New Man In My Life

So I have a new man in my life... and he's staying at my house now and again. This is "Homme. Inachevé," my very first attempt at human sculpture. Because my work schedule no longer allowed me to enjoy my self-taught exploration in "Advanced Independent Study" on Monday afternoons, I decided I would sign up for a Tuesday night "Sculpting the Human Form" course with a rather odd-ballish, yet talented, local sculptor. Although his teaching methods could use some polishing, I'm glad that I elected to expand my horizons. My "man" is still very much a work in progress... just as my life is.

I must have temporarily lost my mind (again) when I agreed to take on another remodel job for my now four-time hiring client. Now that I'm lucky enough to have full-time hours, finding time to get this project done has been more of a pain in the ass then taping off a room. As usual, her handyman guy has failed to finish his work... well this time he has failed to show up at all; so I have been forced to alter the project plans and will be working until the very last possible minute on Wednesday night. The tenant moves in on Thursday. So help me... if I even consider taking on another side job before the end of the year, someone please punch me in the face and toss me into inpatient psychotherapy!

Having my own laundry-list of tasks (including laundry) to complete at my own home, I feel as though I'm cheating on myself by spending what little time I do have sprucing up some place else. I've also been fortunate enough to have been offered a 12-month extension, full time hours, and a raise I worked hard to earn at my "regular" job. This isn't the time to screw up by putting all of my energy into a temporary side gig! And honestly... I'd like to spend a day doing nothing, if I so choose!

Maybe if I had a little more time to spend with this new "man" in my life, or, perhaps a real one (gasp), I might feel less fragmented, and more... fulfilled.

Creative. Thinking. Problem. Solving.

Ah-ha!

I don't have this maniacal brain for nothin'!!!

Compelled by a tortuous, continued state of pondering... I had to find a solution to making the best of my circumstances. A solution to my creative woes.

The window to my soul.

A window!

A simple opening to the magical world outside.

That's all I need!

I have this 1,300+ square feet of house all to myself, and in two years, have yet to find my ideal studio space. A space dedicated solely to appeasing the beast inside. The beast that writes. Draws. Paints. Sculpts. Dreams.

I was on the right track when I had it upstairs; away from the hub-bub of life that lie below... but something was amiss. So almost a year ago, I moved everything downstairs. In the middle of the night, of course. I had a better chance at seeing nature; finding inspiration; or so I thought. But the window of the door was behind me, and the windows in front of me bore a view to the side of the house next door. Needless to say, all my work space does there is collect laundry and mail.

Frustrated and philosophically driven.... I went upstairs and finally acknowledged the literal barrier to my creative freedom. A wall. The room is perfect. The light is perfect. But... I need a larger window so I may enjoy a view of the sky full of stars and snow; the flight of a bird; an angry cloud full of raging lightning.

A window. So simple! I'm going to place a semi-educated guess that my so-desired studio space project will cost at most $500. I need to cut a hole in the house, buy and install a window; build an L-shaped work surface, organize my art supplies, and find a cheery paint color.

Done. At least in my mind it is. And that might mean I can finally go to sleep now...

Laws of Physics

Who knew that complicated physics class I took several years ago would haunt me, perhaps as long as my student loan balance!?!?

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Remember that one?

As I've worked tirelessly beautifying the exterior of my home, it appears the interior has gone to hell! There is a step-ladder with a small chunk of earth stuck to one leg leaned up against my dining room table, a fistful of hot mustard and soy packets strewn about my coffee table, my laundry room has laundry in it all right... in baskets, in piles, and probably the dryer; and I think there may be a blue bra on my bathroom vanity.

Remedying this situation won't be as exhausting as it seems and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to get to it right now. My sun-kissed-and-mildly-burned skin is dotted with paint and primer and my back is killing me but I only have one day left! I hate starting the work week with a messy house! But, if I use up what little energy I have left... will I have any hope of surviving another Labor Day Weekend labor-a-thon outside? Ah the conundrum.

My fabulous brother finished scraping and wire-brushing the side of the house, and I got 3/4 of the back scraped and primed. By the end of the day tomorrow, I may very well have all of the major painting done! All that will remain will be the tedious detail work of window trim, shutters, doors and stairs.

I missed the sales on my door and shutters! Days of paint-fume inhalation led me to mistakenly believe today was Saturday. Instead of hitting Lowe's and Menard's, I had to settle for a brief trip to ACO simply for more painter's tape. There are more doors on sale now, and surely there will be more sales on shutters. I think I'm gonna be okay. (I'll go shopping tomorrow.)

That's it for boring babble tonight...

Labor Day (Night and) Weekend!

Ah another "holiday" weekend. Labor Day weekend is when people pack up and go camping, boating and sailing for the last time... the grand finale of a fun-filled summer. At least that's what I hear!

