I asked you that question about Peace hoping you'd post a 2nd pic of it. That's a softly beautiful colored rose, peaceful:) I love roses that change colors. Leslie

you had a more productive day than i did, lol...i was bound and determined to get the laundry baskets empty! i'm down to the final load (just a slip-cover) with the upstairs bathroom re-do almost finished, dh can take his basket back upstairs and not get his stuff mixed with mine. i hate his dress shirts getting in general laundry...they're all wash and wear and if i'm quick and do them alone, i don't have to iron! we had about an inch of that fluffy snow but it was almost all gone by 3...we still quite a base from the 7" we had last week. my most important thing was calling ds2 and finding out what time they were headed to the hosp for induction tomorrow...9:30am, so if i do go out, it will be early. we're not going to hosp, as they've sort of closed it to everyone except patients. they're trying to prevent that 3rd outbreak of h1n1... while i'd love to be there, i can wait 48 hours til baby gets home. dil is sort of high maintance and it's better to be on her terms...so wish us luck that everything goes well...i'd hate to see her have to have a "c" section, unless baby needs it...he'll be our 8th grand and second boy...(their first)

You can't tell about the tiles unless you take a small sample to a test lab; this doesn't cost much, and then you'll know. If they're only stapled in place and not also glued -- and they contained asbestos -- you could probably safely remove them as follows: 1. Get a respirator with asbestos filter canisters for yourself (maybe $35, not one of those $2 dust masks). 2. Close off all openings from that room to the inside of the house (doors, vents, etc.) with visqueen and tape. (First, make sure you have all the supplies you will need -- see below -- so you can do the whole job without having to reenter the rest of the house mid-project. 3. Open the window for ventilation to the outside (so some of the airborne fibers will float out). 4. Have a spray bottle full of soapy water, a good pair of needle-nose pliers and maybe a thin-bladed screwdriver. 5. Spray each tile heavily as you work along in the vicinity of the staples, and carefully pull/pry each staple out, while doing as little damage to the tile as possible. Put (don't toss) the tiles in plastic garbage bags and seal the tops with twist ties. 6. When you're done, have some paper towels with you so you can wet clean the floor, and dispose of the towels in a bag. 7. Go out the window, so you can dust off your clothes outside, or throw the clothes out the window if you can't. 8. Take the bags of tiles to a landfill that accepts asbestos containing waste. I know those steps sound neurotic, but that's how you should approach it if you want a low-risk removal. You might also consult your local environmental agency to see if they have any suggestions. Usually small, low-risk removals of this type can be done by homeowners without a permit. Good luck...and maybe it's not asbestos!

I got up around 8am today and started the first of two loads of laundry, plus washed DD's competiton gym leotard separately. Then I started on her hair do for the meet today. Whew! That is an accomplishment! It's all about the hair, ya know. Did this tricky little spider-web thing that's become popular, then back in a ponytail, then the ponytail curled into spirals. Took about 15 tiny little clear elastics and a dozen little foam curlers, a handful of hair gel and a couple dozen squirts of hairspray. And over an hour of my time. ;o) That was extra special, usually I give it a really good ponytail, but very rarely go that extreme. I was feeling generous, and she asked so nicely. ;o) Here's the idea. This was taken tonight, after the meet, after 1000 tugs on the ponytail and lots of tumbling loosened the curls (and it doesn't hold curls very well, either). Honest, it was tight curls. Next time I'll remember to take the pic before the meet. While that set, and the laundry was drying, I cleaned out the van and went up for an oil change and the emmissions test. Then back home, made lunch for the family, showered and changed myself. Then we drove an hour to the gymnastics meet. Did that, had dinner, got back around 9pm DD accomplished some good scores! She had a great meet and finishsed first place all around in her age group and session. That is a first for her, so it was very exciting. She has been struggling with bars for a couple months, but today also finished first on bars, another first. And she's going to leave her hair like that for a couple days. ;o) Took me too long to take it back out already. I am not skilled with it, I have to compensate by taking my time and concentrating. I even tell her not to talk to me while I'm working on it, which is *really* hard for her. LOL! BTW, DD is 9. Now I'm going to crawl into bed with a book. Tomorrow is another day, and I have other tasks that have been waiting all week. Like getting caught up on my online class.