Still doubt you actually have read many of my posts. If you had you would see my tenants actually recomend me to potential tenants. When I show vacant apartments I give out applications and references from other tenants. Every year tenants fill out surveys anonymously. I have also posted about my wedding and having many past and current tenants attend. We even took a few group pictures of past neighbors. I know I come of as insensitive to many posters. I actually agree with many of the posts but like to show other points of view to get people thinking. I have been a member of multiple boards, (buisness, non profit, and government) I would many times argue for the other side and still vote the majority, just wanting people to understand the entire issue. To many times everything is blammed on the landlord. People need to see things from the LL point of view. What are they going to do if they move out to a house? Someone vandalizes their car, breaks into their house, peoples pets use their yard, loud neighbors next door, etc. On their own they won't be able to call the LL! I rarely have many of the problems posted here because I let my tenants know up front I am a very strict landlord. That is obviously what many tenants want. Someone that will crack down on bad neighbors, and keep the building quiet. Besides how much fun with this forum be if everyone just patted each others back and agreed? Also no one HAS to do anything including renting from me. I learned a long time ago their are no needs only wants. This includes living.

For anyone who may be wondering if Chazlie is the norm, let me clarify. Chazlie is a classic case of a person who has been wounded at a crucial point in life - maybe more than once. He has a deficit of compassion, love and respect for women as a whole. He justifies his acting out by belittling those who live a life he cannot fathom, one of true intimacy and security. I can predict fairly easily that such a man does not have a partcularly close, loving relatioship with his own mother, and I would also guess that his wife struggles with some codependency. He would probably argue both these points, since it is so hard to look internally when such a deep pain exists. The brain works exceedingly hard to "feel good" - and such acting out (yes, it's acting out, it's not socially acceptable, reasonable, nor is it normal) - is an attempt to make up for the pain that exists mentally and emotionally. That is the ONLY reason people are self destructive - and yes, blocking real intimacy through multple partners and infidelity is without question self destructive. This is sad, no matter how you slice and dice it.

I decided to paint some old boards over old colors that are light and neutral with the Aura Satin paint I have here in the quart and the BM Regal Pearl Finish paint in the SW Antique White color (not for the color but for the finish/shine). I really like painting with the Pearl Finish paint and the VOC count and drying time is so much less than the old formula. I know I will not be doing the painting but it is such a nice paint and really covers well. The Aura Paint I can not paint well with and I know a painter would have to be very skilled to paint with it. I will see how I feel when both boards dry but so far my feeling is that despite wanting to go lower VOC, I may just stay with the BM Regal Paint in the Pearl Finish since it is so nice and rich on the walls without too much of a shine. The Satin is definitely shinier than the Pearl. I do not like Eggshell or flat paint so I have decided to not try out the Aura Eggshell finish. I am going to have to air out the room due to my preference for finish over VOC count. If I would like an eggshell finish, I would go with the Natura.

One of my friends had the lap band surgery last year. I went with her to a lap band seminar as an extra set of ears. From what I learned, without having some of the things you spoke about, (sleep apnea, high blood pressure) etc, you can't have the surgery. In other words, you have to have some form of weight related illness to qualify for the surgery. I agree with the other posters who said to get another doctor! For the posters above who said they knew people that didnt lose or were still gaining... the doctor that gave this seminar said he has given people the lapband surgery who had done the bypass in the past. He said eventually you can stretch out your "new stomach" with bypass and he was getting away from doing bypass and only doing the lapband. As for the lap band, it isnt a miracle, there is maintenance to this. It isnt just surgery and you're done. It takes months of going in for them to fill (or tighten) the band until it gets to the point that you are eating less but getting enough nutrition. She had it done, has lost something like 60 lbs. It worked for her because she eats smaller portions than before, but as with anyone, if you fill up on sweets, ice cream and cake, you are still going to take in more calories than your body can get rid of. As she says, it still takes willpower to stay away from the junk with the band, but she can't overeat because her band won't allow her to.