Sunday, January 06, 2008
On the Imperfections of Walls
We are in the process of re-doing the kitchen. Not in a big way, mind you. It is small and we can't afford new appliances or cupboards or countertops or floors. I tried to fix up my kitchen at my Westland apartment by replacing the knobs on the cabinet doors (what kind of an idiot uses a filigree patterned knob in the kitchen?!); the knobs were so expensive that when Brian found us a new apartment without stairs, I repeatedly insisted that he put the original knobs back and bring my new ones with us. Sadly, the Canton apartment didn't need knobs, and this kitchen uses handles instead. The solution this time is to paint.
Anyway, we have removed the wallpaper. Today I spackled holes and started some sanding. Sanding is a great way to find all of your wall imperfections. I have also been spackling grooves and dents. Then I figured I'd spackle the holes in the living room left by the plastic appliances which once held the tie-backs for the drapes. I need to replace those drapes at some point, but for now I'll pull out the plastic wall studs and spackle the holes.
In spackling the tie-back holes, I had to get up on the sofa and saw some other holes behind the Christmas tree above my lovely framed butterflies. I feel a little bad about having such beautiful corpses in my living room as décor, but they really look nice and are some of Brian's favorite pictures of mine. He doesn't like a lot of my pieces of "stuff" but he likes those. They can't be hung next to wall holes. My eye fell upon the black hooks on the ceiling, which presumably once held a lamp with a swag chain or something. "Maybe I could remove those hooks and spackle the holes," I said.
"You should wait until the tree is down first," said Brian. I think he's worried I'll try to stand on the arm of the sofa or make him do it.
Since much of the spackle in the kitchen had dried by the time I found the other holes to fill, I began sanding and layering more spackle. And sanding more. And now instead of filling holes, I am trying to smooth down where previous spackle had been applied by some homeowner or carpenter of years past. I think I can get the walls smoother. My eagle eye is poring over minute flaws. I can't actually sand anymore because I can't remember where the spackle is dry and where it's new. Maybe I should get the ladder out and start to try smoothing the wall above the cabinets. In at least one corner I think the cabinet doors will have to be removed so that the sanding blocks can appropriately smooth a corner that consists of one inch of wall space on each side of the corner's edge.
How much sanding should I do behind the stove? On the wall next to the refrigerator? Will it drive me crazy to have unsmoothed walls above or next to appliances? Do I need wall perfection?
Probably not, but I can't stop looking for invisible holes, dents, and dings.
Anyway, we have removed the wallpaper. Today I spackled holes and started some sanding. Sanding is a great way to find all of your wall imperfections. I have also been spackling grooves and dents. Then I figured I'd spackle the holes in the living room left by the plastic appliances which once held the tie-backs for the drapes. I need to replace those drapes at some point, but for now I'll pull out the plastic wall studs and spackle the holes.
In spackling the tie-back holes, I had to get up on the sofa and saw some other holes behind the Christmas tree above my lovely framed butterflies. I feel a little bad about having such beautiful corpses in my living room as décor, but they really look nice and are some of Brian's favorite pictures of mine. He doesn't like a lot of my pieces of "stuff" but he likes those. They can't be hung next to wall holes. My eye fell upon the black hooks on the ceiling, which presumably once held a lamp with a swag chain or something. "Maybe I could remove those hooks and spackle the holes," I said.
"You should wait until the tree is down first," said Brian. I think he's worried I'll try to stand on the arm of the sofa or make him do it.
Since much of the spackle in the kitchen had dried by the time I found the other holes to fill, I began sanding and layering more spackle. And sanding more. And now instead of filling holes, I am trying to smooth down where previous spackle had been applied by some homeowner or carpenter of years past. I think I can get the walls smoother. My eagle eye is poring over minute flaws. I can't actually sand anymore because I can't remember where the spackle is dry and where it's new. Maybe I should get the ladder out and start to try smoothing the wall above the cabinets. In at least one corner I think the cabinet doors will have to be removed so that the sanding blocks can appropriately smooth a corner that consists of one inch of wall space on each side of the corner's edge.
How much sanding should I do behind the stove? On the wall next to the refrigerator? Will it drive me crazy to have unsmoothed walls above or next to appliances? Do I need wall perfection?
Probably not, but I can't stop looking for invisible holes, dents, and dings.
