Reverend Ref +

EIGHT MILES HIGH

or

HOW MANY EPISCOPALIANS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?

So today after service at St. Paul's, we changed the bulbs in the chandeliers. There are currently three chandeliers with six lights each, and each one covered with a frosted shade. I'm guessing that they hang about 14 feet above the ground.

We purchased some new bulbs -- those Sylvania halogen energy efficient things that look like a soft-serve ice cream cone. They use less energy than a standard bulb, but produce more light. Very cool.

So, as I said, after service we pulled out the 12-foot step ladder and got to work. I got to climb the thing and actually swap out the bulbs. Dan was under me to receive the shade, which he passed onto another person to be washed. From there, another person dried. While this was going on, I would take out the old bulb, give it to Dan, who gave me a new bulb. When all the shades were dry, Dan handed the shade back up to me to be re-attached.

In all, this was an 8-person affair. But the new bulbs are in, the shades have been washed, the light situation is a darn sight better (pardon the pun) and, more imporantly, I didn't fall.

Life is good.