i think i was supposed to go back to painting this morning, but because my neighbor jeff never got back to me about that, i wasn't so sure. early this morning, around 5am, i heard from my bedroom andrew shuffling about outside, getting ready to drive up to vermont. i went back to sleep, didn't wake up until almost 10am. i checked e-mail and saw a message from jeff that painting was still on. while i was in the bathroom i heard the doorbell rang. i got dressed and went across the street for painting duty. jeff only wanted me and not bruce because the space was cramped and it was a small area to be painted, just one bedroom, although next week with most of the construction/deliveries done bruce would probable be joining us to finish up the entire house. my sweet spring days of frolicking about while the rest of the world is at work will be temporarily suspended for the next few weeks! so i basically primed with the roller while jeff did the edges. ceiling first, then the walls, top to bottom, and finally the closet. four hours later, hungry, my face splattered in white, paint all over my clothes, i had the bedroom completely primed. i went home, promising jeff i'd be back tomorrow morning at 8am. although i'm not a morning person, the earlier i start, the earlier i finish, since i figure at most i can only paint 4-5 hours a day. jeff actually wanted me to take a lunch break and then come back and do the first coat, but i told him i couldn't do it. painting is hard work! you wouldn't think so, but it's tiring, your arms hurt from all the rolling, your wrists ache from holding the brush, and let's not even mention all that noxious fumes, whether it be dust particle from sanding or the smell of ammonia in the latex primer.

after carefully taking off my clothes (so as to not get paint stains in my house), i took a hot shower (my hair was starchy from the plaster dust), then fixed myself a big lunch, kielbasa sausages, scrambled eggs, walnut pound cake, and a smoothie. i want to go to home depot to get some clay pots for planting my vegetables, but because i don't have a car, i was pretty much stuck at home. after the food settled, i changed into my running clothes around 4pm and went out in the absolutely perfect 70 degrees temperature for a run. i felt like ass during the whole time and had to walk 200 yards across the elliot bridge, but i felt pretty good afterwards, the weather was such that it felt like it was an extension of my own skin, i wasn't warm, i wasn't cold, it was just right.

i got home, took my second shower of the day, and waited for my mother to arrive, who was coming over for dinner (she was bringing some rice noodles). after my mother left, i finished watching the playoffs, saw the celtics lose game 1 to the nets, although it was a very close game. am i worried? not yet, it was going to be an uphill battle anyway, as long as the celtics kept it close and wasn't blown out, i like their chances.