Project: Productive.

I opened my eyes this morning, just a peek, and told myself it was 8:30ish. "It's not that late." I said. "Just sleep for a few more minutes". And that I did. Though, I think it was a lot more than just, a few.

I woke again to the sound of the bedroom door opening and closing. I peaked again and saw that Taylor had already been through the shower and was nearly ready for the day. Thinking she was just getting an early start today, I let my eyes lazily close again.

Next I heard,"What time did you go to bed last night?" Keeping my eyes closed, I groggily answered Taylor, that I didn't know, but "Mom, Dad, and I watched a few 24 episodes last night, so probably after 1am". She was quiet and I began to wonder why she was asking me that. Suddenly my eyes decided they weren't lazy anymore and popped open. I quickly rolled over and pushed the button on my touch to check the real time. I was shocked and wished I was still fancifully coming up with time. But no, it was real.

The time was 11:00am. 11! Just 1 small hour away from 12! PM! Uck!

Gasping and in a daze of unbelief I literally jumped out of bed and quickly descended down the stairs wondering what I had missed as I slept the morning away.

If you hadn't noticed, I hate waking up drastically late. I think i've always hated it. I do like sleeping in, but 11!? Not that late. I always feel bad that I missed and wasted all that time and morning without even knowing it!

Early wakers downstairs had already eaten, finished breakfast and dressed for the day. They had at least made sure I didn't miss my breakfast meal clean up shift, which was very thoughtful.;)

From that point on, everything went so slow. At last at 2, I was ready for the day and needing to accomplish something. Something big. I was determined to turn this day around pointing productive ward. Otherwise, i'd just be miserable. I remembered the bare deck outside and the bucketful of stain in the basement. *Ding!* I announced to Mom that I was staining the deck, today! I ran about and gathered all the supplies. I recruited Chandler to do railings and trim. Everything was out and ready on the deck and then I noticed, it wasn't very sunny. I looked up. Clouds. Not white and rainless, no, gray. I poked my head inside and asked humorously if it was going to rain today. A budding meteorologists replied with, "probably". Checking online, disappointment struck. Thunderstorms were coming 'round at 6. 'A deck can dry and be ready for rain in 4 hours, right?'

The deck idea was postponed until all clear and sunny,...thursday. Hmph.

Now what?

I stood by the kitchen table and did a scan over what I saw. The family room. Nothing to do there. For now.

Scan....scanning.....Kitchen. Kitchen with, wall paper.

Wall paper a decade old. Wall paper Mom has been saying she'd like to come into the kitchen 1 day and see gone. Scanning, over.

"Ok, now I want to rip all this out." I said to Mom, circling my arm around showing that I meant, the wall paper. She looked up and said, "I know, the kitchen? Me too."

"Well yes but no, I mean, I'm ripping the wall paper out. Today."

She sort of laughed and asked why. I smiled and replied,"Because I kinda feel like it."

We agreed we should wait until a new, full day tomorrow to begin this project. Curious me took over though. I went and secretly snagged a spray bottle and a scraper tool and hopped up on the counter to a hard-to-see area above the cabinets. Remembering what I did with the wall paper in our bathroom a few years ago, I found a seam, and pulled. A big long piece came off and exposed the contrasting bright tan color beneath it. It was so different to see after seeing red for the past 10 years. I neatly sprayed the paper backing, waited for it to soak in and then peeled the slimy substance away. 1 square done.

Taylor walked in. With a worried expression she asked WHAT I was doing?! "Mom knows!" I '5 year old hand in the cookie jar reaction' replied quickly. I then confessed that "I was just doing a tiny bit to know what difficulty to expect for tomorrow......"

"Whoosh.....

..rrrriiiiipppp........"

Today the kitchen went from this:

To this:

I, had a very productive day today:)

"I'm just doing a little bit......"

Until tomorrow, red papered eating area.

***************************************************

Thank you, Maddie, for becoming curious as well with me and joining my peeling party.

And thank you Chandler, for trying. It's that helpful want and thoughtful gesture you had that counts. I'll remember that as we spackle the "Chandler was learning here" parts of the wall tomorrow.

;)

I love these kind of days:)