light fixture? Was anything else plugged into the same outlet as the lamp? Or was it like, say, the light fixture over the dining room table sort of thing?

Anyhow, don't sleep too tightly tonight and definitely get it checked!!

{we have/had one that is right up against the ceiling and the electrician who replaced it said being so close to the lightbulbs the heat was melting the wires and caused the shorting....but no sparks with that one, I think it just quit working...}

Take care!

I'm in the county so there's only 911, and they don't like non-emergencies. They get very very angry. I've had the 911 dispatcher yell at me before and refuse to summon help when we had something that we needed police for sooner than in the morning, when the non-emergency line opens, but wasn't life or death.

I think it's okay. On a whim, I checked what type of bulbs the spousal unit put in there, and sure enough, they're 40W. And the little sign on the light fixture says "Risk of Fire - Use 25W Lamp Max." The ceiling and floor still aren't hot, and the first floor smoke detector is right next to the lamp, so I probably won't become a crispy critter.

So, assuming I don't immolate myself, should I replace the entire fixture before trying to use it again? Right now I've got the light switches taped in place, so I don't accidentally turn it on again.

Well, I would replace. They aren't quite so expensive these days, Home Depot has some nice ones.

It sort of sounds like mine. The Hubster could have replaced it but to make sure everything was alright, we had an electrician do it. He checked the wiring and that is when he explained about the heating of the wires and he did, now that I think about it, replace some of it. Of course, our wiring is quite old but...well, darn it, as old as I am.

hell, I am off to bed.

Well, on one hand, I think the source of error is probably the bulbs. On the other hand, being wrong would REALLY suck.

So I'd say err on the side of caution, and in the morning call the non-emergency line and ask the firemen what they suggest? Or better yet call an electrician out to inspect it?

The hallway light fixtures are truly fugly and I was planning on leaving them for the next owner to deal with, but I guess I'll go ahead at replace them now with something that looks a little less like it belongs in a Shakey's Pizza.

I think I'll have my dad come out and replace them. He's an electrical engineer and, while he mostly does computer stuff now, he can still wire basic things like lights. I'll offer to program his phone in exchange, since he confessed that he can't figure out how to do it. It'll mean a lecture on how my life is all wrong, but better than then the alternative.

It seems that a few weeks ago, my local CostCo started selling Mexican Coca-Cola in bottles - perhaps for a Cinco de Mayo promotion. I stopped by yesterday and picked up two cases for $18 each.

I am a happy camper.

Mexican Coke is the yummiest.

Good soft drink, too

I am pleased to report that I did not burn up last night. Dad's coming over tomorrow to replace the hallway light fixtures.

Mexican Coke is good.

Yummy soft drink, too.