Electrified!

A few unusual things happened this month that were both related to electricity.

Thing one -
Thanks to a very kind American friend who carried a 10 kilo desktop PC from U.S to Al Ain, I finally got a brand new computer with up-to-date configuration. I spent much less money than if I would have bought one here in the UAE. The new PC is from Gateway and has a beautiful black piano finish.

As I always thought myself computer savvy, the installation manual went straight from the packing to the bin. I got all the pieces to hook my new toy up, and just as I plugged it in the power outlet - a big "BANG" and all lights went off in the house.  There came a blue flame out from the ventilation window as well as the smell of burning plastic. I cursed loudly without thinking the children would hear me in the next room.

Standing next to me, Mikael was in shock. He thought maybe we could change to another outlet and try again.  And on the second time, another little fire came out accompanied by the smoke. We knew for sure that the computer had indeed gone kaboom!

Mikael waved the "Quick Installation Guide" and told me to look at the tiny wee switch in red that was located just below the power plug on the PC tower. Yes, I definitely blew up my computer by forgetting to switch the American voltage to the 220V used in the UAE. "That was a fast 700 dollars down the drain," I sighed and felt really stupid.

Luckily, the mistake was easily corrected by a local friend who took the computer to a shop. The damage didn't carry to the motherboard. With a change in the power supply made the computer alive once again. I spent just 100 dirhams (approx. 25 dollars) to get it back. Happy Ending!

Thing Two -
Due to the constant pain on my spine, I bought an electric blanket that would warm my back and the neck area. It soon became one of the things I couldn't live without. I used it every night and had it turned on all through my sleep time.  One day I was putting down Oskar for a nap, I touched his cheek and felt a weird sensation going through my fingertips.

It must have been more than a week that I was using the electric blanket, and I start feeling sick every morning I woke up. One Saturday morning, Mikael and the kids were sitting on the bedside to find out how I felt. I touched Gemma's face, and she shouted "ouch!" The same weird sensation passed through my fingers just like the other day. I did it again on Oskar and he reacted to the touch as well. Then, Mikael was touching my arm only to find the rubbery texture over my skin. I must have absorbed the electromagnetic via the blanket. I had no idea.


Other symptoms that I've been feeling ever since I sleep on the electric blanket are unusual tiredness,  hearing problem, pain and ache over my body, shivering and etc. All of them can be ignored as flu. If I didn't discover that I was passing out electric current when I touched Gemma and Oskar, I would be a person filled with electromagnetic by my death blanket. CRAZY!

It's also a little funny that I never used an electric blanket while living in the UK or even in Sweden...but now in the hot desert?

I went online to google around this topic about the electric blanket and found just how ignorant I was to sleep on  the electric blanket night after night.  The issue is called electromagnetic radiation, and it's truly harmful to human beings (and animals). Not only the electric blanket but also many modern world products in everyday life produce the same hazards.

I still feel unwell at this moment but I want to share these two odd experiences. I know for sure to read the manual first before putting together anything. And although I do miss the warm and comfy feeling of the electric blanket, I am not going to charge myself up with the electric current. It's not going to help me turn into a mutant member in X-Men anyway.