Lulu

Today was my first day at Lulu, a technology firm that recently decided to hire me. You can check them out at www.lulu.com. I guess this is my first 'job - job', if you consider the painting and the design contract work as...something else, I don't know, call it what you may. It felt significant, somebody had hired me to do something other than hit a golf ball and, I think Lulu may be a good fit. The pay may not be great starting out, but you have to start somewhere. Everyone I have met has been great and they have a large lounge, with table tops of snacks and two refrigerators filled with food. I think I may be spending a lot of time in there. Most of the day was spent learning the ins and outs of their computer system, tomorrow I should have my first real design work. Not terribly difficult stuff, but again, one has to start somewhere, and I have a good feel for this place that hopefully will be realized. That today they spent a 1000 bucks downloading the entire Adobe creative suite on my computer is nothing but a good sign. I have my own desk and an inbox of tasks ready to go...
Anna, just got back from a weekend in DC with her girl friends. Apparently the city is as beautiful as ever, and her friends are alive and well (hi). I am very much looking forward to heading back up later in the month for Dawn and Matt's wedding, which I am sure will be a wonderful occasion.
So perhaps it is time to look back on seven years of painting and attempt to list the best and the worst of ben adlard painting incorporated...

worst jobs

1. painting a burned kitchen and smoke damaged apartment, complete with burned smell and the owners 'dirty' magazines everywhere..

2. painting the entire exterior of northern virginia house in mid summer. read: oil paint and 100 degree heat (nice people though)

3. painting for an obsessive compulsive client who wanted her furniture put back exactly two inches away from the wall. read: measuring tape taken out of pocket to check distance from furniture to wall

4. painting for pastor guy who decided it was ok to pray in tongues upstairs while I painted downstairs. No, that is not ok...

best parts of job

1. not having to brush my hair or teeth

2. feeling legit walking into a hardware store

3. having home owners actually believe I knew what I am talking about ( I think a semi gloss would be ideal yada yada..)

4. having people pay me money for doing something they could also do, but didn't want to...and admittedly may not have done as well

free painting advice

1. always get the expensive paint (Benjamin Moore, top of the line)

2. if you hire somebody, make sure they are painting with the top of the line and not the contractor grade which looks the same but is 60% off the price

3. if you want to save money - use the contractor grade, it's cheaper and looks the same!

and if you can understand what I have just told you, then you deserve a free gallon


If anyone wishes to make a financial contribution to the Adlard household please do so now, as I am getting paid at the end of the month. Should be an interesting November...otherwise all is well. I think we may have some transitions ahead of us, and while change is hard...oh no I am about to sound like my father, or perhaps my father in law! Or both!!

So, instead, a final list:

Reading: Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead (not exactly your light read)
Listening to: BBC News on the way to work

auf weiderzein....ben