While You Were Out – Day One

Photos added 7-6-2006

John is out of town at a convention. Time to play “While You Were Out” – the CA version.

Living in an old bungalow in St. Paul, we have the standard ugly, very narrow, very out-of-code staircase to our 1/2 story. The stairs were covered in an ugly yellow, gold and brown carpet that was probably original to the 1/2 story expansion in the 1960’s. I have tripped on this carpet numerous times, flinging myself down several stairs at a time. The carpet needed to go. Of course, there was no agreement about how to replace, what to do, etc.

So, with the spouse going out of town, this was an ideal time to take on a project. Much pre-planning, research, and budgeting.

I start pulling up the carpet immediately after taking John to the airport.

The carpet rubber backing was turning to dust. Black dust. When I was done, I probably had a grocery bag full of black dust.

And the stairs were worn and painted an ugly dark brown. It is stapled within an inch of it’s life.

A trip to Home Depot for more supplies — including a dust mask! I can’t sand/strip the paint because of the possibility of lead paint, so cover it will primer tinted Kilz-equivalent. Steps will be painted “Jupiter’s Glow”. But that’s tomorrow’s project.

All staples are accounted for — in the trash, not in a dog belly. Carpet is gone, black dust is eliminated. I’m dog tired.