Paint Punked?

Have you seen that TV show Punked with Ashton Kutcher? In the show, people have outrageous things happen while they stand there, horrified at what is unfolding before their eye. Saturday I stood there waiting for Ashton Kutcher and his camera man to come around the corner and tell me I had been punked.

Roger and I went to purchase some paint. After stating our selections to what seemed like a friendly worker, the worker went off to fill our order. Roger noticed the worker grabbing the wrong paint. I politely stated to the worker that I was hoping for the other (cheaper) kind of paint in the same colors I had shown him. Out of nowhere, the man threw the paint cans on to the counter, swore, then proceeded to have a fit. Roger calmly told the guy to chill out, it wasn’t a big deal. (The paint had not even been mixed yet.)

In the midst of this worker’s tantrum came claims that what I asked for could not me done. I sheepishly answered that it could be, a worker at the same store had done it last week. Angrily he stormed off to grab the other paint, murmuring and cursing all the while. Roger had enough and went off to speak to the manager. The crazed employees female co-worker eventually stepped in and kindly offered to take over. The crazed worker continually refused any help from her and insisting he was ok, finished filling the order. (I wasn’t ok with him finishing the order!) The female coworker politely turned to me and said she thought her coworker’s blood sugar was low or something, but apologized. Roger returned and mentioned the manager would take care of it. As I looked up, the manager rushed off in the opposite direction. I started looking for Ashton. When he didn’t appear I looked to Roger who encouraged me to seek out the manager…again, becasue the guy was making rude comments about our paint order.

I spoke to the very nice lady behind the service desk, explaining that I did not want this man finishing my order. I also informed her that I too would like to talk to the manager. She called the manager up and then quickly came over to help us. The erratic co-worker still would not leave. (At this point I wondered why he wanted to still be helping us, he was obviously troubled by something.) The nice service lady then called the manager for the 3rd time. As the nice lady was talking to the manager the crazed employee continued to berate us. Roger and I decided enough was enough. Roger approached the nice lady to tell her we were just going to leave. However, as Roger began to speak to the nice lady, she kindly asked us to give her one minute. She informed the manager how far out of hand the situation had become and questioned if something could be done to ease our suffering. While I started moving paint supplies in an attempt to find the hidden cameras, our heroine turned to us and said that our entire order would be free.

As we turned to leave the store the nice lady meekly asked, “Please come again?” One bathroom, one master bedroom, and one family room (formally known as the garage room) will all be painted with free paint using a free roller and some free brushes. We were not punked, and I did not get to meet Ashton Kutcher. This time I will have to settle for free paint. Thanks to the friendly superstore employee, next time paint is needed…I might just come again.

From Cave to Living Room

We sure had our work cut out for us. Our living room has emerged from the Dark Cave it was (and is was a dark smelly one at that) to a very livable room. With a little bit more color and some furnishing, our living room will be quite something different from the first time we saw it. I think the pictures show it well.

(however still welcoming paint color options and living room furniture arrangements)

Kinda Movied In

All our stuff is moved in. Crammed into a corner of the basement and our family/game room, formally known as the garage room. (I'm trying to change the name of our "garage room".)

We finally found someone to take over our apartment lease. However, the timing wasn't quite right...but good enough. We are about a week short of our home renovation being complete. So we are at the mercy of family. (I am just hoping they like us enough to let us stay awhile...)

Even with the current temporary situation, what a great feeling! I'm relieved we were able to rent out our old place, and no longer have to worry about it. I can't wait to set everything up in our new home! The house is looking great and my stress level has dropped below critical levels!

From the Beginning

The best way explain the renovation is with pictures. SO Let's start from the beginning.


Kitchen Before..
Previous Living Room,

The previous Garage room conversion ( now known as the Family Room)

Old bathroom,

Living Room progress

more progress,

Thank goodness for primer. We can all see what a differnce a coat of paint can do!

That was five layers of kitchen flooring removed.


This is what was under the carpeting and after they started sanding the orangey color off the floor in the living room and bedrooms.

These pictures do not do the tile justice. But it gives you an idea.

This is the tile on the floor in our half bath. Seamless taverntine. This picture makes it look a little grey but it is a little more tan toned.

You can already see the progress.

Shopping

The list is Endless! Last night Roger and I went to Lowe's and Menard's. We purchased...

4 new locks. That right...Stay out strangers!!! Anytime you purchase a new home it is a great idea to purchase new locks for all your outside door. We are just lucky enough to have 4 outside doors. Who know who has keys to our house? We sure don't. (Currently we can only get in one door which should not be dead bolted, because we do not have the key. Don't believe me? You can ask our contractor's son who had to crawl in out basement window to get us back in the home.) As I was saying...We have four locks!!! You'd think we purchased a huge house or something. You'd be wrong, though. We still have four doors! And locks add up.

We got some lighting, a sink, door knobs, a mirror (still on the look out for a mirror for our main bathroom. Would like it to be framed, and at least about 45 inches wide and no longer than 54..any suggestions as to where to find one would be helpful)

Today we were back for faucets, toilet, shower head, vent for bathroom, vent hood for kitchen, dish disposal.

That isn't even the end of our list. It was just the end of the budget for one night. I see now why when most people renovate they do it one project at a time, one room at a time. The way I see it, our house is just one big room. Looks like we are doing it the right way.

Happy New Year!

That's right I changed my Merry Christmas Banner already. Things are looking up again on this blog. Maybe i'll get pictures of the remodel posted yet. :) But at least my banner will not be out dated for months.

But untill more picture and more posts, I'm enjoying the New Year with my most favorite compainion Roger!

Other than checking my email today I did not have to do Real estate. This might have been the only day all year that happened. I love working so much I never know when to stop. ( of course there was stuff I could have done, but it all can wait till tomorrow.)

I hope everyone had a great New Year!

Finally, I Wish you all a very merry Christmas!

I Just wanted to put up a Merry Christmas Banner even though it is after the fact. I am almost mortified that I still had a Happy Thanksgiving Banner up. I almost was gonna skip that and go straight to Merry Christmas( i should have), but i though that banner was cute. It wasn't that cute I needed to leave it up a month later. But I hope I have Merged out of my bubble.Things sure get busy with the Holiday.

I wrote another offer with a buyer (we close in JAN). I am trying to negotiate an offer with my Hobby Farm listing. I picked up two new buyers. Worked another job, dealt with the house and the abundant small things that come up with that.

I was so excited Christmas was here. I have been able to take a few minutes and realize how blessed we have been this Year! Business is better and life is good. I am getting tons of upgrades in the house. It's gonna look great! Things should start calming down. (if it is possible)