Since the light fixture got shorted out, Stan Stan the Maintenance Man came and replaced our light fixture in the main room. It's smaller and doesn't give off as much light, and it's higher, so changing bulbs will be a real bitch without calling Stan, but it's sorta pretty and small and, hopefully, will use less electricity. Who knows if he pulled the wiring through to replace it all, though.
We had a cot on the landing, unused, and I have an extra futon mattress, so at lunch today, Mom and I put two and two together and realised that they could be put together to make (trumpets, please) a couch! So now, in the living room, we have an awfully high couch without a back (large pillows will make that.)
And finally, Stan replaced the lightbulbs in the hallway, so we can see! it's like daytime on the upstairs landing now. Brilliant!