Juniper and I started a painting project two weeks ago. We intended to faux-finish our reading room. Turns out, it takes WAY MORE TIME to do a faux-finish than it does to paint a room.

Two weeks later we are still working, bit by bit, having our standard who’s in charge of the artistic direction argument as we go. This is nothing new for us, and neither is it foreboding.  We have done many projects together, and the end result is always awesome. But getting there we really like to vie for dictatorial immanence.  This is how it usually goes. We start work off together very excited. Then we start watching the other. Then one of us will make a little suggestion. That suggestion will get shot down based upon the “grand vision”. The grand vision will come into question, along with each other’s requisite skills and ability to even perceive the grand vision. Then we will realize we are being dicks to each other. So we take a step or two back trying to find the error. There is none. So we go forth with dickishness until one of us concedes, and the other is left feeling extra dickish (since it is supposed to be a joint effort).  At this point we really break it down and figure out some basics. Most often it is that we have to agree who is in charge of what, and for how long. Then we are so exhausted that we order Thai food and go to bed.

But in the end we do somehow put one or the other of us in charge. It often has to do with several concessions on both sides as to who is better at what. Then, once we finally know who the boss is, we go forth in creative cooperative glory, and all is well at the Etherhaus.

Just yesterday we were able to establish that Juniper is directing the project (because I admit I have no good vision of the end result) and I am the highly skilled technician who is making changes to the immediate process to insure we get there.

Now if we can only convince the damn cats to give us back the ladder, we can finish the job.