Follow up, while taking a water break. Whew, working with one’s hands above their head all day, on a ten foot ceiling, on a six foot step ladder.
I went looking for a tensor bandage. All I have is what must be for modern mummy wrapping. Holy moly! It’s half a foot wide and around eight feet long. I think it was for W’s varicose veins. Anyhow, I looked at this and it would have turned my wrist into a bat. I thought about cutting it down, but you never know when I’ll need to, oh I don’t know, hold my severed halves together or something.
A funny story from yesterday.
My house is around 150 years old. The walls and ceiling are plaster and lath. The ceiling I’m tiling has a hanging light, which I’ve removed, mounted in an ornate medallion. While standing right up at ceiling height I discovered the medallion is about four inches thick and made of plaster as well. It is approximately three feet across.
I’ve no idea how this block of plaster is attached so I start prying. It moves. Good. I continue to pry and loosen and a chunk of plaster breaks off and crashes to the floor hitting the ladder on the way down. Plaster bits fly everywhere!
Well now I can see that the medallion was attached directly to the lath with those old fashion square nails, and then plastered in with the ceiling. Basically, removing the medallion leaves a 1/2” deep cavity from ceiling surface to lath strips. Oh well, it needs to come down as I am having wall sconce lighting.
So, on near the top of the ladder, prying on the edge of 150 year old plaster with one hand and using my “hurt” hand to hold the piece when it finally lets go. I’ve no idea how heavy it will be. 100 pounds? It is a pretty big piece of plaster. How am I going hold 100 pounds reaching from a ladder?
Luckily, the medallion cracks and splits in two. I pry off one half and it falls away from the ceiling. Yes, it is pretty heavy. However. I do manage to hang on to it as it swings down and away from me. And 150 years of dirt, and dust, and silt spills forth. A cloud of black, swirls about settling upon everything. The floor directly underneath is suddenly filthy. Everything is suddenly filthy. And I am covered in dirt and plaster dust.
I carry the first half outside and go back and repeat on the second. Then clean.
Afterwards, as I was sitting on the couch having a drink, I looked up and noticed the medallion on its way down ripped out some of the ceiling surrounding it. The void it left behind is in the shape of the Millennium Falcon! I took that as a sign from the universe, and watched a Star Wars movie for the rest of the day.
I chose to rewatch number 9 - The Rise of Skywalker. As if I wasn’t in enough pain. Lol. That movie has bigger plot holes than my ceiling.
Anyhow, break is over. Back to work.
Grumble grumble. This boss is the worst. I’m retired. What gives. Man oh man. Haha.
D
Feelings are fleeting. Be better, not bitter. Love the person, forgive the sin.
