and your little dog too

If you are expecting one of those uplifting and positive blogs I always write – you may want to just look at the pictures and move on to Facebook or “pawn.” I can’t use the real word because I’m already getting enough disturbing comments as it is. Although if any of you need Viagra I know where to get a coupon.

When last we chatted I had finished the living room. And while I’ve made some progress, it’s been slow in coming. I can tell you if it weren’t for this blog, I would have quit.  I did manage to get both the dining room, hall and den painted before the baby shower, so that was something. I spent the whole Saturday before 10a – 10p literally, painting and moving furniture. At about 9:30p Ben told me to stop and wondered how I wasn’t exhausted, seeing as he had done about half what I did and took a nap! Needless to say I mismanaged my time the day of the party and I was cleaning the shower while I was in the shower. I heard this wasn’t unusual, talk about multitasking. If you were at the shower and thinking that the den looks different or that I flipped the picture, I didn’t and it is. I moved all the furniture, again. This was a task as I was by myself and the tv and cabinet were really really heavy. Fortunately neither the television or I were injured.

So, the next week I had a birthday and bought a swimsuit. I can say with a great amount of conviction that these two things should never be done at the same time. It was only the thought of birthday cake that kept me going. But alas it didn’t help me look any better in the swimsuit. I’m a little worried about my decision making, as the suit has polka dots. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing. But that’s for another blog or my therapist should I ever get another one. But due to the trauma(s) I didn’t do anything but work and feel sorry for myself. The next week I took some mental health time. This was my first real “vacation” in 2.5 years. Sure I haven’t worked every day, but I hadn’t told my clients I wouldn’t be working. Big step – as I have a rep of being my clients beck and call girl. Five full days. As a bonus, Ben also got the chance during this time to give me all manner of shit. He returned home the first day found me still in my pj’s in bed reading. This was how I’d spent the day. Although I did get up to eat and take a nap. Needless to say, it was awesome and could have only been better if I’d been getting paid – and there was room service. Tuesday was suppose to be my first day “back.” But I called in sick to myself and can you believe it, I’m such a sap, I believed me! It gave me another day off to finish the den and dining room. When Ben learned of my “extension” he asked if I was worried about work. (really?) I told him that if no one called or emailed in the next few days that would be just dandy with me. I said “wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a clean house?” He laughed and asked “can’t you do both?” My answer, “apparently not.”

NOTE: Reading this may cause drowsiness.

I used to think that accessorizing was the best part of any redecorating. Hanging art work, picking accents, arranging shelves. This (along with a few other things) is no longer true for me. I am completely unable to make a decision. Do I like this or that? Should this go here or there? I spent hours just moving and hanging and unhanging pictures and rearranging items on shelves. And every time I changed my mind I had to fill in more holes and repaint. Every damn time. You’d think I would have learned something. It was also with regret that returned the lovely vintage poster to the Tom Vance Collection. I borrowed it about two years ago. Once again don’t lend us anything. We either forget (ha) to return it or we break it. Ben is now thinking why does she keep saying we. The voltage tester? Le Car? Although that was kind of the French’s fault.

The dining room is much brighter without the arches. I don’t miss them. It was the right choice. I got the new light fixture at West Elm about 2 weeks ago. It took a week to come and a few days until I finally hung it up. It’s a little funky and it had these cool over sized light bulbs which were shown directly under the light on the website. As in BUY THESE TOO! And I did –  ($15 each “Edisons”) was so excited to finally have the light working. ONE problem. the bulbs didn’t fit inside the glass jars of the light. I guess Edison wasn’t involved in the West Elm marketing plan. Why why why sell them with the light if they don’t fit? I asked them that – stunned silence – anyway THESE are NOT the correct bulbs, but I figure you don’t care. I am getting the cool ones because these make me feel like I’m about to be tortured my a mad scientist, or interrogated by the police concerning the disappearance of a certain chipmunk. “No, I’ve never seen this rodent before Officer.”  The good news is that while looking for the correct bulbs I saw the fixture was on sale, so I got $43 back! Nice.

After extensive deliberation (help me) I decided on the Wall of Mirrors. I had 2 old ones and made the third by putting a mirror inside an old frame. As a crazy person, I’ve spent most of my life unable to find just the right thing to put on my dining room table. Everything I’ve tried, and there have been plenty, just haven’t been right. Too big, too small to ornate too, too. But then it hit me – bam – how about just one thing, one simple thing. And voila! Why do I waste brain energy on this stupid stuff, I could be curing cancer or napping.

The den was flipped as I wrote earlier. This way is better. Not great, but better. I think I have finally accepted that this room will never be right. It’s just too narrow. But it does afford a nice view of the garden and a breeze. So I hung the pictures and art, painted walls and trim and called it a day. We go with this and a mood stabilizer.

The next step is either 2 forward – The two main floor bedrooms. Or 1 back – the missing links (new front door and window in bath) As far as the bedrooms, one will remain my office and the other will become a proper guest room. Right now Stella thinks this is her room. We’ve done little to dissuade her and the adjustment could be difficult. So surrender Dorothy, there is a twister comin!