In two weeks, my apartment is getting painted twice. First in the color the landlord wants, and the second time in the palette I actually want.

Let me step back, because this circuitous route to a more appealing abode can make sense. At least I hope it might. About ten months ago, the landlord assented after seven years he made enough cash off my occupancy to throw a little love back. He redid my bathroom from the floor up, and then promised fresh paint for the entire apartment. The bathroom project wrapped in August; that left Project Color Streak.He set a day: November 1, 2007. He hired someone to fill in holes and prep the walls. He also hired a crew to paint the apartment. He bought lots of paint.

There was one catch.

It’s all Navajo white. He will only paint the place in Navajo white. He loves the color. The same fricking shade I’ve been looking at for nearly eight years. Feh. I offered to paint the apartment myself and eat the cost of paint and time, and he refused. I offered to buy the colors I wanted and let his crew have at it. He also refused. The only way he will paint the apartment is with his crew, and in his goddamn Navajo white.

Then came a moment of clarity. I asked if I could paint over his paint. He agreed.

So the moment his precious coats of Navajo white dries, out come a fresh set of rollers and a whole new world of color. Rich saturated hues like Chili pepper and Thornton Sage. Now that’s what I’m talking about.