So would a professional be able to take it out? ==>> money talks.. but it NOT worth the thousands of dollars it would take ... besides the fact.. that it has been pruned horribly.. because it was planted about 10 feet to close to the house.. so your dream application is again.. about 10 feet too close to the house ... cut it flush.. apply round up to the stump [actually as a pine.. it will be dead.. as soon as you remove all the green.. you wont even have to kill the stump] .. and plant something else there.. over 10 feet .. you will understand the beauty of this plan.. in a few years ... when you dont prune it.. like the last owner did ... as to your bathroom window.. i just saw some plastic stained glass applique for windows product.. that you cut to size.. and apply to the inside of the window ... yeah .... i know.. you wont be able to see out.. but the important part is.. they cant see in ... perhaps you could leave 6 inches at the bottom at appropriate height so you could peak out [or that might look stupid, how do i know.. lol] ... see link .. it could be temporary.. until some plant can grow to size.. of course.. by the time it does.. you wont be able to see out anyway forget about that nightmare out front.. BTW... the pine tar/sap WILL START STAINING your siding soon.. if you want real motivation to get rid of it ... and BTW .. again??? .. pine is so soft.. anybody with a saw can take that down .... piece by piece.. FOR FREE.. well.. the cost of a good saw .. and perhaps a 6 pack if you need a friend to do it.. i would NEVER conceptualize paying to have it done ... mostly because.. with a very little planning.. we know which way gravity is going to take it .... because I THINK.. its already leaning away from the porch???? and really.. nothing should be planted back in that spot.. ask if you want to know why .... let me know what you think of that stained glass idea.. i cant figure out how/where to use it at my house.. so i will be living vicariously thru your application.. lol ... ken PS: you need a french drain on that downspout.. before it starts eroding your hill.. you need to manage the water.. since the basement wall is right there ... more good news.. eh???? .. and that can be done for the price of a shovel and some 4 inch corrugated pipe ... buried about a foot down or so .... and taken down to a proper drainage site ... Here is a link that might be useful: link

This headline of course is an attention-grabber: "Using Facebook could raise your risk of cancer." However it is true that our behavior can influence our health, and I am sure that people (esp the young 'uns) spending hours on the Internet is going to have long-term effects on their health. It is a giant experiment on them, since obviously this is not something we have data on. The rays from the computer are bad on the eyes and on the brain. There is sitting still. But esp the loss of contact. No way that having a million"friends" on Facebook has the same effect as friends in real life. Researchers have done studies and proven (as if common sense wouldn't indicate this) that interaction with people in the real world has a beneficial effect on our immune system. So no doubt in 20 years we will have the results of this giant experiment. Kinda like cell-phone use. The credible evidence (my judgement)is that there is cause for caution. I can imagine in 20 years, "Oh, gosh, we're sorry to tell you that of all you people using cell phones, some 20% are going to get a brain tumor." gee too late now. However, the Internet does provide us with an inexhaustable opportunity to educate ourselves. And to recieve support. Like anything else, it can be over done. Here is a link that might be useful: effects of overuse of Internet

Cube (love that name), please don't be so hard on yourself. I think you're being reasonable & practical, not judgemental! As far as the job goes, I would place responsibility on management: "Work" is *always* a place that exists to create & preserve as much money as possible. Inefficiency costs money. If year-end was a big ole mess last year, that was management's cue to change things. They didn't. Worker bees, no matter how knowledgeable or eager, can't change procedure. And I don't think it's unreasonable to expect 30 or 40 year old guys to support themselves, pay their own rent on their own place, & have a decent work history. I do agree with your premise: that we narrow our fields by our own personalities, decisions, & behaviors.

Hey - The kitchen is painted!! We went with SW North Star and we really like it. The granite will be installed on the 29th and the appliances are sitting in the garage calling my name. The cabinet doors should be done this week. About brushing...I tried a sponge brush and it left more marks than the brush I used. I never wiped the gel off but used it like paint. You don't see a lot of brush strokes but if it's applied heavy it basically looks like wood grain. I love this product and will continue using it throughout my home. Here are some pics from last night. I need to touch up some area's but I think it has really changed the look of our kitchen. Today without a flash. It was cloudy most of the day so not a lot of sun light. We also have a new light fixture that I hope to install later this week. We had to move the box over 18" since we built out the area around the fridge.