Hort, who are these professionals? You will be hard pressed to find them. I've been trying to grow things for 37 years and still plants cark it. That is why we need an orchid forum. Sometimes you will find in posts little hints that make a difference. Anyway, it all comes down to conditions, conditions, conditions. Your Wal-Mart Dendrobium is probably a hard-cane, i've got about thirty of them and not many people grow them around these parts because they are considered "Difficult" . As for the disease, your plant is just showing what happens when conditions do not suit. I had one that grew too big, thought i would trial it outside a glasshouse and put it in a sheltered position of the front porch, sheltered position, morning sun. It declined! Moved it to my shadehouse. It declined more and then died. Your plant has declined to such a point that perhaps you should discard it and start off with a new one. These are the "weeds" of Florida, Hawaii, Queensland, Australia. They like moderate humidity, warmth, even watering, though slightly less in winter and sunlight filtered by some like shade-cloth. How can i tell you how to grow them seeing my total orchid experience is here? That is the real problem with orchid growing, you have to do some research and follow that up with some interpretation in relating what you read to your growing place(s). Even then many you try will just die.

I have spoken to elderly women to not leave their purses in the cart as they will steal your purse and they immediately thank me and grab their purse to them. Watch out too as they can slice the bottom of your purse thinking you are safe. I heard that they watch you put your purse in your trunk, have a friend that does that all the time. If I had to go to park or somewhere, I would only take my wallet and put it in my pocket, that is why I like pockets on everything I wear so I could pop them in and so if need to go to store or stop somewhere have money and card on me to use. Also all the ones that leave their cell phones, lap tops and other valuables in car and wonder why they got broke in. Anything including change they will break in your vehicle and take. And putting your purse way back in the tunk and putting something over it won't work, if they break in they will go at everything and find it. also heard that most women put their purses in their kitchen when they come through the door and keys too and if they are outside in the backyard, someone will come in and find those and steal not only your purse but your car too. Also people are still not locking their vehicles, lock them up at all times no matter if you run in and run out, YOu could get delayed and time goes by that someone could have watched you, with all the remote keys they can tell by watching if you clicked it locked or not. I had always thought those in chair or scooter hanging it in the back was a calling card to steal the purse and nothing they could do about it as they probably wouldn't even know until they go for it. Or the ones that have baskets in front, same thing grab it so fast and run like crazy and its gone. Warning, don't leave windows down in car as I had looked after my two nephews on time years ago and they had a friend over who came with us to bank and we all got out and I did the instanbank and suddnely the friend had zipped ahead and he could put his arm in the window and unlock the door. I couldn't believe it as the window was not down that far either and he could put his arm in it. So, be careful about that too. Just try not to carry anything more that you need in your purse. They do tell you not to take valuables traveling as they can get stolen and absolutely no money left or your passport or birth certificate or tickets, have them locked up in hotel safe. Wear money belts. I learned a hard way you can't trust anyone, I worked in a day care waiting for the last kids to be picked up and they came and I put my purse down for some reason instead of taking it with me to click out as I always did and came back and just like that gone. I had to call home and police as keys, and everything gone. And then report it next day to the head person and they questioned who they were, didn't know them except knew that one boy due to his class he went too was by the toddler room I worked in and his dad who was always late in picking him up. But didn't know the other parents or kids but could you point them out, yes, I could and went to classrooms and pointed them out and the mom worked in a bank and don't know where the guy worked, they were living together, Found out their house was on the way home and next thing I knew the mom got fired from her bank job and the house was up for sale. They moved I believe to Ontario, nice to do in front of their kids. It was right before christmas and had all my christmas money to go and buy gifts, I didn't get anything back either, then also next day called and called before got through to cancel out cards, they were stolen and yes, police was called about it. Next spring I get this phone call saying found your purse as they threw it in this huge snow bank by church across parking lot and the sisters found it. I never could use that purse again, its horrible having it stolen but when parents do with their kids right there, wow.

