Thanks! I was getting low on Bak-Kleen, that stuff is great.

Hey, Pup! I was just looking at that really customized pantry (all crannies and pullouts) that I saw on the quest for the dishroom. If the floor's uneven, I think it would be better to build a level platform that's scribed to the floor for these to stand on. Shims does not sound like a good idea if you're going to store that much on them. You could also plane them to fit, but that sounds harder. I've had a bunch of industrial metal shelving for a long time (came to me free). It also clips together and is open across shelves. The more you do from the start to contain small things together the easier it will be to keep them organized. Also, if your extra long items are lightweight and not fragile, consider rigging "hammocks" for them and hanging them from the under side of the shelves. That gives you the shelf surfaces for smaller, heavier items. The biggest problem with this kind of shelving is that the openings are always a little too big and the shelves a little too far apart--and stacking means unstacking to get at the bottom items. The thing I think is special about these is the corner unit. You don't usually find those on open shelving units.

You have a knife that you love. Give it a wooden cutting board big enough to be easy to work on, a steel or sharpener to keep its edge, and a nice block or magnetic strip to store it in/on. Then keep cooking and check your spreadsheet as you feel the need of something here or there. You have a minimalist heart, so I would avoid something big, expensive, and only intermittently useful like a food processor. I've cooked for forty years without one, happily. Likewise, a Vitamix is overkill unless you often make drinks or smoothies that require finely crushing ice cubes. But you'll take my immersion blender from my cold, dead fingers! If it has a whisk and chopping attachment, it can: whip egg whites, make whipped cream, make hummus, nut butters, pesto, chopped liver, and puree soups. SO much easier to get out, use, clean, and store than a stand blender! Things I use a lot from W-S that have lasted well and been well worth the $: the set of three mesh footed colanders with handles, waffle-weave white towels for drying (15 years and still going!), an OXO digital scale (not discounted anywhere, so might as well get it from W-S), and a 3-qt All-Clad saucepan with the handled steamer insert (which turns out to be perfect for making couscous the traditional way as well as steaming veg). A big silicon spoonula is about my favorite utensil -- much more heat resistant than rubber spatulas, cuts way down on cleaning needed for bowls and pots, cuts way down on waste when transferring from one vessel to another. Big-ticket items that are super versatile: Dutch oven, wide shallow two-handled braiser (which can be used, lidless, to roast and bake, in addition to one-pot prep of things like short ribs and braised chicken w/veg). This is a nice braiser: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/all-clad-tri-ply-stainless-steel-braiser-with-rack/ that will be easier to handle than an enameled cast iron one, but those have the advantage of being attractive enough to use for serving. Have fun!

it shouldn't matter how a different tablecloth washed--- that's irrelevant unless the table cloth was exactly the same. some cottons require cold water washes to minimize bleeding... you say that the care label on the one that bled says 'something along the lines of machine wash in warm water'... maybe it was mislabeled... but since you can't go to a store and show them the product and the incorrect label, you don't have a receipt, and that the tablecloth is a few years old already, i think a 15% off coupon is a nice gesture... there is SO much fraud and theft, etc that goes on in retail that I'm sure that it is diifficult for many stores!! i recently had an issue where a glass in a set from ws (on line) arrived broken... they sent ups to pick it up and sent another set-- again, there was an issue with another glass and i contacted them, the set was again picked up and they set a 3rd set- finally i got an undamaged set! even tho it was a pain, i was pleased with their prompt pick up and sending of new sets-- and it was a small pain compared to having to pack up and bring something back to the store!