Giant Dwarf vs. the Orange Monster

How long ago did I promise you an entry on painting?  Long enough ago that I barely remember the debacle that ensued, but I will dutifully report the events to the best of my ability.

As I had previously mentioned, the Spazz's apartment has been inhabited by my friends or friends of friends for over 20 years.  I'm fairly certain that the landlord has not painted the interior in that time.  However, I know for sure that my friend C had painted it and that the last paint job was over 8 years ago.  The buttercream yellow living room was already fading, and the remnants of her booger-green bathroom were showing through the rather quick white cover-up that was painted in later years. 

And then there was the orange bedroom.

I was there when C painted that.  It really wasn't that bad, but orange is a really hard color to work with when you are trying to build a love nest with your betrothed.  It was time for it to go.  I felt this would be a good job for a professional painter.  The Spazz felt it would be more fun to do it ourselves; I tried to explain how much I hate painting and asking friends to help was asking too much.  He wouldn't budge.  Since I already made the executive decision to hire professional movers (and I'm glad I did) I let him have this one.

So, in anticipation of the move and the painting combined, I took a week and a half off work and encouraged the Spazz to do the same.  About three weeks before the move, I checked in with Spazz to discuss the moving schedule and he informed me that he did not have many of those days off. 

WHAT?!?!?!

In fact, from the time his roommates moved out until the time I had scheduled the movers, the Spazz had only 3 days off....compared to the ELEVEN days I was scheduled off.

The conversation went something like this:

Me:  "You know we have, like, six rooms to paint."

Spazz:  "Yeah, I know.  We can do it."

Me:  "Really?  We're going to prime each of these rooms and paint them all by the time I move my stuff in?"

Spazz:  "It won't be a problem.  We'll just work on that the days I'm off."

At this point, I again begged to hire a professional painter and pay away the problem, but he dug in his heels.

So off we went to Home Depot, buying primer and paint and tape and rollers and buckets and all other weapons of painting destruction and......we started.  Now, on top of all of this, my brother and his friends were coming to town for an overnight, so one of those days off was already blown.

One friend was able to come over on one day to help.  The rest we did ourselves.  We primed the entire orange bedroom and half of the living room in two days.  My brother was coming the next day.  The Spazz was returning to work the day after that.

This was not going well at all.

My brother offered to buy some more painting tools and help.  Great vacation for him.  And just when the Golden Child was pulling into the Home Depot.....

The Spazz gave in.

"Hire the painter."

It was July 4th.  The painter, from here on out known as our lifesaver, came over anyway, surveyed the premises, gave us an estimate and a date and then did it all in one day.

And I must say that I have been very pleased with myself that I have not once said "I told you so" in all this time.