We're almost a year into a full-house renovation, which will probably end up about 90% DIY. We'd DIY-ed smaller reno projects on our previous home, plus a full refit on a 40-foot sailboat, and all those previous projects had gone quite well, so we felt competent to take this BIG project on. I have to say there have been many times we've regretted it!! To be fair, there have been a lot of unexpected major surprises, though. We thought we'd be totally done (interior + exterior) by now, but I'd say we're about halfway. I think the WORST part is that we've had absolutely no time for our daughter.Every single weekend and after-work free time has been spent working on the house, often in dirty and stressful conditions. The house has been mostly piles of parts, materials and debris all year. Poor kid!!! I have been the project manager and GC and it's been nearly a full-time job at many stages. Researching, sourcing, and ordering parts and materials takes a long time! I've also been the designer for some pretty major changes, with input from architect friends and the talented folks on GW of course! I spent months and months at a drafting board last spring trying to figure out how to add another bedroom and make a workable kitchen, living, dining area. I concur with those above who say that even when you hire subcontractors, you have to be prepared to spend time and mental energy supervising. The times I did NOT do that were the times things had to be ripped out and redone later.... so even when you spend the $$ you still need to do some of the work. I guess that's why people hire General Contractors to do that for them. I'll add a tool that's indespensible for any major project: a compressed-air nailer!! We had access to both a framing gun and a finish nailer, and MAN did they make that work go so much faster!!!!! Tools, I agree, are so important. You just can't do a good job without the right tools. Or maybe you can but it takes a lot more time and frustration! In my Christmas stocking I got a pliers set and under the tree was a screwdriver-tip kit and a new screwdriver set from DH. Romantic, huh? But now he won't worry I'm borrowing his work tools (he works at a boat yard which is GREAT for us since he has access to the whole woodshop there with awesome woodworking tools.) Books: We find that the Taunton pro series is best for really useful info. Here's the scope of our project and what we've done so far: Landscape drainage- 25% DIY, 75% subcontractor Main living space (kitchen, mudroom, dining, living) reconfigured, including moving several bearing walls): -demo: DIY, including walls, tile flooring, subfloor, plumbing & electrical -rough framing: subcontractor -sheetrock: subcontractor -plumbing: DIY, major replace entire kitchen -electrical: DIY, major, rewire 4 new rooms to code -cabinet install: DIY -appliance install: DIY -counter install: subcontractor (marble) -hardwood flooring install and finish: DIY -slate tile flooring: DIY -window/door trim: DIY (ongoing) -backsplash tile: DIY (not done yet, she says sheepishly!) -paint: DIY -woodstove install: DIY -pantry cabinetry build and install: DIY -built in bookcases buiild and install : DIY -heating/radiators install throughout: DIY Master bedroom/master bath/new office-bedroom- -demo: 50% DIY, 50% subcontractor (it was a mold issue and the insurance paid for much of this work to be done in order to eradicate the mold) -framing: subcontractor with close DIY supervision! -sheetrock: ditto above, plus we had to DIY a bit of it. -electrical: DIY -plumbing: DIY except for basic DWV layout -heating: DIY -tile: Bill Vincent!! -radiant heat floor install: DIY -window/door/finish trim: DIY -tub, toilet, vanity, etc install: DIY -paint: DIY Exterior- remove all vinyl siding and re-side with cedar shakes; paint all exposed concrete areas; install 3 new windows; build 3 porches and one deck; paths and landscaping: all DIY Phew. Now I'm really tired. Ugh- back to painting trim and installing toilets and lights today!!!

Like Netla, I try to wait a few days/weeks after I have found a new title and before I buy it. (Most of the time the urge leaves, and most of the time I can wait. Not easy sometimes though... And just discovered adding to the Wish List at amazon! That's a whole new world right there.) I think that the article about the TBR pile had resonated with me as I had been struggling a bit with a small and informal challenge that I had set myself. Numerous other bloggers were implementing the "TBR Challenge" whereby from Jan 01 until Mar 31, one doesn't buy a book or get a new title from the library. You can "only" read what's already in your possession and in your TBR pile. I had been doing ok with that, but then the challenge started to chafe me a bit and so I caved in. Still, I did do the TBR challenge for about 5 weeks, and removed a few (six) titles from the TBR mountain. In doing so, I learned that I am not that fond of limiting what I can read! So - the challenge is no longer an issue (as in I'm off it now), but it was good whilst it lasted. I became more aware of the book selection that I have already on my shelves and I realized how much I loved my local library! And, like Sheri, I have become better at DNFing any titles that aren't working for me. Off with their heads and into the charity pile they go!!