Life has a habit of moving way too fast — the older we get, the faster it seems to go. My birthday is in the near future, you guys. While I’m glad I keep having them, I sure wish the time between them was longer.
For the record, the only time looking in the mirror is fun is when the reflection is something other than me. 🙂
Do you have a favorite color? For years and years, I would’ve told you that RED is my very favorite — the “power color” I would add.
Not sure if I no longer feel powerful — or feel like I no longer need to feel powerful — but there’s not a spec of red in the basket/bowl that rests on the small bar in my kitchen.
What’s my favorite color? Take your pick… it changes every day… and they all make me happy.
If I were young again, I would chose one career path in particular. I’ve not had many jobs in my lifetime — I worked in a Nursing Home for a couple years after high school while attending IUS, I worked for a dentist (while having a baby and again, attending college), I held several different positions in one bank, I was self-employed (drove a bus and worked from home creating corporate websites), and for the past 10 years, I’ve worked with my brother — a professional business speaker/trainer/consultant. But if I were young again… I’d be a handyman.
Why a handyman you ask? Because they are obviously in great demand. As a female homeowner I can’t seem to find anyone that will do “fix-it” jobs. It doesn’t matter who I call, if it’s not a BIG job (like building a house) no one wants to do it. In Seymour, I need someone to clean up the brick columns that were flattened, put in a lamp post and a mailbox. At my Crothersville home, I need a new back door, the back yard graded and grass planted (where the pool was), and either deck renovations or a patio poured (again, because there’s no longer a pool there). I’ve had two different people tell me they would take a look and call/email with pricing “tomorrow” only to never hear back from them. And if they don’t respond with a PRICE within 2 weeks… you can bet they won’t complete the job in a timely manner, you guys.
If I were a handyman, I wouldn’t knock on people’s doors to say, “Our crew is in your neighborhood installing new windows,” or “we can roof your house cheaper than anyone else.” I would; however, do a good job for everyone that hired me and charge a fair price. And I WOULD WORK. I remember delivering food to a home a few years back during the holiday season so the family could eat — yet, this “handyman” is obviously too busy with other projects to take on any more money-making endeavors. I know because I called him.
If you’re young — be a handyman. If you have children (or grandchildren), teach them to be handy — send them to college — but buy them an old beater truck and teach them to be handy. If they choose not to be a full-time handyman, for extra money they can do small, weekend jobs for people like me.
And if you get this look when mentioning the “handyman” career choice, don’t be discouraged:
Because I started the 80’s house remodeling project with intentions to sell right away, I stuck with neutral paint colors in most every part of the house. Since the bathroom painting project turned out better than expected, I thought I’d go BOLD and paint an accent wall in the kitchen before starting the backsplash project on the opposite wall. Halfway through I was REALLY questioning my choice (what was I thinking? FIREWEED in a kitchen??). Standing back looking at this horrible wall color, I wondered if I just added a little yellow how many visitors would try to order a Big Mac.
I stopped for a break and posted this on Facebook:
Have you ever painted a wall in your home and when you finished you wish you wouldn’t have done it? I sure wish “control-z” (undo) would work with everything… not just on computers.
If I could’ve clicked a button to “undo” what I’d done I would’ve. But then, the paint dried and I redecorated the walls, and it really wasn’t so bad after all. It wasn’t McDonald’s red like it appeared before.
The comments to my Facebook post got me thinking… and not just about paint. How many people continue through life secure — surrounded by taupe and different shades of gray and are afraid to take risks — while others go out and risk it all on a whim or an idea. Going a step further (because I know I’m guilty of this too) — how many will take a risk but back out before waiting long enough to realize the outcome?
Goodness knows I’ve taken risks and have failed miserably, taken more and probably jumped the gun to pull the plug, and even more that didn’t fail or achieve any great success (like my wall). But I’m not 100% taupe, you guys, and I hope you’re not either.
I haven’t shared much in the way of the 80’s house project lately. I could make up a bajillion excuses but the sad truth is… I got lazy. I hate to admit it — but it’s true — it took me a little over 2 years to rework the master bath. I got rid of the truck-stop-red carpet long ago, but never got around to finishing this room. A fresh coat of paint this past weekend along with a few finishing touches and the mirror over the sinks in the last 1980s room no longer screams for big hair. Better late than never. Right?
As a reminder — here is the before photo taken in 2013 (not 1980):
The photos I’ve shared show only one corner of this room. It’s actually bigger than the master bedroom at my old house, and I love the natural light of the skylight. But, I’ve used the tub maybe 3 times since I’ve been here (once to bathe Gracie) and have never used the shower. Ever. I would be just as happy with a small area containing only a toilet and lavatory, but I sure do remember a time when I would’ve killed to have this much private bathroom space. If I didn’t love this house and hate moving even worse than I hate shopping at Wal-mart, I’d be looking for something smaller. What an awesome house this would be for a family with kids.