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Neighbors Are Sick to Their Stomach

After moving into his new house in Pflugerville, Texas, Emilio Rodriguez decided to paint it a new color. He decided on pink — “literally a Pepto Bismol paint, if you feel me,” he said. “I was going for, like, a liquid-y slime ooze pink.” He got it, and not only painted the walls, but the trim and even the roof are coated with the bright color, costing Rodriguez more than $10,000 for “tons of gallons” of garish pink paint. His choice has led to “mean comments” and threats, he says. That’s not stopping him: he plans to paint his doors, driveway, and fence the same color, and replace his lawn with Pepto-pink gravel. “I love this house. I don’t know why people don’t like it,” Rodriguez said, adding the color scheme is part of the “Keep Austin Weird vibe” — Pflugerville is a suburb. Rodriguez has a ready answer to his critics: “When people get mad I explain there is no HOA here.” (RC/Austin American Statesman) ...So why didn’t he buy a house in Austin? HOAs — if you feel me.