Isn't our landlord supposed to do this stuff?!

We’ve been in the house for about 4 days and it hasn’t exactly had the idyllic new home romanticism I’d hoped. The whole DIY thing always sounds so great: it's just the two of you, you're working on your house together, it's so much fun. Bur right now, it kind of sucks. I've been a bit snarky and it's costing a small fortune. To my horror, the entire house is wallpapered (I thought it was paint). Thankfully it’s a relatively new house (1970s) but it’s still a huge pain in the ass. Iain is in charge of the outside (deck staining, windows, eventual house painting) and I’m in charge of the inside.

The other reality check for me is that when it’s your own house, you suddenly have to give a damn about doing things right. In the many apartments I lived in, things like sanding and primer were laughed at: “I don’t own it!” I’d say while gleefully slapping green paint all over a wall while drinking my vodka and club and half watching Law & Order.

But in a few weeks I should be finished, and it will hopefully look a billion times better. Although, the kitchen and bathroom tiles are a fleshy terra cotta hue – anyone have any suggestions on what paint color goes best?

The one thing I’m having a really tough time getting used to is that I am no longer in an apartment and don’t have to worry about the noise I’m making. I accidentally slammed a paint can on the floor today and cringed, immediately thinking of the various downstairs neighbors I’ve had for the last 10 years.

Maybe now that we’re in a house I can start yelling again! “IAIN!!!! DINNER!!!!!!!!!!” (Iain will read this and say, “And when did you STOP yelling?”)