after reading all the opinions about this guy, i'm convinced that there are more misinformed fools in this world than i had thought before i just bought an older 12h.p. simplicity tractor that came with the 36" blower, and the 36" mower deck, all for $500.00. it's not that i couldn't afford a nice new j.d. tractor from the local big box store, i'm 70 years old. most people i know, realize that the big box stores sell inferior merchandise. j.d. tractors that are sold from these places are cheap, junk.. this is all because j.d. wants everybody to own their product. they have done the one thing that will damage their good name, forever, all because they are trying to tighten their belts and make even more money..in the end, anybody with a half a brain could figure this out. i'm a believer that the older tractors are built better and they were meant to last and last. the newer ones are meant to be thrown away so you will buy another new one, just as it is with most things..for my money, anybody is better off buying a good used tractor that still will outlast a new big box one, providing that the older one has been taken care of. the guy will probably regret ever buying the piece of junk but, i'm sure he'll enjoy driving his tractor that shines more than the used simplicity. just my three cents worth. jim.

I'll start w/ trudi_d- Hadn't heard of lysol, got some here, I'll give it a shot, thanks seedboy- Sadly, I agree about the ferals. They tend to carry diseases as well, I'll look into the traps......I do have one that we have used to round up the ferals but it's a standard live trap. sammyqc- NEVER feed animals (dogs, cats) outside or in the evening.....My laundry room is in the garage and it took about 4 months to get Angel to consent to eating in there, she still doesn't like it much, but when she got hungry enough............. vaccinium_hound- Like I said, I don't mind skunks, just don't want em under my house..No need to resort to violence ;o) digdirt- Been there done that (search) every time I tried a link it came up missing file (but I did have a fine list) I will try again thanks ddsack - Haven't had a problem in the garden (yet) but it is in the area where the dogs are and there are a few nieghbors 'close' that have unprotected gardens they seem to prefer. To be honest, this was a very healthy, dare I say it, pretty skunk........Don't wish it ill will, just want it gone......Gonna remember 'bout that rope..Thanks louster- Well I don't live antwhere near a city limit, but I explained my hesitation on shootin' them earlier in this thread. I haven't called animal control because last yr when we had 3-4 dogs (dumped, strays.....?) that started harassin' the area livestock, we were told just to shoot them, they didn't have time to come down to take care of them.....So, we (various neighbors) did...Not fun....Needless to say, waste of my time callin' about this....I was at the other end of my house yesterday trying to pitch mothballs in......(not a pretty sight) and as soon as I'm sure it's out that hole is sooooo gonna be plugged...Don't start me on why it's not, it's not easily seen and last summer (early) when I say something to my DH he blew me off and said it was taken care of..sigh....... Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, I truly enjoy this forum, I don't post much, but think I've learned a ton..........

I have an XL Glider, and I love it too. My husband found out why it squeaks. Because they come preassembled, they are painted and assembled very quickly. When the paint comes off after using and folding/storing it, the metal rubs a bit on the joint that crosses. He put a thin plastic washer in between the two poles and WaLaa! No more squeaks! (he has the allen wrenches that are required to seperate the poles, you may need to purchase them). These are the joints that the manual says to check and make sure that they are tight before using. You could lubricate the joint, I suppose, but I haven't had a squeak since. It was so annoying, I use mine every other day in the morning, I am so happy now. Jainie

Okay, change of plans - had my breakfast, did my dishes earlier and since I'm trying to figure out the best place for Andy's permanent litter box location I decided the utility room. Since it's a new build home, that room still has builder's debris (they still have a few things to finish) - so I'm cleaning the floor and trimming back the plastic wrap over the insulation so it's not a foot across the floor. Collecting copper wire (crafts - the electrician gave me two boxes of cut offs when he wired this place). Putting all of that room's garbage in the separate pile by the shop which is building debris which the builder will haul. I'm not filling my $2/tag garbage bags with this stuff. So I'm not bored anymore. And I'll continue vacuuming all this place once I start that. I scared DH away to his workshop. Now I know he's not bored anymore. And Andy has found a lovely sunny spot to snooze in. Ah to be a cat. LOL