I received another email (4/18) from Kathi...passing along the news: Here's the latest update!!! My husband's neurologist called me this afternoon and told me they needed to take him back to surgery, as he had another clot and bleeding in his brain. I've been up there all afternoon and just got home at 1:30 AM PCT. He came out of surgery around 12:30 am. Seems to be more alert than he was the last time, and not as drugged up. He now has a shunt in place to drain the blood. We (my DIL and I) just stayed about a half hour, then he insisted we go home and get some rest. I didn't want to leave until I knew he would be ok, and Praise the Lord it looks like my prayers have been answered, however I'll continue to keep the prayers going up. God always has time to listen!! Thanks you all for the prayers and good thoughts you've sent up so far on his behalf. By the way, his name is Eddie. Of course, we'll continue positive thoughts Eddie will return home for recuperation soon, Kathi. Stay strong, girl...and get some rest!

jem -- I thought about some of the typical older home 'faults' you detail when we built new in 2001. We have a 10/12 roof to shed snow -- and to provide a 'second story' for some future owner who wants to add some dormers -- yet the gutters are only nine feet above the ground. (Building such an 'attic' would seem a waste, but our lot is zoned for a 6,000 sq ft home, while we wanted half of that and one story. The taller profile fits better in our neighborhood.) Our north-facing 42" entry door is wood, with sidelights and no storm door, yet it looks like new because it's protected by a roofed six foot deep stoop, with arched openings front and east. We are also a single step above ground level at every entry point. Single story is nice, but you have to get *into* the house easily too. Having endured aluminum-frame windows, I appreciate tight, efficient doors and windows. Casements lock at two points; French doors lock at three. I have to look out to know if a car is driving up to the house; can't hear it. A mistake I made was having a row of French doors on the south with inadequate overhang. I must close the doors if there's any wind with a rain. I bet you could replace your picture windows with same size more efficient ones without alterations. The new glass and frames are *tight*. You would have less re-structuring and painting to do, and wouldn't throw off the exterior symmetry.

That quiz is cool. But it says that I sound like North Central. Don't know about that! When dh lived in NC the people there thought he was from Virginia. Apparently our Cdn accent sounds like Virginians....

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