Hi Lee, Congrats, finding red Aglaonemas. Aglaonemas need semi-bright, no-direct south or west light in spring/summer months. A bright east window is fine. East or very bright north will not burn foliage, but strong rays in west or south exposures can fade leaf colors. During winter, 'depending where you live,' Aglao's can be moved to south or west windows. Humidity and proper watering is very important. Aglao's need humidity...daily spraying and 'monthly' soaking in a sink/tub to allow water to suck up through drainage holes do wonders. Aglao's do not like wet feet. Allow soil to dry a little between waterings. When soil looks crumbly, pot feels lighter, then water. Regarding outdoors. If you have a super-shady spot, set your Aglaonemas out during cloudy days. If you have time, set outside for an hour or two, bring back in, then on day 2, place outside again three to four hours. By day 3, 'if leaves look healthy, not wilted,' keep outside until autumn. Good luck. Aglaonemas are gorgeous. Especially reds, pinks and orange. Toni

The 'Variable-Speed' drive is a manual-control version of 'Personal Pace' and my favorite mower drive. The solid rear axle is driven, which propels both drive wheels. The axle ends most likely have the typical enclosed ratchet that allows pulling back and easier turning (when the drive bail is released). Normally you hold the drive bail all the way to the handle, but you can 'feather' it for slower speed around obstacles. I would not expect any hand throttle or choke on this model which most likely would be primer-start or automatic choke. I believe this would be a red-painted version of the Lawn-Boy 10641, the same size and features but may not be available anymore as they are phasing out the green mowers. I haven't heard any bad news about the Chinese engines. Probably it will do fine with proper care. At the price, I might try to get a B&S engine if possible, but this mower design works very well, being an offshoot of the LB 'Insight' hi-dome deck design. Here is a link that might be useful: LB 10641

i hear ya horster ... you are correct.. i have no experience in this particular tree .. he said he is willing to kill it .. all i am saying.. is play with it.. learn something new .. if it works.. whatever it is.. he learns something .. and then kills it.. lol ... if it doesnt work.. he learns something.. and then he kills it.. lol ... no need to simply chuck it in the burn pile.. w/o learning something ... i had a redbud.. that refused all attempts at structure... actually dad bought it for me.. for my first house ... and they also .... dont like to conform to the tree norm .. so he came over.. once a year.. and chopped it to a straight trunk ... and then kept coming back all summer.. and messing with it ... and i swear he chopped it to the ground 3 years running ... i really didnt care what he did with his tree.. as mom brought her bachelor son left over dinner, when they came over.. lol ... and eventually.. he got what he wanted out of it.. and i got fed 'mom's cookin' .... and we left a 20 foot beautifully formed redbud.. when i moved out 10 years later ... what did i know.. i though he was nuts.. but he was having fun.. learning ... ken ps: if you do cut to straight trunk.. the cut is not flat.. its at a 45 degree angle.. with.. if you can find one.. a bud within about a half inch of the top edge ... this sheds water.. and will allow for healing when the trunk grows to many more inches thick ...

John, it all looks delicious and your guests certainly look happy. The coffee machine fits there perfectly, and it's beautiful, so as soon as you have the "make ahead" dinner party thing down, you'll be spending your time making coffee instead. (grin) I also have a problem with cooking and hosting simultaneously. Even if I manage to get everything on the table and sit down I'm constantly getting up to get something that I forgot, or that someone wants or making room for something else. I've enver figured out how to get past that. Heck, I don't even need to have a dinner party. Elery's daughter and SIL were here and I have Mother and between to people who don't know where anything in the house is and Mother with her walker, I'm seldom sitting down at all. Annie