Hey Moon! Wonderful of you to ask! Compared to areas in the Midwest that have been gettin' hammered by spring storms/tornado's, we're doin' fine! "Whitecaps on the Interstate": * If you were drivin' North out of Fargo on I-29 yesterday (Sunday), you would've had to turn around! * 2 minor rivers empty into the Red a few miles N of Fargo. * Obviously when the main channel is in flood, these 2 smaller rivers have nowhere to go. * Soooo, they just spread waaaaayyy out over the flat land we're on, and eventually cover the Interstate N of town! * It was pretty weird news video yesterday! Traffic trying to go N had to turn around, and head SOUTH on the N-bound Interstate! You could see the "waves", where it's normally FLAT farmland for MIIIIILLES. * Therefore, I-29 N out of Fargo was closed @ 6pm Sun. * Some areas of that I-st. may have water a FOOT deep for miles. Fargo itself: * Doin' real well! * The north-flowin' Red crested here Sat. @ 38.75ft. The 2009 all-time record was 40.82. Our "bankfull" stage is 18', so the ol' Red rose 20'+ vertically this yr. (when you live on a "Cookie-sheet" basically, that's a big rise!!) * As I babbled-about here a while ago, Fargo was MUCH more ready for this one! In mid-Feb. I think, Fargo started a big "Early sandbagging" approach. * In Fargo alone, nearly 3 MILLION sandbags were made, palletized, and stored INSIDE a couple warehouses. * We KNEW what was coming...... * More homes were taken-down last fall near the river that were too hard to protect (they were bought out), and dikes there built up. * Temporary clay/dirt dikes were being constructed last week...some 15' high on lower streets near the river. * The Police-escorted sandbag semi (with ~18 pallets apiece) convoys, usually in groups of SIX FLATBEDS, rolled through town last week, dropping-off pallets in pre-determined locations. * Bobcats, etc., with pallet-forks were waiting, and had the convoys emptied-off in MINUTES, and the group of 6 empty flatbeds, were escorted by Police (front & back) back to the sandbag warehouse(s). * Then, HS/college-kids swarmed the pallets the next day or so, and built the dikes with City/Engineering dept. guidance and survey-stakes. >>> Sorta like a weird parallel to the Matrix battle-scenes, with those walking APU's! Trucks loaded & unloaded, spider-machines dispensing sand to the "loaders/people", pallets being swung around, up & down..... Except here...the sandbags and people are the "weapons"!! Oh yeah....we're obviously the "Toughest Weather" City too! Faron

I say paint it in Pearl. Walls in semi-gloss can look very "shiny" in spots where the light hits. I wouldn't mix it, I would start fresh because you will have it for years to come, the money you spend will be pennies over the time period. It will be worth it. Be sure of the color b4 you paint. Try their personal color viewer on ben moore's site. See the colors first. You can also get a sample and paint a square and see how it looks in all lighting.... Here is a link that might be useful: Ben Moore Personal Color Viewer

I am not an expert, but that doesn't stop me from having an opinion. (grin) I use an oil based primer when I am working on old exterior wood. And I use a slow dry oil based primer. But for something that will never be exposed to the elements and isn't old wood, I'm not so sure oil primer is going to make this paint project significantly better. I use Cabinet Coat for trim work. It is satin finish, though, not high gloss. You don't need to prime prime bare wood before applying Cabinet Coat - or maybe it is more correct to say that the first coat of CC is the primer. Here is a link that might be useful: Cabinet Coat

In a "high durability needed" area like that...I can't imagine NOT priming.... * Scuff-sand thouroughly with ~ 100-grit paper. 120 is TOO fine to be of much use here. * Sand until the scratches are minimized to your satisfaction. Get every molecule of dust wiped off. Here's a statement that may surprise a few out there!!! >>> In THIS case...I'd apply THREE coats of the Oil primer, about 2 hrs. apart. >>> Reason?: * You'll be building a lightly sandable layer as a last "polishing-off/filling" opportunity b4 the CC. * If you can, wait until next day for primer-coats to harden-off. The wait makes this last "fine-tuning" sanding go easier. You're gonna lightly sand this primer-sandwich. * Think of sheetrockers doing their last sanding b4 painting. NOW...you've built the ideal base for your CC to show its absolute best. Stir the CC thouroughly, scraping the bottom and sides as ya go, using slow/lifting motions. Preferably, have it machine-shaken. You may have to strain it through nylons, or a disposable paint-strainer. If it doesn't smell "sour", you're golden! Faron PS...DEFINITELY...TWO coats of CC!