Subscriber Number 6

Thank you, whomever you are. It really wasn't necessary, but I'm appreciative.

I haven't posted for a long while about why I'm not creating, so I'll splurge: we have a 21 square foot half bath under our stairs, at the way back of the house. For 8 years it has been the ugliest room I have ever seen in my life. No, seriously. Don't tell me about your Room of Fame. You can't beat it. I don't even have before pics, because it was so hideous we just used it as a closet for most of the time we've lived here.

It had stuff glued on the walls: plastic delft-style tiles, and some strangely arranged lathing that had been stained a dark brown. Those two surrounded the medicine cabinet, in no particular pattern or plan. Apart from that, there was yellow paint, and there was pink paint. And over the yellow and pink a single, thin coat of white gloss paint. But not so thin that it didn't manage to drip quite a bit.

The floor? Nearly indescribable. Three different patches (approx 3 x 3 ft each) of different tiles. No, they didn't match, or accent each other, or anything you might expect. They were just tiles. Different types of tiles, in patches. With dark brown grout, to tie it all together.

To top it off, literally, it is under the stairs so the ceiling and one wall are - stairs.

And the commercial wall sink was over 20" deep in a 36" wide space. Claustrophobia? I'm thinking.

I decided in March, after a comment by our Auntie Jan about the tiles, that I'd had enough of the floor, and spent a day ripping it out.

Ever been a homeowner? You know this story. Under the tiles was water, because, as it turns out, the toilet has a crack.

Replace the toilet? Well, you're not going to leave that sink, are you?

Pull the sink off the wall? Oh, dear GOD, what is that?

Long story short, I'm in the home stretch, six weeks later. I hope to finish this weekend and have the new fixtures installed next week. Pics soon.

Finally, if you've read this far: For those who have followed my job saga, it is resolved. I have a new job (same hospital), I have moved to a new building, my old duties have been parceled out temporarily to unsuspecting souls, and a new person will be coming on June 15 (which also, coincidentally, is the day summer starts for our family). Hurrrrrrrah! This is a much lower-stress job, and I'm very hopeful it will increase both my happiness and my free time (because I won't be dog tired when I get home at night).