I've spent mine priming siding, painting siding, painting trim, painting spiders, scraping paint off of windows... and my new talent: patching concrete. One of the three different guys that said they would cut my old iron railings off of my front steps finally showed up around noon today. I seriously would have baked a cake and bought party hats to celebrate their removal if I knew he was actually going to show up to do it today! Even though my front steps are white with primer and dotted with concrete patch... not having those tired, older-than-me black iron railings attached to my newly spruced up house makes an amazing difference.

The sun against the white primer and paint was blinding, and the heat combined with the inability to remain hydrated led to my falling off the ladder twice. Deciding it was time for a break, before I had a bone break... I stopped at the garage sale my neighbor was having. They had two great Adirondack style lawn chairs for $4 a piece! And... they match my trim color almost exactly!!! Yessssssss! Score! The guy manning the cash box said, "Oh you're that girl that has been doing all of that work to your house all by yourself with no man around." "Yeah. In hindsight, I should have gotten married for the summer." I replied in jest.


Not afraid of hard work, I'm actually rather proud that I have done 95% of it completely on my own. This is my first time doing exterior painting, and aside from trying to gently coax a bazillion spiders out of my eaves, I have enjoyed it. Doing it yourself, especially as a female, lends a sense of incredible pride. My goal is to finish by the end of the holiday weekend... if I don't fall off the ladder again, that is.

Tomorrow, I'll be off to the hardware stores. My shopping list includes a 32 inch door to replace the one on the back of my garage. The existing one is beyond salvation, and after painting all that surrounds it, it has become, perhaps, the ugliest door I have ever seen! I'll also be picking up three pairs of shutters for the upper level windows; although I have no clue how the hell I'll get up there to hang them. Then I'll be picking up two little necessities: a mat for the garage right outside the door, so I can quit tracking in dirt and debris, and a new thistle feeder to replace the one that was broken when the feeder hook tipped over this morning.

Up until a second ago, I was being tormented by a very loud cricket chirping in the kitchen. It seemed that this noisy bugger was behind my stove, but he hopped out into my vision and I have since scooped him into a cup and escorted him outside. My hope for a good night's sleep has been restored.

Shamefully, I can't recall a single Labor Day Weekend since turning 15, that I haven't worked. I made a very poor attempt at scheduling one day at the beach to break up my remodelling marathon... but considering the nearing change of weather, and my mildly obsessive need to "finish what you start," completing as much as I can around my house has to be the right thing to do. Right?

Out With The Old... In With The Familiar

I'm forcing myself to stay up late in hopes of catching this Perseid meteor shower lighting up the sky. How I would love to have that camera I dream of. One that would be capable of capturing such a potentially glorious show. But alas, I am simply left with wishful thinking amongst an overdrawn checking account and overcast skies.

I was on "vacation" from the 3rd to the 11th. Though most would have booked a trip to some exotic paradise, I "chose" to spend my time remodelling another rental for my now regular client. Considering I have lofty dreams, an as-yet unsecured job, and the leftover financial burn from nearly a year of unemployment; working while on a paid vacation seemed the responsible thing to do. The work becomes tedious, yes, but bringing new life to those old apartments provides me with a very inspirational and satisfying sense of being. Like a drunk who can't drink enough; I sought out even more "pleasure" by simultaneously overhauling the exterior of my own home. Perhaps the paint fumes created my manic state, or, perhaps, it was my detest of cranberry shutters... All I know is that most "normal" people wouldn't return home after painting for 7 hours on a hot, muggy day and start painting their own house. Let alone paint until midnight, with a light hanging from a nail on a rickety old wooden ladder!

Thankfully, I came to my senses on Thursday. Well, if I am being completely honest, the threat of rain forced me into a more sane state of mind. It was time to vacation on my vacation. But what would I do? In typical Mona fashion, I had ignored myself. I had made no plans! Before I could settle into a state of disgust, I received a chance response to a chance email sent to my former chance encounter, C.F.

He was nearby.

As life would have it... I was free, and he was as free as he was going to be. I left in the night on an adventure that was one like I hadn't taken since my care-free irresponsible 20's. As I roared down the highway with my barely-there muffler, I began to feel more and more alive. As the yellow dashes disappeared under my bumper, so did that nagging sense of lack I had been lying awake in bed with just days before.

The romance of spontaneity was quickly clouded with hilarity as I realized I had torn my jean pocket on that very nail I hung a light on to paint in the night while passing the pile of ladders in my dark garage. I bought super glue at the gas station and nearly glued my ass to my pants in the parking lot! Thank God for that burning sensation industrial strength adhesive gives when it touches the skin! And that was just the beginning of my adventurous antics! Brilliant me decided to take a 32 ounce travel mug of Mint Sun Tea on the road. Just as I was finding myself lost in a very dangerous looking part of town, I was also finding myself in serious need of peeing! Perfect timing to not know where the hell you are going, and being a lone, woman traveller. Add to that having to turn around on the toll road, of course, paying more tolls; asking the most "safe" looking gentlemen where the street I needed to be on was, only to have another man pull up next to me and tell me to follow him... and you have a lone woman traveller, about to piss her pants, all the while hoping she isn't being led off to a dark alley to be bludgeoned in her super glued and soon to be tinkled in jeans!

