That stinks but at least you got the first mess out of the way. It's makes the others easier, kind of like the first door ding. I remember I'd just bought a brand new convertible and thought I was so cool (I was 21 or 22). It was a beautiful day so I went to visit a friend to show off my new car. She lived in a basement apartment so I didn't realize that we were having a downpour. Yes, my new car was flooded with a couple inches of water : ( I just got a variegated COT. The foliage is really pretty, lots of color, not just green and white. It's a bit beat up from shipping but I'll take pics when it recovers.

James, I guess when you've been around GW for a long time like I have (since the late 90's), off topic is just a normal sequence. If you go to some of the really old posts that are still alive, you'll see a lot of them veered off, but then somebody new came on and asked a question and that got the thread back on track. I personally, don't mind a thread going off topic at all. I do feel it makes it more interesting. If you'll notice, the suggestions and comments forum is missing now. It's been missing for a long time, because all anybody did was to complain about one thing or another. I think we all need to understand that our words are just words. There's no voice, no fluctuation, no body language to go along with what we're saying. Anymore, if I feel somebody is saying something totally inappropriate, I ask for clarification. They either come back and don't explain it correctly and I know my first instinct was correct, or they come back and apologize for not wording it correctly in the first place. I'm guilty of that myself! I've been in a hurry and just written something quick and to the point, but not using the correct words. And not thinking of how somebody else might take my words. The old saying about sticks and stones....but words do hurt our feelings. All of our feelings. I do come back and apologize though for not wording it like I should have. I have seen so many people come and go, I forget that not everybody has been hanging around as long as I have! I don't browse over to the discussions side in any of the forums. I have fun talking and chatting within the threads in the forum, be it on topic or off topic. I don't plan on changing where I post. There's already way too many forums anymore here at GW, I honestly don't understand the problem when a thread goes off topic. I've heard people complain about posts in the forum that are off topic, but not when a thread goes off topic. Finally, lovefornature, please don't go anywhere. James has explained his thinking in what he said and somewhere in there, I'm sure is an apology for not being clear. There's always going to be somebody who doesn't like something about GW, be it some of the people, the posts or the way the conversation goes. I acknowledge what James is saying, but I don't agree. Not at all. The finch thread is your thread and it can go any way you want it to go. If you want it to go back on topic because somebody objects, then veer it back. If you don't care, then the person who objects can choose not to read it anymore and they can start a new post on whatever they choose. It's when people get too picky and complain, that a lot of people choose to go elsewhere. Then GW slows way down and becomes somewhat boring because of the lack of posts and conversations within the thread. I don't know about anybody else, but when I call a friend for a specific reason, we always end up talking about a lot of other things. Same way in the threads. If my question is answered, then really, what difference does it make that now the conversation has gone off from I initially called for? Or asked in a thread? Hmm...I said finally already up there, but I guess it wasn't really my final thought. This is though.....and again to James, I don't feel you stepped on any toes. There are no hard and fast rules here at GW except for arguing. That isn't tolerated. Off topic threads however, are entirely different and if you don't want to read them, then move on to the next post. I've done that when a subject grabs my attention, but it isn't what I thought it was...so I either hit the back button or the "Return to".....and go find another post to read. If this whole forum was taken up with things not relating to birds, then I understand, but it isn't.

poohbear, Index.dat files are hidden by default. To make index.dat files visible, you should enable Explorer to view hidden and system files: 1. Select Start -> Settings -> Control panel. 2. Select Folder Options. 3. In the "Folder Options" window open "View" folder. 4. In Advanced Settings open "Files and Folders" and Select "Display the content of system folders" Open "Hidden files and folders" and select "Show hidden files and folders" 5. Click OK History index.dat files location - Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat \Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat http://www.erase-history.net/index.dat-files.html

Those plastic cove fixtures might turn out to be wonderfully cool with carefully selected color temps in the bulbs. But the carpet has to go! You're much braver/saner than I in tackling so many sequential kitchen renos. They'd have to hospitalize me if it fell to me. Will watch to see what your plans turn out to be (the Kalcebo kitch was very nice, so I'm sure this one will be, too.) ::shakes head:: Twice tonight someone mentioned carpet in a kitchen, when did that ever come in? And what were they thinking? Does anyone cook neatly enough to never slop anything on the floor? My kitchen floors, if carpeted, would turn into a compost pile sooner or later! L