I AM A HOME IMPROVEMENT GODDESS! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

Ok, perhaps not, but I'm tryin' DAMN hard.

First, I'll confess to some mild irritation with Poohbare for making stuff look so freaking easy to do. Just because he used to be a millwright and had all that "training" stuff on how to fix things the RIGHT way, he has an unfair advantage. I never got to learn that stuff working in law offices. I may file a grievance if I can figure out which is the correct agency.

Anyway, I got a caddy to put in the tub area. Because the whirlpool has a higher ledge than the typical bathtub, it wouldn't fit. Grrrr. So after some pondering, it dawned on me that I could just use the pipecutter and shorten one of the aluminum tubes. Easy right? Yeah, I thought so, too. When Pooh was fixing a leaky water pipe, he just spun the pipe cutter around the pipe and KAZAAM! nice perfect cut. I do it... yeah, not so much. The aluminum kinda squished a bit and then I had to figure out how to hammer/pry/bend that back into a cylinder. I managed, and the caddy now fits, but damn...

Then there's the ceiling fan in the bathroom that was making a godawful buncha noise. I took it apart and figured out why and now it's nice and quiet. I'm pretty sure Poohbare already knew why, but he kept quiet and let me solve the riddle. I like that. Besides, if I'm on the verge of a major screw-up, I know he's on standby to stop me or do it himself.

It's pretty cool knowing I CAN do this stuff. His faith in me gives me faith in myself.

Let it be known throughout blogland:

Peachy and Krick are very VERY bad influences.

When my hangover eases up, I may have to speak sternly to each of them.

meh

The girlspawn and her lifelong best friend got the first coat of paint on the walls last night... and each other... and the ONE spot of carpet that the drop cloth didn't cover. I woke around 3 with my stupid hand hurting and wandered down to see the sights... and emptied the remaining paint from the trays into the cans, and wrapped up the brushes and rollers so they wouldn't dry out, and closed the paint cans that had been left open. I'm keeping it in perspective. I know how easy it is to finish the work, take a break, and forget about those odds and ends.

We're doing the second coat. It looks much better now that the color is deepening. This morning it kinda looked like a clown threw up in there. >.<

The ceiling and trim are next, then the door, then I can start putting in the crown moulding and baseboards and get the carpet cleaning people in to do their thing. If we stay on track, she might be able to start moving her stuff within two weeks. YAY!

Panels secured.
Seams caulked
Two coats of primer done.
The painting begins tomorrow and she wants to it herself.
She's chose a gorgeous carribean blue and a bright apple green. It should be pretty festive.

First, I would like to thank all you wonderful guys for your handy hints. I ended up opting for the Liquid Nails route. "Bonds in an instant!" I call BULLSHIT!

On the bright side, I discovered I was mistaken about the studs (sorry - not you guys - the ones in the walls. ok fine. you're ALL studs!) and they actually were there. The ex apparently felt that tacking down the paneling on both sides was a bit to burdensome. Anyway, I used the liquid nails stuff AND real nails and ... Mission Accomplished!

Ida done that whole putting wood or ?x?'s in the wall and stuff, but I'm not that ambitious. I admire the fact that many of you would do the job right. That's a good quality to have and I'm sure stuff you do turns out great. I'm more a "close enough" kinda gal. Plus I'm rarely allowed to play with sharp edged things like saws cuz I'm kinda clumsy.

I was busy sanding the spackle and wiping down the walls this evening while drinking a bottle of wine. Did I mention I have wine? Well, I did. Now I don't. Well I kinda do if I open the other bottle. Anyhow, wine is/was involved. I forgot where that was going but it's ok.

Quick question: Has anyone ever used a NEW roll of masking tape? I don't believe I ever did until tonight. It's always been that roll that's been sitting around in the garage for ... oh ... since dinosaurs roamed the earth. (ask any paleo.. paleon... dinosaur expert... and they'll tell you about the dinos' propensity for masking tape.) Anyway, tonight I used a NEW roll of masking tape. That stuff is sticky when it's new. Whoda thunk?

Wine + sticky new masking tape + plastic drop clothes = major challenges. I taped up the drop clothes almost as much as I taped em to the floor. I found it entertaining. WHen it got too entertaining I stopped. Now I'm typing. Typing is challenging. I'm gonna stop typing too now.

*hiccup*

I'm making slow but steady progress on fixing the downstairs bedroom. This morning was spent spackling....and spackling...and spackling... you get my drift. I must say, my spackle skills have dramatically improved. There's hardly any need for sanding. Once I started thinking of as icing a wall, instead of a cake, it became less bothersome. I should be ready to take on drywall mud pretty soon. There's some patching that needs done. I kinda like that Poohbare isn't interferring and letting me run with the project. I turn to him for technical advice, but that's about it.

The biggest obstacle I'm encountering (and which has me baffled) is the paneling on the walls. The ex didn't line up the panels with studs every time, so some panels aren't attached on one side and stick out about a 1/4" from the panel next to it - which IS tacked to a stud. I'm mulling over what my options are for a quick fix so I can run several past Poohbare for his input.

I like trying to figure stuff out on my own, but in this instance, I'm stumped. Feel free to offer suggestions. I welcome them.

Poohbare and I have been noticing the increased frequency with which the girlspawn has been trying to use her late dad as a tool for manipulation. When she's hearing stuff she'd rather avoid (please clean your room. did you do your homework? etc.) she's been using as a comeback that she's having a really bad day and can't handle anymore crap right now. Either she "had a dream about Dad" or he's "been on her mind" and she's missing him, etc. and she'll get to that other stuff later.

Now, I don't doubt that she misses him. Of course she does. He was her father. It's the timing that I question.

It happened again last night and I kinda blew up and said a number of things I've held back for a long time. It wasn't pretty.

Funny, when I told her 4 years ago that I'd filed for divorce, her immediate reaction was "Took you long enough!" ouch. When he'd ask her to come spend the weekend, she usually tried to avoid it or would come home after one night. They did not have a very good relationship. He was a vortex of gloom that sucked the lifeforce out of everyone he encountered.

He didn't have good relationships with most people. That happens when you're drunk and overmedicated most days. Add in an attitude of "the world owes me" and "I'm a victim" and being unappreciative of the myriad good things in this life and well... yeah, it doesn't make for someone who is highly sought after for social events.

I get that she wants to remember him in a good light. Fine. If that brings her comfort, so be it. But DAMN IT, a reality check needs to be had now and then.

I'm the one that went to work and paid the bills and kept us housed and fed and clothed. It was part of what I signed on for when I became a parent. The kids' needs have always come before mine. Too bad he missed that memo. When she started in about all the "sacrifices" he made for us.... KA-BOOM! He wouldn't have known a sacrifice if it bit him on the ass.

Angry? Yeah, just a bit.

Just when ya think things are going good the organic matter hits the rotating bladed device.