Minneapolis resident Patricia Miller hopes you'll vote early -- and often -- for her chance to win a free paint job for her 1949 rambler.
Miller's home in the Field-Regina-Northrop neighborhood is one of 20 finalists competing online for eight regional $5,000 prizes to be used toward an exterior paint job. The "Spruce up Your Home" contest, offered by coatings manufacturer Rohm and Haas, plans to award the top vote-getter a grand prize of $12,000 in cash for a paint job and $8,000 for additional home improvements. Miller, who owns Laughing Cat Communications in Minneapolis, wrote in her essay that she "hoped, hoped, hoped" for color to enliven the exterior of her redwood-sided home. Voting is open through 10: 59 p.m.Friday at www.paintquality.com/spruceup.
KIM YEAGER
