My wife and I ordered orchids from Houserman a year and a half ago and we were send orchids that were in very poor condition and not the sizes we ordered.Several were in such bad shape that we immediately contacted them and was told there was nothing they would do.We took all of the orchids putchased from them to the N.C.S.U Lab for testing due to the feat that they could be infected with a virus.I was contacted in a week and told that infact the orchids we delivered to them from Housermans orchids infacted tested positive for virus' and it was recomended that they all be distroyed.We had contacted them first by phone and informed them of the poor condition of the orchids they shipped us along with the fact that the 2 Angracieum Sesquipedial in spike was not shipped as ordered as was not the 3 Vanillia Planifolia or the 5 assorted Neofinetia's we had ordered.That was when we were told there was nothing they would do.After we recieved the information from the lab we contacted them again and again we were told that they were not going to do anything about refunding our money, replacing the plants and that they never shorted shipments therefore we could forget recieving the missing plants from them.We have been growing orchids in my family for 40 years and never had such a problem with a grower or fellow orchidist before and we have contacted them on several occasions since but no replies to our problem. So they have given me no choice but to let everyone know to Stay away!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris Perhaps with the word getting our Housermans will start treating customers better. Returning their calls and emails would be one place to start!

Inheriting a house has all kinds of potential (and maybe even needful) long term projects. While away for my working career, I'd visit the family home once a year and muse about what I'd do if it ever became mine. I was able to take first opportunity retirement at 55, moved back to look after aging parents almost 6 years ago now and, well, the time has come when this old house is mine. And to be really mine, like minkos, it just needs to have my personality stamped on it. Fortunately, my parents were very conscientious of maintenance and upkeep, so structure and integrity isn't an issue. And their financial and personal papers were in good order so saving everything to eventually cull out what was important wasn't necessary. As they aged, however, they acquired the "I might need this someday" syndrome and things never seemed to get discarded. But the clutter and years of papers, bric-a-brac of no consequence, the tons of Book of the Month Club selections everybody who was first nestbuilding in the early 50's had on their bookshelves,etc. is gradually disappearing. Once I get going on a drawer or cabinet, I'm amazed at how ruthless I can be. On-going project: start wearing out all the work clothes I brought with me - save winter and summer suits aside for funerals, a couple of nice things for occasions when they're needed, everything else for everyday wear or out in the garden - that'll take it's toll. Immediate project: turn the den into a room I'd actually like spending time in. Paint, new drapes, new furniture and lamps to replace the really bad Early American hodgepodge. The carpeting is good, but I like the look of rugs over rugs, so will probably look for an Oriental as the final touch. It has built in bookshelves - I like books in them, but I also like some of the space for display... a small painting (my Mother was an accomplished oil painter) on an easel, a piece of my American Majolica collection, a nice vase, or piece of ceramics. First 2008 project: start redoing the gardens. Large yard with large perennial gardens. Been working on them for a few years now; organizing, dividing, eliminating, replacing. Would like to start paring down the blooming perennials and put in some dwarf conifers - just so the spaces have fewer things to deal with. Not too distant future project: livingroom is a nice room, but just not my style. My cherry Queen Anne furniture is stored in the basement and might find it's way upstairs, but once in my life I'd like to call in a professional decorator to work with me in pulling it all together. Far future: don't really know what can be done with a mid 30's kitchen. It's pleasant and very workable, lots of cabinets, adequate counter space, built-ins, some nice features so maybe leaving well enough alone is the answer. How far will I actually get? I don't know, but am really motivated to do the den. Have all my paint cards and am narrowing the choices down. And a simple phone call to the Salvation Army or Goodwill would clear the room out in one fell swoop.

This sister is not the one with weight issues. In fact she is a beautiful girl. But I know she has some self esteem issues. She is on meds for anxiety because she has social anxiety. And she gets mad real quick. She is always mad at at least one sister. Her latest is that she is mad at one of my sisters for being friends with her bf on facebook. Even though her and her bf hung around my other sis and her bf everyday for weeks and they all became friends my sister was mad at her sis and bf for being on eachothers friend list! Its insane.

Here’s an update from The Philadelphia Preservation Alliance. This is a sad loss for the city. “Update on 239 Chestnut: Sadly, this 1851 historically-certified loft building designed by Stephen Decatur Button suffered catastrophic damage in a fire of undetermined origin early Sunday morning Thankfully, everyone got out and no one was seriously injured. We visited the site this morning with several structural engineers and L&I. Within the building, there is literally nothing left. The roof and all of the floors collapsed and pancaked into the cellar. The rear brick wall remains standing, but is unsupported and in danger of collapse. The first floor front has cast iron columns and trim (backed with masonry), and the upper facade is brownstone clad with stucco. Unfortunately it appears unlikely that the upper portions can be saved as the brownstone is quite brittle and crumbles easily. Further complicating things, the only access to the building is through the front - there is no rear alley access. Our best hope based on what we know to this point is that the building may be re-built someday to match the old, including the original cast iron front. Sadly, one of the finest blocks of historic buildings in Philadelphia will be compromised for a long time to come.”