Decorating Diaries - Bad News

Ouch, this is painful.  We've decided to let our bathroom contractor go off the project.  She was supposed to show up last night and never did and no phone call.  It's not the first time.  As Blair said, "Shame on us if we keep working with her when we've seen the writing on the wall."  Still, it's hard "firing" someone...

It really is nothing personal.  I think she is a very gifted designer with a ton of energy and ideas.  What I don't like is I don't feel listened to, the budget has gone wildly astray, and most importantly, the follow-up isn't there.  I'm a pretty forgiving person.  I can get over you not showing up if you just call and tell me you'll be late or that you won't be there.  But this whole no-show thing gets under my skin.  I arranged my schedule to meet with her - no phone call shows a lack of respect for my time.

So I'm to be the one to do it.  Yuck.  For all my big talk, I really don't like confrontations.  Not that I think it will be bad.  She's a very nice person and I expect she'll be gracious and apologetic.  I just don't like hurting people's feelings.

We are painting this weekend.  The tape issue has yet to be resolved but I think we've both lost steam over it.

Just offer a prayer that we like the bedroom color. Otherwise Saturday and Sunday have LONG WEEKEND written all over them.

Family Promotions - Take Two

Okay, I apologize.  My sister is on the ball.  We spoke last night and she said not only has she sent my correct website address out, that people looked at the book site and liked it.  One woman said she didn't even like cats but thought the book looked interesting. I'll have to attribute that to my website designer, Melody Watsonfor making the site look so appealing. Another woman said she was linking the site on her favorites page.  That really makes me feel good - what an honor.

My sister also said she'd also look into seeing if my book could be sold through the college bookstore at the campus she works at.  This is how this book is going to have to take off - small venues and word-of-mouth.

My editor at Cats & Kittensaccepted 4 more humor stories from me which will almost set me up as the humor columnist again for the coming year.  The grand part is all the stories are book excerpts so I'm hoping that will generate more sales as well.

Just have to get the book to the printer!  The final version, hard copy, is on it's way to me in the mail.  I'll do a final proof and then send on to the printer.  My bookmark design is almost ready, so we're close! I can't wait to have the book in hand.  Although I need to get busy sending out galleys for review.  Never a moment to spare.

Decorating Diaries - To Tape or Not to Tape

Oh, oh.  First rumble between Blair and myself about the decorating and we haven't even finished selecting colors.  The "rumble" is about whether to tape off the copious amount of trim in our bedroom before we paint the walls this weekend.  Blair is in favor of it, I am against.

I have my reasons all lined up like the good little Vulcan I am.  They are:

• Taping creates more work than it alleviates. 
• Blair wants to tape to protect the trim from spatters but the trim is already lightly spattered from where I painted before so that's not buying us anything.  If anything, we'll just touch up the trim after we're done painting the walls.
• I have yet to find a painter's tape that doesn't rip, to some extent, the paint off whatever it's taped over
• When we've used tape in the past, we've ripped off chunks of the wall color when we removed the tape

I got worked up into a pretty good huff about it this morning while Blair, as always, was patient.  We agreed to a "we'll discuss it more tonight" settlement. 

Regardless, we will be painting this weekend which should make for some entertaining blog entries on Monday. Cheers.

Family & Promotions

I love my family.  My sister called today and said, "I was telling some women I work with about your book.  And about your blog, only I couldn't remember what you called it.  I told them it was 'Why Everyone Should Listen to Me,' or 'Why I'm Smarter Than All of You.' Isn't it something close to that?"

I clapped a hand to my head.  "Yes, I suppose it is."

"Yeah, so they said they might want to buy your book only I couldn't remember your website."

"You mean the one where I spell out my name?" I ask. (It's www.denaharris.com)

"Right.  I couldn't remember if it was that or ddharris.com like your e-mail. But I'm sure they'll find it."

You see, this is why God made PR specialists.  To overcome the damage done by good family intentions. (Ha ha...just kidding sis!)