Vinyl Spackle vs. Light Compound

Our little renovation project is so much more complicated than I could imagine. We had such a busy week that we have only worked on it here and there a little bit. So far we have:

1. Taken out toilet, sink, and vanity and removed the door.
2. Taken out all tile
3. Killed all mildew
4. Stripped off 2 layers of wall paper (including the ceiling - oh and to top it off, the other layer of wall paper was the SAME wallpaper as the top layer!) and scraped off wall paper glue
5. Pulled out paneling

Martin is currently trying to repair the walls. Where the paneling was (on 2 walls), he needed to repair the tape and drywalling in the corner. Where the paneling was glued in random spots, the drywall paper had torn so he has been working on that. Where the vanity was, he has pulled off glue that helped anchor it, and has been repairing that. Where holes were created when he pulled out the cabinet, he is repairing that. Where there are random "textured" areas on the walls where the wallpaper was, he needs to skim.

So, he was using vinyl compound in some areas and ran out. I thought I would be helpful and volunteer to stop by Ace while doing some other shopping. To ease my stress, I took the empty container with me so I could just point at the container and say "I want this". I also thought I would by a sample "pod" of paint to help me decide on color.

So, after spending way too much time at Punches Pharmacy Plus (the pharmacy part of the store was sold to Walgreen's already - now they are doing massive sells on the gift shop inventory), and already having had a call from Martin wondering why I wasn't back yet, I made it to Ace. I was so relieved when a female employee saw me walk in with the container and said "Oh, I bet you want more of THAT". I'm thinking - "oh, this will be so quick", already eyeing the display of paint "pods". But I made a mistake and asked "Do you have a bigger size"? Then began the questions "Well, are you sure you need more? What are you using it for? Are you sure that is what you want to do? You will probably need a _______ (I don't even know what she said)? Don't you think you want something lighter? Let's go ask _____ "(My brain was already swirling and I can't remember the name of the man who then proceeded to treat me like a dumb woman who doesn't know her way around a hardware store - which is true...). More questions from him until I finally said "I know, I'll call him". Martin answers the phone "let me call you back, someone is at the door". So I stand there with the woman and I looking at each other (What's his face walked away from us silly women). Martin calls back and I try to explain to him what they are telling me, and as I ask the questions they have for him, he says 'uh....uh...(repeat questions back - which means Martin really wasn't paying attention)...uh...". I turn to the women with gritted teeth "He's watching the football game so this may take awhile - he can't multitask". She laughs "I know - it is challenging when you are sent to get things for someone else's project" (I'm embarrassed thinking how these is supposed to be OUR project, not Martin's project). Finally, Martin says just buy the stuff they are telling you to buy (which I think means he really doesn't know but he'll figure it out later, and that he isn't as far as maybe he had led me to believe), so I get the light compound they suggested, and also the small jar of vinyl spackle just in case...(thus the name of this blog post).

Then I go to choose a pod of paint (enough for a 2X2 area). She says "You know, this only covers a 2X2 area?". " "Yes, I know. Don't people buy this precisely for that reason- to test out a color?". "Well, yes, but let me give you this paint chip card". Which I guess means she doesn't like the color I picked out...Oh well, she won't ever be using my bathroom.

I finally get out of there, including buying a candy bar to soothe myself, and still had to go to the friendly neighborhood grocery store which, since the last time I was there, has completely been rearranged. My Diet Rite is where my English Muffins used to be. The English Muffins are where my chips used to be. The garbanzo beans are nowhere near the rest of the beans where I first look. The diced tomatos are no longer with spaghetti sauce. And there are a bunch of portable shelves filled with the items they want to get rid of now that they are rearranged, and the deals are too great to ignore...So much for a quick run to the store...