The Bad News: Still Painting! . . . The Good News: NATHAN IS COMING HOME!

I painted all day yesterday, and the kitchen/dining area is basically done. It looks great! I'm very pleased with the way it is turning out. So why did it take so long to complete one average room? It's not the painting. In fact, the walls take the shortest time to roll, but the edging and trim take FOREVER!

Not only that, it's the other precious tasks that go along with the painting such as having to take down the kitchen window blinds, remove the brackets so I can get complete paint coverage, re-caulk the kitchen window, put the blinds in the bathtub to wash away 19 years of dust, Windex the windows and window frame, re-install the blinds brackets, and finally re-hang the blinds.

On to the refrigerator! I had to "roll" the refrigerator out, all the while dreading what I would find behind it, vacuum and scrub the tiles behind the frig, scrape old caulk from the last time the house was painted between the floor and trim, and try to remove green oxidation that I assume dripped from copper tubing under the refrigerator (it didn't come up).

For the rest of the kitchen/dining area I had to take pictures off the wall, remove all the light switch plates and electrical outlet face plates, take down my antique fire extinguisher, take down a dusty shelf and the dusty kitsch on it, tape EVERYTHING so I could edge and paint the walls, remove the tape and re-tape so I could do the trim, remove the trim tape, re-hang the pictures, return the switch plates and face plates, re-hang the fire extinguisher, dust the shelf and kitsch, re-hang the shelf, rearrange the kitsch, touch-up where the tape ripped off the paint, scrape paint off the tile by the trim, and . . . you get the picture! Surprisingly, one of the easiest jobs was edging between the walls and the lovely popcorn ceiling. It was almost fun, but not quite. They say popcorn ceilings cover a multitude of sins, but I say popcorn ceilings are a SIN!

Today I am looking forward to painting the laundry closet. NOT! That involves moving out the washer and dryer, taking down a shelf and everything on it, and scrubbing more tile. Intercede for me please! Honestly, it sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but I'm just taking it in stride. What gets done, gets done, and what doesn't can wait until tomorrow. I'm really glad I decided to paint. It's going to make my house look so much better when it's done.

Now on to the BEST news! Nathan (and Todd and Carla) are coming through Tampa tonight on their way to a missions conference in Texas. Mama and Daddy will be going with them when they fly out tomorrow morning. They return next weekend, and we will have a couple of days together before they head back to Jamaica. It goes without saying that I am so looking forward to seeing my nephew and spending some time together, and most of all getting some SUGAR! The best in the world!

I'm Painting My House (Inside)

I spent the better part of yesterday picking out interior paint. I'm tired of looking at these beige, scuffed walls. I'm using KILZ one-coat guarantee paint from Wal-Mart. The living room, kitchen, hall, guest bedroom, and office will be Dulce De Leche (tan), the master bath, Wetlands (mossy green), the hall bath Canary (yes, it's yeller!), with Autumn Breeze (cream) trim throughout. Who comes up with these color names?

Plant City Wal-Mart did not have enough base paint on hand to mix my colors, so I had to run to North Lakeland last evening. After I ate supper, I got started on the hall bath because it was a small space. First, I removed the old caulking in the crack between the wall and the vanity. The caulking removal tool worked okay. Then, I ran a bead of caulk and used the smoothing tool along the crack. Now that little gadget worked great! You've never seen a more straight, smooth, and uniform caulk job. It was almost fun. I guess I didn't realize how much trim and edging and how many tight spaces there were in that little bathroom, but in the process I learned that blue tape works better than the edging tool for if you want clean lines. All in all, the painting went pretty fast. The paint is thick, so there are few drips, and true to its claim the KILZ paint gives great coverage.

I'm going to start on the master bath this morning, then attack the rest of the house. I've got three full days to finish the job before I have to report for work on Friday. Yes, Friday! Just one more great decision by the Hillsborough District School Board. But that's another topic for another time. I need to get off this computer and get busy. I'll try to post pictures later.

The Rest of the Shoot

My Nephew, the Model

The week before Nathan went to Jamaica, while I was in Wyoming, my cousin Kendra took Nathan out for a photo shoot with her daughters and Nathan's cousins Kelsey and Emily. She needed some shots of a redhead for her portfolio, and who better for the job than the cutest redhead I know.

Kendra is an amateur photographer who is well on her way to becoming a professional. She has studied photography for many years, and her pictures have continued to improve over time. I have taken some great pictures of Nathan myself, but none compare to the photos from this session. These photos have great composition, clarity, and of course subject matter. What surprised me the most is how well Nathan took direction for the poses. I don't know what Kendra promised him. He usually ducks or turns the other way if he catches me trying to snap a candid shot.

