I think it's wise to wait until the construction dust has settled to invest in a new personal computer. When you do finally look into getting one, a thought is to look into getting a laptop with a wireless connection. Personally, I think business machines and personal machines should be kept separate. The only thing you can do right now, is to keep your machines covered when not in use, and to unplug everything and vacuum to keep the dust at a minimum. Larry periodically takes our machines to the basement, and uses a compressor to blow the dust out. We keep our machines plugged in through Blackout Buster surge protectors. They're probably the best on the market. Even though I don't have ADD or OCD, I still manage to overdo collecting! I began with 2 bulbs last fall, and now, I have over 60! I'm not sure what the exact count is... I haven't counted in a while! I also began collecting orchids last winter, and I now have 7! I've pretty much abandoned collecting regular types of houseplants, which I used to have lots of... I've gotten more specialized, I guess you could say. I like the challenge that orchids present, and reblooming all my bulbs! Getting back to computers... when you do decide to look into new systems, Larry would be pleased to help you in any way you need. He's a perfectionist when it comes building machines and programming technology... he always says that a machine will never beat him, and he will work at a problem until it is solved. His tagline is: "God made me simple... technology made me a god!" So, if you need any assistance, like choosing the best machine for the best price, figuring out what components are best, where to go for the items you need, or any type of programming help, he said he'd be more than happy to lend a hand. He just headed north this morning to help my son with the electric in his house, and to help a few friends with their computers! Like you, he has so many things going on! He's always busy, and sometimes, he doesn't know where to start! The ADD doesn't let him rest, and while most of us are sleeping, he's busy with technology! I don't know about you night owls! I like to sleep at night, and if my insomnia lets me, I'm out from around 11 pm to at least 5 or 6 am! I'd stay up and keep Larry company, but gardening is best done during daylight hours!

Hello, IMO Dallas is a good place for quality work at reasonable prices. Last year, I read one post that was quoted $27,000 for a 3-ton system installation. I also read a post of a $2500 3-ton replacement. This is a lot of difference. The typical price is between $3000-5000 for a 3-ton system replacement. Duct work during the summer can be very expensive. I have heard of guys charging $2000 a day to work in the attic during the summer. These are not dishonest companies, just guys that do not want to work in the attic on a 100+ degree day. If your system is in the attic, do it while it is cool. (Now) There are so many quality HVAC companies in Dallas. Quotes like yours are for people made of money. I read and heard of many 3-ton replacements last year in the $10,000 range. I can not imagine what caused the cost to be so high. A typical system can be installed in a day with 2 men. Labor and 2x markup is nowhere near $10,000. Even in Legacy, this is a high price. I am helping someone that was hosed last year with a 5-ton installation. He now has the state of Texas involved. He was hosed so bad, that his case was placed in front of 30 previous cases waiting for proscution. The sad thing is the company that did the hose job has a fair reputation. The installation was incomplete, yet he spent $6200 for a 5-ton replacement. The company tried to charge him an additional $2k for a 1/2 days work replacing a couple of ducts. His summer bills were over $1000 a month for a 2600 sqft house. Get multiple bids. I know of one wholesale installer that will replace a condenser for under $200 labor. (Last spring) This is very cheap for Dallas. This is less than I charged in the 1980's. If you intend to replace all three units at one time you should talk to this company in Austin. He manufacturers a system designed for Dallas and hot climates. His equipment is like commercial equipment, and is truly efficient. http://www.alliedenergysystems.com/thermal.html Replacement of lines depends on the requirements of the new equipment and not age or condition of the lines. Sometimes this is needed for maximum efficient operations. Any handy person can install new duct. The key to a good job, is to seal all joints and seal the insulation properly. Many installers use a mastic to guarantee the joints are sealed. For a very efficient duct system consider using foam spray insulation on the ducts. Installing a system requires a few tools. Guages, Vac pump, torch for silver solder, Volt-amp meter, and a few sheetmetal tools. Basic mechanic tools also. For legal service work you need a recovery machine. By law, you need a CFC certificate to buy freon, or systems. You are also required to have it to adjust freon. Most cities require a permit to replace HVAC equipment, but less than 20% of the residential work is permitted in the Dallas area. Now, for the good news. The state of Texas will issue you a voucher that allows you to purchase equipment for your house, if you have a cfc certificate. Kinda neat. If you have specific questions email me. I am in N. Texas area.

Be careful about offering relish, pickles, salsas, chow-chows, chutney, and other acidified foods - I recommend that you do not until you find out the rules and plan to follow them. The FDA has very strict laws about them being produced in a home kitchen (as well as commercially - the same rules apply) and they have to be made under the supervision of one who has taken the FDA course for acid and acidified food manufacturing, has each product listed with them (usually after having a Food Safety Lab testing done), along with their "food manufacturing facility" being registered with them, and that has a written plan for national recall in the event of contamination or botulism in their acidified product. I know a lot of little old ladies sell their brined pickles at farm stands and Markets but they are usually totally illegal. On the other hand, fermented pickles are not regulated and can be sold without any FDA involvement. Go figure. Also, nothing canned using a home pressure canner is allowed to be sold in the US. Most jams and jellies are fine as there is no risk of botulism because of the sugar content and naturally occurring acid in fruits (low pH). I've been selling at Market for 5 years now. I expanded my 65 varieties of jam offerings with old fashioned baked goods and then added gluten free baked goods. If you go GF you must be so very careful about cross contamination with wheat flour (which can hang microscopically in the air for days and can stay in the "pores" of metal baking pans even after washing). I am the only "retail bakery" in NC to have approval by the NC Dept of Ag to offer both wheat based and gluten free products from the same "facility". Think of gluten as being a deadly virus and that is how you must treat baking gluten free, it is not just substituting wheat flour for another non-gluten flour. For both baked goods offerings the things that sell best are cookies to walk around with to eat, but not by the dozen, and breads/rolls of any kind to take home, and scones. Cupcakes and pies never sell no matter how pretty, slices of cake don't either unless they are pound cake or angel food. Even candy sits there though people comment, "Oh, look there's fudge", they don't buy it. Don't bother with fancy packaging but do be mindful of labeling, display of prices, and you must have a list of ingredients either on each product or on a paper they can take with them. Another guarantee is that diabetics will always come to your sweets table. Since I do not use chemicals in my products, I do not have anything they can eat. If you want to appease them you'll have to do a whole lot of research for cals and carbs. Nancy

Go for it. I've helped people I know redo kitchens...I've done 6 kitchens already. I do it because I enjoy doing it. I don't charge anything...I do it for friends or acquaintances. I start with layout and then get them to look at houzz for inspiration, I help them determine style, talk to them about function, then help them with their selections. A lot of what I do is throw out options for them to "try on" to see if they'd like it or not. That way, when they decide, they feel as if they've explored all the options and have more confidence in the choices they've made. I also make sure, like a checklist, that they think about all the necessary things: electrical, lighting, plumbing, flooring, hardware, colors, surfaces, etc. Esp in a kitchen redo, there's a lot to think about. You need to be flexible enough to go with them and their style...which may not be your style. (For example, some kitchens were white, some painted cabinets, some cherry wood...some traditional, cottage, or whatever.) You need to work within their budget as you are spending their money, not yours. You also need to be aware that you are not the final decider and they may make decisions that you think are mistakes, but it's they're place and they have to live with it, not you. But I like doing it...it's fun for me. I would never do it 'professionally' because as soon as money comes into the picture, it changes everything. Also, if you do decide to go professional, plan on getting some training and credentials.