A change of pace

[geo <gamills@ns.sympatico.ca>]

Had an interesting time the other night installing driving lights on the
q.  Had all the necessaries including some tools, some fools and some
beer.  People I had not seen for a long time showed.  One was a bud I
used to do the three R's (remove, repair or replace) with many years ago
fixing automatic draft beer dispensers (these dispensers were designed
to be foolproof but the waiters were no fools).  He is now known as TRB
(starts with T, rhymes with P, and that spells...I digress)

In any case the procedure is going well, give the doctors some
anesthetic, measure things, drill some holes, mount some lights.  Start
the wiring process, fish it through the firewall in a loop for the
future switch, etc.  TRB says "I'll install the inline fuse."  Go fer
it. Go to connect wahr to positivo terminal (you know, the jump start
one that's never used...no ROTFL here please).  Well, bless my soul!
There is ferrous mixed with copperous.  Well, let's try to separate it
anyway.  Look at that...thing came off the plastic thingy (make mental
note; have to get new positivo terminal, maybe try to match up metals).
Find another donor in fuse box.  By this time TRB has finished inline
fuse placement.

TRB says "I'm done, let's check it out."

"Maybe we should put the switch in first...you know...just in case we
have to abort?"

"No, no...let's see if the lights work."

Ah well, we do have a fuse in there.  No harm done.  Power on, lights
on, look at that.  TRB is holding his pride and joy in his hands (no,
no, the fuse thingy) and I note that the smoke is starting to escape
from it.  Now I didn't have time to mention this unusual occurrence to
him before it is relieved from his hand...pronto...as if some mysterious
force had intervened.  Wire cutters are grasped for, and used.  TRB
needs more anesthetic, encouragement and is allowed to sit back and
relax and play with his pride and joy.

Turns out that he wired it up behind the spring which in turn became a
toaster element.

And guess what?  We forgot to bring the marshmallows.  Bummer.

Geo