I'm Done, and I Won It

Look at that, good blog readers, you get a 2 for 1 post today! I have some material that I have been meaning to post for a few days, plus some new stuff.

First, I entered a contest last week over at Di's blog, you might remember this post. Well, guess what. I won. Oh yeah, baby! So, when T-Bone walked in from getting the mail on Thursday, and had a huge envelope marked "media" in his hands, I got super excited. This is what I pulled out of the package...
I absolutely loved the way this package came in the mail. Being a huge Forensics fan, this type of bag was RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!! I loved it so much, that I couldn't help but take everything out and take pics so that all of you lovely people can see what was inside.At the very bottom, is the lovely evidence bag. You have the yellow envelope marked "documents enclosed" that made me feel like an uber important type of person. No clue why, it just did. There is a thank you card from Di, and the book My Soul to Keep by Melanie Wells. Attached to the book, is a sticky that says "Just released Feb. 5th!" with an awesome squiggly line under it. I love this woman's handwriting!Here is a solo shot of the "evidence" bag that everything came in. I swear, if a tornado were coming and I had one thing to save other than my family, this bag would be it. It's just too neat to leave behind!A close-up of the book itself. I really can't wait to start reading it, but I must pace myself. I'm currently reading John Grisham's The Innocent Man, plus T-bone bought The Appeal, also by Grisham, for me yesterday. I think he's trying to hint for me to get off the computer. Point noted, NOT TAKEN. :)Here's a top view of the card that Di sent me. I thought it was the cutest!
"Annie, Enjoy! Please let me know how you like the book!" Signed, Di. With her website addy, of course. Www.liveandletdi.com. It's her new site, as she boasts in this card!And, my warm and fuzzy feeling maker "documents enclosed" envelope. I love that green! It just screams.. LOOK AT ME!!!I bet you were wondering what was inside the "documents enclosed" envelope. Hey, so was I! It's a small world, ain't it? Yeah, anyway. Enclosed, was a sheaf of papers that outline the book, with some background information. See the funny gray-ish smudge looking thing in the blue bar at the top of the page, about 2 inches from the left corner? Can you guess what it is? It's a fingerprint!! I was so stoked to see that, with the whole Forensic thing addiction that I have.

That's all that I have for that part of the post. I really can't wait to read the book, and once it's finished I will leave my aye or nay on it right here. Don't forget to drop by Di's blog, she's a great lady!

Okay, this next part isn't for the weak stomached. Or the faint hearted. In fact, if you value your life, you might not want to read any further. I won't think any less of you for turning back right now, and never returning.

To hell with that, you know I will hold a grudge and come hunting you down. So suck it up, fasten your seat belts, and fear the ride. Oh yes, fear it.

Did I ever mention that we acquired the house we live in absolutely free? And that we pay nothing more than a mere $100 tax for the state of PA once a year? No? Well, I must have felt that you didn't need to know. But it's a crucial part of evidence in what you are about to see below.

You see, you can't get something for nothing. Nope, you definitely can't. So, what we wound up with is no mansion. In fact, it isn't even a damn mini-condo. What it is, is a fashioned monstrosity made to resemble living quarters. No, really. Okay, wait, I'm lying. It's liveable, by far. But.. I left a really nice apartment that I adored to no end for this place, and it needed work. A lot. So much, that I cringe at the thought of what we still need to do.

Nearly 4 months ago, we purchased paint for Buckwheat's room. We knew it needed it, so I figured if I had it hanging around, it would get done in a timely manner. I don't think that nearly 4 months is a timely manner, but hey. I tackled it today. Hardcore.

Before I show you a pic of his room, please keep in mind that we didn't intend to use this room for anything other than storage until it was entirely remodeled. Then, a friend of ours moved in with us last March, and those plans were thrown out the window. And when he left, I moved Buckwheat into it. It was serviceable.. but I. HATED. IT.

Here's why, get ready for the shock and awe portion of this program.
This was Buckwheat's bedroom. From the doorway (which, the door isn't there, I removed it and replaced it with a baby gate). If you look straight in, you will see the shabby curtains, the water damage down the walls from year's ago that have since been fixed, and the funky non-matching colors. Absolutely horrific. I cringed to even look down the hallway and see this lurking at the end of it.Standing in his room, and looking to the left, you would be met with this view. An open closet. This boy has so many toys, along with the other 3 runts, that it was literally spilling over. And here's a nice vanity shot of the smoke stained walls (we don't smoke inside, but the previous occupants did), with a ragged curtain edge thrown in for free. Just looking at what I put up with is making me want to hurl myself off the closest bridge. What was I thinking?!?!Here is the wall above his bed. At some point last September, I acquired a buzzing bug up my ass and took some free paint from my mother, thinking that it would end my back bedroom woes. What it did, was make it worse. I found out that I didn't like it after painting just less than half of the room, and left it the way it was. I'm so horrible. I should join some sort of anonymous meeting over this.Proof that I quit painting the room less than halfway through lies in this pic. Along with a gaudy ass curtain. If you look to the top left of the window, you will see evidence of the smoke stained walls. I'm so glad I wasn't sniffing them, I'm sure I would have had enough nicotine intake to last me for 3 years!This is my last of the haunting pics. I swear, if they don't give you nightmares, you need to be seen. I'm sure that any shrink will tell you that you have an extreme desensitization to anything horrific. The double windows in his room, adorned with T-Bone's Philadelphia Eagles emblem that has been stuck to that window for over 14 years. Nice memorabilia, horrible water stains.

I couldn't take it a moment longer. I snagged T-Bone by the short hairs this morning, dragged him into this mess, and forced him to help me turn this dungeon into a bedroom. He obliged, but grudgingly. Did I mention he doesn't know how to paint? Yeah. Twenty-eight long years of his life, and he has never painted for more than 5 minutes. It's pathetic!

By this afternoon, life was looking grand. So grand, in fact, that I felt obligated to share the transformation with everyone! I know, I'm so thoughtful. Here's a slew of pics, nearly in the order that I presented them in the before section.

Drum roll please...So, what's all of this boil down to?
One gallon of Little Boy Blue Paint- $14.99
Spare curtains, Louvre doors, and an old laundry hammock- Free
Sweat, Fatigue, and Aching Muscles- Free
Proving to yourself that you aren't the redneck scumbag that the room portrayed you to be... PRICELESS!!

Very long post, after a very long and trying day. T-Bone's tired, I'm exhausted, and the room is done. I'm grateful. And, proud of myself for finally ridding that boil of a bedroom from my ass house!
P.s.- Did I forget to mention that we even painted the ceiling blue?? Yeah, we're nuts. That's why you like reading me!!