Hi Weed. We dropped her off today and they did an ultrasound while we were there. It showed that it IS a type of PDA that can be fixed so that was great news. They said her heart was VERY enlarged but that the hole was relatively small. At her age, there's virtually no chance that it could heal on its own. They are staffed 24 hours a day so someone will be with her tonight and they will do the surgery in the morning. She will have a tiny incision by her back leg where they go in, and they will run a cork shaped plug up through a vein all the way to her heart to plug the hole. She did really well on the trip up there. Only barked a few times and slept part of the way. I only covered one end of her carrier so she couldn't see out the side windows but she could still see us and out the front that way. She didn't seem really scared until we set her on the metal exam tableat the clinic. She knew that wasn't good but she wasn't shaking as badly as she was last time I took her to the vet. They called me this evening to tell me she was doing ok and seemed content. They'll call again after her surgery. The house seems quiet without her. I'll be glad when she's home.

Hi calpat, I was crying about getting 40 or so spam a day - until I talked to my neighbour getting over a hundred ... A DAY! She let that box drop and is opening another. I've told some people unwilling to do legitimate surveys to get a different e-mail box - just for them. So if they get connected with a spammer, they just let the box go. Hardly any making these wonderful offers ever have a real address that they send from. By the way - had any offers of a potion to enhance the size of some of your female/male parts? Some of the over a hundred or so that I've got offer guaranteed overnight results. I've replied saying that I'd be afraid that would be painful. If I were a working person - I'd want to take it on the weekend - so I could stay up all night to watch the growth. If I subscribed to all of the hundred or so offers - how would I deal with the monster - backpack? Not big enough, wrong location. Kid's stroller? Can't put it on escalator in stores. Sling? Would be too heavy for my shoulders. Shopping cart? Too deep. Wheelbarrow? Now - that might just be what the doctor ordered! Need a *full-siized* van, of course, for longer trips. But - where could I find a partner who could accomodate my needs? Probably need to seek a mare, elephant, etc. Would need a pad to keep track of when they came in heat - they wouldn't want to talk to me at other times. Do the guys selling potions - also sell stepladders? I sometimes reply trying to sell them my newsletter about money management, as I've become concerned over the years in the personal financial planning business that so few know much about money management, that I'm keeping the letter going after retirement. Single copy free to anyone with e-mail address, they can subscribe if they wish. Should save them hundreds, more likely thousands, in their lifetime - unless they have one foot in the grave, now. Often people who get something at no cost give it little respect, this letter distills many years of experience, expensive training, etc. so it would be a mistake to give it away free, though I could afford to. I don't like to be arbitrary - so price of the newsletter is negotiable. Having been a number of years a clergyperson, I've tried not to be greedy, either - so will likely ask them to contribute most of the fee to charity, especially worldwide ones, as there are huge needs in many countries, these days. They can negotiate to send my newsletter to their friends, relatives, colleagues in community, sport, church, at work, etc. Will build their group of friends, make them famous - and help them raise some money, as they keep some of the (negotiated) fee, send most to charity - and send some to me, of course. This story is real, as a matter of fact - and it's all true. As for all of these guys who have these great money-making ideas ... what kind of business is such that the fellow working there, who wants to encourage you to do the same, is so proud of it that he tells you almost nothing about it in the original message - apart from how much one may possibly make? A company that keeps their door locked, and has an unlisted phone. Most of them don't give me an address to which I can send a message, go to ask a question, etc. - their front door is locked. Few give a phone number to call - and most who do have it lead to an agency. The email address that they use when sending the message is false - unlisted phone. Not only is the phone unlisted - the guy who sent the message is a liar. The only way that I can contact them - is to fill in a form, telling quite a bit about myself ... ... to leave your resume in the mail box, please ... Which quite a few may use to assemble a database - that they then sell - to other spammers. What chance does such a recruiter think that he may have - of getting me interested in his offer? About one chance in 19,999. Have a happy spring/summer weekend, all. joyful guy/Ed

Budget helps to restrict your choices, which can be helpful. There are SO many choices available that it can be overwhelming! Your budget covers high entry level to low- to mid- middle grade. Which cabinet level would be right for you? That will depend on your needs and wants. What's a want vs a need for you? Part of that will be nuts and bolts construction driven in the lower priced lines. Upgrading lower lines to the same features as a mid priced line often ends up being more expensive. A more expensive line may actually be the better value. If you don't want to have to think too much about cabinet construction, choosing a mid grade line from the beginning will be a better choice. Any American made true midgrade line will give you decent quality without worrying about it, without having to go through any ''upgrades' to get soft close and decent hardware. But, it's the much better finishes that are the most visual external clue that you are not in a lower spec line. Do they have cherry available in a natural finish? Most lower lines don't, because they use a tinted top coat to even out the color differences between the hartwood and sapwood. Are there more than 3 white colors available? The number of finishes and style options are much more limited in value lines. Look at the cut ends of the crossgrain stiles on the doors. Are they smooth and close in color to the long grain? Does the door feel smooth and have a good match on the solids or veneers? What does the depth of the finish look like? How thick is the spec book provided to the designer? I have lines that have books 1''-5''. The more options, the thicker the book! once you hit 2'', you ought to have enough options to do 100% of what you have determined to be the actual physical needs of your kitchen, and likely a good number of wants as well. If you go mid grade, then the decisions are largely going to be down to aesthetic ones instead of parsing structural differences. You have to develop your own list of needs in the aesthetic realm, ranking things according to your criteria. Is white traditional looking cabinetry a need to you because you live in a historic district in a historic house? Or would quarter sawn oak for a Craftsman with original woodwork be the more correct choice? Or how about slab wood cabinets for a MCM Eschler? Choosing the correct cabinet style for the ''bones'' of the house is always a good way to spend your money. So check to see which lines your local dealer offers that fills that need. Most mid grade lines will be able to do whatever you need and want, so at that point, you really need to be shopping Kitchen Designers, not brands. A good KD can guide you to the best line for maximizing your budget. Find a good match there, and you don't really need to do the nuts and bolts research, unless that just appeals to you!

My DH says I take WAY too much time making the decisions I have to make with our house projects. I'm the sole researcher, designer, planner and a co-hands-on executor (with DH) of our DIY building projects. It took us 5 years to do this last house. Plan, design, and contract the build. I designed and had a draftsman draw prints. I was the chick with the clipboard until the rockers left. From drywall on it has primarily been just the two of us. He has a full time job that is not building. We have made a good team, in that he has the expertise- I have the vision. We have put in countless hours making the decisions that go into these projects. Thankfully I found GW early on with researching windows. Google has led me to GW on numerous topics, which answered most of the trying technical issues. I usually only post when I get really stuck and need outside input and opinions. Mostly on decorating questions...;) IDK -- is 5 years too long to come up with a house from scratch? DIY? I have no idea; I do know my DH thought I belabored the process. As in it was a huge issue- how long I would take. But it was lots of design as you go stuff. However he is happy with the result.