I must take issue with snidely's item #2 re automatic Windows updates. A few years back there was a real problem with some HP computers that had AMD processors. This may have been the update for SP3, but my memory can't say for sure. The machines went into an endless reboot loop. My desktop was one of the affected ones, as was my friend's. There was finally a "fix" issued by HP which we were able to employ. My HP laptop, also with an AMD processor, although a different one, was not affected at all. I have also had minor problems with some of the .Net updates, so I always install those separately from other updates. Just my experiences, so one does learn from those not to just blithely set automatic updates. Obviously snidely is not a mother, or he would know that 13 year olds can be very sensitive and sometimes overly dramatic. This has nothing to do with good parenting, so he would best keep remarks about such to himself. I am a great grandmother as well as a former school teacher (12, 13, 14 year olds), so I have seen it all.

I have been working at finding away to change the default font on all documents since this thread started. No matter what I clicked on the starter version came up so I thought that might be my problem. I finally uninstalled MS Office Starter and MS Office Student and Home, then just reinstalled the student and home. I still could not get the font style to stay at what I set it. I thought about what was said about the 2003 version and opened a blank page, set the font and single space, went to file and chose "save as". A menu came up and I chose to saveto my desktop as MS Word 97-2003 Template (.dot) and made a shortcut, so far it has held. In case some else is still having this problem I am posting my results. None of the other ways worked for me, a new document always came up with Office's default settings.

Microsoft's main market for Office is employers, public and private sector. The historical investment most places have made in things like forms, macro-driven apps, interfaces with other systems, etc., as well as what happens as new hires come in, make it much cheaper to continue with widely used MS software. Software license costs are small change compared to infrastructure and support expenses. For employers of any size, the fees paid for Office are a small fraction of the retail price an individual would face. For individuals, a free choice should serve most purposes. For a workplace other than very small, or an employee of a fair sized place who wants work compatibility in using a personal machine, MS is most frequently the choice.

Thanks jkmom51 and morton5--I know I'd read a thread a few months back about seating/couches in the kitchen (after we'd planned our flip-flop and were either awaiting our couch's delivery or had it, but no cocktail table)--figured a picture would be helpful to those contemplating the same sort of thing. With our Christmas tree and menorah lit up this past week (equal-holiday observance household here! :-)), it's been really nice just sitting there in the evening, basking in the glow of our holiday lighting. pbrisjar--the painting is actual a felt(ed wool) wall hanging. It was a birthday gift from my very dear DH this past spring. While we've only had it for less than a year, it's actually one of the artist's older pieces (her works are very different now, so we feel doubly lucky to have found and been able to get this one--I'd fallen in love with her stuff years ago). BTW, the jewel-toned pillows are actually knitted pieces (by my mom!) that I sewed onto pillows I purchased in Crate and Barrel. todds--Yes, we both remember you! Did you end up purchasing any Wolf and/or SZ appliances? If I recall, you were having your cabinets custom made? I might need to get a name/number from you.... Good memory re: our house; we are in a bi-level. Our kitchen measures roughly 13' X 13'. The aisle between the window wall and the island measures 42" counter to counter, and the aisle between the pantry wall and the island measures 36" counter to counter (island top to msg center top). We deliberately biased the spacing the way we did, in order to allow plenty of room to walk between the opened DW door and the island. trailrunner--no fresher than you are...LOL