Walked the 2 mile walk for abs today. Good workout. Glad to see ya back, Vickey. Hey, did you see MaryAnn there? If so, did you ask her where she's been? I get in the groove here, and she dissappeared. Wish some others would join us. I really plan on keeping this up, it makes you feel so much better and I am going to get those 20 lbs off or else. Wanda

Hi everyone my name is Kim and I am a 36 year old mother of 2 very active boys 11 & 7. I work for an elementary school doing tech support for their 130 or so computers and printers. I walk alot somedays and other days not so much. I have been overweight most of my life and still battle it each day. I am 5' 7" and weigh 183 now and at one time weighed 240. I have hopped from one diet to another never really finding anything that worked miracles. Only through healthy eating and regular exercise was I able to achieve weightloss of any kind. I stumbled across this forum on accident by search for Leslie's tapes and really really liked it sooo. I joined. I just received her tapes from Half.com for $19 (which didn't come with any extras just the set of tapes). I did the 2 mi this morning with just plain hand weights and really enjoyed it. There are so many wonderful and encouraging stories on this page I couldn't stop reading it. I really look forward to reading more of them. It really is good to know that I am not the only one who struggles with water intake, food temptations and exercising struggles. Please keep writing. I am really excited to start this program and I hope I can be as determined as you all.

At the end of every job there is a "punch list" that are all the fixes necessary. With what you're describing I would do a written list, room by room, and hand it to him before the walk through. Even better, if you have time, is to take pix of everything and illustrate the list (even if only for youself) so you have something to compare the fixes to. Finish work -- the fine points of carpentry that you're discussing -- is a relative thing. By which I mean that one contractor's evaluation of good may not be the same to another. If you can see gaps in corners, uneven baseboards -- anything were there is a gap of space that should be tight -- needs to be fixed. But whether it's worth removing and replacing vs having the painter do a proper job of caulking and repainting is your call. Paint not coming down to baseboard and bad taping is something that I would go after. Because, later on, when the house settles, a bad tape job gets worse. The drywall seams can become visible along with indentations if they've used screws. The original builder here did a bad one and we had to remove some drywall and redo it. Our contractor had a great taper (not the easiest thing to find it turns out) so the differences could be seen. Nicks can be repaired by sanding or with caulk, then primed and painted over. Holding back money is the smartest thing. In the end, if you don't get things to a point where the finish work is really acceptable to you then I'd look at taking a hefty deduction in the final contract price, particularly in any area where it would be necessary to find someone else to come in and remedy or redo. This is awful and tedious to have to do. But I'd spend the time now even though it seems overwhelming. No job is perfect -- not saying it would be. But I'd go for the stuff that would bug me when I got in there and things that might not be expensive to repair now but would be if you have to find someone to come in later to do little jobs and fixes. I was so overwhelmed when we moved back into our apartment that I didn't catch everything and ended up with little dust-trap holes on the sides of baseboards and raw plaster edges (untaped) around an inset closet, which they just painted over as if it was OK. Those never stopped bugging me.

Yes Britbrit, things at BMs house are much worse than we suspected. I suppose that, prior to now, this craziness didnt spring forth since my SD didnt spend enough time here. But now that shes been living with us full time for -- what -- 2 months now, these things are slowly coming to light. Lazygardens, good question! Top 10 Rules at our House: 1) Be nice, be polite. 2) We will all be respectful and supportive of each other. 3) If you use it, put it back. If you dirty it, clean it. 4) Use your brain! Think! Assert your individuality! 5) If you have a problem or a question, speak up. Anything can be openly discussed. If it appears that something is on your mind, you will be asked about it. 6) Everyone has the right to retreat to their private sanctuary (aka bedroom) without being disturbed. 7) Knock before entering. ALWAYS! 8) Everyone has the right to their own opinion or ideas without being criticized (well, if its really funny maybe well all share a hearty laugh over it). 9) Laughter is a good thing. Jokes welcome anytime. Play, have fun! 10) Remember your manners. (Ok, its fine to get gross now and then for a giggle, but always mind your manners when in public). Say please and thank you. Hmmm its hard to squeeze an entire lifestyle and philosophy into 10 simple rules! :-) Oh -- and I almost forgot my favorite .. passed down thru the generations ... and never fails to get a smile from the kids ... 'YOU'RE BIG AND UGLY ENOUGH TO DO IT YOURSELF' ...