Monday, November 14

[gottawonder]

Today I am grateful for:

Pretty nice weather again today.

The contractor didn't say anything about my paint job (I put a second coat of paint on the walls in the downstairs bedroom last night, and he was overly critical of my first coat. I was primed for him to be critical of last night's work). I think he knew that if he did say anything, he was going to get both barrels. I've had it with him criticizing my painting. I may not be up to "contractor standard" work, but it is JUST FINE.

I went into town today, and bought some dog food and some cat food (not my usual brand) at a farm supply store. I don't usually buy cat food there, but I can't count on the grocery store ever having any of the food I buy in stock.

The grocery store chain that I go to has an inexpensive brand of cat food that comes in big cans, and I mix that with the raw food. The problem, is that it is rarely in stock. I literally think they purposely rarely stock it, so that people come in thinking they can buy it, and end up being forced to buy something much more expensive. So, if I can't buy the brand I want, and I am forced to buy a more expensive one, I will do it at another store.

Then I went to pottery, and there was still someone there when I showed up. I brought a box of finished pieces to put in the sale we are having for Christmas, where some of the proceeds go back to the Craft Center.

I went to buy some clay, and there is a protocol you are supposed to follow where you have to specify which box you are buying clay from, etc. Then you have to record your purchase in the binder, and have a witness (to make sure that you paid for it) who initials your entry.

Well, the other person and I discovered that people seem to have just been taking clay out of any old box they want, and not paying attention to the number system (which is for tracking, and to make sure that old clay gets used before new clay), and several entries weren't initialed either.

At first she was blaming me (because she pointed out that I was taking from the "wrong box"; well, I was taking from the OPEN box, that someone else started. I hadn't noticed that the box number didn't match the entry in the binder. That's when we realized that people were taking clay out of order), and I pushed back a bit. It is NOT my fault, or my problem, that the studio has not done enough to ensure that new students understand how our purchasing works, or has enough accountability from the board to see that the protocol has not been followed correctly. It looks like it has been going on for months, to be that messed up.

She did realize that it wasn't my fault, and when one of the "leaders" came in, I showed her what was going on.

I feel a LITTLE bad for being defensive, but I took a lot of crap from people at the studio a few years ago for wanting to try a different kind of clay. They made it sound like I was disobeying the studio for buying it "behind their back" (you have to be careful trying different clay, it can ruin the kiln if you get the wrong thing). What I had done, was I got permission from the person who operates the kiln, bought some of the clay, and then oddly had that same person turn against me for buying it.

I am sensitive towards anyone who seems to be nudging towards blaming me for things. I am done with that.

So all day, I had a "take no shit" chip on my shoulder.

I was still determined to make use of the reclaimed clay I have been working on for ages. It finally felt like a consistency that would throw today. I managed to throw a vase and a bowl (of course, there are a lot of stages they have to survive yet).

I then went to the grocery store, and lo and behold, my preferred brand of cat food was not in stock, so I was right to buy cat food at the farm supply store.

I am still grateful for the ability and means and access to groceries.

Then I came home and put everything away.

I need to paint baseboards tonight still. Sigh.

I learned that in 1504, Christopher Columbus, stranded in Jamaica and low on supplies after the local inhabitants refused to continue trading with him, used an almanac to predict a lunar eclipse the night of February 29; the eclipse indeed happened, and out of fear, the local resumed trading with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1504_lunar_eclipse

Comments

[ratunderpaper]

Unless you have great big visible drips (like the kind I had to scrape off my basement bawth cabinets and sunroom door) your paint work is undoubtedly FINE.

[gottawonder]

The primer left slight ridges here and there because it dried instantly. Normally I can go back over those and fix them as I work, but these seemed to set within seconds.

I don't think I added a lot of new imperfections with the paint. His criticism of the first coat was technically correct, that you could see the lap areas a bit. I painted that coat really thin, so the overlaps showed up. BUT, that was a first coat, and that happens sometimes. Thin areas, unevenness, that's why you do two coats. Even then, it wasn't that bad.

Now that I am done the second coat, it looks pretty good. I am going to check again to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Really, it looks fine in normal light. You do notice the marks from the primer when you have the very bright halogen work light (the one that I used during painting to do just that job) shining across it. In normal conditions, unless you are "one of those" people, you're not going to see it.

When I finished the bathroom, I was so proud of it, because it was PERFECT, and he still said "it looks fine". Fine. It was perfect.

I think he just likes to take people down a peg. It must be fun being his wife.

[ratunderpaper]

A first coat is NEVER even; the best paints in the world need at least two coats to achieve evenness.

I'm now repairing the ancient and sloppy work done in the kitchen over 30 years ago - in a spot where the wall meets the counter you can see netted drywall tape. Now THAT'S sloppy, and it was done by some professional who is probably long dead.

And so, today I scraped away all the bad schtuff and made a nice sweep of the area with drywall compound. I am very neat and careful and do not leave enormous blobs to sand away later.

I don't like doing this, but I knew I'd have to get around to fixing it once the kitchen was completely painted. It can be done in two days - patching today, sanding, priming and painting tomorrow. At least it's not December, with shortbread dough everywhere.

[gottawonder]

Updating is hard enough without having to go back and fix shoddy work. It will look so good when you are done!

[ratunderpaper]

I'd be pretty disheartened if I'd stopped painting to repair earlier. This way is much more approachable because it's THE VERY LAST THING TO DO.

Actually, it's not the last thing - the baseboards are the last thing. But if I don't get to them before Christmas, it's not that important. I'll try, though.

[gottawonder]

Ugh. I hate painting baseboards in place! Pro tip (that you probably already know): Use painter's tape above and on the floor. Speeds things up and you don't have to be so accurate.

