I married the Devil

I was sitting down to dinner with the girls last night (Friday), Richard was at a work function in Toronto, when Alex told me about a conversation she had with Daddy. "Mom, Daddy said that when you paint the livingroom on Saturday, that Elizabeth and I can paint pictures here in the kitchen!"
"Saturday?........Tomorrow?"
"Yes! Daddy said you're painting on Saturday."
This was news to me. We hadn't really discussed painting for certain....and it hadn't been mentioned in weeks. I told Alex that I didn't think that we would be painting, but she and Elizabeth could still paint pictures.
When Richard got home a little after nine, I asked him if he was planning on painting.
"Well, I was thinking about it."
I gave him the look.......
"What? You don't think it's a good idea?"
Knowing that the house was a mess and the garage was still full of boxes I replied, "I think that there are other things we could be doing."
"Okay, we don't have to paint.".......Subject closed.......not!
My husband is an evil, evil man who preys on the knowledge that, once an idea has been planted, I can become a little obsessive.
I was up at seven a.m. on the internet looking at paint colours. He got up, poured himself a cup of coffee, sat on the couch and read the morning paper as I sat glued to the computer screen.....
"What do you think of this colour for the livingroom?" "How about this one for the familyroom, because we can't not paint the familyroom if we're painting the livingroom and diningroom..."

By nine a.m. I was on my way to Home Depot for painting supplies and then to Sherwin Williams for paint. By 10:30 we had all of the furniture moved and I was taping baseboards. While I was out buying my goods, I left Richard with instructions to take down the fugly curtains and patch the holes so I could start as soon as possible.

Once I was ready to start, I sent Richard and the girls out for lunch so they wouldn't be in the way. I'm sure he was laughing all the way to McDonald's! Here I was painting and sweating and cursing while her was having a party with Ronald Freakin' McDonald!

I did tell him that it was not nice to take advantage of one's mental disorders! A casual conversation with a five year old led to a weekend of hard labour.

The part of his plan that was pure genius, the part that was purely evil, was his knowing that I absolutely hate the way he paints! I can't stand it. He knows that......he was counting on that! So, when he has his little retreat for work here on Friday, he can take all the credit for playing on my obsessive behavior. But then again, he always has been an idea man.
So, as I sit here typing, my shoulders aching, I will sleep well knowing that I have one perfectly painted coat of "leather bound" on my walls.
The only thing that kept the second coat from going on was the lack of light. I can assure you, I will be up at seven tomorrow to get that second coat on!
Next week......the familyroom.

Damn that Richard Vollans!

Sunny Saturday Morning

It's a sunny but cold Saturday morning here in Waterloo. Richard is at work for the day welcomes hundreds, perhaps thousands, of potential students to the University of Waterloo's Science Program. Both girls are up and very active despite having rotten colds. I was hoping that being sick would slow them down a little as it has me......Wishful thinking.
Alex and Elizabeth had fun trick or treating this week. Alex was a fairy princess and Elizabeth was Scooby Doo. (Someday she will get out of the hand me downs) I will post pictures as soon as I find the media reader for my flash card.
Mom is having a grand old time in Bonnie Scotland! I am so glad that her health has improved. She really was meant to travel. Although we all miss her, we are happy that she is having a good time.
There is nothing new going on here, Richard and I are both working many hours. He is taking some well deserved vacation time next week......so he can get work done at home! It is hard to believe that we have been in Waterloo for five months now! It is even harder to believe that we still have a garage full of boxes. We did manage to find the time last weekend to get some shelves built under the stairs (Richard's handy work) and get all of the Christmas decorations into the house.
We are now in the midst of organizing our annual Holiday Open House. Hence, the need for Richard to take vacation days! We will get the invitations out shortly. The open house is my favorite event of the year, and I look forward to catching up with so many people.
Well, that is all for my Saturday morning rambling, will post again soon.