John M. Swartz

Your questions, my answers. This F.A.Q. has home improvement and a first date.

QUESTION: I’ve got two rooms that I want to put ceiling fans in. One of the rooms has a light fixture in it already, but the other one is a storage room that I’m turning into an office doesn’t have a light fixture. I’m pretty good with do-it-yourself directions like putting my kids swingset together, but I’m not too sure about running wiring. Should I just bite the bullet and pay an electrician to put the fans up?

ANSWER: In the room with the light fixture, I’m pretty sure you can handle that one yourself. If you’re not confident in the running of your own wires in the other room, I wouldn’t tackle it. Here’s what you could do. Go ahead and get the electrician to install the fan in the room without the pre-existing wiring. When the electrician’s got the wiring in place, and it’s time to install the actual fan, watch the action. Ask a few questions even. Then, get out the how-to and tackle the project yourself in the other room. If you get it right, then you’ll have a pat-on-the-back moment over it with a cold beer. If you screw it up, then you’ll know you never could have done the more complicated job in the other room anyway. One final option: Figure out which of your buddies has the most electrical experience, and bribe him with a few beers and a pizza to help you out. Then, if you bottle the project and end up calling the electrician anyway it’s no big loss.

QUESTION: My girlfriend just broke up with me. How long do I have to wait before going out with someone else?

ANSWER: How’s this weekend? You two just broke up, right? You’re not in mourning. She dumped you. If you’re waiting to date someone else to see if she’ll take you back, don’t bother. If anything, you going out on your next date will make her want you back even more. There’s an old saying, there’s nothing better for getting over your last girl than your next. Bottom line, the mere fact that you’re asking about dating someone else shows that you were probably ready to move on before your last relationship even ended. Either way, it doesn’t seem like you’re too broken up about it. … Or are you?

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