Transitions: July 2008

Sunday, July 20, 2008

A rollicking good time...

Mama Mia!
This movie is a hoot...
We enjoyed every bit of silliness!
Meryl Streep sings...
Who knew!

Monday, July 14, 2008

I am the tortoise, not the hare...

I started the wallpaper project in the bathroom on Friday at the tripping point, the window. It took several hours and lots of sweat equity. Even though the castle is fairly new, nothing is level. Because the pattern is so busy, it took lots of creative paperhanging ingenuity to get the job done at the window and a tub enclosure. Also, it took about three wrong cuts before I figured out the repeat. Now I'm not sure I have enough paper to finish the project without ordering more. Sheesh!

In a small space such as this bathroom there's lots of measuring and cutting around windows and fixtures. It gets more and more difficult for me to go up and down and up and down on the ladder. Scrunching my body into tight spaces, like behind the toilet, is no fun at all... my knees hate it! Large rooms with lots of straight walls are so much easier to paper.

My littlest cub called on Saturday to say she was bored and ended up coming over to help. We've tackled many similar projects together and her help was a godsend. It took us nearly three hours to hang two tricky pieces at the juncture of the door and vanity. We had to cut around the light switch, electrical outlet, door jamb, and vanity. And wouldn't you just know it, one piece ended and the next began right in the middle of the three-inch space between the door jamb and vanity. Who planned this project anyway!

Today I'm on my own and creeping right along. If I've cut it correctly, the piece booking on top of the water tray in the tub will go above the tub to the left of the window. Progress is slow, that's for sure but what's on the wall looks good. I am so the tortoise, never the hare. Slow and steady will win the race.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Fly Lady strikes again...

So, okay, I'll admit it... I'm lost without my little sidekick! I thought I'd enjoy the break while Lil Dragon spent the week with her cousins and Grandma Wanda. But no, I'm moping and walking around the castle like a little lost puppy.

I thought I'd get a lot of projects done around the castle that have been on the waiting list for practically forever. First off, I was planning to wallpaper my bathroom. No problem, right? I've wallpapered a gajillion rooms and know how to do it blindfolded. But again with the no, I'm stuck! The window has me reeling. I just can't figure out how to handle wrapping the paper for window without wood trim. All week long, my need to to it just so has kept me from even starting!

Then today, I opened an e-mail and FlyLady hit me upside the head.

FLYLADY: Afternoon Musing:
Perfectionism + Procrastination = Guilt

Our perfectionism causes us to procrastinate! That procrastination creates clutter and chaos in our lives. Then we look around at all the mess and the guilt comes crashing down on our heads. Why do we do this to ourselves? We don't have to live this way! The problem is our perfectionism will not allow us to jump in where we are and just do something. We think we have to have all our ducks in a row and understand everything fully to take the first step toward a peaceful life. After all, Housework done incorrectly still blesses your family.

I want to eliminate the guilt from your life because guilt is another form of piling on. We don't need any more stress in our lives. When we get overwhelmed we shut down. I am taking my feather duster and absolving you of all guilt. Today is all we have. Do what you can, with what you have, and Do it now! Don't wait, Get things done in 2008!

Thanks, FlyLady, I needed that! Ummmmm... is there any chance you know Jeanine???

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A visit from the wizard...

The Wizard pulled out huge wads of lint and even a few dryer sheets.
The whole mess was jammed at the small vent hood on the roof.
He recommends installing a Deflect-O Undereve vent hood to optimize
vent efficiency, reduce lint build-up, and decrease dry time.
That will eliminate one elbow, which has the same effect as 5 feet of vent tube,
and 2.5 feet of tubing, for a total reduction of 7.5 feet.
The new hood will even allow dryer sheets that get sucked up to exit the building.
Maybe I'll find socks and panties on the grass, too!