Week 7: High-Fiving Good Time

I just sung an aria, high-fived all our neighbors, and kart wheeled across the lawn. All in celebration of finishing the shingles! I feel like belting Sinatra lyrics from the mountain tops in Julie Andrews style. But the sweetest successes come from labored struggle. Our communication skills provided just such a stretch during this project. Specifically our use of the term "goal". Being a to-do list junkie, I break projects into attainable tasks with timelines called "goals". Clint uses the same term to mean "a general ambition for accomplishment". If he meets his goal, he believes it wasn't set high enough. These two definitions collided in December after I pestered Clint to set a completion date for the shingles. He casually mentioned it would take at least a few weekends. I have no use for modifiers like "at least", so I translated this into an oath of completion in exactly 21 days, or 3 weeks (give or take a few hours). When that magic number 21 was reached, two lonely rows of cedar were tacked up in the back. Not quite what I had on my spreadsheeted goal. Since then, we have committed to a common remodel vocabulary. I'm trying to loosen up, and Clint is explaining plans in terms I can understand. Back to my arias, I'm off to serenade the neighbors with my joyful Buble jingles.

Week 6: Storage Galore

We are lacking many things in our home, but storage is not one of them. Many of our non-functioning appliances serve as impromptu storage. When our oven went kaput, we googled microwave-friendly recipes and brainstormed ways to use the space while we wait for the new kitchen. Then I thought--Tupperware! We now have easy access to containers in all shapes and sizes. Other unusual spaces are our closets. It's amazing how many shirts, slacks, and coats to adults can accumulate. All of these items were homeless until we got creative. Clint hung a handmade ladder his grandpa built from the ceiling. Viola--instant closet! For my clothes, I used another heirloom handmade piece. When Clint's parents came over, they mentioned this heirloom was actually a liquor cabinet. Well, now it stashes my arsenal of sweaters. Our only problem is when friends visit and try finding stuff. Looking for toilet paper? It' sin the out-of-commission Jacuzzi tub, of course.

Week 5: Give Me a Half Glass

Our goal wears a Nike jogging suit, shouting "wake up" with staccato clarity as we snooze Saturday mornings. We huddle up and with bent heads, brush teeth while the goal fiercely whispers our strategy for success. Clint has now completed the back shingling--the mid-mark.

Halfway done is as momentarily satisfying as eating Chinese food. We peruse "before" pictures to remind ourselves of obstacles defeated. The Hardy-Plank siding started while we were still dating. The three coats of color sprayed on before finding Blueberry blue. The arm sling Clint wore while painting the house (don't ask). Is the glass half empty or half full? The whistle-wearing goal says there's no time for philosophy--the front needs our attention.