(no subject)

My little bedside touch-lamp died inexplicably a couple months ago. I debated replacing it, but have had difficulty remembering to do so. It died during a tight budget period, so I couldn't replace it immediately.

In the meanwhile, I've been using candles. I have plenty. I'm using blue 8x0.5" ikea tapers. They fit perfectly into a little brass candleholder I have (it looks kinda like this one). I light the candle in the dining room or bathroom. I wet the spent match and leave it on the sink rim, where it can't get into trouble before morning. I carry my light into the bedroom, deftly avoiding the highly flammable yarn falls and tulle veils that live behind the door. I haven't set the drapery, my bedding, my own hair, nor the house on fire yet. I haven't even inadvertantly melted a spot of vellux blanket with an errant ash from the wick.

I can't decide if I should quit while I'm ahead. Buy a lamp before I *do* self-immolate.

Or maybe falling asleep to dim candlelight is what I need. I also extinguish the flame before I fall asleep, of course, but the drowsiness sets in to the flickering flame.

Granted, I can't simply reach over and turn on a light when I need to scrabble for my glasses. I can't adjust the brightness. I have to get out of bed to turn on a light at all. But candles aren't expensive and I enjoy the ambience.

Of course, if I don't want to eliminate the excitement of possible self-immolation, I could always re-wire the lamp and plug it back in.