La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I was inspired to begin today’s post with a few of the lamps outside the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets. The inspiration came from the fact that we lost power in the kitchen Saturday night. We didn’t, however, lose power to the lights. So, so much for that idea.
The dishwasher had turned off way too soon before I went to bed and San Geraldo noticed the refrigerator was off, as well, and the oven. Our torrential downpour continued and we wondered if that might have something to do with it. SG tried resetting the switch on the circuit breaker but it wouldn’t stay in the “on” position. He got an extension cord and replugged the refrigerator outside the kitchen, and we were able to sleep.
Sunday before lunch, I tried the circuit breaker again and it held. SG prepared lunch. That was convenient. However, it switched off once more and I could not get it to stay on. I texted the owner and she managed to reach an electrician, William, who called me a few minutes later. He tried to trouble-shoot over the phone because he said he was out with family and couldn’t get away. We stepped through what he thought would be an easy fix to reset the entire circuit box, but it didn’t work. Amazingly, he arrived 20 minutes later.
William tested every single line (showing me how to do it) until he figured it out. Our electric tea kettle was the culprit and William said it was likely due to the humidity. I guess Córdoba kitchens aren’t used to humidity. So now, if the kettle’s in use, there are no problems. If it’s plugged in and not in use, it flips the breaker. He said we can continue to use the kettle as long as we immediately unplug it when we’re done. Problem solved. I always used to unplug it when not in use, but I got lazy. Anyway, I’ve wanted to buy a new, chic electric tea kettle.
So you get to see the elegant lamps at the library, odd lamps outside Ace Hotel in Brooklyn on Schermerhorn Street (named for prominent Dutch settlers of the 1600s), and the magnificent “chandelier” in Grand Central Station’s market.
I edited several more photos for San Geraldo and all the photos from my trip. I edited down to 205 photos, included some you’ve already seen. I don’t think I’ll be sharing every single one, but I do have plenty of time. Recovery from my travels was much easier coming home than going. Today, I plan to get out in our city and enjoy myself after lunch (because I slept until 11:15). I hope your Monday was wonderful (or at least tolerable).
Me inspiré para comenzar la publicación de hoy con algunas de las lámparas que hay fuera de la Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York, en la Quinta Avenida, entre las calles 41 y 42. La inspiración surgió porque el sábado por la noche nos quedamos sin luz en la cocina. Sin embargo, no se fue la luz en las lámparas, así que esa idea quedó descartada.
El lavavajillas se había apagado demasiado pronto antes de que me fuera a dormir y San Geraldo se dio cuenta de que el refrigerador y el horno también estaban apagados. El diluvio continuó y nos preguntamos si eso tendría algo que ver. San Geraldo intentó reiniciar el interruptor del cuadro eléctrico, pero no se mantenía en la posición de encendido. Consiguió un alargador y volvió a enchufar el refrigerador fuera de la cocina, y pudimos dormir.
El domingo, antes de comer, probé de nuevo el interruptor y esta vez funcionó. San Geraldo preparó la comida. Qué práctico. Sin embargo, se apagó otra vez y no conseguí que se quedara encendido. Le escribí a la dueña y logró contactar con un electricista, William, que me llamó unos minutos después. Intentó solucionar el problema por teléfono porque dijo que estaba con su familia y no podía irse. Seguimos lo que él creía que sería una solución fácil para reiniciar toda la caja de fusibles, pero no funcionó. Increíblemente, llegó 20 minutos después.
William revisó cada cable (mostrándome cómo hacerlo) hasta que dio con el problema. Nuestra tetera eléctrica era la culpable y William dijo que probablemente se debía a la humedad. Supongo que en las cocinas de Córdoba no están acostumbrados a la humedad. Así que ahora, si la tetera está en uso, no hay problema. Si está enchufada pero no se usa, salta el diferencial. Dijo que podemos seguir usándola siempre y cuando la desenchufemos inmediatamente al terminar. Problema resuelto. Antes siempre la desenchufaba cuando no la usaba, pero me dio pereza. En fin, quería comprar una tetera eléctrica nueva y elegante.
Así, podrás ver las elegantes lámparas de la biblioteca, las curiosas lámparas del exterior del Ace Hotel en la calle Schermerhorn (llamada así en honor a prominentes colonos holandeses del siglo XVII) en Brooklyn, y la magnífica “lámpara de araña” del mercado de la Grand Central Station.
Edité varias fotos más de San Geraldo y todas las de mi viaje. Reduje la selección a 205 fotos, incluyendo algunas que ya viste. No creo que las comparta todas, pero tengo tiempo de sobra. Recuperarme del viaje fue mucho más fácil al volver que al ir. Hoy, planeo salir a pasear por la ciudad y disfrutar después de almorzar (porque dormí hasta las 11:15). Espero que tu lunes haya sido maravilloso (o al menos llevadero).
• No me gustaría ser quien tenga que cambiar las bombillas.
• Grand Central Market. Quiero la “lámpara de araña” para nuestro comedor, pero tendríamos que tirar un piso (al menos) y todas las paredes.
• Lo primero que pensé fue: «Qué divertido». Luego me di cuenta. ¡Ups!
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
It’s always a bind when a circuit blows – especially if it won’t come back on again in a hurry. I have never heard, however, of an appliance that is actually switched off causing a problem like that! Good excuse to go shopping…
The photos of lamps are impressive! Jx
Jon,
I plan to make the rounds of the street lamps around here. We were surprised about the kettle but William plugged other appliances and a tester in and not one caused the circuit to break. Fascinating.
Glad the electrician was able to isolate the problem, that is an easy fix. I would repair the fire department call box, in that shape, leave it that shape. I like it.
David:
I know what you mean. I LOVE that call box. Seussian!
