Five of us spent the better part of yesterday wielding rollers and paintbrushes and trying not to make a complete mess of things.
My friends Jeff and Cathleen will be moving this summer as she takes a new gig as a professor at Auburn University.
To get their home ready for today's challenging real estate market, they wanted to "freshen up" their place, and our mutual friend Ginny, along with Teri and I, volunteered for a spend-the-night/painting party.
After a day of brushes, rollers and ladders, we all agreed on two things: it's amazing the difference a fresh coat of paint can make to transform a room; and house painting in middle age requires much more Alleve than we remembered.
Jeff is a chief master sergeant in the air force and one tough hombre, but he has a secret life as an inventive gourmet chef, so we were paid well for our labors. His latest gastronomic contrivance is a creamy orange concoction Teri and I are calling Jeff Sauce. We used the spicy stuff over the weekend as a glaze, a dip and a condiment for everything else edible that came within reach. It would also make a wonderful low calorie salad dressing, but we weren't being that healthy.
To keep their workers motivated, our hosts cranked up "The Groove", an old-school R&B station, on satellite radio. From time to time the paint crew would be slain by the funk and break into an impromptu dance session.
"I don't know if the sight of a dancing heavy middle aged man in paint-splattered overalls is a such a good thing," I said as I threw caution to the wind and bounced around to Earth Wind and Fire. Then I caught sight of myself in a mirror as I danced and observed my moves through the mind-altering veil of paint fumes. "Hmmm. Not bad. Not bad at all."
Sounds like the only thing missing was Mike, with Abba as his creative influence.
ReplyDeleteGary: I am happy to report that I remained fully clothed for the duration of my dance recital.
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed with the greatest friends in the world - generous beyond measure. And, groovy dancers to boot! Dancing Queens unite!!
ReplyDeleteA gentleman in our area was recently cited for playing his music too loud. The officer that responded reported that the fellow was "rockin' out to John Denver", so of course your post made me laugh. Please tell me there was no John Denver involved.
ReplyDeleteSunshine on my shoulder makes me happy . . .
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to report that no John Denver music was danced to in the painting of those walls.
Isn't there something in the Constitution prohibiting using the words "rocking out" in conjunction with John Denver?
ReplyDelete