You finally got every one together to paint your 3 bedroom condo and the date has finally arrived. This should not take long. A couple of 5 gallon pails of flat off white paint will do. A couple of packages of inexpensive brushes and roller sleeves that leave fuzz on the wall will be good enough. Old chairs and stools will suffice as step ladders. Worn out sheets will now become used as drop cloths. A couple of new spackle knives and your ready to go. Now comes the moment of truth, who can really paint well and who cannot and is just there for the pizza party!
You soon learn very early on who "got it" and "who doesn't". Paint on the carpet, door knobs, glass, and paint all over themselves is a tell tale sign of those who don't. They must have the lunchtime pizza on their mind. So you try to figure out a way of politely of taking them off of their duties and handing them the masking tape for the duration of the day. To your demise they would rather continue painting!
Be nice but firm insisting that this is your domicile and you really don't want to spend several hours with razor blades, soapy water, and Goof Off cleaning up their mess. Trying to interest them in another task may be difficult but some gentle persuasion should do the trick.
If they are reluctant tell them the others are starting to get hungry and send them to "pick up the pies"
a few towns over. By the time they get back the pizza will be cold but in the long run it will be worth it.
Daniel Rowe owner of Rowes Painting and Carpentry Sayreville, NJ
