reel_time; I am not sure how to answer you, because you say you don't want to spend the money on a Kirby just for one room. Later, you say you have hardwood floors and carpeted stairs. First, let's assume you want to vacuum the carpet, floors, stairs, and everything else. A Kirby would do the job. It has attachments to clean other things besides carpeting. You can find used and refurbished Kirbys for around $500 average. Canister vacuum cleaners, with power nozzles, also work well for this situation. Check out Riccar and Simplicity canisters with power nozzles. If you cannot put alot of money into a vacuum cleaner at this time, then check out the Panasonic MC-CG902. It can be found for around $200. If you want to just vacuum carpeting, you could look at Sanitaire uprights like the S647E or the S670A. You can find cheaper, similar uprights, from the same company, like the Eureka C2094G. These uprights do not have attachments, so you would have to buy a compact canister for other cleaning like the floors, drapes, etc. Another much cheaper upright would be the bissell bagged PowerGlide Platinum. You can find it for $80. Do not expect the cheaper vacuums to be up to par with the more expensive, better-quality vacuums. You cannot expect the Bissell to last as long as a Kirby or Sanitaire, for example. There are more options, but I could be writing all day. It would be better for you to give more detail of what you will be vacuuming.

At "home", growing up it was the left front burner for proximity to the counter and sink - right side of stove was against the refrigerator (hated that setup). And usually the right side burners were covered with pots and pans for storage. Had a small kitchen with 2 small cupboards in it. First apartment I started with the right front, since there was nothing to the left of the stove and the second apartment was reversed but I cooked on whatever. In the house I've used the right front primarily, front left is the second burner used and the back burners used for warming or when I needed additional burners only. Now the new stove has different sized burners but still is front right the larger, as is the rear left and the front left and rear right are small burners. But I use what I need and cook. This isn't like a gas stove that needs to match the pan size so much. My cookware distributes heat well and the 3 qt saucepan covers the larger burner fairly well too so I don't obsess over it. And the Nesco, convection oven, oven or microwave might also be in use so it's whatever gets the job done for me.

At my usual bank branch, I smile at the teller, give her my bank book and tell her how much cash I need. S/he may ask what size bills I need, then gets the cash from the security window or the machine, counts it out and gives it to me, then asks me to sign the receipt, which shows which account it came from, then she gives me back my bank book with the transaction recorded, which I check. When visiting a different branch the other day, the lady asked for an access card, which I showed her. When she brought the money, I asked her how she could be sure that I wasn't a stranger using the access card that I'd found/stolen. She said that before she gave me the money, she'd ask for picture ID. The other day in the usual branch they had a poster recommending use of debit card (was it for internet transactions?), and I said that on the radio that morning they'd said that debit card was not a good idea, as using a credit card usually meant that if there was a dispute, that you'd receive a credit for the amount, but using a debit card would make the entire amount in your account vulnerable ... with no recourse. Not my idea of a fun ride. ole joyful

Over the last couple of yrs. I've had to buy rulers for classes: the 8 x 24, then 12.5 square, then 3.5 square then 4.5 square (I'm not doing angles yet). Despite all that, I revert back to the same rulers I used as a teenager (I'm 51): 2 x 18, clear lucite, marked in 1/8" (comes marked or red or turquoise). My latest pair of the last few yrs. once I started rotary cutting, I got one w/ a metal edge. I'm just sooooo used to the 1/8 mark & the almost automatic 1/4 that's so easily marked w/ these. Just last night I opened my first pack of sandpaper dots (had for couple of yrs.) after a small slip cutting around the 4.5" square. Turns out they're great! They're 3/8" in diameter w/ some adhesive backing, makes a BIG difference. From the LQS, comes 36 in a pack, called Fabric Grips (for $2.40). Try 'em! But now that you all have reminded me I own a 6 X 24, that's what I've needed for the last 3 wks doing homework for a color class, working all in 4.5" squares. Have to make 4 separate quilts, each 6 x 8 repeats finished at 4" square. I;ve cut individually around the square, yikes! Yes, NOW I remember the larger rule. Can you hear me smacking myself in head (you know, like the V-8 commercial)?