Talk about feeling incredibly stupid...I just posted a long response to your story, Kristi, and it has completely disappeared. And I KNOW I hit "Post" at the appropriate time. Grrrrrr...... Suffice it to say that I'm so sorry to hear about your injury. Our eyes are so precious yet so fragile...they should come equipped with some sort of built in steel shutter system that automatically deploys when sharp pointy things (like deadly pineapples) come close to them! That's what we gardeners need!! I know how bad it hurts when I just get dirt in my eyes while gardening, so I can only imagine how painful this must have been for you. I'm so glad no permanent damage was done, and I hope it continues to heal rapidly with no more problems. Take care of yourself! Big Hugs To You! Marcia

Oh Dream... I'm sorry you learned the hard way (like most of us who did). Poor little doggie gets blamed for it all. LOL I would have never known had I not purchased this HUGE heavy deep (read $$$) styro circle for a flower arrangement for my Dads headstone. I didn't like the green poking through so weilded out the blue spray paint.... u know the rest. lol Boy was my Mother maaad when she realized it was going to be iffy whether I would have the arrangement finished for decoration day as planned or not. My Husband is another smarty who told me "well I could have told you that was going to happen". pffft , Should have then!! NOT could have. lol

I am just finishing up a small bathroom reno I've been tinkering with for several years. I was working as an alarm tech/central vacuum installer, so I'm no stranger to kneeling but since I've been working on the bathroom more one of my knees is absolutely killing me! I'll be glad when it's done. The walls I didn't tile had horrendous wallpaper (isn't it all?) covering up even more horrendous '80s sponged paint (it made the hole bathroom look like a green underwater cave.) My stepson used one of those spiked rollers to get the majority of the wallpaper off, but he's pretty heavy handed so there were lots of little holes in the drywall. In the end it might have been better to redo the drywall so I could insulate it better (outside wall) and put blocking in for towel rails, but I just sanded and skimmed, sanded and skimmed. I put a damp cloth on bits where paper still remained. I used an eggshell finish bathroom paint with a long nap roller so it has some nice, forgiving fine texture. I'm pleased to say the wall's probably better than new. I used two coats of Kilz stain blocker over the ugly paint and two top coats. Kilz is white and quick drying, it may be a better option for you. My reno project grew from replacing a cheap, ugly non-corner vanity that was jammed into a corner - a long weekend job in 2007, to redoing the whole thing except the shower, which I refinished. Lack of money and motivation kind of put it on the back burner til this summer past. It is a good feeling to be this close to finishing. If you don't hire anyone, just take it easy. You'll be able to do lots just standing, and I assume some standing is good for you. Since it's only a guest bathroom, it's not essential to life. Take your time, it'll be there!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Just to clarify- I was asked to record because the letter that I read was written by a New Yorker and I do sound like the Bronx. Jewish doesn't mean NY. Nor does old mean NY. My co-worker is not a New Yorker. I looked at her Facebook page and there was her grandma. She is considerably older than me. Her body is not defined and she is supported on 2 sides by family. So maybe my co-worker thinks old New York Jewish Grandmas wear jeans and boots and have lots of curly hair and fun jewelry, drive a fast car, and is respected enough to record a letter in a major exhibition, like me So now I will think of it as a compliment. I feel good. Thank you all for helping me think this through. Laura