LEDroom

No, that's not a misspelling in my header.  I'm unveiling my new ledroom today.  For Christmas, Jason told me I could start my new bedroom project and order furniture as my gift.  That furniture was back ordered and eventually became my Valentine's present as well.   This is a sampling of how the room looked when we moved in the house:

I failed to take a picture before I started tearing apart our own decor and furniture we've had since marriage. It's wasn't awful, but a bit dark and woodsy for me and I was in need of a change.  I wanted a more modern eclectic look with a bright and airy feeling.  
 I didn't have a grand master plan in the beginning.  When I was out and about over the last year, if I saw something on sale that I really liked, I would grab it and work it into my plan.  There were some certainties I wanted:  hanging chandeliers, a solid colored tufted couch, and a giant mirror.  Those were the non negotiables.  In fact, they were such a necessity that our marriage could have been on the brink if something didn't pan out (not really, but he doesn't know that.)  Imagine the horror when Jason came to tell me one of the chandeliers would not be installed because there was no way to access through the attic. He confirmed with another neighbor on our street that the area was non assessable. Apparently, our builders walled off an area he needed to get to in order to hang one of the lights, and there were no reinforcement beams to attach it to.  
My response?"  "So?" "What are you going to do about it?"   His response:  "You're going to have to change your plans." Me:  "Um...That's not going to happen.  You have to find a way to make it work." Him:  **Roll of the eyes and shake of the head and grumbling something inaudible.**
I was desperate and where there's a will, there's a way.  I called my neighbor who has done many Mickey Mouse fix it projects and told him he had a chance to make or break a marriage.  He came to the rescue and the guys brainstormed.  With clever use of drilling, tent poles, creation of a support system, and teamwork the job was able to get done.
He was so excited to see his finished product and to ensure it worked that he went out and bought bulbs for the chandeliers. Now, there's the sun, and then there are LED lights.  He went on and on about how they'll last forever, we'll save so much money...yada yada yada.  I really didn't want them, but with all I had just put that man through, he won this time and had no argument from me.  So, I wanted bright, and bright is what I got.  When my son uses terms such as, "Wow, this room looks celestial" then you know it's bright.  He did put a dimmer switch on it, so we can taper it down to where we don't get burned.
So, without further adieu (** please place on sunglasses):

Bed:  Coaster Furniture $330 Chandeliers:  Ikea $60 Mega Mirror: Irca (Refinished and painted) $160 Couch:  Thrift shop $90 Pillows:  Ross $10 each Mirrors: $10 each clearance at Michael's Peacock Canvas: Anna's Linens $30 Side Table:  Ross (refinished and painted) $120 New Ceiling Fan (all white/no light) $54 All under my $1,000 budget.

Perspective From a 2 Hour Hobo

The youth from church do an activity each year called "Where's Waldo" where they get members of the congregation to dress up abnormally, go to a public place, and see if the youth working in groups can find the 'Waldos'.   Of course I have no shame when it comes to costumes, so over the past 15 years off and on I have been asked to be a Waldo.  Not only am I confident enough to look like an idiot in public but I'm also extremely competitive and I take this thing probably way too seriously.  My goal is always NOT to be found and quietly get pissed when I do.  My goal this year was to be a dirty (literally) older man.  I had a newspaper that I would take to a bench, sit with my legs wide open, and wait for the wife to shop with the paper inches from my face which would force the youth to actually have to engage in conversation to get a good look at me.  Just that one act alone scares so many away.  Sad really.  Where's the creativity?  How about: "What time is it?"  "Whatcha reading?"  "Excuse me mister, can you direct me to Dairy Queen?"  I know for years we teach stranger danger, but come on now, you're teenagers, who cares about your safety?!? Kidding.  But in all seriousness, the lack of ability to engage in conversation makes me want to teach a class about it.
This year an outside outlet mall was the selected public place.  I went early to scout my area where I would be for the night and cringed the second I started walking around.  There were only 4 other people (actual customers) walking around the complex.  I thought, "Oh, no.  This thing is going to be over in 10 minutes."  Time to improvise. Time to not only hide my identity, but to hide myself altogether.
There is a portion still under construction and I thought maybe I could pass as a construction worker on break- but the place was dead. No one would buy it.  So as I looked down at the broken sidewalk taped -off area I got an idea.  If the youth are uncomfortable approaching a stranger, how much more uncomfortable and awkward can I make it for them if they think I'm a homeless guy?  Light bulb.
I crammed most of the rest of my pizza down my throat and left a few bites in an open box.  Then I positioned myself in a sleeping position and for the next two hours laid on the concrete with my newspaper draped over me and pretended I was asleep.  I have to admit, it was brilliant and I was so excited to claim victory!

But as the night wore on, a deeper concern and more powerful message enlightened me. I hardly watch the show "Undercover Boss," but I love the concept.  I've had similar, more simpler experiences just in my role as a school board member.  I've walked into a school site before and was treated horribly by the front office staff, but by the time I left, someone must have filled them in on who I was and immediately they were bending over backwards with kindness towards me.  At that point I was like, 'too late.'  I already saw and experienced how you really treat people.  Why do we let people's statuses and positions justify and dictate how well or bad we treat someone?
As I laid on the concrete that night with a newspaper covering half my face, I took notice of those who passed by.  There were those who noticed, but as fast as their eyes saw me, their glance diverted  to another direction.  I had parents who clung on to their children, pulling them into their bodies as if I was a monster who would hurt them.  But I think the one thing that disturbed me most were the ones who passed and pretended I wasn't there.  In a matter of 2 hours, I went from feeling devalued to a predator to worthless and then to feeling as though I didn't even exist.  2 hours.  I can't imagine how a person on the street would feel after weeks, months, or perhaps years.
I don't write this to persuade you to run and give every homeless person a hug or even engage in a long conversation, Obviously, safety is always a factor and we need to use good judgment, but I do want to remind us all that these are people, like us, who once had dreams. They had lives of their own where people did acknowledge them and through circumstances we'll never know, are brought to this point.  Sometimes we may engage in small chit chat, maybe we buy them something warm to drink on a cold night, maybe we spare change from time to time (without judging how they will spend it), maybe it's just a nod of our heads or a smile acknowledging that we 'see' them, or maybe it's just a silent prayer on their behalf. The lesson I learned from this experience is two fold really.  Not only can my actions help them feel of worth in that they haven't disappeared into non-existence, but it also speaks of my worth in evidence of how I treat others.  Once we turn off the caring and compassionate side of our hearts towards our fellow human beings and replace them with harsh judgments and assumptions- then sadly, we are the ones who've become worthless.

worth·less

ˈwərTHləs/

adjective

1. having no real value or use.

   "that promise is worthless"

   
   

   • (of a person) having no good qualities; deserving contempt.

And, only one group legitimately found me.  :)