Shady - You don't like my cow???? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Please don't judge me on her or her cousin the pig. (sniff) My house is very tasteful. For example, right now I'm looking at a very nice pair of 18th century Sang de Boeuf ginger jars on my dining room table. Somehow I did make a decision a long time ago to allow cute and funky crap in my kitchen, hence the cow and pig. I have one shelf in there with a very odd assortment of animals. They make me laugh. That's what kitchens are all about. I won't even talk about my collection of refrigerator magnets in the making.

Thanks everyone! Beth, I think the difference in our IRs might be because mine is in way to much shade! Glad to see your Irresistible gets the same flat centers as mine. I bought it as a show rose but it never gives me a decent center! As for getting the colors I use a fill flash on most all my shots even in bright sunlight. I've found it captures the colors better. But I still do have trouble with reds.

Billl, yes you ask some good questions about plans changing. That's always something to consider, in any endeavor one embarks upon. The credit card, by the way, I already mentioned would be paid off before doing a refi. As for 70% ROI, actually, a number of the trades will be done by us (sweat equity). If we were completely contracting the build out, it would be closer to $140, so I actually considered the 70% ROI when estimating the after-build value. Additionally, though you didn't ask about our particular market, the property is just a couple of blocks from the ocean. The main house has a very nice view, and thus enjoys a preimium in value (and even in this down market, I get unsolicited offers to sell). And the new apartment would have a 270-degree, unobstructable view, again adding a premium that I'm not counting on, but know it's there. If house values continue to stagnate, which is a very real possibility, we can choose to rebuild equity by taking the rental income and using it for accelerated mortgage payments. Your first comment, "I guess some people never learn..." Well, I'll take that with a grain of salt. I too am frustrated by the economic mess. But I also know that to get out of the mess, those that can move forward with building projects, business expansions, and other entrepreneurila activities will be those that are part of turning things around. On this project alone, I would be putting two laid off friends to work (both skilled building tradesmen) for about 4 months. That in turn keeps them able to pay their mortgages. And when neighbors stop by to see the construction project, maybe they'll think of projects at their homes that need doing (especially when they see the quality work these 2 guys do)! And then maybe these guys have enough work so they're making a living again and their homes are not in jeopardy. So maybe they'll buy some new tools to expand their business capabilities, and it continues to spiral upward from there. Just think if people started thinking that way for a change instead of waiting for everyone to wait for someone else to fix the economy?

The problems are probably coming from the food makers that are adding vitamins to cereals, juices,(calcium) Ensure is 1 big vitamin drink etc. So if you take a multi, eat vitamin fortified cereal & have an Ensure or similar drink you are getting 3 vitamin pills. A number of other products & even vitamin pills such as calcium have added zinc, vit.D3 or magnesium added ,to them so you get some more stuff added to doses you already took. Things like V8 Fusion have a number of vitamins. They are even adding chloride to multi -vitamin- I think most people get too much salt so don't need another dose of chloride. But if you eat oatmeal each day & live alone you are not likely to get all the vitamins & minerals from your food as you would have to fix meals with at least 2 veggies,some fruit etc. Well, most seniors I know don't get all the daily fresh fruits & veggies so a single vitamin pill might be best for them. asking a dr. about supplements is rather waste of time, some take several themselves & others never do. Many drs. aren't too healthy themselves. Also if you are very healthy they lose business. Drs. call it politics- I call it their paycheck!