Progress, Paint and a Rock Star

Well, the drywallers showed up.

They put up plastic. They sprayed. They left without cleaning up.

Nonetheless, the place is finally looking like a home.

Now, we're choosing paint colors. You know the routine. Spend $50 total on six quarts of paint you'll never use just to slap some large samples up on the wall, only to realize you need to go one shade lighter for each color you've chosen.

So, we're debating. Should it be Devine-brand Olive or Devine Sumatra in the bedroom? Eddie Bauer Calico or Devine Sumatra in the kitchen and nook? Devine Bananas or Devine Olive in the baby's room? Devine Reef or Sherwin Williams Milk Pail in the bathroom?

While we were shopping for paint at Sherwin Williams on NE Broadway in Portland on Saturday, Janet Weiss, drummer for Sleater-Kinney, walked in. I about freaked in my mild-mannered way. I really admire this band and her drumming in particular. But, I decided not to ask her to sign our paint samples, both out of respect for her domestic decorating needs and out of fear of annoying my wife (Plus, I couldn't decide: Should I have her sign in Sumatra or Calico?). I couldn't even tell you what paint colors she chose. I can just say she wore a knitted hat --much like the one in this photo, only black -- the entire 30-40 minutes she was in the store.

Doug, Nacho and his other assistant, Paca, have almost finished the back porch, and I must say, it looks better than our front one.

(That's not Doug. That's Ron Downey, the contractor installing fir flooring in our bedrooms).

Doug is quite proud of the porch, too. Said something about being glad to work on something fancy for once. Not sure what that says about the rest of the house.