Tom, my purple martin house is an old "Heath" house and definitely not up to current standards. It came from my Dad, who purchased several insertable layers. At the time, it was sold by Sears and you could buy and add as many "stories" as you wanted. When he replace it with all gourds, he put the pole and Heath house up in my yard. I think you can still get the Heath house but it is not recommended/sanctioned by Purple Martin advocates. The link below tells the story of my pole and how it works. (There are two "pages" to the post.) Again - this set up - all my Dad. He had the idea, got the parts and put it all together. Also again, he came up with this way before the internet and current standards of daily nest inspections, etc. You will fall in love with them if you get the Purple Martin house! Every Feb/March, you will watch the skies, waiting for YOUR birds to return. Yes, they are migratory birds and the exact same birds will return to your house once you have a colony established. Over wonderful open water like you have, it shouldn't take long. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Martin Pole

Hi FD, everyone has posted lots of good ideas...:) I think KKNY's idea of the depression is a very good one, your SO does sound that way. You could take him to his family doctor and check into it, you can also take online "tests", such as this one.. http://www.depression.about.com/cs/diagnosis/l/bldepscreenquiz.htm There are lots of sites if you just google "depression test" and they aren't a perfect diagnosis, but if your SO takes one, it might at least show him if he is indeed depressed and then he might at least choose to get some help,if he is depressed. He also sounds like he is still allowing his DD's and his ex to manipulate him terribly and he sounds like a big time enabler. He is "enabling" his kids and his ex to ruin his (and Your!) holiday! Sounds like he could use a therapist to help him get thru this, as he is letting them run and ruin his life for him. In turn, you help him with the kids, because you love him and you are a good person, but you get "swept" into the mess. I really hope you go to your family party and have a good time and as my dear old Mum says "Let him stew!!" Sometimes just by letting him sit there and be miserable and by not asking him anymore to come, maybe he will actually think about how his behaviour is affecting you and your relationship together. I would even go so far as to tell him when you leave to go to the party: "think about how your behaviour is affecting other people,in particular me." Then give him a smile and a hug and a wave and a "see you,I'm off to have a great time!!" If all else fails, tell him your cousin is bringing a newly divorced guy who is apparently heartbroken but dashingly handsome and smart funny, etc...a doctor...LOL!!

Whew! Okay, one less boob light in the world, like sailorgirl said! lol Fidoprincess, we do have one of the newer squarish boxes. The ground wire is a mystery, though, as it only came out of the old light fixture itself and was not inside the ceiling box-- I'm looking into making sure we're okay with the way we have the light "grounded" to the ground screw, so I'll be posting this on the Lighting forum too! The old light had a ground wire that ran from the ground screw to a metal part of the old light. I thought the ground wire was supposed to come out of the ceiling box. Anyone know? Meanwhile, we're keeping it off until I find out if we did the ground wire correctly. The new semi flush light sure looks pretty and gives off plenty of light!

1) bake 2) buy the turkeys (we're doing two small ones) and a few other things 3) pack up all of my lotion/soap/etc making supplies from the small multi-purpose room that is off of our dining room (we call it the cozy room because it's so small) so that it can be used to set up an extra (small) dining table to seat a few extra people. I did schedule a vacation day on Wednesday next week, so I can have a little prep time. I always find it really difficult to prepare for a holiday that doesn't have a free day ahead of time (meaning a non-Sunday or Monday holiday).