Respect your painters

I had another great idea.  While my son is traveling Spain, I will paint his room. This project will create the illusion of being with him, while finally tackling a very necessary home improvement.  The voice of reason (my husband) clearly stated this was a bad idea and that I should "just hire someone".  That sound advice was greeted with "What am I so weak that I can't even pain a room?  Do you think I am too stupid to buy paint?  Is this what a complete waste of space you see me as?"  Maybe a bit of an overreaction but he acquiesced with "do as you like".

My son's room is huge with 9 1/2 foot ceilings, 2 inch ceiling molding, about 18 in ornate baseboard, cracked walls, marble fireplace and hardwoods that are older that the trees on our street. Maybe a little daunting, but seriously how hard can it be to paint a room?  Didn't we used to do this with our fingers in preschool?

I've never liked the prep part of things.  For me, its jump in with both feet.  Not a really good plan when painting.  So I ignored the entire room of partially used painting supplies we have in the basement and instead took my American Express card to Home Depo.  Four gallons of paint, paint brushes, scraper, tarp, rags, tape, and some trim paint samples were loaded into the car and I was prepared.  That's what I like to call the good ole days pre implementation.

Fast forward 5 days later.  I have spent at least 40 hours on this project.  The room looks worse than it did when I started and my son returns in two days.   He will be "thrilled" to see the updates.  His waterbed is torn apart and empty.  His baseboards are splatter with "french grey" and his floors are now streaked.  Did you know that if you paint over a wall with a crack in it, it only gets worse?  I do now.  Additionally, his room is cluttered with paint cans, tarp, paint brushes and the like.  Did I mention I do not have the energy to put up all the posters, boards and junk he likes on his wall?

Time to recoup.  Running to purchase new curtains, quilts, sheets, posters and furniture to hide the hideous walls.  Maybe a giant silk tree to hide the corner fiasco.  Oh and a very big rug or not.  No time to hire a painter - will have to schedule one for when he goes to camp in August.  

Next, how to handle the voice of reason and "I told you so".