Bizonkulous

Partly the fault of whoever names colours, but mostly mine.

Today we're doing trim on a house, windows and doorframes in “Clam Chowder” (which is pastel yellow) and “Clay Tile” (which is a darkish orange). Once the can was opened, though, the clay tile was a little orangey. Same as the swatch, but things always look different on large areas such as a house.

At this point the homeowner came home, and the manager wanted her opinion to I went out back so I could get the paint and put a bit on the door for her to look at. She and the manager followed. As always, I grabbed the paint can by the handle and rocked it back and forth so as to stir it up.

Unfortunately, the lid was only sitting on top and not actually closed, and this stuff goes flying EVERYWHERE. The client walks around the corner just in time to see her patio receive a generous splashing of what should not be called “Clay Tile” but rather “Neon Pumpkin.” A third of a gallon doesn't sound like a lot, but on someone's deck it is. I could scoop the stuff up with my hands.

So I was terribly mortified, but luckily she was a good sport. “Oh no,” she said, “that's way too orange. It needs more brown in it.”