Would I get there? Alive and in dry pants?

Desperation was setting in. Frustration was setting in. My would have been 15 minutes early arrival had now become an hour late circling of the city. I tried to call the hotel to tell him I was somewhere nearby, but I had written the number down wrong. I finally came to my senses and found a parking garage. I dumped the car that wouldn't show me the way for a cab that could drop me off at the door of the hotel, allowing me to reach a bathroom, and C.F. , in a more expedient manner. A nice Indian taxi driver recognized the "I have no fuckin' clue what I'm doing and where I'm going" look on my face and waved me to his cab from two lanes over.

Once I found the bathroom, I had to search for the elevators. The hotel was very swank. Relief that I would soon be at his door quickly dissipated when I realized there was no 13th floor... which was where his room should have been, according to his message. Shit! I got off the elevator and headed to the courtesy phone in the hall.

"Is there a room 1301?" I asked.

"No."

"Well can you please connect me with C.F.'s room please?"

Finally. Finally I was at his door.

We spent the next few hours talking. We talked about anything and everything, in a sense of familiarity we hadn't had when we met so many months ago. This wayward journey was one I was glad to have taken. There are people in this world that we share connections with. Connections that are so powerful we cannot begin to understand them, and maybe we aren't supposed to.

I was alive in that moment. In that evening. And although the past several months of my life have been very fulfilling; although so many things are happening for me that I had once given up hope for... I had to let go of the old habit of never holding on to me. C.F. was familiar to me, but this relaxed and rejuvenating feeling I had with him was so very very new. There were no "what ifs" or "why can't we's." There was just us and that very moment in time... in this life.

Although he had asked to share breakfast, I left quietly under the darkness of a stormy Saturday morning as he slept peacefully. My goodbye scrawled on a hotel note pad, I returned to the highway; returned to my life, only not quite as I knew it.

I spent my Saturday afternoon with Chester, as I usually do. Only this time, I daydreamed of the night before while Chester napped in his chair. I went to the beach on Sunday and became reacquainted with the joy I feel when waves crash against my skin. And Monday... Monday I replaced what was left of my old rusty muffler so I could enjoy the comfortable quietness of a cared for car once again.

What You Bargained For...

I used to date this guy who said, amongst many other things, that he'd help me paint my house.

Well he's not around anymore (Mr. "Nice" Guy), and I've been doing the majority of the scraping, sanding, taping, priming; and painting by myself. My back is killing me, and no matter how many hours I work, no matter how many nights I paint in the dark under dim light from the street... it's just never done! My liver is about to fail from overdosing on ibuprofen so I can sleep at night. My once pink toenail polish is now dotted with three different colors of paint. There is paint in my hair and paint on my skin. I have more ladders outside then you would find in a hardware store. There is a sliver in my palm. I feared for my life as I was about 25 feet off the ground on a shaky extension ladder... praying someone would call 9-1-1 if I plummeted to my death. Hoping they would also clean the blood splatters off before my paint job was ruined!

Now I don't feel so bad for letting him get in my pants. His offer to help was a pretty powerful negotiating tool. This is some seriously hard work! However, since he didn't come through on his end of the "bargain," I think I'm going to sue.

Behind... Behind!

Yowza! It's been quite some time since I've verbally harassed the world wide web. I'd apologize... but I suspect some of you out there are rather grateful for the resulting silence! I'm so behind... that I'm even behind on my behind! Maintenance of it, that is. In essence of time, and celebration of laziness, I have decided to use bullets to update you on the goings-on of Mona:

• I chose to celebrate the 4th by cooking dinner for my mother (she had to work) and lighting off lame grocery store fireworks that offered more laughter than explosive delight.
• In case you didn't know... yeah, I'm single again.
• I had a birthday. The big 3-8. And, for the first time in a very long time, I actually enjoyed my birthday.
• My job is still going well, however, if grant funding does not come through in September... it's back to the unemployment lines!
• "Act Like A Lady. Think Like A Man" by Steve Harvey was given to me as a gift from my boss. I think they want me to find a husband more than I do!
• The elderly man I care for has been declining in health.
• An article I wrote for our organization was published in a local magazine.
• My personal laptop had an unfortunate meeting with a glass of ice water, courtesy of my dementia-riddled cat.
• The loaner laptop I have has a chronic illness of some sort (hence the lack of blogging).
• I'm doing another remodel, and decided that it would be a good time to scrape and repaint my garage. NOT!
• My immediate family and I are becoming closer since my brother moved back.
• This is the first year of my life that I can remember my father wishing me a Happy Birthday.

Basically... I'm at a crossroads. There are many things before me, and I'm trying to decide where to direct my energies. It's a good thing. Just too difficult to express in one blog after a twelve hour work day while watching "America's Got Talent" on tv. In fact, I almost considered starting an entirely new blog with a slightly different focus, but my computer problems are preventing me from doing much of anything that involves the internet reliably.

