Que. Kung fu music, Que. Me dramatically tying a handkerchief with an ambiguous Japanese symbol across my forehead. Que. Me painting. Que. My husband laying tile. Picturing my life as The Karate Kid movie, helps me put remodeling our house, into perspective.Just another life lesson, and this remodel feels like a lesson in everything and anything, including how to remodel a home.
The laundry room is my favorite place in the house, because its nearly finished. During the remodel we live, crammed in one side of the house. I dug a fire pit in the back yard so I could cook via dutch oven. I have learned that one can cook pancakes somewhat successfully in the microwave, scrambled eggs are not so good. Eating out is as expensive as the remodel itself so we have been trying to keep it to the minimum with the help of the beloved coupons. The baby's room has turned into quite the entertainment room with TV, Computer, bed and rocking chair. Popcorn is our favorite snack.
We have had a great amount of support and help from friends as well as Laramies brother who stays for a few days and helps tremendously (he is single by the way, I just had to put that plug in for him). How can I adequately thank these helpers? I try with food, but my cooking isn't quite where it should be for a gift. I keep trying though. No one has complained, so far.After a few days of not having the normal things (aka, hot water, washer, dryer, fridge and oven) one can feel mangy and happy to finally go to the neglected gym (even for a hot shower). To give myself a little sanity, I went to help out a few friends and family with their messes. I know, weird eh? Granted, my mess trumps all, but it was nice to see families working at the same old grind of keeping their lives in order. It was wonderful for my ears to hear a few couples lovingly argue. It was therapy without having to pay for therapy!
I guess in simple terms, I felt VALIDATED. I am not the only one to go through mess and argue my point to my spouse. Especially when I buy a new can of paint color for the zillionth time and my husband slaps his forehead. I am grateful for the experience. It's been fun. I think Lowes or Home Depot should post a disclaimer on the front doors for any do-it-yourself adventure stricken lad or laddess.
"DO IT YOURSELF will make you dig deep into your soul to find the stuff your really made of. If you lack some kind of quality, like patience, your home project will yank it out of you and dare you to try to come get it."
Okay that is a little too long for a front door disclaimer.
Let's try it again...
"DO IT YOURSELF really means PROLONGED SUFFERING, till you accept it as SELF IMPROVEMENT."
Yeah, that sounds better.
I imagine myself with my own Japanese mentor. I imagine him telling me to wax on and wax off, or instead of painting the fence, I paint the walls only to have him come to my house and show me my movements from sanding the ceiling, leveling the floor or painting the walls are just training me to become a black belt karate champion. In short as we remodel, my husband and I are "Daniel Son" and our home improvement projects are our "Mr. Miagy." It may not end with me kicking some guy in the face and a huge crowd coming unglued and cheering triumphantly. Hopfully it will end with me snuggling with my family on the couch, drinking a hot cup of cocoa by the fire admiring our hard work. Okay, there will be some cheering. Until then, wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off...
I'll add a few more random pics for fun.
Holden, hard at work on our floor...
