the road to best intentions ...

No idea what new style trend
he was trying to set with the
wind-blown ear look.

 ... well, we know where that usually leads.  I had intended to pick up a new storyline, but then life happened.

Charlie had a grooming [a.k.a. manscaping] session on Saturday morning which revealed another infected anal gland in the early stages of anger.

That prompted a Monday afternoon vet visit, to a new doctor.  It was the best vet experience either of us have ever had.  The doctor spent more than an hour and a half in one-on-one time with us!

Charlie's after-visit "report card" stated he was "sweet and cooperative."  It also had a "Good Job" star for me!  He is on a different antibiotic, 2x a day for 10 days.

I attempted to finish my cabinet with the new handles, however, they weren't the size described, and would not fit.  Apparently, 4.25" centers are not universally understood, and I got 4" centers.

My solution was to "Rodger" it (a reference to my father who would improvise solutions to his carpentry and house remodeling projects).  I bought another power tool!

This time I bought a Dremel tool with a drill bit and made the handle holes 1/8" larger on the inside of each so that the handles would fit.  You wouldn't think that 1/8" makes that much of a difference, but in carpentry it does.  Measure twice, and cut once.

But I wasn't satisfied with how the paper looked on the bottom drawer, so ripped it all off to try to sand it down further and remove more of the top veneer layer.  I'd previously gotten an electric sander, but after working on it for several hours, realized I needed to get a coarser grit paper.  Alexa, order more sandpaper from Amazon!

I want to get this project done before I have to move because I have another project I want to refinish before that happens.

My next project will be this secretary desk that someone attempted to finish in crackle paint.

Since I have nearly a full gallon of green paint, I will probably paint the exterior the same green, but I am thinking of a contrasting color on the trim wood seen here and on the interior.

I ordered the Amazonite stone pulls for the drawer before I decided to paint it green, and they will look nice against the green.  Wallpaper won't be an option for the interior because it will be too small and far back to be seen.  

When doing a walk-through of another house, I saw a similar desk that was bright turquoise on the exterior and a hot pink interior.  It's not the color scheme I want to use, but it made me think.  I have a piece of faux leather to attach later on the writing table when it is opened.

I saw this color scheme when looking at houses online, and I love it, so will find a blue to go with the green to use on the interior and on the trim at the bottom of the writing table.

What else ... I'm having work-related stress and neck issues that are interfering with my sleep.  I have filed a work comp claim for the neck issues but unfortunately, I have to wait for that to move forward before I can do anything more medically with my PCP.

In the meantime, I'm trying not to become an alcoholic or drug addict to cope with both issues.

Oh, speaking of alcoholic drug addicts ... my ex was arrested [again] for a domestic violence assault last September in Wisconsin, and the restraining order that I have against him expires this month.  But his one-year probation for the September assault should keep him in WI for a while longer.  What amazed me about his arrest was that it started as four FELONY charges, including "battery substantial/aggravated," and "injury by negligent use of a weapon or explosive." Despite his previous DV conviction against me [which included a four-year unheard-of restraining order], and his three felony convictions, these new charges were downgraded to four misdemeanors by the time he got to sentencing.  Clearly, his issues still revolve around drugs and alcohol because as part of his probation, he has to complete [another] rehab program and stay clean and sober.

I feel for his wife and two young daughters because I don't think she was the one involved in the DV case.