So once I've caught up with my behind... I'll try to provide a more ass-tronomically profound blog. Stay tuned.

All is Quiet...

All is quiet on the remodel front. After a late start, including an immediate return home to retrieve the keys so I could get in, I managed to get within one wall of completing the painting in the living and dining areas. Previous water damage on an exterior wall made scraping and spackling necessary, and therefore, painting the remaining wall delayed.

My old boss stopped by to take a look at my "project." He was very impressed with what I was doing. Positive reinforcement is a very powerful thing! Approval fuels my confidence level, and motivates me to pursue this "career" further.

My tile guy didn't show today. He is in his first 24 hours of non-smoking. I've got to say that I am a little apprehensive working with him this early in the "I quit smoking" game. Rumor has it that people get pretty moody while their bodies recover from nicotine addiction. My secret plan is to find work to complete as far away from him as possible, until I'm confident that my head will not be bitten off!

My goal for completion is this weekend. As long as I get my smoke-free tile guy to get moving on the kitchen, this should be an attainable goal. All that remains for me is painting the bathroom and kitchen, touching up the trim, and reassembling the upstairs built-in. It's coming together! Slowly, but surely.

Personally, all is quiet as well. I'm quite comfortable with my remodel project, sleeping better, and feeling like my life once again has a purpose. I'm not dating, and I don't really wish to be. I have not sworn myself into the convent, just a little hyper-focused on my immediate goals. On the 26th I'll be signing on to volunteer with the Substance Abuse Council, and on the 28th, I'll be meeting with the necessary people to get my educational pursuits going. Once my future plans are ironed out, I'll consider getting back on the dating scene. Until then, I'll be enjoying my newly found peace and quiet.

First 9 of '09

The first nine days of my New Year have come and gone without a glich. Nine good hours seems miraculous to me, compared to the last eight months of '08, so to be blessed with nine days of plain ol' good things brings me a serene joy that I am very thankful for.

I worked on the remodel alone today. I have finished painting the walls upstairs and am now transforming the main floor. The verdict on the paint color and tile is unanimous. "Love it," all declare. The previous "color scheme" was eggshell and bright white. The lack of contrast between the two left the rental looking cold and dingy, allowing the unique character and charm to become lost in its blankness. The new color "pops" the white trim and wood floors, while providing a warm backdrop for the mahogany crown molding on the lower level. Below is a brief description of the photos in the order they appear:

1. Staircase- the left half of the photo shows a view of the staircase against the new paint color, the right provides a new vs. old perspective. (The blue line is painter's tape.)

2. Dining area- this photo is entirely "before." The walls are eggshell, and the trim bright white. The hardware on the door is covered in paint.

3. Doorknob and plate- this photo is an up close "after" of the doorknob and plates. If you refer to the previous post with photographs, you can see the difference this attention to detail makes. The plates were dusted with a light coat of Rustoleum "Dark Bronze" spraypaint to cover splatters of wall paint from a previous, and very careless paint job. The knobs were placed in the magical crockpot to allow paint splatters to be easily wiped away and return the knobs to an "old yet new" glory.

4. Hallway Built-in- this photograph shows the hallway built-in that provides storage convenient to the bedrooms and bathroom. This feature was easily overlooked when the nearly identical shades of white were competing. The hardware was removed and given the crockpot treatment to remove an unthinkable number of layers of paint. Right now, the built-in serves well as a desk/tool/coffee mug holder, but will be refurbished with paint and hardware. By the way, that's one of my coveted MiGo coffee mugs I spoke of. It is now the LAST one I have. What's the lesson? Never count on a man being respectable enough to return your fancy thermal coffee mugs. Give him styrofoam and show him the door. (wink)

5. Upstairs hallway- this somewhat blurry photo is of the hallway outside of the bathroom door. You can barely sneak a peek of the new bathroom tile. Featured is my perch for the last five days... a paint-covered ladder.

So that's your inside view to my salvation. Working on this beautiful old apartment has allowed me to have a creative outlet, and given me a legitimate reason to be tired. Instead of last year's curse of "chronic napping*," I feel awake when I wake up, and tired when I go to bed. I'm almost normal again. I suspected all I needed to straighten things up was a sense of purpose and some sort of work schedule, and so far, this suspicion has proven to be true.

I collected two holding deposits today, both from very nice women. It is now up the property owner and application analysis to decide who actually gets the place. I was impressed with both potential tenants, and would personally have a tough time deciding. The verdict is expected Monday at 5:00 p.m.

I'll be forgoing a day off this weekend. My own house has become a bit of a mess while I've been sprucing up this rental. I now have clean and dirty piles of laundry, a behavior not normally condoned or practiced. But, it's a small, temporary sacrifice for the rewards of working hard and personally transforming an "oldie but a goodie" of a place.

Refurbishing Hardware

Just wanted to pass along a little trick I learned:

If you need to, or wish to refurbish paint covered hardware, simply place it in a crockpot full of water on the high setting for a few hours. Once the water has reached a boiling level, turn off the crockpot and safely remove the hardware with tongs. Gently rub off the paint using a steel wool pad.

