I painted yesterday so as I sit here typing all I can see is splatters of primer all over both hands (yes I have to look at the keyboard when I type) and it is making me think of all things related to painting.
There is something completely satisfying for me at the end of a very intense day of ladder work, cutting in and rolling that I find tough to explain but of course I will try. When I paint (I don’t mean faux, that I actually do have to think about some of the time), I can just zone out and sing along to music I don’t even like that is blasting from the jobsite radio. I eat my lunch out of a cooler. I can wear whatever I like. Sweating is a definite. A workout is involved all day long. I can accomplish a little or a lot each day and no one is there to bitch about it as long as I wrap the entire job on time.
Yesterday I cut in and rolled out the walls in two entire rooms and began cutting in a third in about two hours. Our time was limited as the other kid who was cutting up carpet on this particular job site had gotten a ride there with my dad and had to be back for his other job by 3:00. My dad is protective and since this isn’t in the most desirable area he doesn’t want me there alone so I left with them.
I knew our time would be short so I cranked ass on purpose. Matt and I are going back this weekend. There are three rooms upstairs and 5 rooms downstairs to finish priming. Considering my performance yesterday I’d say between the 2 of us we will have those banged out by mid day on Saturday.
A lot of times I’ll eat lunch on the fly which means I chomp away on my sandwich with one hand while I cut in with the other. I of course did that yesterday because of the limited time but because I didn’t want to eat paint, I first wiped down my left hand with a Wet-Nap. Immediately I started to chuckle because, well, of course I had a Wet-Nap in my ‘Mom Bag’.
When I was working with the awesome faux ladies in Long Island I used to bring my lunch and other stuff everyday in a tote bag. The gals dubbed it the Mom Bag because anything you had to go to your Mom for, you would likely find it in my bag. The current contents include stuff like - straws, plastic utensils, hair bands, Wet-Naps, band aids, ibuprofen, girlie stuff, hand sanitizer, lotion, tissues, cough drops, change, napkins, and usually a roll of toilet paper and a plastic shopping bag but both of those are at the current jobsite.
Hey you just never know and I was a girl scout so I like to be prepared (although I think that is the motto of the Army or something but no matter, it’s a good one to keep in mind).
Taking off at the end of the day after having rocked it like yesterday always makes me feel like I just went to the gym for a couple hours, it is fulfilling but I am totally drained. I fell asleep on the couch last night and this morning my shoulder is definitely killing me but I don’t even care. Tomorrow we are planning on spending a healthy eight hour day out there then another 5 on Sunday and I go back for at least 4, maybe up to 6 on Monday which should take me through just about the end of Phase II of the job. Once the plumber, electrician and my dad (the finish guru) get through the place I will be back out for a couple days to complete the final bits.
This is my meditation.
Visit the whole Zen crew of BTP peeps…
Bridgete, Ginger, KC, Bree, Kate
13 comments:
Wish I could find painting so enjoyably fulfilling. Discovered it's not the painting I dislike, it's the prep work...you know the removal of all the switch plate and plug covers, taping off all the wood work and anything else that I don't want covered in paint (yeah some of us are messy painters, sorry).
Thanks for your suggestion on how to salvage the UFO project of mine. Valspar did finally send me an email, seems I should not have used eggshell finish latex as a base coat. Their recommendation; lightly sand the crackle glaze finish and apply a coat of Satin latex paint, let dry then do the crackle glaze again, making sure to apply amply. Okay, we'll see how that turns out, hope I don't end up with a great big mess as I'm not sure how the latex paint on top of the glaze is going to react. Got my fingers crossed.
I totally forgot the links to all you other BTPTers...oops. lol.
The part about eating a sandwich while you paint reminded me of the old Three Stooges routine where they're all painting a table and eating sandwiches and coffee, so inevitably they all wind up painting each other, drinking paint, using the sandwiches as brushes, eating the brushes, etc.
Love that you have found your Zen in craftsmanship!
I think that is way so many of the good painters choose to work for themselves/by themselves.
Hope you know how lucky you are to have felt the success of a job well done.
Be well.
Do good.
All days.
All ways.
Stay true.
Sounds like a workout! I love Suldog's comment.. I'd forgotten about that episode! LOL
I love painting too. I am not especially good at painting wall and stuff, but I like it. Cutting in is hard work! No wonder you were so tired. Hope you get it finish this weekend. Have fun :)
Jenn, you would laugh so hard if you watched me try to paint. I helped paint a house (interior) once and only once. I think it something to do with the fact, it took me about 45 minutes just to mask off one door.
Feeling productive is such a wonderful and satisfying feeling. You rock!
You were a girl scout? So was I. lol.
I should check out that Stooges routine sometime.
Hey Jenn, Is it Olde Bristol Days, in Pemaquid, Maine? Wouldn't that be neat to meet them. I hope that is the one. It goes for the weekend and is beautiful there.
Let me know.
Will go back and read your blog.
God, I am getting awful.
I hate painting and my dear ole home shows it. We just did this room and I still have some paint on the floor to clean up. I look at it and walk by..keep telling myself to get with the program.
Maybe today. Ha!
Have a good day.
painting does feel good to me too, the hard work and the instant gratification from seeing something transform before your eyes
ahh 'Jenny zen Jen'....which is a good example of what my mom would have nicknamed you in a momemt of 'momminess'.....you're a hard working gal and a credit to yer gender....jus lak Linda sed so long ago....I'd be proud to work right alongside ja !!! Ya know sumpin'....Many women I've know can actually work "figure 8s" not "circles"...around most of their men....when it comes down to laborious tasks of many types
Its like Suz....she weighs about 120 wet...I weigh in at 320....and I used to pick up and carry an engine block across my shop....but Suzanne is still packin' other stuff long after I'm worn out....so maybe ya'll can't pack as heavy in general.....but you make up for it in amount moved for sure.
ahh 'Jenny zen Jen'....which is a good example of what my mom would have nicknamed you in a momemt of 'momminess'.....you're a hard working gal and a credit to yer gender....jus lak Linda sed so long ago....I'd be proud to work right alongside ja !!! Ya know sumpin'....Many women I've know can actually work "figure 8s" not "circles"...around most of their men....when it comes down to laborious tasks of many types
Its like Suz....she weighs about 120 wet...I weigh in at 320....and I used to pick up and carry an engine block across my shop....but Suzanne is still packin' other stuff long after I'm worn out....so maybe ya'll can't pack as heavy in general.....but you make up for it in amount moved for sure.
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