Potholders

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Fired!

I got fired last week. It's not quite as bad as it sounds, and in many ways, it was actually a good thing. 

A little background information first. We bought Justin a house. This is something we have wanted to do for a long time. We bought a house for Ryan in CO in 2013 (back in the olden days when real estate was not a circus), sold it in 2021 with quite a gain, and used the proceeds to buy another house in PA. John has always wanted to be able to start both kids out with housing, so we've been looking for something for Justin for quite a while. 

We finally found it - 10 minutes from Justin's work, at the end of a cul-de-sac, on an acre lot with a creek at the bottom of the back yard, and bordered by county open space on two sides. Deer, rabbits, and other wildlife are regular visitors. The seller grew up in the house and when his father died, he wanted it to go to someone else who would appreciate it. It's a 60s-era house in need of some updates, but that's perfect for Justin who cares more about where his house is located than whether it has granite countertops, a kitchen island, and an en suite bathroom. 

John has been at the house for several days sanding and putting polyurethane on the hardwood floors, taking care of some plumbing issues, and getting a radon remediation system put in. Justin's girlfriend, Jess, will be living there with him much of the time, and she decided she wanted to paint some rooms. I'm engaged in the ongoing process of learning to keep my mouth shut, so I didn't blurt out, "But the sellers just painted all the rooms a lovely pale grey-green that will go with everything!" We all went to paint, and I was assigned what I thought were some easy tasks - above the taped baseboards, in the corners, and around the electric outlets that had the covers removed. All the places where you can be a bit sloppy before rolling the big sections of the walls.

I had done my painting in two bedrooms and went to make some lunch on the grill. When I came back after lunch and asked what I should do next John told me to go knit. It took me a couple of minutes to understand what he was saying, but he thought that I had done such a poor job on everything that I painted in the morning that he had to re-do most of it. I was fired, and have never been so happy to receive my pink slip! (I really hate painting!) I left the paint crew to go to the rug remnant store to give them measurements for some rugs that Justin is having cut and bound. This job was perfectly within my capabilities. :-)


You can see I was working with a very nice pale green before I was summarily dismissed. Next time we go to the house I have placed myself in charge of wet-mopping all the dust that John generated from sanding the floors and I will also be thoroughly cleaning three bathrooms. These are tasks I excel at and won't have to be fired!

11 comments:

  1. Sounds to me like a parenting success -- you know you've done a good job when your kid tells you they can handle it on their own! (Also, I think it's lovely that you and John have been able to buy houses for both of your sons. I hope they appreciate what an amazing gift that is!)

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  2. I find painting to be tiring and tedious, but I love the results. If someone fired me from painting and yet continued to paint themselves, I would be thrilled! It's just lovely that you have started both of your sons off in life with shelter, the perfect present and the gift that keeps on giving. Hoorah for you and John! I agree with Justin that location is more important that amenities. You can work on that along the way. How did you know he needed a radon remediation? I have often wondered about that.

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  3. How wonderful! I agree that location is so much more important. I'm guessing this it not too far from you and John?

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  4. What a cute house! And being consigned to knitting... a winning thing all day long! XO A new summer project sounds like so much fun!

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  5. Hilarious. Congrats on being "engaged in the ongoing process of learning to keep my mouth shut" - !

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  6. Oh, Bonny! I love this so much. Both the buying houses for your sons bit AND the getting fired from painting bit. As a fellow painting-hater, I'd be downright giddy over that particular pink slip! Justin's house looks wonderful, and I bet he and Jess will be very happy in it -- no matter the color of the walls. XO

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  7. What a good thing to get fired from! (I hate painting!) I love that you bought houses for your sons and all the wonderful help you and your husband are providing. I hope Justin & Jess will be very happy with their new home!

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    1. Thanks, Debbie! Painting is the perfect job to get fired from!

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  8. You are such a wonderful parent!! I have been fired from painting and just don't do it. I tape off and do the grunt work :) I don't mind I am a terrible painter.

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  9. What a wonderful gift you and your husband have given to your sons. As for painting, I quit a long time ago because I was about to be fired. Like you and John, we have figured out a division of labor works the best. As for the ongoing process of learning to keep my mouth shut, I understand it well.

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  10. You made it through longer than I would because I hate painting more! Of course, now that I've broken my arm I can't do much of anything. You do so much for your boys and I know they are grateful for it all, even if they need to redo.

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