This method is much more cost-effective, environmentally friendly and personally safe, compared to the use of corrosive chemicals. I've used both methods, and will now only use this one.

Lost? Found? Lost and found?

Today was yet another successful day for yours truly. While en route to the remodel, I had received a call from the property owner. She had three people coming to see the unit at 6p.m. At first, I was a little apprehensive to show a property that was almost completely disassembled, and littered with tools, paint, hardware and ladders; while I, myself, was littered with paint! If I had been in control of the situation, I would have allowed myself time to transform from Petunia Painter, into Paulina Professional Property Manager. I also would have liked to have had the showings scheduled 15 minutes apart to allow for a more personalized showing.

But... my previous management and sales skills made my paint-covered ponytail, over-booked showings, and construction-zone unit irrelevant! I've got one confirmed holding deposit coming tomorrow at 11 a.m., and possibly another. When I let the owner know how well things went, she was in complete disbelief that I was able to negotiate tenancy on the very first day. She loves me. And I love working for her... so there just isn't a way for this to go wrong!

The owner is now thinking forward and talking about buying more property. I think she's so excited that she'd buy the whole city if she could. Regardless of her intentions, working on this project is really steering me into the direction of building my own business. The economy is so terrible that I could spend the next year or more looking for work. Why not make a little?

I've got the know-how. I have enough before/after photos to create a portfolio. I have references from former clients. I've been in management of some form or another for 18 years. I have experience managing people, clients, inventory, payroll, and general operations. I'm self-motivated, and easy to work with, as well as for. Several of my friends are in construction, masonry, and landscaping... if they don't work directly for me, we could at least have a mutual referral relationship. I am struggling to find reasons not to pursue this...

I'd have to form an L.L.C., which would cost me a little chunk of money, but other than that, I can't think of much preventing me from moving forward. I had created business cards and a brochure in the past, so after just a few updates, I'd have those bases covered. Getting the word out and finding clients would take a little pavement pounding, but again, I have enough connections that I think I would be able to drum up enough business to squeek by on the bills. I have an office in my house... this might be the answer!

If I work for myself, I would be able to control my schedule, and allow for attending classes for Human Services, although, if I go into business for myself, I will likely pursue the Paralegal training. That would provide me with legal knowledge to protect my business, and a back-up career...

Looks like I have some things to think about.

Spent

I'm spent. Spent like my unemployment check.

I didn't get much sleep last night, but managed to make it through another demanding day at the remodel. Being tired is something I'm used to, so I remained upbeat for the entire day, unlike the guys. Talk about a couple of grumps!

In their defense, a few things had "gone wrong" today. The backer board hadn't adhered properly because the wall is an exterior one, and was too cold. Poor quality spackle previously applied by someone else kept peeling off the walls while I was painting. We ran out of tile. So did the local Lowe's... so a 60 mile journey was required to pick up more tile in the neighboring city. And there was some big to-do with the bathroom sink, but I hid in the closet. Actually I was painting the closet, but I did intentionally avoid the situation. Sure, I got frustrated here and there, but I remedied the situation by belting out songs along with the easy listening station the radio was on.

"Even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with ya honey..."

"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away..."

Before I left, I had to clean off my car windows. We had gotten some snow, and there was a small layer of ice on them. I had lifted my windshield wipers to scrape under them, and apparently dismantled them! While approaching a stop light, I switched on the wipers to remove a chunk of snow that had slid down from the roof and into my field of vision. I was a little confused when I saw the thin little stump of a wiper go across my windshield. Only the arm was operating on the driver's side. The blade was being bounced around at the edge of my hood! So... once I got to the light, I got out of the car, used my broken blade like a squeegee on the windshield, and laid it on my dashboard.

Too tired to assess the damage, I simply grabbed my purse and went into the house when I got home. I sure hope nothing needs to be repaired. I only have $8 to last me until next week, and the weather here requires one to have functioning windshield wipers. Of course, the "fix-it" guys are going to be on another job the next couple of days. My luck. Oh well.

My knees hurt. My back hurts. I have a rash on the back of my neck, paint at the ends of my ponytail, and paint under my fingernails. I'm feeling all sorts of sexy right now. When I was in the shower (yes, I did shower), I was thinking how nice it would have been to have someone here to greet me when I got home. That same someone could have picked up the house, gotten dinner ready, fixed my windshield wiper, and given me a back rub. I then decided I need to start a "rent-a-husband" business.

Now, don't confuse this with a prostitution ring. There are plenty of women out there, like myself, that manage just fine without a man, but wouldn't mind the "perks" of companionship once or twice a month. Dating is exhausting. Ha! And I hardly do it! But it is! I feel like this is going terribly wrong...

What I'm trying to say, I suppose, is that I can see how one would benefit from cohabitation. However, I have no desire to even date, and I doubt the property owner would be cool with me putting the project on hold until I find someone to rub my feet when I get home, so I suppose I'll just have to deal with it.

