Thanks Susan! I knew I was in trouble when the nurse couldn't get the cannula in correctly. Then later when they went to add the steroid, it wouldn't work, so she tried my other hand - couldn't get it in and another guy came to do it. I have a lot of bruises on the backs of my hands. I have very thin skin on my hands but they usually do it there because of my rolling veins.

So Cal is only about 1500 miles from my area. I keep checking CL for a nice used sofa, and keep coming across wonderful values for wood case pieces, such as this server. I think it just reflects the state of the economy; people are downsizing their living arrangements, or selling whatever they can to raise money, or, they have no idea what the piece is actually worth.

Thanks Raee, feel much better. A friend of mine told me the other day to start harvesting dandelions too lol. I couldn't take it anymore and ordered delivery from Kroger last evening. Salad stuff, light bulbs and a few other things. Just before they dropped it off I remembered potatoes. I forgot to order potatoes! Still waiting for test results.

1. The idea that competitive bidding a set of plans will save you money assumes you're able to play the game better than much more experienced players. Not likely. Architects will try to convince you that their many-splendored set of plans will safeguard against any overage, but once you've signed a contract, you're at the mercy of the contractor for inevitable changes as well as dealing with errors and omissions on the part of your architect. Yes, architects, like builders, are human. Both make mistakes. 2. There is no such thing as a "perfect" set of plans--at least not without infinite cost. Know that you won't be able to do the elusive "apples-to-apples" comparison. 3. Your architect doesn't purchase construction materials or trade labor as part of their day job. Don't look to them as the authority on what a home will cost to build, particularly in an environment of rapidly escalating costs. 4. No you don't have to go over your budget and you don't need a 20% contingency. You just need to align your expectations with your builder's and choose a builder who does a thorough job investigating the site and estimating. A good set of plans and specs goes a long way toward this end, but refer to nos. 1 ,2, and 3 above. Get your builder on board during the design phase. 5. The m.o. of many builders is to tell you what you want to hear--including the price you have in mind for your project. They'll make the necessary margin to stay in business by a combination of less supervision on your project, lower quality materials, lower quality trade contractors and not servicing your legitimate warranty items. Hey, who doesn't love a surprise? 6. There are professionals whose word is their bond, who value their clients and who take pride in their work. Their "brand" matters. They won't cheat you or do something less than their personal best. You just aren't likely to attract one of them by competitive bidding them against a pool of builders much lower down the contractor food chain. Explore alternatives to competitive bidding to get the kind of contractor you want. 7. HGTV is not a good resource; their shows should be aired on the Disney channel. 8. Consider that you're not the right fit for every builder. Be willing to at least entertain the notion that you may even be the "client from hell." 9. This entry has been intentionally left blank. 10. You don't need to be a subject matter expert in any/all aspects of residential construction. That's what you hire your builder for. Choosing wisely enables you to focus on your day job while you build a home.