So, we did it. We finally decided on a roofer: Robert’s Roofing — “Gresham’s Finest!” I can’t keep track of all the initials I devised for the many contractors I have met, so screw it – I’m now naming names. 
We are slated to have our roof completely removed and rebuilt on October 21st, I’ll report on that when the time comes. As for why I chose Robert — “ he seemed the most eager for my business; the most upfront about his insurance and whatnot; he was reasonably priced (without being suspiciously cheap); he included gutters in his bid; and he had one of his employees chauffeur me out to the Gresham showroom when I said I didn’t have a car. All in all, he seems to really care about customer service and he promises to be the best balance of quality and economy. I have high hopes but am, frankly, afraid to be too optimistic. I have heard too many contracting horror stories. Happily, for what it’s worth, they have only good reports on Angie’s List.
But now that that is over with, Mr. Slakethirst and I can indulge in some fun stuff. A decision about roof color is imminent, so we have scheduled an appointment with Mary McMurray, a color consultant. We want to coordinate our roof and the new exterior paint (which probably won’t be applied until late spring, but we can dream). I can’t wait to see an artist’s rendering of our house in new snazzy colors. 