High as a Kite!

It's very possible that I'm high on paint fumes right now, but I can't deny that some damn good things are happening in my life right now. Thank God! I've always managed to stumble, and sometimes fall, through whatever life throws at me... but I have to admit that I was becoming rather doubtful that I would make it. The anxiety of bills hanging over my head and no job in sight was really beginning to drive me mad. I was actually very close to seeking medical attention because my heart was beginning to do the flip-floppy thing again and my chest pains were returning. However, I hate pharmaceuticals, and am a firm believer that a balanced life is a healthy one. I'm glad I haven't been forced to take that route.

I have had the most beautiful day. Spent a solid 8 hours on the remodel site. I finished the second coat of paint on the front bedroom walls, spackled cracks and nail holes, took some doors down, removed hardware and spruced it up with some dark bronze spray paint, and began painting the second bedroom. It feels so good to work.

Cutting my health insurance out of the budget has been my great debate as of late. It's $94 a month, which in my current world is a LOT of money. Cancelling it would take a slight weight off of my shoulders, but I fear if I do, I'll find myself in need of it. The potential need of it became apparent today, when I thought it would be fun to almost fall off of the ladder while no one else was on the job site and my cell phone was across the room on a window sill. I was on the top rung and would have landed on a wood floor. "Maybe I should hang on to my health insurance a little longer," I thought.

Fast forward two hours. Yet another almost-but-not-quite fall from the ladder. Done. I'm keeping my health insurance. I get the message! What does that have to do with having a great day? I didn't fall!

My co-worker Todd's mom stopped by. She's got a great eye for design, and I respect her opinion. She loves the tile and paint colors that I picked out. Thank you, Jesus! She's a tough one to please, so if she likes it, it has to be great.

Next visitor... the old tenant. The unit was previously rented by an African American twenty-something single mom who is genuine, kind, and respectable with a teenage son that actually has manners! She said she saw my car and just had to see what I was doing. "It's beautiful!" she said. "I wish it looked like this when I lived here!"

"You could move back in!" I said with a smile. "I know she'd love to have you back."

Her son needed a little more room to roam and she wanted to have a yard. Otherwise, I'm sure she'd come right back! We chit-chatted for a minute and I asked her if she needed any help with her new place. She's going to get in touch with me to remodel her bathroom and refer me to her aunt!

"I'll be fair with the costs. I'd like to do this for you, I think you're great." I said.

"I think you're great. And I know your work." She kindly declared.

Wow. What a moment for me. You know how some people just have this air of goodness about them? Well this woman is one of those people. I just adore her, despite hardly knowing her. Of course I'm happy to know that someone else likes my work and may potentially employ me, but what makes me even more thrilled, is the thought of doing something nice for her, and maybe even becoming friends. You can never have enough kind people in your life!

After I got home, the work really began! I had to take a shower, find something to cook for my one and only hot meal of the day, catch up on my bills, check emails, wash my work clothes and my very smelly work shoes. I realize it's disgusting to think that a woman could have smelly shoes, but I'm just "keepin' it real" here folks. I've had this pair of tennis shoes for years, and rarely wore them. In fact, they only became my work shoes because I got an upgraded pair for a gift. I don't know what it is about these shoes, but they stink! I've peered inside (with my nose plugged) to see if there was a decomposing critter body in them... and found nothing. I would have just let them fester, but I got a few whiffs while I was painting, and I didn't enjoy them. Out of respect for other's and an attempt to hold onto my femininity... I gave them a good washin' too.

When I sat down at my cluttered desk in the office after my shower, I had to sift through a disastrous pile of papers. I was out of town for the holidays, and confess to being a touch lazy as well. This created quite a backlog of business and junk mail on my desk. In fact, I had even lost sight of my bank account balance. While telephoning into the automated banking system, and checking off which checks had cleared, I almost shit my pants! For a brief moment, I thought my account was going to be overdrawn by $170! Holy almost-shit! Thankfully, I was wrong, and after paying my car insurance, I have a whopping $8 to last me seven days. Sigh.

My lunch/dinner tonight was "Cheesy Chicken Enchilada" Hamburger Helper, minus the milk. I'm out. Well, I have some in my refrigerator, but it's a tad chunky, and I'm just going to trust that it smells too. Why is it still there? You ask. I have no frickin' clue. I never think about my disgusting jug of expired milk until I'm sitting on the couch, bundled up in throw blankets to keep warm. I'd get up right now to dump it, but I'd rather gross you out and tell you all about my smelly shoes and chunky milk. Alright. I'm getting up right now, I swear!

SICK! Have you ever stuck your hand in a bowl of cottage cheese? That's what it felt like when I had to reach into the garbage disposal to retrieve the plastic ring that fell off the jug, AFTER most of the putrid chunks plopped down into it. I feel violated.

Anyway...

