It was meant to be a short little description, followed by a few pictures, and concluded with a question. That I was hoping would then be answered by you guys.
Instead, it has turned into something entirely different. And not good different, or even interesting different. SUCKY different. I can't find the cord to attach my camera to my computer. Well, first, I couldn't even find batteries for the camera. Have I mentioned before how my camera takes approximately three pictures and then promptly runs out of batteries? Because it does.
So, I stole batteries out of the thermostat. Ingenious, really. And then I set forth to take the pictures I needed so desperately, and then ran into the next room to hurriedly post them to my computer before the batteries ran out. I had taken at least two pictures, and I knew I didn't have much time at all. However, upon reaching my computer and grasping inside my camera case for the trusty grey cord of connectivity, I found that the cord was GONE. Ugh.
I HATE losing things. Not that I believe anyone really likes to lose things, or chooses to do so, but I really, really hate it. Cody can attest to this. He knows when I've lost something, because it always results in a phone call to him with me on the other end of the line sighing dramatically and rolling my eyes so furiously he somehow receives "ANNOYED" through the phone line without me even speaking a word. This, friends, is a joy of marriage.
Anyway, I rarely lose things. And when I do lose things, I somehow convince myself that I NEVER lose things. Therefore, I am always looking to place the blame upon anyone else who might have possibly come in contact with the lost item, at any point in time. No one is safe from my lightning-quick accusations, not even the cats, or house guests who have moved on many months before.
Poor Cody, he tries to help. He offers what might seem to any reasonable human to be helpful suggestions, but to me are just tiny barbs of annoyance, all wrapped up in patronization.
"Have you looked in the closet? You know, where all those cords are"
"Um, YES, I have, and the camera cord would NEVER be there unless YOU put it there because I don't just haphazardly throw cords THAT I KNOW I NEED into piles in a CLOSET. Next?"
"Well, there are a lot of cords up in the theater room, you know by the surround sound, all those cords on the ground?"
"AAARRGGGHHH, I already TOLD YOU, I don't just see a cord and say 'ooh, a cord, I'll just put it where I've seen other cords', I always put the cord back in the CAMERA CASE when I'm done! Where is it?"
"Look, I really don't see why you're calling me at all. I already told you I haven't seen the cord; I never use the cord, and now that I am trying to help, all you're doing is getting pissed."
"I DIDN'T LOSE THE CORD. Did you say I lost the cord? I didn't lose it! Maybe (enter name of random friend) took it."
"Have they even BEEN to our house?"
"Well, it was here, and now it's not. I don't know what ELSE could have happened."
"Here's my new policy, Elise. When you call me telling me YOU'VE lost something, I'm not going to help at all. I'm just going to say good luck and hang up the phone"
"Yeah, well, that won't be any less helpful than this conversation has been. Plus, why do you always make policies? Anytime you don't like something, you make some new policy about it. That's annoying."
"Good luck!" Click.
I actually do think I've lost the stupid cord. And it's even more annoying, because what should have taken 2 minutes (take a picture, post it to the site) has now taken the better part of an hour and a half. Luckily, right in the middle of writing this (hand to God, it's true, I really am THIS dumb) I remembered that I have a MacBook, which means I have iSight, which means HA HA, stupid camera cord, I have won.
And here are the pictures:
Now obviously I'll be doing some different seat cushions on the chairs. The current ones are, well...let's be honest here, they're just plain awful. But! That's like the easiest fix ever, and I love buying fabric. So, fun all around. However, the finish and stain on the chairs doesn't EXACTLY match the finish and stain of the table. And I don't really like that, plus, I really DO like dining room sets where the chairs are completely different from the table. In that vein, I believe we are going to paint the chairs, and the color we are considering is a creamy white with lots of varnish.
But - and here comes the question - do you think that painting is the right choice? Cody always wants to paint wood; if he doesn't like the color of wood even a tiny bit, his ready solution is to paint. I am what you might call more of a wood purist. I'll always opt to stain or refinish (unfortunately not really an option on these chairs, as they already have a pretty heavy finish on the existing stain) rather than go for the full-fledged paint job, because unless it's really necessary or you're REALLY FREAKING sure that's what you want, once it's painted, it's painted. Done. Finito. Better like the white varnished chairs, because your only option now is another color varnished chair, and if I can't even decide for sure on white then how will I pick ANOTHER color if I hate it, and oh no, am I making a mistake?
Help.
Your iSight makes things opposite. That is not our house. That is the exact mirror image of our house.....and I don't like it. Maybe that explains why the XX chromosomes of the world can look into a mirror and decide that they don't like what they see even though the mirror reflects them exactly. Maybe you have solved a mystery......something about the right being the left and vice versa makes it look all weird. Down with mirrors!
I think we should paint the freaking chairs.
Posted by: Cody | February 27, 2007 at 02:53 PM
Hmmm, I thought the house looked a little strange.
Maybe just refresh your browser some more?
