Home Improvements: Hallway

MS, my bf has some serious OCD issues, with my house.  Every time he comes over, he points out every flaw - from painting issues, unsunk nails, too high light switches, not enough switches...you name it, he points it out.  One day he managed to point out a color spot on my bedroom ceiling, a blue color on the kitchen ceiling and then peeling paint in the front entrance.

He scraped the ceiling, which then managed to be half of the ceiling which would require new paint.  Unfortunately the ceiling paint I had was different texture and due to the cold temperature in the entrance dried and cracked requiring more scraping and a whole new ceiling paint job (to be done later).  The imaginary blue in the kitchen that I painted over can now be seen as a different ceiling white. The nails that he sunk under the window trim then meant that I had to sink all of them in the trim around the bathroom, which meant I was leaning on a ladder and balancing the thought of falling while filling in nail holes.  All of his LITTLE jobs and negativity means BIG projects for me as they aren't quick fixes. 

The next time he came over, he started on why the hallway only had one light switch.  What hallway only has ONE switch?  SERIOUSLY?  I had had it.  I couldn't handle the constant criticism and negativity.  I didn't build the house!  The house was built in the late 20's!  I have been in it for 11 years, but it is not perfect.  I am NOT perfect.  Please try to be positive!  I told him so.  And, 30 minutes later his son asked why the light switch in the bathroom was so high!  Sigh...

I did finally manage to repaint the hallway - the only area in my house to have NOT been painted (well except inside closets!).  I had avoided the hallway in all it's off white and dirty glory with SEVEN doorways and SIX doors.  I vacillated on colors and finally settled on a tan along the yellow spectrum, Toasted Almond.  I also removed all the toe molding and replaced it along with repainting all of the doors white.  I painted the coat hook and shelf and updated the hooks and added an additional.  It is so nice to just not see all the dirt and discoloration anymore.  So at peace...so wonderful what a coat of paint can accomplish!

Shower Curtain Update

NEWS FLASH....NEWS FLASH.....

I have not changed either bathroom shower curtain in almost TWO MONTHS!  TWO. MONTHS.

I am considering changing the main bathroom, but I really do like the orange.  It just makes me feel calm and at peace.  One day though. One day soon, I am sure I will change it out.  I am thinking pink for spring.  And seeing how much I LOVE pink, I am thinking of no change!

Financial Freedom

After Spring Break I continued to have issues with my car making "new" noises.  My car literally felt like the tires were going to fall off and the noise was worse than nails on a chalkboard! I finally took my car back to the same shop that had replaced my tie rod and arm bushings.  They reported that additional bushings needed to be replaced as well as my strut mounts.  Fortunately the new repairs were minimal in cost and I was on my way with my new noiseless car! 

Today I made my final monthly payment on the basement remodel!  I am excited that I am done with the monthly payments and the thought that I might have missed a payment and be responsible for the interest from my interest free year!  I am looking forward to the extra cash flow and new opportunities!

Movie Muse

I did it again, I rented a movie recently that I had previously rented in September!  Although when I picked it up at T's request and frustration of all the PG13 movies I had watched without him, I did think I had already watched the movie.  Unfortunately it was a movie I gave 1.5 out of 5 stars.  Oh well, I am running thin on movies to rent as of late.

I am not a big Jim Carey fan.  I admit I have probably watched a great majority of his movies, but not with great enthusiasm.  The other day I rented, "I Love You Phillip Morris". 

This movie exacerbates the importance of details and expectations.  Granted, I didn't have high expectations and I couldn't recall what the description summary on the box had been.  During the opening credits I was half paying attention while playing a game of spades online.  I saw the actors and then I saw, "It really did." in the clouds of the opening.  I wondered what really did.  I considered rewinding the DVD to see what I missed in that split moment and decided it probably wasn't important. 

Fifteen minutes into the movie, I had had enough.  While I am not homophobic, something about Jim Carey screaming out his desire to be a "FAGGOT" was almost revolting.  His prancing and parading his new gay life from his quiet suburban married life was all too much for me to find entertaining.  But...I didn't turn the movie off.  I proceeded to watch the whole movie.  At the end of the movie, I read the closing text about Phillip Morris and Steve Russo. 

The movie was based on FACT. 

My favorite type of movie.  I was amused by the ending.  I watched the section of the DVD on the making of the movie.  I wished that I had taken the moment to rewind the movie to realize that the movie was real and it happened.  It really did. 

What a different perspective I have on the movie knowing that it was based on true events.  That Jim Carey portrayed Steven Russo, a con-man who is serving time in prison with his earliest release of 2140.  Who knew that one second of a movie would have such an impact?

Spring Break 2011

How long ago Spring Break seems.  It has been just over a month since we returned from our trip to Branson, Missouri.  We purchased seasons passes to Silver Dollar City and were able to attend for the weekend of the Youth Christian weekend as well as the first day of World Fest. 

Cave @ Silver Dollar City

The weather was very nice and it was much needed to see sun and feel warmth.  T and I got along fabulously.  Our two bedroom condo was really a "lock out" which was a one bedroom unit and a studio unit joined with a locked door.  So basically, T had his own apartment for a week.  The condo was more than sufficient for the two of us. 

T's Room

The week went by far too quickly with lazy mornings and attending shows.  We attended a vacation club program which of course I had to purchase.  I still have yet to determine if it is scandalous - but afterall vacations are my passion.  I can never travel or venture enough and if I can have access to better deals than I can find, it is well worth my dollar.  Of course by going to the presentation we received many free and discounted show tickets that entertained us throughout the week.  We attended the Haygoods (a family of musicians and singers), a variety show that was very entertaining that their name escapes me and a Chinese acrobatic show that we both could have done without!  We attended another property presentation at T's request where we received $100 in WalMart gift cards and T got half.

We played miniature golf, checked out Branson's landing and attempted fishing.  The week went by entirely way too fast!  We stopped in St. Louis and went to the top of the Arch and went to the City Museum.  We had a blast at the Museum and I would highly recommend it!  We also went to the aquarium in the museum and T had a blast getting his "manicure" by the fish that nibbled on him! 

City Museum - Outside - St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis Arch

T's Manicure

I didn't once regret my decision to not vacation with MS.  We texted and talked on the phone throughout our entire vacation, but I just felt that T and I had a much more relaxed and enjoyable time on our own.