My mother came over today to check on me and help out around the house, as I have managed to acquire irritation pneumonia. Got it from all the grout from the new tile floor that was put in last week, and as I have discovered, grout and lungs do not like each other at all.

Nothing gets in the way of my mother when she decides she's going to get something done. Nothing. Not even a stubborn and ugly light fixture that was at the top of her aggro list. She hated the old fixture so much, she went out and bought something to replace it; but she didn't stop there. This is what was left after she got frustrated and took tin snips to the metal casing around the wiring. It took about an hour, but in its place, there is now a new Moroccan lantern, which we jerry-rigged with brute force, electrical tape, zip ties, and a little finessing of metal from me. Isn't it awesome?

As you can see, I come by my driven nature honestly. And my hatred of ugliness.