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.

Comments

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

Yayayayay!!!!!!

[archaica.livejournal.com]

Hooray for you!!

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Yay!! You got so much accomplished, and it sounds so beautiful!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

It's sooo pretty!!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Yes!! *dances*

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

It felt so good to get that done! And I can't wait to show you guys pictures!

[some_other_dave]

Makes me want to insert the "This Thread Is Worthless Without Pictures" smiley from some of the BBSes I hang out on... :-D

Congrats, I'm glad it's done! I've actually got a lot of my own place packed and moved; I have to talk to a couple of Big Strong Friends and rent a Big Truck to move some of the larger items (bed, couch, etc.) but there's not a whole ton left any more!

Anyway, some trivia for you...
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.

Dry-wall anchors. They expand when you put a screw into them, so they hang onto the dry-wall (the stuff most interior walls are made of) better than a nail or plain screw. I've been doing home-improvement type stuff on and off for a while, so I'm familiar with those objects.

Oh, and YAY for Swiss Army Knives! They come in far too handy some times.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

"This Thread Is Worthless Without Pictures"

I know, I know. And I promise I'm working on that! *grin*

And congrats on getting your place packed up and cleared out. It's an effort, but so satisfying when it's all over!

Dry-wall anchors.

Awesome--thanks for that explanation! I've going to need to get schooled on a lot of this home-improvement stuff myself and appreciate information!

[euphrasie.livejournal.com]

So exciting :)

Hey, we used a great carpet cleaning service when we got the old house ready to sell. It was only like $200 and the carpet went from death horrible to spotless. Seriously, he got out the stains the house had come with, plus our stains! It was amazing. Let me know if you want the info. As I recall, he was even able to come super quick for us, too!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

You know, pass his info on--that'd be great. It looks 100x better with the steam cleaning, but I'm curious if your guy thinks he can get the weird, faint red streaks out of the hallway!

Thanks!!

[euphrasie.livejournal.com]

In my experience, the stains come back with steam cleaning about a week later because they are actually in the pad... it's depressing. Hopefully, you'll be luckier than I was in that aspect!

This guy has some fancy shampoo method that also rinses it, which prevents new stains (if you don't rinse, the residue from the shampoo makes it more likely to stain again). The difference was amazing... kept us from having to replace it in the old place :)

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

That is really good information to have. So if the stain comes back, it won't shock the hell out of me now. So definitely send me his information, it'd be well worth it if the stain does come back.

[euphrasie.livejournal.com]

I was shocked and pissed the first time it happened, so I am happy to prepare you just in case. It probably depends on the depth of the stain, though, so you may be fine!

Here's the guy we used:
Austin
206-383-6666

He has an actual business with a website and licensed/bonded, but I can only find the phone number at the moment.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

That is awesome, thank you so much!