spec_helper no longer requires itself
remove unused instance variable
Merge pull request #1007 from twalpole/unused_unsynchronized

remove unused instance variable
Merge pull request #1008 from grzuy/clean_spec_helper_require

spec_helper no longer requires itself
Prevent race conditions in reloading nodes, closes #1009
Merge pull request #1012 from jnicklas/reload-race-conditions

Prevent race conditions in reloading nodes, closes #1009