Amazing that the electrician came out even if he was away with family; that guy is a prince.
And I am a princESS because I also want light from Grand Central Market in my dining room, no matter how many walls and roofs need to be removed!
And it wasn’t until I read your caption that I realized the FDNY thing-y wasn’t a whimsical sculpture but an “oops!”
Bob:
The electrician was the nicest guy and really knew his stuff. So grateful and I learned a lot. What I called a chandelier at Grand Central has no bulbs. The crystals refract the light from the spots in the ceiling. I really did think the call box was Seussical. I wish they could make them all like that.
I think with your circuit breaker situation, that chandelier would be a bit ambitious. I’m glad the home journey didn’t take so long to recover from. Boud.
Boud:
That “chandelier” is actually not even electrified. The crystals refract and reflect the light from everywhere else.
In that case, go for it! Boud
Oooh, my favorite of today’s photos is the one with the many other buildings (and woman in black with backpack). I love the mixture of textures and sizes and styles. Ohhhh là à, very nice!
Your power outage reminded me of a time when one of our Spanish teachers was cooking with her class (making tortillas, I believe), and, so, had an electric skillet plugged in… well… that was just too much for the circuit, and so all of the power went off to allll of the classrooms on her side of the hall, including upstairs in the Math wing, and in our workroom, where the fridge was, and our photocopier/printer…and the assistant principal’s office next door to that. Ha!
Judy C:
You always appreciate my favorite shots. I love the views of the city like that. Regarding your school story: That‘s another reason I don’t cook!
I like street lamps……any lamp really. These are fine ones!
The Grand Central one has SO many possibilities……..
I always unplug our electric kettle as well…….now I will be very cognizant for sure.
Jim:
I’m going to explore the street lamps here in Córdoba. Some beauties. Those around Grand Central (inside and out) are amazing.
Oh, really?
It’s ALWAYS the kettle! LOL
Thank goodness you got that fixed. Who knew that humidity would do that?
In any case, I would also have that chandelier (It’s probably the size of my apartment!) because why not?
XOXO
Sixpence:
When our landlady said it was the humidity, I thought, Nah! What a surprise.
I’m going to start paying more attention now to street lighting and public light fixtures — what an interesting subject for a photo collection!
Debra:
I have so many photos that I started to separate into categories and enjoyed the street lamps. Wish I had focused on them during my brief walks.
Boy. Was Lennon prescient or what? One has to wonder why that hasn’t become the official song for the No Kings movement. Powerful. Thank you for that.
Glad your electric problem was a reasonably easy fix. Now go find yourself a beautiful new kettle.
I, too, would love to have that chandelier in my house. Worth removing ceilings and walls. Absolutely. Lighting fixtures (can a chandelier be called a lighting fixture?) are wonderful opportunities for imaginative decoration. Plus…light!
Moonsigh
Ms. Moon:
Yeah, it breaks my heart that the song is still so apt for our times. I had found some cool kettles online and will look again. This old one is one of those run-of-the mill electric kettles. Not at all aesthetic. That particular “chandelier” is not even really a chandelier. The crystals simply refract and reflect what’s around them.
Love that ‘chandelier’ at the Grand Central Market though it doesn’t seem to have any lighting. I’d hate to have been the one that had to tie on all those crystals!
Where is John Lennon when you need him. Thanks for the song, needed then and needed now.
ellen abbot:
Exactly! I’m glad you notice it’s not electrified. It dazzles without electricity. The song is so tragically appropriate still now.
Love the FD box; they should make them all look like that. If I had to guess, I’d say a truck backing up was the culprit. A head-on collision would have done more damage, but what do I know about such things?
Above comment from Hamster; I seem to be having trouble woth WP knowing who I am again…
wickedhamster:
I agree about the call box. I love it.
OK, that’s an improvement…
That’s quite a chandelier! How odd that the kettle ended up being the problem. Definitely time for a new one.
Kelly:
I found some cool kettles online when we moved here but decided there was no need for the expense since the other one worked just fine (I’m so practical). Can’t wait to shop!
I thought those were icicles on that chandelier at first.
Kirk:
Yes, they do look like icicles.
That is a lovely chandelier… perhaps a much smaller version for your dining area could work if your electrical box was rewired for a higher amp load?
I thought that weird red post was a bent bollard til I saw FDNY… is it a call-box for fire-fighters? I’ve never seen anything like that in Canada — even our fire hydrants aren’t usually red, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
All wiring in the apartment was replaced about 8 years ago. But what I called a chandelier isn’t really. So, except for needing a ceiling strong enough to support it, no worried about the amps.
Yes, that’s a fire department call box. They should all look like that, I think.
I had that issue in our home – had one block of circuit breakers that were always tripping, and it was the kitchen. Thought, “Okay, toaster oven, microwave, same circuit…” For YEARS, we did the kitchen dance of not doing two things at once. I replaced the breakers several times as they would begin to smoke. Finally had enough and I called a licensed electrician. Came to find out that the stanchion (that thing sticking up above the roof line) that the 220 line used to come into the house was bent sideways (prior owner bent it out of the way to paint the exterior). Years of rain had found the path from there down to the back of the service panel causing all the shorting. I had the entire service replaced from the pole at the street to a new service panel in the basement. No more shorting!
Rade:
I’m so glad there was no short in our wiring. He explained it all to me. I was concerned that all those electrical outlets needed to be replaced when he initially said where he thought the problem was. What a relief.
Beautiful lamps! There’s so much latitude to design lighting fixtures, because in the end, all they have to do is light up. Beyond that requirement, the sky’s the limit!
The electrical situation sounds dicey. Probably a good excuse to get a new kettle!
Steve:
I found a really cool kettle for a couple of hundred euros. So, I’ll be buying one for around €40, I think.