Just dashing in to wish Lucy all the dog-ma in the world, and Brenda all the calm-ma. Tripod pets are the bomb diggety. You have to love their adaptability and willingness to get on with life. Things to sniff! People to love on! (or hide from, in TC's case, but still) Treats to snarf! She'll be great.

Also? I neeeeeeed me one of those underwater treadmill thingies.

sending Lucy the ma~~~

and if you have never painted -- really it won't hurt. Ok maybe your arms will get sore. Prep is a pain -- but the better you do -- the better it works I like rollers -- use a w stroke. watch for drips. and better to do three coats thinner if you are having trouble with drips. I like everything disposable -- I am not good at cleaning brushes/ rollers. If you need to put things aside --keep rollers/ brushes in ziplock bags --- they will stay damp and usable for the next day

Now, all I have to do is figure out how, exactly, to wash a wall. Anything besides the obvious damp cloth?

A mild TSP-substitute solution in warm water.

Oh you should! I wish someone had taught me that you don't have to act like you care even if you do when I was a kid.

I've been trying, but she's just such a sensitive kid and she doesn't have a mean bone in her body and so she simply doesn't grok why the little ruggers are being such beasts, hence, confusion shows all over her face, opening her up to even more torment.

zinsser bin --- this is my primer

[link]

covers everything, even mold -- I don't wash walls, if I don't have to it.

It is shellac based -- which means high volitalls -- I use a mask for organics -- but asthma means don't be stupid. If you are using it in an enclosed space -- You might feel drunk with out a good mask ( 30 - 40 ) dollars. If you don't have asthma and can open windows -- it dries really fast --- and the smell is gone when it is dry.

A mild TSP-substitute solution in warm water.

????? I got "warm water"....

I have long been of the opinion that there is no more vile a beast than the pre-adolescent girl.

The problems CJ has had at his new school have come mostly from the girls. The boys are much more "whatever" about it all.

I don't actually mind painting, but I'm abysmal at it, so I cajole minions and make sandwiches and go on soda and beer runs. And cheer. Cheering is vital to the process, and I'm great at that.

Barb, the Clueless eyeroll is a devastating weapon, and one that should be in every girl's arsenal. Boys go through something similar in the way of peer taunting. I probably shouldn't admit that StE shrugged off all attempts at it in the school cafeteria one afternoon with a fork and a big smoochy mock kiss and blink, should I? He was not parentally encouraged in his response, but it worked for him. And the chastising was mild and symbolic. Faculty was never involved--had they been, things would have been rather more severe.

And since I'm here, and haven't been in a while, I wanted to wish billytea and wallybee all the congratulations and best happiness possible.

The rest of you? Commiserations and congratulations as merited or needed. Miss you when I'm not here.

I'm sorry Abby's having a hard time. For the record, I was not a vile beast as a pre-adolescent and not all girls are (Abby being another notable exception). Boys can be cruel in their ways, too.

Oops, my feminism is showing again!

I don't hire other people to paint for me, and occasionally attempt to beg Pete and Jilli to let me paint their place, please please please.

I fully support this plan. You just have to brainwash Pete.