You guys are hilarious!! Calliope, I can't believe he didn't notice your hair!! My dh also buys land at the tax sale auctions. There is one piece the state is looking at and he could make a good profit, so I had to eat my words on that purchase, too. No, I didn't break the bank or have to use the mortgage payment to buy the machine. I'm just not used to buying something that expensive without discussing it with him first. (We're both good about doing that.) Well, I still haven't told him yet. I went out with the girls last night so, I only saw him for about an hour and really didn't think the time was right. My older machine is an embroidery machine and the new one is a straight stitch quilting machine, so I really can't swap them out. That is one reason I bought this machine. I can't do any sewing while the older machine is doing it's embroidery (I've pointed this out to him numerous times, LOL!!). I don't have it hidden, but he isn't the most observant person either (it's sitting on the floor with a cover on it and he's walked by it at least a dozen times). But when I set it up, I think it will be obvious because I will have to set up a separate table for it. I think I'll do that this afternoon and see what he says when he gets home. I'd really like to start sewing on it! (((Taking a deep breath))) I'll update you tomorrow (or late this evening?) Thanks for all the laughs, this has been a fun thread.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. I did have a good cry (several, in fact) and am feeling more calm and accepting, I guess. SS is doing pretty well right now. It ended up being mostly just the usual; he came home filthy (he hadn't changed his underwear, bathed, or brushed his teeth all weekend), hungry (he had chocolate milk and two pieces of pizza as he wasn't allowed a third piece all day Sunday), exhausted (he's allowed/encouraged to stay up very late -after midnight- until BM goes to bed and then she takes him to sleep with her). Also as usual he was pretty much ignored except when dragged around on Sunday to be shown off to relatives (and we think used as an excuse to get invited to dinner). He tried to discuss some of his concerns re Christmas with BM; fortunately she didn't scream but also apparently didn't listen/ask questions/express concern. She again told him there was no money for presents or "a Christmas"; he finally told her that he didn't want to come and she just said "You are". Our attorney has told us that one withheld visitation occurring after a mod petition has been filed almost certainly will have no effect on anything custody wise and at most might result in a fine. Make of that what you will. :-) SS is feeling better since he was informed of a certain decision that DH did not make lightly. He requested to speak with his counselor again as he's been very upset about it all. I spoke with her briefly as we're always trying to make sure that the right thing is being done, and to be sure that we're not inadvertently influencing SS (it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a poker face when tales of BM are being recounted). She agreed that it is possible that BM has something planned that doesn't involve ruining SS's holiday out of spite - but she didn't really believe that any more than DH, SS or I do. SS was convinced that not only will she not get him anything, as she told him, but that she will deliberately stay up very late so that Santa does not come to bring him anything either. His other concern was that since Santa has never left him any presents there, nor is he mentioned, obviously (to him) Santa does not bring his BM anything because "she's bad". So he also worried that if Santa brought him presents but left nothing for BM that she would scream at him. He said something very concerning to me on the way to counseling yesterday. He told me that sometimes he wished he were in heaven so he didn't have to see BM. When I questioned him he said his main concern was that what if it was all wrong, what if "bad people" were allowed into heaven and then he would still have to see her anyway. He has promised me if he has more thoughts like that to discuss them with me, DH, counselor, teacher, anyone. Unfortunately he told Sunday school teacher that BM was mean to him and screamed, so they discussed in class about honoring thy father and mother, and it was explained to him how he should behave better so she is "not so stressed". I cannot fault the woman because I am sure that she was imagining a typical "I asked the kid five times to shut off the TV and come to dinner and then I yelled" kind of thing - but poor SS. It really makes me wonder how many kids who are sexually or physically abused are asking for help and the adults are just not hearing it. We also confirmed other suspicions this weekend. BM's BF is in prison for parole violation; he's a career criminal. But as soon as he gets out they'll be married and live happily ever after, with custody of SS, and both of us paying CS. Anyway, that being the case in fantasyland, BF's mother is often over visiting and SS is encouraged to call her GM. (Strangely not step-grandma, nor "my mother's future husband's mother". Huh.) Anyway, we found that, well, her record is not quite as extensive as her son's. The years of drug possession charges (in addition to others) are not particularly surprising to either DH nor I due to the fact that SS had already told us that she is "funny" because she always thinks that "bugs are on her skin and in her hair". We haven't even started to figure out what to do with that mess yet. To wrap up my very long update, the pet may/may not be doing better. She's on steroids; vet said she might show a brief improvement for a very short time and then it's rapidly downhill. She is showing improvement so DH and I are holding out hope for a miracle (or a misdiagnosis; we opted out of the $1500 tests so it was more of an educated guess to her condition). Meanwhile we are taking advantage of the fact that everyone at the moment is feeling OK to do holiday stuff together; if we could just freeze an evening in time for a while I think I'd be happy.

