I’ve never lived in a house with nothing but wood floors before. Being the depths of winter, the air is incredibly dry as well–which means stunning amounts of static electricity.
I had no idea how much static electricity you can build up just walking around, sitting on the couch, or lying in bed. I’ve been shocked more times in the last week than I was all of last winter. I’m starting to see some weird effects… stuff I didn’t even know was possible.
We have a bare compact fluorescent bulb in our pantry controlled by a metal pull chain. When I reach out for it, the static electric charge in my body is so strong that the bulb actually flickers before I pull the chain.
Yesterday, I got up from the couch to pop a movie out of the DVD player; about seven feet. In that distance, I managed to build up a charge so strong that touching the DVD player shocked it hard enough that it turned off. I thought it was fried. I had to hit the power switch several times before it would turn back on.
I’m waiting to see what other weird shit happens. Also, I’m sick of getting shocked every time I move.
February 5, 2007 at 5:55 pm
All of the static electricity seems to collect itself in our cat Juneau. Once I even found her with a reciept clinging to her side.
Your static stories are weirder, though.