Bucky, IMO, the best thing you can do is to keep the coolant at maximum full level at all times. It has been my experience that when Dexcool gets low and mixes with air for an extended period of time, it becomes really nasty and gunky. Also, although the extended coolants are suppose to go 100,000+ miles, I think you would be best served to flush and refill the system a little more frequently than that. Some of the intake manifold bolts are easier to access than others. I do not advise retorquing retorquing the easy bolts and not the others as this may actually put more uneven pressure on the gasket and potentially cause a leak. I do not see any benefits in spending the time and/or money to simply retorque the intake manifold bolts because of accessability issues. Once you get to them you might as well take the few additional steps (removing valve covers, rocker arms, pushrods, intake, etc.) and go ahead and replace the gaskets.

Lyfia, I have the 3/8" in my kitchen/breakfast area for 4 years, and had it installed in the LR about 2 years ago. When it's laid, I don't know if you could detect the 3/8" from the 1/2"~maybe it's a psychological thing. They both have a 10 year warranty on the polyurathane finish, not the floor itself. This means it can be buffed down and new poly can be applied. You could probably even change the color of the stain at that point. For the $$$, I would go with the 3/8"~no one will notice a difference.

Thank you Annz. One of the installers called me back so he is the one I will use to install the floor. He is the middle of the price range and he told me he will take a break from the job he is on tomorrow to come by to let me know exactly what we need but from my description he feels I need 2 T-moldings (88" long and I need 4" more than this from my measurements for the two areas) and the reducer will not be good if the area is only a 1/8th difference. But he will see for sure and bring a floating pad and a 1/2" board. He also will let me know the exact number of reducers we will need since they are not returnable I just found out. He feels we have enough extra waste for the wood and he is very good at not wasting wood and is good at what he does. Hence, I guess I will wait for him to arrive tomorrow. Truehardwoods.com has been so patient with me and will give me a few more days (they have the order in the system but it is not yet sent to their distributor) to be sure about what I need as well as let me know which glue I ordered to allow me to change the wood glue to waterproof glue between the seams. Another installer just called me back and had no idea and that is not a good sign. So if the installer comes by tomorrow that called earlier, he has the job. I guess I better get back to my work and get a good night's sleep tonight and see what the installer has to stay that is stopping by tomorrow.

I think you should shave it off now. I know that sounds harsh but, this way, you have the control. Two of my sisters had cancer and both asked me to shave them at my salon which I did. They were relieved to be able to forget about it and go on to the next step. Both of them got Raquel Welch wigs which are the most realistic to the point that people asked them where they got their haircuts. I wish you didn't have cancer but I'm happy you can speak about it and share. It's so important. Both of them are living happy lives and you will do the same. We took joke books to chemo and laughed so much, both had the other four sisters for support and love. I wish you the very best that life can offer.