Thanks for the re-welcoming responses everyone! :) Skip the individual replies below and go to the next post to read more about kitchen details... Julie - the crossing of your body parts is WORKING! Dianalo - thanks for the fingers crossing - it's totally working - and yes I agree there has been too much drama! Johnliu - thank you! That's a major super kind compliment - especially considering how many pictures you see on this forum! :) I really appreciate it and thanks for thinking of me. It's going better now, at least re. the kitchen! Aliris19 - I KNOW! Crazy weird. I don't get it - the best I can come up with is that I somehow acquired some bad karma! Kathe - thank you. It's finally working out - yay! More details below, about the kitchen. Re. my husband, I'd love to give you some better news but yesterday we went to the doc after he had a second echocardiogram (sp?) and much to our surprise (since he's feeling and looking better and has adjusted well to the meds) they said he wasn't doing as well as they'd hoped - especially for his relatively younger age and relative health. His heart hasn't decreased in size and his EF% did get to a safer/higher number (between 30-35 as opposed to the 20-25 it was before) but it has to be 40 or above to be able to prevent getting a pacemaker put in. :( So now he's facing that and he's incredibly discouraged after how well he was feeling. Also, some of his heart is apparently dead now (?) - forget the terminology - so a second advantage of the pacemaker is that a third wire can be put in which will help sort of stimulate that area, if I'm understanding correctly. The doc says the way my husband's heart is now, he has a 5-10% chance of dying which is of course high, though he thinks on the low end cause of his general health. But still that's high!!! I forgot what the number is after the pacemaker though. He said he recommends doing it soon but he said an alternative would be up the meds (which is happening either way/regardless) and then wait 6 weeks to see if his EF# gets up to 40 but he said that's very unlikely and that postponing things is a risk, especially since we have 3 kids (and no life insurance, thank you very much...or you can thank my husband very much...we fought about this so many times prior to his diagnosis - it kills me to think about!). My husband wants to wait the 6 weeks, which is a pretty big concern - I'm pretty worried about this. I mean if you look at this as "how much luck is this couple having lately" - it points to HAVE THE SURGERY DONE NOW. Doesn't it?! Thanks for inquiring, and sorry to have such a long reply! Marcolo - thank you! You can see the details about the hubby in the above post - and thanks for thinking of him! As for the Jaclo faucet, here's what I have to say about it TODAY anyway: I love so much about it, but the particular one I ordered has had some issues which appear to be a major fluke based on everything I've read and heard about them. The company has been very good about responding appropriately and they're about to send me a brand spanking new one. They've send some individual replacement parts which have worked out relatively well but not well enough for the amount the faucet costs! In other words for the price, this thing needs to be tight and working beautifully in every way, IMO! The man who's helping me said that the moment the order comes in from my local store (I won't be charged) he's going to take it off the shelf himself and make sure there's no jiggling in the neck and that everything else looks and works perfectly. I've been wanting to talk about the faucet on here but have been waiting to see if the issues could get resolved first so that I can give a thorough and fair review. I do love the faucet though, even with the issues. I just love how funky and different it is while also appearing period-appropriate...I love the hidden sprayer that doesn't require putting holes in your countertop, I love the choice of very high-end levers/colors or the stainless wheels option and I love love love the gorgeous polished solid stainless body that isn't as cold as chrome - it's much more like polished nickel warmth-wise but more durable. Also, because my countertop is stainless, it's a perfect match. Not blue as chrome or yellow as nickel. :) Fori - thank you! Flwrs n co - your positive juju is working! I'm going to be able to show pics soon it appears. The paint on the upper original cabs and crappy old windows (lead paint, mind you) is another matter. Not sure how to afford that but it looks terrible compared to all the other nice work. But you'll just have to look past that! :) Thank you for the well-wishes. We'll take any and all that we (he) can get right now. Honorbiltkit - I can picture this dance in my mind, perfectly. Why do I have a feeling you're a writer? Cluelessincolorado - it's good to know if I'm gone too long, you'll head up the search party! ;) #3 is making me so happy. Read below to hear all about it. Thank you for the well-wishes, including for my badly-needed sanity...you have NO IDEA, honestly (they're talking about sending me away for a week so I can get some respite - but that's mostly cause the kids are making me crazy. I think I'm developing a tick!!)!!!! Details about kitchen in the next post below...

Hi all! I am so grateful for all your comments. We had this house built 19 yrs ago. I am 55 & just retired from teaching. My husband is in county politics, so we plan on being here awhile. Our son is grown & the house is too big for the two of us, but to sell & buy smaller what we want would be about the same money. I figure this is my last kitchen so I need to do it up right. The cabinets will be good quality for around here. Custom made by a popular area cabinetmaker, or a small company in the next county. Kitchen Jewels from Jasper, IN--anyone heard of them? Someone asked--our appliances are GE Profile. WE went to the local Parade of Homes today & every house we saw was dark cabinets, dark counters, & dark or SS appliances. Now I'm not sure I like that look all put together. Our kitchen is fairly small with one over the sink window. It opens completely into the dining room & it opens into a sunroom. (I found out later why the saleslady wanted me to order the pink chairs--she wanted to see them to see if she wanted them in her house!! She could have had mine!) I won't mind the cleaning of the black granite. I would wipe down my counters anyway. Some of you said my appliances will be wearing out soon. Not the stove--it is never used. I am a non-cook. Hate to cook. That may get me kicked off this forum with my very first post!