My carpenter skills aren't all that great, so I looked around for some kind of do-it-yourself kit. The closest thing was a chain link dog kennel - ordered through the Internet. It comes in sections of 4 x 6 metal frames (4 pieces), and the chain link to wrap around, plus the hardware to clamp it all together. While it has a door, I would have preferred that the door had been a rectangle instead of oval, as it leaves openings at the corners (rats, mice, etc.). So I fashioned a piece of plywood to cover the door for added security, held with a bungee cord - works ok. I laid 2 sections of galvanized wire on the ground, placed the cage on top and secured all around the sides of the frame. Then wrapped the entire cage in galvanized 1/2 inch wired all around the outside, leaving top open. For the top, I found 3 pieces of corrugated paneling that was placed across the top. I just held these down with blocks - so that if necessary, they could be removed for easier access. After the frame work, I installed one of my cedar raised bed planter boxes, filled with nice compost (lucky hens), where they can scratch in the dirt, dust feathers, etc., and covered with straw (changing from time to time). For added night time protection and egg laying, I happened to have an unused rabbit cage, with a hinged top. It is about 3 x 3 x 2 ft. deep, filled with straw where they can get extra weather protection and for nesting. They immediately began using the top of the rabbit cage for their "porta-potty" area, making it easy to scrape clean every day, keeping the rest of the area clean of most droppings. I have a hose connection nearby - where most of the composting is done anyway, so filling waterers are easy. Also keep feed and tools handy nearby in a plastic garbage can that has wheels on it. All-in-all, this has proved to be a fairly decent set-up, though I would have liked the cage to be "person-high" - as it is only 4 ft., I felt I could make the sacrifice, as that gave the hens a bit more inside room, having the 6 ft. wide sections for their needs. So - for what it's worth, that is how I made mine, in the "burbs" but I, too, am limited to hens - don't want to disrupt the neighborhood peace and quiet. Cuz, if I do, they might notice my bee hive - yikes! Bejay

Linda, I got your email, havent had a chance to reply. But I want to thank you form giving me his number. No you don't have to do anything..and in NO WAY are you responsible, nor should you feel you are! You did us all a huge great favor..its not like you listed them on EBay, lol. Yes, we took a chance like I said, and really for the price we all paid..named or not, it was an awesome buy. ANd if it werent for you going out of your way for all of us involved, we wouldnt have any of these lovely plants. I really appreciate everything you did for us, and I wouldnt want you to think that I hold you responsible at all, in any way. Thats just crazy! Everyone, I dont mind it doesnt have the right name...thats not the point. The point is that NOONE should pass along, or SELL a brug as one that it isnt. Like I said, maybe he's not aware that this isnt CP..but then I would think that would make him an irresponsible seller. Maybe they were just mislabeled. I dont know, whatever, could just all be an innocent mistake..BUT he should know about it. So he can correct it. AM I not right? I'm not freakin out over this, lol..I'm not going to sue him, lmao. I'm not going to hire a hitman to take him out cuz 'damn it, it's not Coral Pink!', lmao..NO not at all. I just want him to know. I'm not mad. I dont mind calling her a NOID..she's beautiful regardless. And I am thankful I have her. I dont want to be reimbursed, I dont want to be sent a replacement, I just want him to be aware that it isnt CP. Thats all. Isn't this the responsible, correct thing to do?

this is a co-op, so there is not a traditional "landlord"--Lisamaria is not a renter. She owns her apartment. (well, she owns shares in a corporation, and ownership fo those shares entitles her to her apartment, but the net effect is much the same). So Lisamaria hasn't improved the "landlord's" property; she has improved her own. Even if she were subletting from the apartment's owner, the CORPORATION would still need to repair it exactly the way it was before they broke through the wall. The owner's organization is the board of directors; the board should tell Lisamaria how they will deal w/ damage and reimbursement. Technically and traditionally, the corporation (of which Lisamaria is a shareholder) should foot the bill to repair any damage they cause. In my own co-op, which is a small 10-unit self-managed co-op, I can see the perhaps we might say, "everyone fix their own apartment," since my expensive, fancy tile backsplash (which I chose) will cost a lot more than the plain painted plaster that my neighbor has--and why should the rest of us foot a higher bill bcs I have a fancier backsplash? But that would be something my board would decide, and I'd get a vote on it. In a larger building, this would be very unusual. The corporation should foot the bill. In a co-op, you cannot even reufse non-emergency repairs. If a tenant-owner refuses to cooperate with the board, the board can seize the apartment, sell it out from under him, hand him the proceeds and wash their hands of him. This is the extreme end of how a co-op board can enforce their decisions; on the less extreme end of the spectrum, there are fines, etc. So Lisamaria shouldn't waste time arguing over WHETHER this should happen. She needs to focus her attention how to get it fixed properly afterward. She's worried about the quality of the work the bldg's super does, so she needs to take a proposal to the board about how to get it done nicely. Perhaps she can bring estimates from her original tile guys, and ask the board to use them. And she needs more detailed info about exactly where they're going to break into the wall. If she has a slide-in range, maybe they'll be able to confine their work to the area behind the range. In which case a simple "patching the plaster" job will be sufficient, since no one will ever see it. On another thread she started, I suggested that she investigate whether they can access her gas line through a different room (in my apartment, I think the gas runs up between the dining room and the kitchen). And, if the super's work is so clearly subpar, surely there are other people whose kitchens will be affected, who don't want him doing the finish work of reinstating their kitchens? And they could add their voice to yours? Time to start knocking on the doors of all the apartments below your.

I understand the frustration you are feeling; however, expecting unexpected delays in remodeling projects is the rule rather than the exception. If I read your note correctly, you are facing a one-day delay on that Wednesday, March 17. And that you created a schedule bringing you to completion on March 31 with no leeway to run even one day over. Unfortunately, a one-day delay can crop up almost anywhere in a project like this -- a contractor can be sick, an inspector may not be available exactly when you're ready for an inspection required for work to proceed, a contractor's truck might break down or tool might break, some additional material or tool might be needed, etc. While it sounds like you have been incredibly diligent about organizing your schedule and your various contractors, I'm afraid dealing with short delays along the way is par for the course. Also, although you have been providing build management information about your project all along, you say you just asked them yesterday for a water cut off on that particular day, and they promptly told you it couldn't be done that day. You say in one place that this is a long-scheduled vacation day for the super and that they could have told you earlier, yet you also say yesterday is when you told them you wanted a water cut-off on that specific day. If you had previously arranged this service on this day, then built your schedule around it, and then they said "oops, we forgot; he's off that day", your frustration would be understandable, but it doesn't seem that's what happened. Keep in mind that although all the intricate details of your job are top-most in your mind, the management office is likely only checking the paperwork you've been providing them for compliance with city and building rules and procedures; if you hadn't highlighted March 17 as a day when you were requesting a temporary water shut off, it is unrealistic to think they should have figured that out from the other documents you provided. Again, I feel your pain, as does anyone who has had to contend with unexpected remodeling project delays. I'm certainly not trying to add to your irritation -- rather, I'm suggesting that (at least from the information you provided) this scheduling glitch may not be as "thoughtless" as it seems to you. The best thing I can suggest is to take a step back and take a deep breath. Then, start working with your contractor to adjust the schedule as best possible, and hope they can work around the one-day water delay or otherwise make up the day over the course of the following two weeks. A contractor in NYC is used to dealing with delays like this all the time. Best wishes for your project to proceed smoothly from here on out! :) -- Eric