No Home Repair Project Would Be Complete Without A Rescue Mission

Yesterday. 

Deconstruction. 

Construction. 

Paint.

My father was so kind to guide us through the wall project.  Though we tried our best to convince him, he resisted harnesses when climbing the stairs.  Before beginning the ascent, we had him sign waivers.  "I, the free help, promise to not sue or force medical bills upon the owners of the sub-par stairway."   

Come over to see my handywork.  I'll make you sign too.

We were surprised to see that the previous owners actually put wall board up behind the paneling.  Way to go the extra mile! (They used tar to stick the paneling to the wallboard.  Maybe glue wasn't around in 1995?  Oh, right.) 

Pretty, eh?

We allowed KJ to help a bit, but he got a tad overzealous with the deconstruction.  (Takes after his father, no doubt.)

Here's the finished product:

Next they took on The Worst Dresser Ever Built, Likely Under The Influence of Potent Alcoholic Beverage.

And when they finished, I took over with paint brushes and roller.  I painted ceilings, trim, and the upper half of walls for a very long nine hours yesterday.  Here's me looking like the perfect painter, following OSHA Guidelines to the last letter. 

And also, what OSHA would be not-so-in-favor-of:  (But it was late! And I was tired! And hungry!)

Nearing the end of the night I felt like I was going to die, and could paint no longer.  I noticed that the dog had been up there the entire time with me, laying near the new wall.  I had tried a couple times to make him go downstairs, but when he refused to go I figured he was really enjoying the hours and hours of Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlin at the top of my lungs. 

Then I had this other thought. 

I hadn't seen the cat in a while (where while equals twelve hours).

I called down the stairs for Kevin to search the main floor for the cat.  The kids were in bed, so the cat should have been safe to come out of hiding for the day, but he was nowhere to be found. 

I looked at the dog, still laying near the new wall.  And then I stopped singing, and paused my music.

"Meow."

Oh no. 

Nononononono.

Are you kidding me? 

"Meow." 

Shit.

You know it, friends.  You know it.  My husband and my father?  Closed my cat into the wall.

I yelled down to Kevin to call off the search and get upstairs.  I told him to listen closely, and sure enough, another quiet "Meow."  He looked at me skeptically after his morning hours of tearing out and rebuilding, and said, "We have to take the WALL OFF to get to the cat??"

AS! IF! WE! HAVE! OPTIONS! HERE!

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssofcoursewehavetotakethewalloff.

We got the pry bar and carefully pulled off only as much as we had to.  And there in the darkness of the attic, between the roof and the wall, were the two little glowing eyes of my black cat. 

"Meow."

He came out just as quickly and quietly as I imagine he snuck in there, and I headed downstairs while Kevin reattached the wall, sans household pets. 

I then finished up the open can of paint and called it a night.  And this morning, I cannot move.  Every muscle aches, but duty calls.  If I can still type (or walk or move or breathe) tomorrow, I will post pictures of a more finished project.

Comments

[cindy]

Oh my god - How funny was that?? Your poor cat. Poor Danny. He was sure he was going to lose his furry pal! Things are looking good. Can't wait to see the final pictures!
Hope you got a bit of rest!!

[Frema]

Oh. My God. That was funny as hell. Sitcom-worthy, even. I wish I could've seen the look on your face after hearing the first "Meow"!

[jenabeeb]

I second Frema's comments to the letter! That is SOOOOOOO funny!

Is that pic of Kev with "Behold the cat" really taken with him still in the wall, or after? Because by the look on Kev's face, it seems like while he was still in there.

Frickin funny!

[SJ]

Way too funny! I'm glad you found him and got him out! Poor kitty...but still funny.

[auntie betty]

great story. So funny!!!

[Rachel]

That was funny as anything! He he he, the cat was built into the wall!! Sounds like something my cat would do.

[Amy W]

And I thought I was bad locking my cat in a closet for a day :)

[Silly Hily]

Oh shit! No. You've got to be kidding me. (At which point you say, no, Hilary, I wish I was.) That's hysterical. I mean, it sucks that they had to take some of the wall down and then put it back up but how funny. And soooo blog worthy. See, aren't you glad you decided to share Project Holy Crap with us? Or should it be called Project Lock The Pets (and kids, for good measure) In A Safe Place Before We Get Started?
I was just wondering how sore you were today. Hang in there sister. It's all going to be so worth it when you are done!

[Bethany]

The poor cat! heehee

[Sant]

So AFTER I nearly pissed myself, I decided to come back and comment. That is too too funny, and I can't believe you rescued him... I mean, you could have used a Ras-in-the-wall as a selling point. Observe: "This home is great for pets!-- I can't have pets, I allergic-- Hohoho! Not to worry miss, we have a wall pet, you can love him and speak to him, and you'll never have to complain of a runny nose and watery eyes!!-- We'll take it!"

You see what you've done?! The universe just sighed when you released him. All the potential. All of the good things to come... NOTHING. I hope you're happy.

PS- great wrirk on the room, Low:)

[Stacey]

Oh holy crap, I cannot stop laughing...that is hysterical!!!!

[Carrisa]

I'm so glad you linked back to this post. I wasn't reading you back then and what a funny story.

[Stacey]

Still laughing!!!! And Sant's comment made me laugh even harder - "not to worry miss - we have a wall pet!"

[Elizabeth]

thanks for the laugh! My cat would probably have been too freakin lazy to meow.

[crookedeyebrow]

oh my goodness.
I needed that laugh!

I still think the people who built or remodeled your house did mine too!