Excessive heat shortens the life of lightbulbs, so putting a 75w in a 60w fixture could be your problem.
I'd go for a new fixture.

Ditto what Randy said - except that I would switch the bulb to a PL florescent. They will put out the amount of light that you want without generating more heat than the fixture can safely handle. The bulbs last a long time also.

wife says CFL lights bug her. she will not allow them. case closed. probably spent $75 on bulbs since we moved in. could have bought new fixture for that amount. but who knew it was a bulb eating fixture? took a few years to figure out.

Oh brother!
I'd try to address the issue with the CFL bulbs (is it the color of the light, etc.) You can buy bulbs in a variety of color temps now.

Otherwise, I'd give the demanding wife a box of wire nuts, point her to the ladder and let her swap out the fixture herself.

Is there a staircase over that light or kids jumping on the floor above it? Just asking, since we had a lightbulb in the hall that kept burning out too soon and we discovered that it was from the vibration that it would get when we would lower the attic stairs and climb them (which was right next to/over that light.
We got one of those extra strong bulbs and its doing fine.

You should get a "set" and let the wife know who the boss is. I would put in a CFL just for that reason.
Since I know you won't do that, get a new fixture as the one you have has been overheated and the loose connection is burning out the lamps prematurely. I won't even mention the fire hazard you put yourself and your family in by installing to large of lamp in the original fixture!

Yeah. put in a CFL.

I've had one, now, musuem quality bulb on, continuously for over ten years now, no lie. I know cycles will shorten the life, but ten years on one cfl in the basement.....It has clearly paid for itself.

I would have had a 60W in there, instead it only is 15-18W, same light, so add it up.
And I have never had to buy a new bulb for there yet...

KEN

"You should get a "set" and let the wife know who the boss is."

Umm... How about, "If the wife is going to put irrational parameters on the solution and make the job much more difficult, she is welcome to provide the solution herself."

Your response gets my vote jake.

no bedrooms or anything above kitchen. just a simple single bulb glass fixture. i have put new fixtures in the bathrooms and hallways and porch lights so its not like i have never done it before. its my fault actually. i could have easily gotten another fixture with 2 or more bulbs. wife wants more light over sink so a 2 bulb fixture would solve that. it is ceiling mount, not wall mount so i have to get a proper fixture. we just put in a 4 light unit in the bathroom but that is a wall mount.

You should get a "set" and let the wife know who the boss is.

...she is welcome to provide the solution herself.

Are you guys married? ;-)

jake2007-
Your skill at recasting the dialogue into more diplomatic terms is the sign of a wise survivor...

Hey it is easy to tell someone else to take a stand with their wife. I wonder how many of you have a big enough "SET" to tell your own wife?

It is a conversation I have with my "husband" as needed. We negotiate and sometimes it's as simple as "I want to take care of the problem, here's what I'm willing to do... and here's what I'm not so willing to do... And if that's not okay, you are welcome to find a different solution." It's reasonable and doesn't require anyone to "show the other who's boss". It's lasted 14 years, so I feel I have some cred.

Look, we all have a limited amount of time and energy. A partner who is making irrational demands is just as much of a bully as one who "takes a set".

I would spend the .49 and replace the switch while I was at it.

If you decide to change the fixture. Look at the wiring going into the bulb sockets. The insulation might have gotten hot and is cracking. Seen alot of this on over wattage bulbs
Change the fixture get higher waatage one while at it

The actual problem is that he's putting a bulb that generates too much heat (75 watt)into a fixture that's only rated for 60 watts. His wife wants 100 watt bulb.

FYI: Starting in 2012, incandescent bulbs will be phased out starting with the 100 watt bulb and ending with the 40 watt bulb in 2014. Time to just start getting over the CFL bulbs or go with an LED bulb.

"FYI: Starting in 2012, incandescent bulbs will be phased out starting with the 100 watt bulb and ending with the 40 watt bulb in 2014. Time to just start getting over the CFL bulbs or go with an LED bulb."

Just courious, what will I use in my oven? A compact flouresent,
or an LED both of which are plastic and have electronics that
will be affected by heat.

All of this mentioned earlier.

Get a fixture rated for higher wattage, get double life or 130v bulbs.

Get a fixture that takes PL bulbs as they are nearly full brightness when they come on as opposed to the warm up screw in CFL. Special order bulbs in different color temps (3k is my favorite).

Keep the "set" you have and pick your battles, lights are cheaper than a divorce. Keep the old fixture just in case of a divorce.

Married over 25 years so I tend to agree with everyone.

Light above the sink...

Moisture?

Instead of CFL you could also try a halogen spotlight, most heat will be reflected away by the mirror. And halogen is also more efficient than a standard bulb.