I am Michelle D. Carter

We are in the process of re-siding our home. Not because we have nothing better to do, but because the siding that is on the house is rotten. Our house is only 13 years old but it has the siding on it that was part of the lawsuit a few years back. I can’t begin to tell you how much it pisses me off that instead of slapping on a couple coats of paint and being done with the outside of the house; we, well, mostly Tim, spends just about every free moment working on the house.

Instead of leaving the rotten siding on and putting more siding on top, Tim is removing the rotten portions of the old siding, only to find that the old siding has nothing solid behind it. We have siding, 2×4s, and then sheet rock. What the hell?!!! Who in their right mind builds a house like that?!! Of course, this only pisses me off more. When you move up, you think you are getting a better quality house. DEFINITELY NOT HERE!!

After he’s removed the rotten pieces of siding, he replaces it with plywood, and then adds insulation and FINALLY the new cement siding. This should have a dramatic impact in our heating and cooling bills.

This is a HUGE project!! Tim took the week before last off to work on it. My Dad came down and helped for a couple days. It is definitely a work in process and will take time to get it done correctly.

Anyway, Tim had been really good about getting the siding measured and cut. I would then paint it in the garage before he put it up. It was nice because when he put it up, it was painted and no one would have to go up and down a ladder to paint.

Well, this last go around didn’t work quiet so smoothly. My Dad and Tim put the siding up; however, I didn’t have time to paint it BEFORE it went on the house. In order to do my part and help, I decided I’d paint where I could reach. Tim knows I’m not fond of heights. Feeling a little guilty, I told Tim that if he moved the ladders around for me, I’d try to conquer my fear and paint all of the siding.

I was SO FREAKIN’ SCARED!! I did get the painting done but I DID NOT conquer any fears. I’m still terrified to go up on the ladder. I would hold my breath as I climbed. Once at the top, I’d clutch the rung so hard my knuckles were white. I made Tim carry the paint bucket up for me so I could hold on with both hands while climbing. One time he simply climbed up behind me with the paint, I thought he was intentionally shaking the ladder. He started to go back down and I told him to wait until I got the bucket attached to the ladder so I could hold on with BOTH hands as if that would somehow make me safer.

I went to bed last night with the heating pad. Every muscle in my body was tensed up with fear that I need the heat to help relax. I’m also swollen and bruised right above my knees. That’s from the rung on the ladder that I forcibly leaned against thinking that would also make me safer. I also thought I would be brave and climb on the roof over the breakfast nook to paint above that. Yeah right, Tim had to rescue me off and paint it himself.

I think I’ll be spending some time in the garage the next couple of days. I’m going back to painting the siding with my feet planted firmly on the ground. Tim can then cut it or whatever he needs to do. I don’t think my mind or body can handle the ladder again.