Preppy Girl's Guide

So I'm totally convinced that things always take 3 times longer than you thought they would. For instance... I have been wanting to paint my garage doors for over a year. In fact, my mom came to visit last August and actually scraped them down for me - and yet, but still - I did not paint them. August came and went, then September and I still held out hope through October. But unpainted they remained. All spring I was embarrassed every time I looked at them. I would quickly drive into the garage, shut the door and walk into the house, hoping never to make eye contact with any disapproving neighbors. It was sad and a little pathetic - but hey - ignoring the problem always makes it go away, right?

Anyhoo, jump forward to July 2007. My mom is coming to visit again and I KNOW the second or third thing out of her mouth upon arrival at my house will be, "You STILL haven't painted those doors?!" This is not something I want to endure - and soo... my procrastination (on this project anyway) has come to an end. I decided I'd paint it on Sunday come hell or high water. If it were only that easy.

I made a trip to wally world where I planned to get some latex paint and a new brush. A quick phone call to my dad indicated I'd probably also need some spray primer and some rollers. My shopping list has doubled in a matter of seconds. I get to the paint aisle and realize I might also want to get a real scraper (instead of the putty knife we've been using). Now the old guy working the paint counter tells me he'll need to shake the paint - fine fine fine - I still have 4 hours before the cookout we're going to later. I've got time. I'm heading toward the check out - cell phone rings - it's Galoot, "Can you get some butter too?" Surrre. I trek back to the opposite corner of super wally world for the butter. After a brief stint in the check out line the cell phone rings again, this time my dad, "Why don't you come by and I'll give you a special brush for cutting in." What the hey - I'm already behind schedule, what's a few more minutes. Finally, around 1:30-ish I get back home. How long could it really take to slap some paint up?

After some closer inspection of the doors, it is clear that they need to be scraped again. Fun. I scrape for a good 45 minutes, brush off any loose paint then wipe everything down. Around 3:00 I'm ready for the primer. Spray primer rocks but you should make careful note ladies not to get it too close to your nice french manicure (dangit). Next thing I know it's 3:45 and not one garage door has actually been painted.

I decided to press on, this evening after work, figuring I'd could pump out the actual painting in no time - ha! After cutting in 6 windows, and rolling paint on the whole door I barely had time to go back for touch ups. Soooo... one door down, one to go. Phew.

What's the moral of this story? Buy your husband a paint sprayer for Father's day and maybe he'd do it himself? NOW I think of it!