omg wow

[verbicide]

So I got up this morning, packed another box, drove to Fred Meyer and bought a lot of things, headed to the office, had a quick lunch with Jeff, came back home (apartment) to get the items I forgot the first time, drove home (condo) and immediately started taping.

It was strangely awesome. I parked in my new parking space in the garage for the first time. I plugged in my iPod to the speakers I purloined from Jeff's office. And it was really fun! I thought I was completely screwed because I forgot to bring a flat head screwdriver, but I had my lovely Swiss Army knife, which had wonderful attachments for everything I needed, from pulling out nails, to gouging out plastic tube thingies from the wall. I don't know what they're called, but after you drill a hole, you pound these in to hold things more sturdily. Anyhow, they needed to come out and be spackled. Also, first experience spackling. It was very satisfying.

By the time Kelly and Rob got there (5ish), I'd spackled all the holes, unscrewed all the outlet/light plates (in the master bedroom) and taped it completely off. Kelly was most concerned about that room because the red accent wall was going to take about 3-4 coats. I gave them a quick tour and they got started in there while I continued to tape. Next to arrive was Jeanne, bearing wild cherry diet pepsi and some very cool knitted projects to share. She also got right down to painting. Jeff surprised me by getting there earlier than I'd expected and I gleefully tackled him at the door. He, too, was assigned an area to paint. Last, but certainly not least, to arrive was Judy, who'd been stuck in godawful traffic, coming from the farthest away. She changed and dove into painting, too. I was relieved to hand complete control to Kelly, who is a total expert.

I'd bought lots of snacks and we listened to the Rent soundtrack and I kept taping, everyone painted and munched on crunchy things and we ordered pizza. A lot of painting was done. And my GOD, everyone did such a phenomenal job. Then the pizza arrived, we popped the Veuve Clicquot that my agent gave me upon closing, toasted homeownership, and it was so goddamn exciting to be able to have that many people in my kitchen (my current one is a postage stamp that fits one person and cat).

Then it was back to work. Everything looked simply amazing. The deep red I'd picked for the master bedroom wall looks awesome (it's Judy's favorite room now). I love the blue of the office, and it's really going to look amazing once the trim's painted white and the crown moulding's installed. Also, I love the dining room. We painted the one full wall a dark graham cracker color and it looks gorgeous next to the rich, cream walls. I can't wait to buy the dining room furniture. That may have to happen sooner than I'd originally planned.

As the ugly green and lavender paint went away, it made the carpet so much more attractive. It goes perfectly with the walls, actually. And Jeff and Judy really think that steam cleaning may just take care of all my issues with it. And if the weird stain in the master bedroom doesn't come out, I can always just get that room re-carpeted.

It was really so much fun! Everyone's so good-natured and the place was filled with laughter and music and singing. I actually didn't paint very much myself, except cutting in a few edges.

Also, having all these people that I love there? Really, really made it feel like home! And the new paint is so gorgeous, I can't believe we finished it in 6 hours. It's amazing what paint can do, it's completely warmed the place up. I took some before pictures, but my camera battery died before I could take the after shots. But I will definitely be doing that tomorrow. I also need to go and buy a curtain of some sort for the living room. I want to replace all the blinds because they're kinda dingy and yellow, and the ones in the master bedroom are bent.

And now? Everyone can sleep in tomorrow and I really don't need to bug anyone again until the move on Sunday! I'm going to sleep in myself, do some hardcore final packing (all the final annoying things) and possibly do some shopping for new outlet plates (because they are really hideous and grungy). Also, I may get in there and paint the kitchen before the move on Sunday. It'd be really nice to have that over with before unpacking stuff in there.

I was feeling apprehensive, but now I can't wait to live there!!

Now, though, I need to go to bed because as excited as I am, my body is very very tired. I hope Jeanne's around to go shopping tomorrow. I really need to buy a slipcover for my loveseat. The blue cover isn't going to go with the blue office! And I really want to buy my couch NOW. In fact if there's any chance, I'd buy one tomorrow.