Nick Smith, I am looking for an electric car with a decent range that is not huge. The American market doesn't offer anything in this class. If you look you may find that what you think of as American or Foreign cars are not what you believe them to be. "American" cars made elsewhere or of imported components and "Import" cars made here in the States. I now drive a Toyota and must say its the highest quality auto I have ever owned. Wish we could build them like that. Maybe someday.....

Hi Dotz. I don't know how to answer you. Relationships are complicated enough when I'm one of the two in the relationship (parent/child, spouse/spouse, child/parent, etc.) but being on the "outside" as a SM with biodad/child on one side, and Sdad/child on another side... I just can't hope to ever understand those relationships completely, let alone what may have happened between your dh's kid and him to make their relationship less than ideal. People take out their anger on those they think will still love them despite the issues. Hopefully your skid will realize that dad means more than money and they can have a relationship beyond that later. I think, in my situation, where bio-mom keeps sd from us (by not contacting, etc), we will probably have a tough row to hoe coming up here soon as she becomes a teenager with angst. But, if her parents didn't have issues, the issues with her would be lessened. It's due to the parents setting up expectations that makes the kids resentful. My SD expects to be driven around in posh cars and going to outrageously expensive schools and if her dad doesn't contribute to the lifestyle BM has set up she is resentful. We prefer to place value on good manners, wholesome activities, enjoying being a kid instead of designer outfits for 9 year olds...Oh well... we simply don't have the same values. Having to straddle both value systems is difficult for children. And, outsiders, without all the little cobwebs floating around of past conversations/hurts/angers, can see any situation a lot clearer than the participants. As Sm's, we will never fully understand the nuances. Sooooo... my response Dotz, is just be as supportive of your DH as you can while he goes through this stage with his son. In my experience, my Ex and I have issues my DH could never understand, and my DH loves me, so automatically my Ex is the bad guy... and he hates his Ex, but I do my damnedest not to internalize that. I channel Switzerland. I attempt neutrality. I try to look at all sides, and I try to do it with love. It's far too complicated to figure out their issues. So I'm a cheerleader. Go (broken and taped back together) family of mine!!! win win win!

Reminds me of the time my older son (about 12 at the time) got off the school bus somewhere. Where? I'm still not completely sure! (Now, this is the smart kid, not the one who really is 'dee-dee-dee'. That kid has enough sense to actually ask an adult where the heck he is, and maybe could that adult call his mom? Or better yet, to stay on the stinking school bus if he doesn't know where he is! Nope - This is the smart kid...) So we live on a tiny little street accessible only from a small street, which was under construction for some time a few years ago. Apparently one day, that small street was under so much construction that the school bus couldn't even turn down onto that street -- so they didn't. (At least, according to my kid, they didn't.) I don't know what happened to the other 20 kids or so who also live off this small street, but at some point, My Kid (the smart one) gets off the school bus alone and calls me to come pick him up. Thank goodness he had a cell phone! Him: Hi Mom - Can you pick me up? Me: Huh? Hey - You're late. Where are you? Him: Well... Me: Are you at school? Him: No - I'm on that street. Me: What? What street? What happened to the school bus? Him: Well - you know - that other street. Me: That other street? Him: Yeah - you know - that other street. Me: Near us? Him: I think so. Can you come get me? Me: You want me to get in the car and come and get you, but you can't tell me where you are? Him: Yeah. Me: That could take a while... Him: Why? Can't you leave now? Me: Yeah - but where should I go? You want me to just drive around? Him: Yeah. Me: No. Him: Wha? Me: You got off the school bus and you don't even know where you are? Is that what you're saying? And now you want me to get in the car and come look for you? What were you thinking?! Him: Wha? Me: OK - Look for a street sign. What does it say? Him: A street sign? What do they look like? Me: Wha? Him: OK - It says 'Bunker Hill' (a street, but also our neighborhood - not sure which he means) Me: OK - Now can you find another one? Him: Wha? Me: If you can give me two street signs, I'll know where you are. Him: No - there's just one. Me: Are you on a big street or a little one? Him: Sorta Me: Sorta?... Him: Yeah. Me: OK - can you see any streets that are bigger than the one you're on? Him: Yeah. Me: OK - Walk toward that street. Any more signs? Him: No Me: OK, I'm going to guess. You keep walking toward the big street, and when you get to the corner, stay there. I guessed more or less correctly, and had a nice long talk with "the smart one" about actually plugging in his brain and turning it on...

Waverly66 - I don’t think the link above on the USA website is talking about the 7000 generation appliances. There is no mention of the features in the link whirlpool trainee posted from the German website. There are other products in the US press release - main highlight seemed to be their refridgeration line enhancements and 30” warming drawer. My suggestion is wait and see what hits their website over the next few months. Miele keeps their product offerings very close to their vest and typically don’t make specific announcements until they are basically ready to order. For example the dishwasher I bought was just announced when I was ordering appliances and made a last minute switch to get a new model. Miele announced their XL combi steam oven non plumbed then a few months later announced the plumbed model. Had I known a plumbed model was in the works I would have added the drain before slab. Adding it after the fact was another $1K so I skipped it. Their approach is very different than Wolf Sub Zero - check out the Wolf SubZero next generation website - great information - I have followed it for a few years and their products tend to slip quarter after quarter. Their M class oven was one when I was choosing my appliances that continued to slip. Their current product that has slipped dramatically is their Cove dishwasher announced almost a year ago. I believe that is now finally targeted for April release but we will see. As far as service - you are correct - MIele does not have a US wide service area. Personally I would run like the wind if it will take hours for a tech to get to my house and they will charge me an arm and a leg. There is one Miele tech in my area and he services a huge area. I would call their service department (call in the am to get Princeton) and ask them what the service call charge is for you home. The wait on their technical service line is usually very short particularly first thing in the am. I do find their service folks pretty knowledgeable and helpful. I understand your frustration - good luck!!!