[ratunderpaper]

Agree - these are ugly baseboards, so I am not using a super high gloss to accentuate the dings and the plainness. I will sand a bit and do as you suggest - stick down some frog tape to prevent slop.
These kitchen baseboards are the only ones in the house that are plain and quarter-roundless.

[gottawonder]

That should go pretty quickly then. I am always amazed at how little you see the dings down there once there is a fresh coat of paint. In general, people don't pay a ton of attention to the baseboards.

[ratunderpaper]

It's an old house, but the kitchen has undergone many renovations. The dings are part of history, but they can be softened by sanding them a little.

The floors will be taped (though they are in rough condition and as long as they're clean, their roughness doesn't bother me) and to make life easier, I'm just going to go with the same 7% sheen I used on the walls. Everything will blend in.

Today, I sanded the wall repair. It went very well. I can see how professionals get tired and become sloppy in areas they don't feel are visible. But since it's my work and a small repair, I'm going to be fastidious. Why do some men think women can't do this kind of thing, and why do some women believe them?

[gottawonder]

There are things that do seem to require a lot more expertise than a person could manage without some extensive experience and training. Thus hiring someone to install our windows and some day finish the interior frames.

I probably COULD learn to do more, but I'm not sure how much of my life I want to dedicate to learning carpentry.

By that same token, I am sure our contractor COULD learn to ride a horse at Liberty, but it might be a long road for him.

I know people get protective of their "kingdoms". I grew up seeing my Mom tackle a lot of "men's" jobs, but I also grew up with my Aunt E firmly in the kitchen (almost never left it, literally) and my Uncle M was the "man" who did "man things".

It served it's purpose, allowing people to be really good at certain things, but it does become limiting.

I may not want to begin the long journey to being competent at building walls, doing electrical work, and so on (though I often do those things under supervision), but I can paint pretty well. So I paint.

Sanding things isn't too tough to learn in a short period of time. Some basic things.

I understand a lot more than I can necessarily DO myself.

I know women who can do lots more around the house, and farm women out there who do a lot of hard "men's" work. I know women who are comfortable laying their own brick walkways, or pouring concrete, drive the tractor, can fix the baler when it jams.

It's this place where will, desire, and necessity meet.

[ratunderpaper]

It's nice to have someone to work with on hometime projects, but the reality is different. I prepare walls and paint alone, as I'm the only one here who can do a good job. If I don't do it, professionals have to come in. Not all of them are good.

Electrical things, construction, installation - can't do it. I have to rely. I would like to do everything except electrical and plumbing, but so far power saws frighten me. Also, I don't want to make costly mistakes.

I had to persuade and insist on getting a pegboard, like Julia's, installed in the kitchen. It wasn't something that was considered important, but now it's integral to the look of the place.
I'd like to monopolise the kitchen, but I don't. Over the next month, though, while preparations are underway for 13 Desserts, I'm in charge of the fiefdom.

[gottawonder]

This recent work on the house is likely the most work (that we could normally do ourselves) that we have ever paid someone else to do for us.

My husband and I would have been capable of doing most of it (the mudding would not have been as nice), but there just hasn't been the time to do it. I truly look at what has been accomplished in the last two months by the contractor and his wife, and at my husband's current schedule, that work would have taken us years.

My husband could probably re-wire the whole house if he had the time. He knows how to do it, and all of the work we have done before passed inspection. He could do some of the plumbing, too.

I personally, am more like you. I can follow orders, and I am comfortable using a power drill to either make holes or put in screws. I am fine using an air nailer, a belt sander, have used chop saws and jig saws, but I am not comfortable with a table saw, though I can help my husband by holding wood.

That said, there is very little that I would be willing to undertake on my own because of fear of injury, or making expensive mistakes. Painting is pretty safe.

[ratunderpaper]

I'm hopeful that the vintage stove gets rewired before Christmas. It was supposed to be done during the summer... then before Thanksgiving... and now before Christmas "for sure". I'm not holding my breath.

There are only two viable burners and an iffy oven that sometimes quits on one side. And all the burners are mislabeled. It's been like this for some time and unfortunately, I can't fix it (even though I have the time).

[gottawonder]

That is so frustrating, especially since you love to cook so much!

[ratunderpaper]

And... yes, there's a type who likes to take down women and novices with mild or overt negativity.

[gottawonder]

Well, today I went downstairs to get the daily update wearing a fleece jacket. He gasped "I hope you're going to wear something warmer than that to go outside. It's awful out there today".

I don't even begin to know what he's thinking. He has seen me a dozen times now suited up to do chores, and I wear a heavy chore coat when it is cold. He's literally SEEN me wearing it a dozen times.

Does he think I would go downstairs in our warm house wearing my heavy chore coat to talk with them for twenty minutes?

Has it occurred to him that I am a fifty year old woman who grew up on a farm, and has been looking after our own place for over 15 winters now? Like I have never experienced a winter?

I told my husband and he was "amazed" at that comment too.

I felt like I was being infantilized.

[ratunderpaper]

Mild-to-middlin' doinkery, I'd say. But maybe the contractor is one of those guys who wears cargo shorts and flip-flops in February. (Har!)

[gottawonder]

It was just an odd statement. Why would he think that I NOT dress appropriately for winter?

[ratunderpaper]

Possibly his wife doesn't, and he figures all women are alike. Well, AREN'T THEY?

[gottawonder]

His wife is a very practical woman, and I see her dressed properly.

I think on some level he thinks I am child-like or something. I also think he feels like I am "mentally fragile" because of my sleeping habits, my untidy home, the cats, and how I can be particular every now and then about things that matter to me (like holding out for exterior doors that I think actually suit the house).

I don't know. Maybe he's like that with everyone.

That said, I know that people can sometimes be a little transgressive with me in ways that they likely would NOT be towards other people.