So I am still painting the boys' room. In as much as its mostly done but not so much so that I can remove the painting crap from the house with the expectation of not seeing it again tomorrow.
I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day that did not require of them too much behaving as if they are house angels, and reaped tons of chubby-armed hugs. I did. I also spent the day painting a multicolored grid of squares on the big bare wall (really, the only one in this door farm of a house) in the boys' room. It was less odious than it sounds, project-wise, and the fellas' enthusiasm for participation managed to limit itself to coincide with my tolerance for their assistance (they managed to not drive me nuts before wandering off). I thriftily used up lots of my 20 year old art school acrylics (this falls in with the waste not want not post). So the grid was essentially free, except for the mile of painter's tape involved in taping it off (is it biodegradable I hope?). Like I wasn't going to go all anal retentive on the thing.
Having finished the walls, but for the niggling touch-ups I just can't face at the moment, I turned my attention to the doors. Have I complained yet about the pale mauvey-beige the entire interior was coated in? It extends to a somewhat glossy version on the trim and doors. For being a not particularly colorful color, it is a bitch to paint over. Three coats of trim paint on the trim led me to believe that perhaps I should prime the doors in order to not grow old and die painting them. No luck. The evil beige is a paint sinkhole par excellence. The primer Sysguy recommended, while quite effective in its alcohol-based shellac-y way, is very watery, so it was difficult to apply with a brush, foam or otherwise, and also asphyxia-inducing what with the alcohol evaporating in that way it does. Yay! Its looking like I'll still have to put at least two coats of paint over it though. Joy.
Last night was the school open house. I somehow assumed that the computer lab would not have to be open for this, so it was with dismay that I received the news on Tuesday that I would indeed be hosting a soiree of my own. Frantic sorting of the big Miscellaneous Paper Mountian off my desk ensued. You can't believe how incredibly dusty a well-sealed building gets. Don't even ask what I am able to vacuum out of the keyboards. In addition, the teachers, who are delightful and hard-working educators, have various technical difficulties that need attending on the evening of the open house. I enjoy learning new things under duress. At least you'd think so because I seem to arrange things so that's how it happens.
It was nice to see the parents of the children Itorture instruct regularly. Some of them were actually interested, which is hopeful. I was amazed to discover that of 22 computers that I set up with various examples of the spiffy educational software we use, 17 of them were redirected to the only non-educational game we play on holidays by the end of the night. Its amazing what the kids know how to find when they want to. And I had to shut the machines off remotely to get people to leave already.
The best part? I got to take home a free pie!
I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day that did not require of them too much behaving as if they are house angels, and reaped tons of chubby-armed hugs. I did. I also spent the day painting a multicolored grid of squares on the big bare wall (really, the only one in this door farm of a house) in the boys' room. It was less odious than it sounds, project-wise, and the fellas' enthusiasm for participation managed to limit itself to coincide with my tolerance for their assistance (they managed to not drive me nuts before wandering off). I thriftily used up lots of my 20 year old art school acrylics (this falls in with the waste not want not post). So the grid was essentially free, except for the mile of painter's tape involved in taping it off (is it biodegradable I hope?). Like I wasn't going to go all anal retentive on the thing.
Having finished the walls, but for the niggling touch-ups I just can't face at the moment, I turned my attention to the doors. Have I complained yet about the pale mauvey-beige the entire interior was coated in? It extends to a somewhat glossy version on the trim and doors. For being a not particularly colorful color, it is a bitch to paint over. Three coats of trim paint on the trim led me to believe that perhaps I should prime the doors in order to not grow old and die painting them. No luck. The evil beige is a paint sinkhole par excellence. The primer Sysguy recommended, while quite effective in its alcohol-based shellac-y way, is very watery, so it was difficult to apply with a brush, foam or otherwise, and also asphyxia-inducing what with the alcohol evaporating in that way it does. Yay! Its looking like I'll still have to put at least two coats of paint over it though. Joy.
Last night was the school open house. I somehow assumed that the computer lab would not have to be open for this, so it was with dismay that I received the news on Tuesday that I would indeed be hosting a soiree of my own. Frantic sorting of the big Miscellaneous Paper Mountian off my desk ensued. You can't believe how incredibly dusty a well-sealed building gets. Don't even ask what I am able to vacuum out of the keyboards. In addition, the teachers, who are delightful and hard-working educators, have various technical difficulties that need attending on the evening of the open house. I enjoy learning new things under duress. At least you'd think so because I seem to arrange things so that's how it happens.
It was nice to see the parents of the children I
The best part? I got to take home a free pie!
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