The day was at least half-over by most people’s standards when Ralph and I agreed to get up to painting at the new house. Yeah, that’s just how we Hogabooms roll. While doing our typical thing – caring for kiddos, ours and other people’s, and cooking, and doing housework, and dealing with cats, and a meeting I get to chair at the Treatment Center on Sunday nights – we also shopped for supplies and got our gear to the house. Ralph and I cleaned and taped three large rooms and primer-painted two of them, getting home a little before midnight. Yeah, even though the house had white walls we had to primer, and grey primer, because like a total pain I opted for deep, vibrant, lovely colors, none of this taupe or melon or whatever. So that’s like, a thousand gallons and many many coats of paint. But I think it’s going to look lovely. I just need to do that trick where I am patient, mindful, and apply myself to the task at hand without letting my mind race on to the many things that will need to be done, to be settled in. GUESS WHAT, being sober helps with this A LOT.
The cleaning was big-time, at least in the kitchen, which is my opinion the (potentially) dirtiest room in a house. It was cheering though to scrub on a new domicile we’ll soon be occupying. We had music, and coffee, and hot water and lots of rags. We listened to Lady Gaga and Pink (while Phoenix was there; she quite helpfully unscrewed all the light-switch plates), and then Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, then some Springsteen, and then when it got to the late-night painting with Ralph he suggested one of my favorites, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, which I love Times One Million. And I told Ralph, “If you don’t sing along to JCS you’re fired,” and he said in a hurt tone of voice, “I don’t know all the words!” and I said, “Get. Out.” But actually I needed him because he did all the painting up high where my tiny forearms can’t reach.
But yeah, it was an honest day’s work, and of course there was some excellent, and shrill, rock opera emanating from my golden pipes. You shoulda been there. No I mean I really could’ve used the help.
Now I’m going to soak my feet in a hot bath and get my ass to bed.
Help with the back-up vocals or with the painting/cleaning? 🙂
Seriously, though, I love JCS. My mom had the original cast recording with Murray Head as Judas -excellent stuff. She used to play it while we cleaned the house, oddly enough. That and Peter, Paul and Mary. Somehow those albums always made the time go by more quickly.
Sounds like the house is going to be beautiful. Post pics of the final paint job so we can all admire the hard work. We’re contemplating buying a house, since by our calculations a mortgage will be cheaper than our current rent and my kids all want that to happen so they can paint their rooms. Maeve has a deep purple color all picked out, while Gwyn wants yellow with a ceiling that’s sky-blue with clouds.
lovely shivers down my spine, listening to the music. Long time not heard. What colours? In my house each room has a wall with a dark vibrant colour, dark green, ochre, grass green. The rest of the walls have a lot of art, or bookcases. We get paid in art if we work for artists, so we have a lot. Good luck with the new house. love, Josh
I’m impressed with all of your painting and carrying on, wow! I, too, usually do my best work at odd times of day, glad to hear that you were able to get this project done on your schedule.
Oh my goodness, how I love the Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice collaborations. I have JCS on vinyl and used to try to slip it in wherever I could back when I DJ’d. Evita is the other ALW/TR production that I know about, and I highly recommend it. Madonna and Antonio Banderas’ movie version was a bit cheesy, but good fun nonetheless.
Looking forward to hearing more about your new place, seeing pics!
@Josh
I forgot the name of the colors and for some reason I want to type them out. I’ll post pictures when I’m done! I love the idea of your house. I like bright colors after living in rentals with boring colors. Thank you for commenting – it’s lovely to hear from you again!
@Christina
I didn’t know you DJd! Yes, I’ve had two versions, the film and then a version with much the same cast, but Murray Head as Judas instead of Carl Anderson. I didn’t care for Evita much. I’m not really that into musicals/rock operas… just really really like one now and then. I enjoy Rocky Horror Picture Show a lot too.
Thanks for the comments, ladies! xxx
“…my tiny forearms can’t reach.” This immediately generated an image of a sad T-rex trying to paint her bedroom and not being able to reach the tops of the walls. I guess that makes you the T-rex. Ralph can be the brontosaurus.
@Kidsync
Exactly.
You are doing so much! I am impressed. I have never seen Jesus Christ Superstar. I feel like if/when I finally do see it, it will explain so much.