Carol Fey

I grew up in a house under construction. Every day for the first 18 years of my life, I looked at the wiring in the unfinished walls. It was nice to have the wires. They were fat, black and rubber-coated. Because they ran horizontally through the 2x4s, they made a convenient place to hang things - towels in the bathroom, school awards and prizes in the kitchen, crayon drawings in the kids' bedrooms.

If I'd been born a boy, I probably would have been an engineer. I was born a girl, and I'm so glad, because I get to use a toy pink pig and stickers to teach the black-and-white, no-frills subject of electricity.

The words volts, amps and watts -- or voltage, amperage and wattage -- float around in the world of electricity.

The real power supply in a building is a matter of human perspective.

Learning the basics of electricity through everyday items.

Believe it! House wiring and controls wiring are the same critter.

Troubleshooting charts help you start at the beginning and not skip steps.

Don't fear the meter - it's an essential tool.

A last-minute phone call and Carol saves the day.

Carol has more fun in class with the Back Row Boys.