Once I finished my duties, I sat down with the computer and checked my emails. I received an email asking me attend a January 26th meeting for volunteering with the local Substance Abuse Council. Perfect! I had planned on finding a volunteering gig. Receiving the email allowed me to get that started without even getting off my ass!

When I got onto my blog, while still on my ass, I saw that I had a comment on my last post. A comment?! I LOVE comments! When I read it, I was enthralled with the eloquence of it. Something about it seemed warmly familiar, although being anonymous, I have no way of knowing if my "gut" knew who it was. Regardless, it was a sweet message, and a nice little present to add to my already lovely day. So thank you, to whomever wrote it, and thank you also, to my other readers. Your support is a great gift to me. There were times when this crazy blog was all I had to hold onto! Thank you, readers, for adding more wonderful to my wonderful day!

(The pictures are from the place I'm working on... the "befores." I seriously can't wait to get back there tomorrow and coax that old place back into beautiful again.)

p.s. My spellcheck function isn't functioning again, so please kindly excuse any spelling errors!

Good Deed #3- Share the "Wealth"

Today was the first day on the job for my latest remodelling adventure. I'm working in a unit that is almost exactly like the last one... only this time, I got the green light to make improvements to every room! I literally skipped eating breakfast because I was so excited to get there and begin the transformation.

When I arrived, my demo partner had a guy with him. The two tough guys tore out the old surround in the shower, ripped out the creepy sink and demolished the poorly intstalled tile "trim." I was doing the delicate work: painting the front bedroom. The color looks amazing! I chose Valspar's "Outlands Subtle Taupe" (6005-1B), which is approved by the National Trust For Historic Preservation. It's a nice change from the barely-beige, and a rental-friendly color.

While I was on the ladder, "Bill" approached me with a proposition. It seems Bill is unemployed as well, and like me, in serious need of cash. Bill wants to help me out with some painting. As much as I would like to hoard all of the work hours and as a result, have more money to support myself... I know exactly what Bill is going through, and if I were him, I wouldn't want to hear "no."

So, I took my personal wants and needs out of the picture. If I share the "wealth" with Bill, the project will be completed sooner, which means the unit can be rented sooner. The sooner the unit rents, the sooner the owner has more money. The sooner the owner has more money, the sooner I get more work. And if I share the hours with Bill... I've done a good deed.

Done deal.

I checked in with the owner on the drive home. She's a little nervous about the renovation costs, but being a good sport about the spending. I absolutely love working with her. Times are tough for everyone, and sacrifices have to be made to survive. She has asked me to do some administrative-type work for her, in addition to the remodel. I gave it some thought, and decided to voluntarily lower my pay rate for the "office" work. Again, she has to have money to support herself and her properties, and the more money she has, the more opportunities I will have to continue to work for her. It just seemed fair. The right thing to do.

I thought about counting that as two good deeds in one day... but I want to keep the momentum going. I don't want this spirit to end too soon. Although I have yet to help an old lady across the street, or give a homeless person a sandwich, I'm enjoying focusing on what I can do for others, instead of focusing on myself.

Off to a Good Start!

2009 is off to a good start!

I was lounging around in my seriously non-sexy survival sweats watching "The Forgotten" when my last remodel "client" called. She wanted me to meet up with her and a potential tenant to show the property in a half an hour! I quickly transformed from financially-challenged hermit, into casual-chic property manager and headed out the door.

As I pulled up, the potential tenant was already leaving. Apparently the unit didn't suit her. My client and I then discussed remodelling plans for the vacant unit. This unit is getting a more intense overhaul then the last... and am I ever excited! My client is excited! Off to Lowe's we went. I selected paint colors, tile, hardware and fixtures; spending a brief amount of time daydreaming about some glass tile that would look fabulous in my own kitchen and bathroom.

After hauling all of the materials into the unit, I returned home and began creating property assessment, general information, and security deposit forms. Our goal is to provide tenants with a "welcome packet" to make their stay more enjoyable and increase the longevity of their residency. With the troubled economy, finding and keeping tenants is a challenge. This challenge has become my challenge, as the client has asked me to take on some "property management" responsibilities. Considering property renovation and management is a business I had hoped to jump-start last year, this is a fabulous opportunity!

Mission: Complete!

My work with the rental town home is complete! Today was spent touching up the paint throughout, repainting the railing, and cleaning up the materials. My client was on-site and not only did she ask if I would do more work for her, she has also referred me to another client, and encouraged the tenant that was moving out to hire me to do her work at her new home! Can't beat that kind of working relationship in our economy!

My only regret is that I didn't photograph the bathroom before and after, as that is truly my best work. I also wish I would have taken more photographs of the kitchen at different angles. But, I do have some evidence of the changes, and definitely word of mouth, which is still the best form of advertising in any form of business.

It feels so good to be finished! Mission: complete!

The "Busy" Signal!

I'm still at a non-stop pace, despite my technically "unemployed" status! My remodel project will require me to return tomorrow. Oh, how I had hoped to not be working on anything but fixing delicious things to eat on Thanksgiving Day!

