Welcome to Monday, dear reader. The Bibbed Wonder and I spent the weekend working on the soap studio. As is often the case, what begins as a simple refresh project snowballs into a bigger project. Perhaps you've read the children's book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Our soap studio project is similar to that. Please insert a dramatic sigh here.
I took on the task of painting the walls in the studio. I was supposed to paint only the small areas of raw cement block that were overlooked thirty years ago when my dad had the garage painted. With my little OCD/ADHD brain firing on all cylinders, I made the executive decision to paint ALL the walls. I knew that looking at fresh white paint in some areas and thirty-year-old paint in other areas would fry my little OCD brain like burnt, crispy, crumbly bacon. When my darling husband picked up The Bean from play practice, took her out to lunch, and then dropped her off at GramBarb's house for the weekend, I began my painting extravaganza. I assumed my darling nay-sayer would shut down painting all the walls, so I resorted to a sneak attack.
After first painting all the designated areas in the project, because my little brain figures he can't yell too badly if I do what I'm supposed to do first...nobody has ever accused me of being mature or rational...I moved on to painting the walls. The painting went surprisingly well and fast. I mean, I wore a lot of paint, got a bit in my hair, and only stepped in the roller tray once, leaving incriminating footprints everywhere, but it went quickly. By the time he returned from his outing with The Bean, I was working on coat number two.
Much to my surprise, he readily accepted my announcement that I had decided to paint all the walls. He didn't even flinch or twitch when I made my announcement. I think he needs to see a doctor. He has been uncharacteristically compliant and accepting. As I finished the second coat of paint, he filled the cracks in the cement floor. I wanted to fill the cracks in the cement floor, but he took over that very satisfying-looking task. We finished our projects right around 5:30 and were pleased with our progress. We both fell into bed exhausted, stiff, and aching.
Yesterday, The Bibbed Wonder began painting the floor. It is a one-person job because we have had to move every piece of furniture and equipment to a tiny section of the studio and work in small sections of the floor. Although I love a good improvement project, I needed to do some much-needed cleaning and laundry. So, my bib overall-wearing buddy completed coat number one. Last night, after having dinner with GB, I looked at the studio and Eric's handy work. I could not believe the difference one coat of paint on the floor had made. Everything looks brighter, fresher, and cleaner. Today, he will work in small sections to add the second coat and sprinkle the anti-skid chips.
The new, fresh look inspires me to give everything a thorough, deep clean, throw away things we aren't using, and reconfigure our space to be more efficient. The Bibbed Wonder is a creature of habit, and I believe I will feel some pushback from changing his system. However, it is all in the name of progress. Again, it's a bit like giving a mouse a cookie. Give a soaper a paintbrush, and then she's going to want a new floor, new floor mats, new anti-fatigue mats, cute curtains, a coffee bar, new stainless steel tables, a mixing stand with an arm to hold the mixer, a pot lifter, an industrial dishwasher, pegboard to hold her packing tape, and industrial stools to sit upon, all because she went rogue and painted the walls. Don't worry, dear reader; I will have The Bibbed Wonder twitching in no time. Insert a giggle and wink.
On this rare sunny January day, stay safe, be smart, embrace progress, don't be afraid to jump in and get rid of acquired useless junk, improve your system, make it a goal to give those around you a mental breakdown, only giggle about it in private and keep washing your hands.
