Hi! FINALLY! a computer that works! I have so much catching up to do! I am down another 2 lbs this week! I have taken Jen's challenge to heart and exercised 6/7 days this past week. Jen, I am only doing Curves right now till the knee is better, but I have a goal set for myself to switch to a regular gym by November. I love the emails you send We are on the same page. DeeMarie how wonderful to present those scholarships! I think that must have been awesome. I am glad that your knee is doing better. NH Suzanne, I love the word pictures that you paint. I will say it again; you should submit some of your thoughts, adventures, musings to a nature magazine. I'll bet you would be published in an instant! I named my Burmese cat Blue, many a moon ago. How did you pick that name? Hey Marci, wait up!! I'll have to walk VERY fast to meet up with you, DeeMarie and Raeanne! Hi Milkdud! Glad that knee is on the mend. Veggies are a good thing! Heard from Patti lately? Hey Zig!! How are ya?? Raeanne, yes, I am still planning on buying a kayak. I am still in hopes of winning one on Paddling net. Ha ha! I enter that darn contest every day... I am going to use that kayak as a reward for reaching my fitness goals. What??? I can't blame Mercury?? Oy vey... Qod: (I am SO behind) Location, location, location! aka equity / rent from property investment via a self directed IRA and profits/eventual royalties from my growing business. Qod: I have Verizon too. I would love to talk with any of you who do too. How nice if we could get to know eachother better for free! Donna, where are you? Where are all of the other MIAS? Seems to me that BJ's class should be about over... John? Besh? Maddie? Amy? Patti? Hard to type with cat sitting on keyboard... Tikanas

I'll focus on the HVAC side since I don't know much about direct vent hot water tanks. The quote provides enough information about what they plan to do which gives me a good feeling about this installer. However since you are providing the equipment, the quote is high in my opinion. Sounds like they are still quoting the job as if they provided it and marked it up. I think it can come down at least $5k. Who is providing high voltage power to these units, or is this an additional cost paid to another contractor? Also to clarify, will there be multiple returns on the first floor as well or one central return in the living room? I would clarify with the dealer about the ductwork system. By the quote it sounds like it is all hard metal, with no flex duct even in the attic where it is common. If this is the case, great. This could account for why the quote is on the higher end. I would strongly consider upgrading to the 15 SEER condensers if the unit price increase is not more than a couple hundred per unit. They should be quieter and are overall nicer units in my opinion even if they have the same cabinet. Another upgrade to look into is a high efficiency media filter for each unit. They typically get replaced every 6 months or in some cases up to a year, and they provide better filtration of the air and hence protection of the equipment. These may add a couple hundred per unit installation.

No help with Iowa facility, but some questions and a request for updates. I too have a 15 year old hyperthyroid kitty. Memphis takes tapazole twice daily to keep her thyroid in check. She's been diagnosed and taking it for over a year. I looked into the radiation. But the isolation at the facility (in CA by law that's 10 days) and even after the 10 days, I'd be required to lock her in a bathroom and only see her a total of 30 minutes a day to feed and clean litter box for 2 more weeks. Memphis is totally bonded to me. Not only does she follow me everwhere she sits on me immediately, snuggles under the covers when I sleep to sleep next to me. She gets majorily depresssed if I'm gone on vacation or business trip and she hates the vet. She had surgery about 7 years ago when she broke her jaw in 3 places. (Still a mystery as she's a total indoor only cat and it happened in the middle of the night while I was asleep). When she woke she tried to claw her way out of the cage at the vets and they had a really hard time trying to keep her from harming herself. So I still buy the tapazole. My vet says that it will keep the thyroidism in check, and we do blood tests every 6 months to make sure Liver and Kidneys stay healthy. This costs money as well. I still wonder about the radiation. If you find a place, can you keep us updated about your cat's treatment and recovery? Especially if her behavior changes or doesn't change once she's completed treatment.

My cat's also a lover girl. Very love-dovey. I boarded her for the first time over Thanksgiving for 4 days. When I got her home, she clung to me like Saran Wrap for days. I felt awful. I know she thought she was abandonned. Both when she was boarded and when she had been isolated for the Radioiodine treatment, she was very quiet and scared. They told me that she was a tough cookie because she was so quiet and stoic, but, I know that she was scared and confused. Usually, she's a real blabbermouth. With that said, you have to do what's best for your cat in the long-run. He'll be confused and sad for the time he's isolated, but, after being home for a few hours, he'll forget about it. He'll be okay. Call the treatment center each day to ask about him. Also, give them a blanket or tee-shirt that smells like you (used, not washed) to put in his cage (you won't get it back, so, don't use a good one). Bring your own food (if they don't have your brand). If you give him wheatgrass at home, bring a pot of it for his cage-- a toy, too.