Posted by: elise | February 27, 2007 at 03:08 PM
I just think your house is altogether too perfect and posh and beautiful already. You definately need a teenage girl ( called Sophie) leaving noodle bowls and half filled/empty, (look how positive I am saying 'filled' first!) cups all over the floor and slorming all over chairs and sofas so that you stop caring whether they are painted or stained.Infact you might skip buying paint, just buy the paint stripper and drink it. Problems solved ( especially for me if Sophie is at you house!!) I should maybe post a picture of MY house,I sometimes lose a whole room under the junk around here, camera cord? Give up all hope.
Posted by: Helen | February 27, 2007 at 03:37 PM
I would offer an opinion, but nothing in my house matches.
Posted by: Amy C. | February 27, 2007 at 05:59 PM
You know, most computers have a nifty slot where you can slide the memory card from the camera right into the computer. No cord needed. Amazing!
Posted by: Amy | February 27, 2007 at 06:48 PM
i got excited when i first read that you were going to post a question that you need help answering. because, see, this is kind of my thing. turns out, i'm pretty freaking smart. not to brag, it's just the truth.
and then i read your quandry. and then i stared at the screen for five minutes, blankly. "uh oh," i thought, "it's about colors and fashion and designing and stuff". long story short: i have no idea.
however, on a more exciting note, i DID learn for the first time - via your "about me" section - that cody is a chiropractor, which means, despite the fact that i've never met him, he is my new best friend, able to re-align my crooked spine that is constantly giving me headaches.
and therein lies my answer for you: cody rocks, therefore cody knows what he's talking about, therefore you should paint the chairs. how do you like that logic?? brilliant.
speaking of fashion, i like your new layout, but the picture of the girl: is it just me or does she only have two polka dots on her dress? but again, i'm not the fashion type, so...
i should just keep going and see how long i can make this comment...
Posted by: kyle | February 27, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Helen: The cord, it is hopeless. And my house, posh? Oh, if only you knew the joy that statement brought to me. My house is hand-me-down central :)
Amy C: First of all, yea for the C! Secondly, if you wouldn't have STOLEN back your dining room table, I wouldn't be in this quandary in the first place.
Amy: Hardee har har. Thanks for the brilliant suggestion, but my camera DOESN'T DO THAT. Jerk.
Kyle: Maybe they aren't polka dots at all.....I'll let you ponder upon that.
Posted by: elise | February 27, 2007 at 08:27 PM
Not like I'm anywhere near a design expert or anything, but I wouldn't do white. 'Cause it seems to me that it would stand out really a lot and they don't really "go" with anything at all that I'm seeing in the rooms. Actually, I was wondering more about a goldy kind of thing. Not like BRIGHT gold or anything (King Midas chairs, anyone?), but it's a thought.
Me, I'm more of a black kinda girl.
But definitely let us know what you decide. mk
p.s. Like the new look.
Posted by: markira | February 27, 2007 at 09:09 PM
A few things:
1. LOVE LOVE LOVE the color of your walls. You have fabulous style, my friend.
2. If anyone can pull off mismatched table and chairs, it's you. Go for it.
3. More emphasis on the creamy, less on the white. I am thinking a nice eggnoggy color.
Posted by: janet | February 27, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Eggnoggy. That sounds totally doable. Eggnog. I like eggnog.
Posted by: elise | February 27, 2007 at 09:54 PM
Eggnog?
Posted by: elise | February 27, 2007 at 09:55 PM
If you still had our dining-room table, the chairs would be matching the table, which you don't prefer. So you're welcome.
Posted by: Amy C. | February 28, 2007 at 10:08 AM
I said I don't like them when they ALMOST match. It's like wearing blue jeans with a blue jean jacket that almost but not quite matches.
Actually, wearing blue jeans with a blue jean jacket, regardless of how well said jacket matches, is a disaster. So yes, thank you for taking the table away. I guess.
(But not really.)
Posted by: elise | February 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
You said: "I really DO like dining room sets where the chairs are completely different from the table." Which means that in your heart you genuinely are happy that you don't have a table where the chairs 100-percent match, which means that you are nonsarcastically happy you don't have kyle's table.
And I really don't know why I'm not very good at dropping issues.
Posted by: Amy the table owner | February 28, 2007 at 12:16 PM
It's just that your table is so dadgum cute :)
Posted by: elise | February 28, 2007 at 01:18 PM
wait, what about my table? i have one of those real tall tables that are - apparently - so the rage these days. not sure if that's true or not, but the salesman sold me on it anyhow.
Posted by: kyle | February 28, 2007 at 11:15 PM
That's a good table. Do the chairs match?
Posted by: elise | February 28, 2007 at 11:19 PM
You and Cody should come visit so that you can eat on the table.
Posted by: Amy the table owner | March 01, 2007 at 09:30 AM
Now THAT is a good plan.
Posted by: elise | March 01, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Are you using lithium batteries? Because those will make a WORLD of difference. More pictures, please! I love to see how others live.
Posted by: wordgirl | March 07, 2007 at 09:37 AM