Labels: Brian, condominium, paint, wallpaper, Westland
Friday, December 28, 2007
Par-Tay
I think people had a good time. There were many foods. Grandma (who actually expressed shock that I could cook a turkey) would have been proud of the spread that got laid out.
Everything got done--I even managed to finish some gift knitting while the turkey was in the oven. Well, almost everything. I still need to take care of sending the remote gifts. Oh well.
My back spasms have calmed down and my flute playing at church went reasonably well. I can't say it was great, but nobody noticed anything amiss.
We are now stripping wallpaper from the kitchen walls. Sadly, there will not be enough time to totally strip and paint, but I don't care. I'm relieved to see the paisley coming off in stretchy vinyl sheets and lying in tatters on the kitchen floor. Whoever decorated this place before we moved in was demented and color-blind.
I had a CT scan on the 26th and an upcoming bone scan this Thursday; presumably I will get my results January 8. I have also started physical therapy again. I am sore, but in a way that is probably good. I'd like to be able to comfortably tie my shoes and lift my legs into the car without having to use my hands to do it. Today I had a therapist throwing a foam ball at me as I balanced on a teetering board. I'm not entirely convinced this will help with my goals, but I'm getting better at catching a foam ball while balancing on a teetering board.
Happy New Year! Pop on over for some spinach dip and sparkling grape juice, if you like. We might be awake long enough to watch the ball drop.
Everything got done--I even managed to finish some gift knitting while the turkey was in the oven. Well, almost everything. I still need to take care of sending the remote gifts. Oh well.
My back spasms have calmed down and my flute playing at church went reasonably well. I can't say it was great, but nobody noticed anything amiss.
We are now stripping wallpaper from the kitchen walls. Sadly, there will not be enough time to totally strip and paint, but I don't care. I'm relieved to see the paisley coming off in stretchy vinyl sheets and lying in tatters on the kitchen floor. Whoever decorated this place before we moved in was demented and color-blind.
I had a CT scan on the 26th and an upcoming bone scan this Thursday; presumably I will get my results January 8. I have also started physical therapy again. I am sore, but in a way that is probably good. I'd like to be able to comfortably tie my shoes and lift my legs into the car without having to use my hands to do it. Today I had a therapist throwing a foam ball at me as I balanced on a teetering board. I'm not entirely convinced this will help with my goals, but I'm getting better at catching a foam ball while balancing on a teetering board.
Happy New Year! Pop on over for some spinach dip and sparkling grape juice, if you like. We might be awake long enough to watch the ball drop.
Labels: bone scan, Christmas, condominium, CT scan, flute, Grandma, physical therapy, wallpaper
Friday, December 15, 2006
The Joys of Home Ownership
Brian and I are now the proud owners of a three-bedroom condo practically across the street from where we live now. We have already:
I am thrilled to have a home that is not a rental property. I am very happy that we can paint and replace carpet and fixtures. I'm very psyched about the prospect of crown molding, and am hoping that it's not too difficult to install. A year ago I honestly did not think that signing a thirty-year mortgage and moving into a two-story home with a basement would ever be within my reach.
I have never been more happy to be wrong.
- Removed the crappy spindles on the half-wall between the dining area and the kitchen.
- Removed wallpaper and put a first coat of paint on the walls in the master bedroom, engendering some achy backs and knees; I am never doing edging along the floor again.
- Gotten the Christmas tree over to the new condo. I feel like putting it up will be an important milestone.
- Had the carpets and ducts cleaned.
- Ordered new carpeting (berber) for the master bedroom to replace the existing crappy worn stuff.
- Recruited some people to help us move on the 26th (although anyone else is welcome to come).
- Acquired puppy gates (YES!).
- Picked out paint color which will go up when the rest of the crappy wallpaper comes down. There's some serious ugly on the walls right now--pics are coming soon.
- Anticipated conflict with the one neighbor who deems the area outside our new dining room as his/her garden--just wait until we inform them we would like to build a deck there.
I am thrilled to have a home that is not a rental property. I am very happy that we can paint and replace carpet and fixtures. I'm very psyched about the prospect of crown molding, and am hoping that it's not too difficult to install. A year ago I honestly did not think that signing a thirty-year mortgage and moving into a two-story home with a basement would ever be within my reach.
I have never been more happy to be wrong.
Labels: Brian, carpet, Christmas, Christmas tree, condominium, mortgage, neighbor, paint, pug, wallpaper