I spent the day cleaning a very beautiful home. My friend Todd's mother offered me the opportunity. Pat has been such a wonderful help during my unemployment. Very supportive and genuinely concerned that I am able to make ends meet. I am very fortunate to have both of them on my side through this difficult time.

My mother left this morning to spend Thanksgiving with her mother, my favorite grandmother, in California. I would have loved to have gone, but I do not have any money for airfare. My grandmother's birthday is on Thanksgiving, and my grandfather's a few days after. Mom's visit is a surprise, and I wish I could see the look on my grandma's face when she sees my mother at the door. I know she is going to cry! My grandparents are such sweet and loving people. Both have been in and out of the hospital over the last year, and are in their 80's. Visiting them is near the top of my priority list as soon as I am back on steady financial ground. I don't want the next time I see my grandmother to be at her funeral. The thought of that possibility just destroys me inside.

While mother is away, I am dog-sitting her three beasties for the week. The client I've been remodelling for, has asked me to also touch up the paint throughout the entire town home. Secretly, I am beyond sick of painting, but, the bills need to be paid, and I may need to rely on opportunities like this in the future, so I have to suck it up.

Of course, now that I have too much on my pre-Thanksgiving plate, people are coming to town, boys and friends are calling, and I am just too busy! I've fantasized about a busy signal playing when anyone calls, comes to the door, or tries to contact me in any other way. It gets exhausting explaining why you are unavailable... and I really don't have time to! I swear, I could sit around the house for a week, wishing there were something to do, and not a soul would call. As soon as I have more than enough going on... everybody wants to do something! Maybe that's just life.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. As difficult as things have been for me this past seven months, I definitely have a lot to be thankful for. And if for some reason I miss a post the next couple days...

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING ONE AND ALL!!!

Pulled Pork and Back!

What a crazy week! My anticipated two-day remodel is now in day FIVE. Good news is: I'm in the home stretch, the client loves it, and has offered me more work. Bad news: my poor back and legs hurt like hell!

I've managed to make it this far through the job with only a few bruises, cutting my fingernails to a more work friendly length, and one chemical spill! I was using a corrosive concoction for professional use to eat layers of paint off of the antique hardware. My goal was to keep the cost down for the client and to make use of some character-filled antique hardware. As I was trying to fish the last hinge out of the toxic jar, it tipped over! Right onto the brand new, although very ugly, counter top and flooring! I risked permanent disfigurement of the skin to clean up the spill before anything was damaged; successfully.

After returning home, I ate a pulled-pork sandwich, on an onion bun! I had made the pulled-pork in the crock pot before leaving for the job site. I used "McCormick" brand pulled-pork seasoning, according to the directions. Okay, so I didn't use the "right" amount of pork, and added a little extra brown sugar... Delicious I say! Delicious! But, instead of sitting down and enjoying the fullness of my stomach, I jumped right into some housework. What? Am I crazy? I have the biggest slave-driving boss ever! Me!

But, the pain may be well worth it. A new friend of mine has offered to massage my aches away when he gets out of work. I met him when I was applying for a job. We got along right away. He's quite a funny fellow, and humor is one of my toppers on the wish list for future companion characteristics. We've been talking for a few days, and so far he's on the up and up. Good family. SINGLE. No children. Never married. Teaches Sunday School. Home-owner. College educated. Lovely eyes and dark hair. Very complimentary and sarcastically flirtatious. I'm thinking I might give him a small chance.

Honestly, I've been thinking about C.F. the last few days. I have not heard a word from him in about two weeks. And that's fine, but it leaves me wondering if I truly meant anything at all to him. Was I just a temporary indulgence of his hereditary male horn-dogginess? Our conversations were very in-depth and definitely not just of an adult nature... but was this just part of an elaborate scheme? I may never know. I just get caught up in the wondering sometimes.

Tonight I plugged in my small potted Christmas trees that sit on each side of the door, and hung my garland around the doorway. My house looks like the entrance to a holiday Heaven. Warm and inviting...

Now let's see who crosses the threshold!

The Pain of Painting II

Oh my aching back!!

I taped off a kitchen and bathroom. Painted two coats in the kitchen and one coat in the bathroom. All of that bending and twisting has me bent and twisted out of shape!

My ego took a good jab too! My friend's mom stopped by to check out the project, and she definitely hates the tile (I had nothing to do with that!), and was NOT crazy about the paint color I chose. There weren't a lot of options to work with! I am confident that the bathroom will look amazing, and the kitchen will at least look 100 times better, once I get the cabinets finished and the hardware replaced!

Considering I have not met the client in person... this added opinion is cause for nervousness! I could land some future clients and work if she is happy. I'm not sure what will happen if she isn't! I've never been displeased with my remodels, and have a 100% satisfaction record thus far. Either this will be my first flop... or my visitor couldn't see the vision of the completed project.

If you look at the photo... you can see that this isn't an easy task. I'm hoping to have it completed tomorrow, then I will offer a before and after! Unfortunately, without accessories.