Paneling--Completion and Inspection

After weeks of work, often without a clear direction or cohesive plan, I eventually look up and realize suddenly that nothing else needs to be done. I had such a moment earlier this week. I sealed up the door opening, painted the wall, did the final sanding and put a final coat of wax on the baseboards and crown moulding. Done.

Now it's time for the project manager to come in for an inspection--with all of her drama and ritual--to make me feel that my efforts were not a complete waste of time. This makes me pretty nervous.

With our puppy away for 3 days of advanced training in cyber security, Willow and I are back into our old routine, and she took her time in silently reviewing my work, not betraying any sense of approval or disgust, knowing that it really makes me nuts.

I could have drawn out the project and made my own shoe moulding for the baseboards, but just as you cannot eat squash casserole for more than 2 days in a row, I just cannot bear to do another thing in this room--not for a while.

Willow looked up and down, into every crack and and imperfection and blemish, taking notes but not saying a word, until I threatened (to myself) to throw all of my tools into the big stone smoker in the back yard, big a big fire to melt them into a hunk of worthless metal, and never, ever take on another project of any kind.

Finally she licked my face, wagged her tail and curled up for a nap. Sunshine burst through the window, and all my work, and my life, pulsed with a new sense of purpose and anticipation of projects to come. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. (Oh, yeah, and Cheryl said she liked it, too.)

Next in line--making a stained glass window for the bathroom downstairs.