These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Saturday, June 20, 2009

I donno ....

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.... I just donno. I create more problems for myself than anyone else possibly could.

It started out rather simply. I was planning to clean the carpet in the living room tonight. I was moving furniture and vacuuming, almost ready to start the shampooing. I was trying to shove the couch into the dining room. When I aim it just right, it will slide under the table and gives me just enough room to get to all the carpet. I gave it the last nudge .... and it wasn't quite right, so it jarred the table pretty hard. And something fell off. I pulled the couch back to I could see what fell, and I felt immediately sick.

A can of paint had fallen off the the lid popped off. White paint was running all over my blush colored ceramic tile! And not just white paint, but white .... marine paint! If you don't know, marine paint is what is used on the hulls of boats or inside swimming pools. It is intended to be waterproof. This is not something you clean up with soap and water as you do latex.

I'd bought the paint to finish the tub area in my guest bathroom. I was planning to paint it in the next two to three weeks, but I had some preparation to do before I could paint, and I had other supplies to buy, such as mineral spirits, which is needed for clean up. I was in a panic, not sure what to do. Fortunately, my first response was to get all the dogs into the bedroom so they wouldn't get into the paint and make my task even more difficult. Then I grabbed paper towels and a plastic trash bag and began picking up as much as I could. I also grabbed a spatula to help pick up more paint at a time.

Fortunately, most of it came up, but I was left with a white haze on several tiles. I still felt sick. I hadn't the foggiest idea what would get that last bit of the paint up. And if I left it much longer, it would be dry and there would be nothing I could do. I grabbed the phone and dialed my son. There is a distinct advantage to having a Chemical Engineer in the family. I think I woke him, but I didn't ask, nor did I apologize. I explained my dilemma and asked if he could think of anything that might work. With a few cautions about it, Scott told me that if I have some gasoline to try it. He said that kerosene is similar to mineral spirits, and of course, kerosene and gasoline are close.

A gasoline can was on the deck so I would remember to get it filled soon. There was just a little left in it. I found an old rag and began wiping. AND IT WORKED!! It even removed it from the grout!

I sent Scott a text message saying that if anyone ever tries to say he's not a genius, just have them call me! And being the pragmatist he is, he sent back a message saying not to light a match!

The living room carpet is clean now. When we are up tomorrow morning, I'll get the dogs out of the bedroom and clean it.

Something that should be so simple, like cleaning the carpet, tends to create one problem after another. It's bad enough to have to move everything, then replace it all after the carpet is dry. You have furniture jammed into tight corners and stacked on top each other, and the house is a total wreck.

Events in my life tend to resemble a line of dominoes. Bad, nasty, mean-spirited dominoes. I'm feeling the tension between my shoulder blades. I'm taking a Tylenol PM and turning in.

The good thing? My life shore ain't boring!
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11 comments:

  1. Yikes! I am so glad that came out!

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  2. That sounds so awful! I'm so glad that it all came up, what a huge relief that must have been. I have had days like this too, when I have such good intentions and that nasty domino effect takes off. So glad this one had a happy ending. Now relax, play with your babies and enjoy your Sunday.
    XXXX

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  3. Julie, so am I!! My son said I sounded panicked .... uh, YEAH!!

    Cheryl,and doesn't it always happen when you have the least time to deal with it? I'm glad it is over and done!

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  4. I am glad you got it cleaned up the domino effect is happing here too

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  5. That blasted domino gets areound, doesn't it?

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  6. My saying is that every project has a problem. It's just a matter of how big the problem is and how easy it can be overcome.

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  7. Well, I guess I have a knack for finding the biggest problem in every project!

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  8. I've had days like this too. Good intentions of getting things accomplished, but shit happens. I'm SO glad you got all the paint up.

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  9. Daisy, you said it! I'm glad, too. I looked the neck morning, just to be sure it was really gone!

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  10. Sheesh . . I am glad you have a smarty pants for a son! And I had to LOL at his final words to you!!!

    Glad the kids didn't get into it as that would have been quite the situation!

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  11. Beans, smarty pants is him, in both senses of the word!

    And yeah, me too. I can't imagine cleaning up the dogs or the mess it would have created!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!