BLOG: Lazy, busy, colorful Saturday

Today was a lazy, busy, colorful Saturday afternoon. By lazy, I mean that I didn't have to be anywhere at any specific time and you know, in heels or a business suit. And by busy and colorful, I mean that the day involved kids, as usual, and a few cans of clearance paint from Home Depot.

So, anyone who lives in my town knows about the wall. It's right down the road from the University and its colorful presence is embraced by both long-time residents and college students passing through.

Once, when I was in the 9th grade, a girlfriend and I bought a couple cans of spray paint and decided to hit up the wall. But, my mom drove by and we ducked and ran. (Oh, high school.)

Never did get back to the wall. Until today.

I thought it would be a great way to send a message and make a memory. Sent the hubby to Home Depot and told him to pick up a few cans of clearance paint. They call it "Oops paint," the cans of paint that have been mixed but rejected by the customer.

He showed up at the house with a can of white (good) and a can of oops paint that no one wanted. It was, um, fluorescent pink (not good).

"I know I told you clearance paint, but, hot pink? Really?"

And so, we traded the Oops paint in for a quart of gold ($1) and a gallon of purple ($3.) And then, armed with a couple of paint rollers, pans and brushes, the family and I hit up the wall. We were there for about an hour. After I painted the banner, my daughter and niece suggested we add in a colorful stick-figure family.

"Well, let's mix the purple and gold together and see what we get," I told them. "Then, you guys can paint the kids."

"It's brown!" my niece announced. "It's a pretty brown."

How fitting. The gold and purple mixed together to form a nice, pretty brown. So much nicer than fluorescent pink stick people, I thought. So much nicer. (Not that I have anything against fluorescent pink stick people. Just saying.)