Hubbardton Forge, AFTER HOURS!

The Glass shade measures 15.25″ high by 3.13″ diameter, so this is bigger then it looks in the photo. Still, I don’t think that justifies the $622.00 price tag for this fluorescent lighting fixture by Hubbardton Forge. The After Hours Adjustable Fluorescent Pendant (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/hub-13-7860f.html) may sound suave and sophisticated, but unless you have a budget like Playboy After Hours founder Hugh Hefner, then you should be grateful a special discount may be available for this, from me! Yes, this fixture offers an overall height measurement of 46″ to 56″ with longer version available, and yes, it features the Solid wrought iron construction synonymous with Hubbardton Forge, and oh yes, it is compatible with sloped ceilings.

On the other hand, if you just plopped down a million for a new home in the burbs, then what is a paltry $541.00 (that’s our special price) for what will be a gorgeous, sleek, sexy, pendant light that will last as long as your home?

Now, get out that smoking jacket, and turn down the lights.

Like a frenzied beehive of metallic alien insects, the Pinwheel Modern Pendant Light (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/var-124p09l.html) is Varaluz’s newest entry into contemporary pendant lighting. This chrome an aluminum construct will have your friends and neighbors buzzing about how beetching it is. This uses nine 60 watt bulbs and is supplied with 3′ of wire and aircraft cable and an Allen wrench for assembly. But unlike an ordinary beehive, this one won’t sting, either financially or physically, as the price tag, at just under $500.00, makes it Beeautiful, and sweet. Varaluz keeps cranking out the winners, and this is no exception the list. Similar fixtures form other suppliers sell for 3 times this amount, so this Pinwheel will be a real tasty treat for your home décor, and will pollinate well with you home furnishing.

OK, I‘ve run out of Bee puns, but I will say this; If you own or manage a contemporary art gallery, this Pinwheel will brighten it up considerably. See, no puns! Unless your beesiness is located on B street.

An empty bungalow darts across the hillcrest, viewed from a T-bar frame. A Gold White Iridescent visage was apparent, as the clear seedy rain mist gave off a tan glow from the almond mica finish. The bungalow glow could have been antique copper, pewter, or bronze. The name was Carmel, and it was the new multi pendant lighting array by Arroyo Craftsman. The lanterns were designed for kitchen island lighting, and they were hand built to last. Ten finishes, ten glass options, and five overlays, 500 possible combinations, and one moderate price made the Carmel Craftsman 3 Light Multi Pendant Light (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/arr-cich-8-3.html) a must have for their kitchen. Using three 60 watts bulbs, and measuring 36″ in width, by 9″ in height, this was the ideal kitchen island light, and although it took over four weeks to get, it was worth wait, for it was timeless, and it was for life.

Now, how many things in life can you say that about?

The Haunting of Castle Hill

A Novel

By

Alan Williams

Chapter Two - The Terror Spreads!

The wind was cold as it howled throughout the night, a chill that bored down into ones very soul. The scream of the fury sounded like a death rattle that cascaded amidst the fallen trees, shattered glass, and discarded remnants of a life abandoned to despair.

The curse of Castle Hill was still alive, and has expanded to include their entire line of decorative fixtures. These seemingly innocent lighting fixtures all carried the mark of the beast, carved into the medieval scroll design by that monk from eons passed. Within the scrollwork lay a terrible message that was revealed when you plugged it in.

But that mattered not to the ravenous consumers who snatched up al the existing inventory like crazed zombies fighting over deceased brains. They gobbled up the supply, without a care to the consequences, for the sake of fashion, for art, for completion. They would not rest, until they acquired them all, and at an insanely discounted price to boot.

Chandeliers, sconces, vanity lights, it did not matter what, they must posses them. That was the curse, one of avarice and envy, two deadly sins combined to create a maelstrom of wanton cravings that defied the laws of economics, and castigated the soul.

I feared the day when the stock ran out, when the inventory was depleted, and when the vox populi would come for me, for revenge for having been denied their light.

And that day was coming soon, very soon. But not yet. They still had them at Corbett, that house of ill repute that passed for the manufacturer. And you can too.

But at what price to your salvation?

I was at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, for the much anticipated U2 concert. While I’m not a raving fanatic of the group, I do own about four of their records, and have followed their career over the last 30 years, since the first time I saw them on European TV in 1979.

The Black Eyed peas were the opener, and I was pleasantly surprised with them, because point in fact, I am not a fan of them, and yet they engaged me, both musically, and just a pure entertainment. During one tune, and incident occurred that put a damper on the evening, as a woman two rows in front of me started to regurgitate violently. The Police and paramedics had to be called in, and after an argument with her friend who did not want them to leave, the authorities insisted, and took the lady away in a stretcher.

Later on, I witnessed at least six people who were forcibly ejected from the show, for aggressive behaviors, and that put a chill over my mood during what was an historic event, as this concert was being simulcast worldwide to every continent on the planet.

All it takes is a few morons to ruin an event for the rest of us.

So, how was U2, you ask?  Musically, first rate, and the spaceship designed stage prop used a 360 degree screen / scrim that would drop down and project the digital images of the band for all to see at the 100,000 capacity filled Rose Bowl. Where we were, in section 12, we had a central location view for the sound and the stage, so although we were in the back section of the Bowl, I was pleased with the sound mix.

But the design of the “spaceship” kept bothering me, as it looked like an end table with contemporary style modern pendant fixture sticking out from it. It was said that the inspiration for this was the LAX terminal structure (go figure). While the contraption worked as a massive projector of lights and images, aesthetically it looked awkward.

But what the heck, someone out there will probably make table lamp out of the thing anyway, for the die hard fans, and I’ll probably end up writing a blog about it next year on www.affordablelamps.com.

The Haunting of Castle Hill

A Novel

By

Alan Williams

Chapter One

There was a ratcheting sound, a constant clacking, like some poor twisted dwarf pounding away on an antique Smith Corona, typing out his death curse for the entire world to read.   A testament of tortured thoughts and fruitless quests that had led him to this sordid existence, this horrid life of worthless pursuits, and of endless guile.

He was the consummate pro, etching out a meager existence selling lamps online, for www.affordablelamps.com, but dreaming of a better life, away from the cluster of customers and their constant yammering for tracking #’s, ship dates, RGA’s and refunds, always the refunds! Didn’t they understand that he only did sales, and this infernal blog that drove him stark raving mad? Always looking for a new hook, a new idea, a twist. “You think this is easy, don’t you?” he would mutter under his breath. But he kept quiet, do the job, he told himself. Things will brighten up. They will.

But then that one lamp came into his life, and he was never the same. It was the … Castle Hill 2-Lamp ADA Wall Sconce (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/cor-12-12.html), from Corbett Lighting. It was then the terror began.

Oh, the lamp was benign enough at first. It measured 11″W by 9″H with a 4″ profile, and used two 60 watt candelabra bulbs. It featured hand wrought iron design, and a glass pane that featured an antique mirror treatment with a noble burgundy and faded gold design. It featured a medieval scroll design, one that you normally wouldn’t think twice about…

…And that was where the fatal error occurred. The design, made by a disgraced monk, had been originally carved in serpent’s blood. The item number, picked by Corbett, was 12-12, the corresponding number for the coming apocalypse, and the quantity remaining, was only twelve! 12-12-12!

The end was nigh! And on top of that, the date was my wife’s birthday, and I had forgotten her gift!!! Noooooooooooooo…

Hey, but you don’t have to forget your spouse’s special day. Pick up one of the last remaining twelve Castle Hill wall sconces, before it’s too late! You still have two years to enjoy it, before it all collapses!!!!!!!!!!