Painting Walls: This is What I Do

So, I told Randy that I’m starting to get concerned that I’m going to go through paint withdrawal.

Randy: We have a 4 day weekend. Is this how you want to start it?

Me: I’m being serious.

Randy: I am also not kidding.

Me:…

Me: I’ve been painting walls for going on two years.

Randy: I am aware.

Me: I have probably two to three months left and that’s everything. Even the basement. Then no more painting.painting walls

Me: What am I going to do with my life?

Randy: You are not going to go through withdrawal.

Me: You don’t know. Painting is my life. I hate painting.

Me: Except I kind of love painting. I think it’s the closest I’ve ever gotten to meditation.

Randy: You cheat at meditation.

Me: I cheat at Candyland.

Randy: There is that.

So, I am going to be finished painting soon. Soonish.

I love the results so far. I can’t wait to be finished. I’ll take a video when everything is done.

But then I’ll be finished.

I don’t even get that. I’ll be finished?

I’ve been bitching about painting walls for forever. It was over a year ago when I dumped a gallon of paint on the floor.

I am actually still traumatized by the spilled paint. Every time I open a bucket of paint, I am positive that it’s going to be seeping into the hardwood floors. Yet does that fear stop me from pulling a tarp with an open paint can on it? No. No it does not. 

I have furniture I want to paint. I have books I want to read.

I have writing I want to do.

You guys, I have completely abandoned all other writing. All of it.

Even when I spent months ignoring big projects, I still regularly submitted to other publications.

I have done nothing but write this blog for months now.

I feel antsy.

Maybe it’s good that I’m nearly done painting.

I have other things to do.

 

Photo courtesy of Sharon McCutcheon

25 Thoughts.

  1. You’ll figure it out.
    When Briana was working for Chris as a painter, they were on this one job and Chris kept telling her not to be so careful. She, of course, resisted and was careful anyway. They squabbled.
    Then, when the painting was done, the customer saw it and decided she didn’t like the colors after all and gave them new colors to paint everything. Briana was floored. Chris said “I told you so.”
    I don’t remember how many times they painted that place before Chris finally told the customer to go fuck herself.
    It’s different when it’s your house, but I thought you might appreciate a story about never being able to be done painting.
    Perhaps “antsy” might be writing ideas wanting to be born?
    That’s not the kind of labor we’re celebrating this weekend (supposedly) unless it somehow turns itself into your job…

    • I worked on house stuff until I broke my back.

      Okay, it’s not broken, but it is bunged up, so I am taking a break for a week. I am starting to work on other projects. Or at least thinking about starting.

  2. When Mark Twain was writing Huckleberry Finn he hit a point—or rather the raft Huck and Jim are on gets hit by a riverboat—and put it away for two years. And in that time he didn’t paint shit.
    I look forward to your novel.
    And if you decide to paint pictures.

  3. Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m glad you didn’t quit writing your blog along with everything else as I would have missed you and reading about all the moving trauma. I am SO not looking forward to that come this February/March!

    • Hahah…well, I am BETTER at it, but still not great. I could start a painting business with the tagline….Do you just need “good enough”?

      Because I am all over that shit.

  4. I’ve been crocheting like a fiend in my run-up to Christmas. I’m either almost done or ACTUALLY done, so I totally get your paint angst. When all the gifts have been boxed and mailed, Then What? Will I keep a skein of yarn with me at all of my acting classes and other events I attend, as I’ve been doing? Will I be “that chick” who opens an Etsy shop because I just have TOO MANY warm caps and scarves to keep for myself? Or will I just … quit … for another couple of years again and completely ignore all those sales text messages I get (practically) on the daily from Jo-Ann Fabrics?

    Good luck with your withdrawal. Let me know how it goes, and wish me luck on mine.

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