I could see these pictures in a model's portfolio, so I stayed up late one night and designed one on Snapfish. DeeDee and I both ordered copies, and they arrived within a few days. They look so professional. I know you may never get to see the real books, but you can click here and see the next best thing. If there are any modeling agents out there who want to sign Nathan to a multi-million dollar contract, get in touch with me. I'm his agent.

You did a great job, DeeDah (Kendra)!

Eyes Wide Open

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm working on a couple of new blogs. The first blog, Eyes Wide Open, is up and running. The second blog, Clips, Notes & Quotes, is still under development. More about that one when I get it going.

When I started Nathan's Uncle I knew I would eventually discuss books, music, and movies, and I thought I would include those postings here. Last night I decided I wanted a separate forum for that subject matter, so I initiated Eyes Wide Open at WordPress. Eyes Wide Open will focus not only on the arts and media, but also on the issues they raise. Be advised that there will be discussion of controversial subjects, and you may beg to differ with some of the opinions posted by other readers and myself. That is okay. We can learn through the process of agreeing to disagree. I invite you to post your comments to the site, as well.

Today's post on Eyes Wide Open focuses on Sicko, Michael Moore's newest documentary about the healthcare crisis in America. With their permission, I have included an email conversation between my cousins April and Doyle. As you will see, they have a lot to say.

Ode to An Angel

You came for a while, but you couldn't stay
We never imagined it would be that way

We had plans, we had dreams
But they will have to wait, it seems

We felt grief, and loss, and utter devastation
But in that upper room we had a Holy Ghost visitation

We were in a daze, confused, we didn't know what to do
But that was before the Wonderful Counselor came through

The Great Physician signed your medical release
Bringing clarity, victory, and perfect peace

So gently you came, like a breath of fresh air
We cherished our time together, so precious, so rare

You were perfectly formed, the answer to our prayer
We hope you sensed nothing but tender loving care

Tiny fingers, tiny feet
Touches so tender, sugar so sweet

We held you in our hands, and sang a love song
The one that says, Little ones to Jesus belong

You gave us sugar, just like your brother
It was sweet as could be, like no other

Your family and friends kissed your little head
Then we gave you to Mommy, so she could put you to bed

You were ours to hold, only for a while
We will always remember your face with a smile

Your stay was so short, we were tempted to ask why
But all of that vanished when the Comforter stopped by

Your mommy has courage, she gave you her name
Your daddy has strength, he did the same

You have a big brother, named Nathan you see
And you're his little sister, the newest bud on our family tree

Our daughter, our sister, granddaughter, and niece
Our memories won't fade, our love will not cease

The time that we shared didn't last very long
But you are flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone

It's hard to say goodbye, we weep, we cry
But we'll soon be together in the sweet by and by

Though we never got to see you tumble and twirl
We still thank Heaven for our little girl

We love you and miss you, little Angel Ruth Hood
But still we can say, God is great, God is good

How could we give God our baby, yet trust?
Had we forgotten He gave His Baby to us?

He chose not to answer the way that we prayed
But our dreams have not died, they've just been delayed

For a while we're apart, but our hearts will always be
Intricately woven together . . . forever . . . for eternity

—For My Baby Girl, Angel
Love, Uncle Howie
August 1, 2002

Always My Angel

Five years ago today was the saddest, yet sweetest day of my life. On that day Nathan's sister Angel Ruth was born, and then went back to Heaven like a wisp of smoke.

Although we think of her frequently, each year our family visits Angel's gravesite on her birthday. I always take a pink rose. This will be the first year Todd, Carla, and Nathan won't be there because they are in Jamaica, but DeeDee, Grandaddy, and I will go and remember our little girl.


We often wonder what might have been had Angel lived. DeeDee always wonders if she would have had red hair like Nathan. She would be five this year and getting ready to start kindergarten.

Shortly before Angel was born I was traveling out West doing a loop of the national parks and got a premonition of sorts. I believe we were somewhere in Utah on one of the nights where we camped out under the stars. I was arranging my sleeping bag and mattress, getting ready to bed down for the night, when these words ran through my head, "What might have been was never meant to be . . . ." At the time I didn't know how they would apply to my life, but I would need those words just a few weeks later, and I have remembered them often over the years.

I love you, my Angel . . .

Uncle Howie