Earlier in this thread Richardol mentions the Orchids anonymous meetings, when and where are these meetings to be held again? And will there be a plant exchange or sale table? I had an interesting conversation with Harry at Andys Orchids recently pertaining to my growing obsession with orchids and he contends that the diagnosis of addiction is alive and well in the orchid world, and I will say that I am in agreement and heavily afflicted. He then proceeded to sell me several plants that I desperately needed. Not because I have a problem with orchids or anything though. I can stop whenever I want to. Really. Very early in my addiction I read the book Orchid Fever (Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy: by Eric Hansen). There is a great passage in this book in which a grower at an orchid show tells the author that the craziness he is seeing is not at all uncommon and goes on to note that the dog show people have little on the orchid people with respect to eccentricities. It is much funnier in print than it looks here, especially if you have seen "Best in Show" or hang out with orchid persons. I believe this addiction to be very sneaky and very contagious as well. Mine too started innocently enough with the acquisition of 2 blooming Phals sharing a single pot that I purchased for my wife a few years back. If only we had known or they had come with some kind of warning. I should add that I am much more impaired than my wife is with the "Orchid problem". Our collection has grown at a rather alarming rate, driven by my interest in these fascinating plants and ready access to the Internet. Mostly I purchase plants that strike my fancy and that I optimistically believe I can meet the culture needs of though several of the web vendors frequently mentioned in the forums here. Because I have all my plants delivered to my office my staff sees all of the deliveries and I have noticed that they have gone from bemused acknowledgement of my "problem" to a keen interest in orchid husbandry. To brighten my office I try to bring a few spiking plants in to enjoy as we toil. I have a Bcl that has 8 fat buds ready to pop that is getting daily visits to its little nook by everyone to check on its progress. Recently I have overheard conversations speculating on the color and form of the flower to be produced by a recently added Paph topped with a bloated purple-black bud that was ever so slowly unfolding. As a consequence of this obvious change in attitudes I fear that I am spreading this disease to those around me, sort of like a Typhoid Richard, only with orchids. Most concerning is the recent order that was opened soon after arrival by someone other than me while I was occupied elsewhere. The reason given was "so the little plants could get some air". Right. In truth I suspect that more than just myself eagerly anticipate the arrival of a new plant order. Every one here exposed to me and the orchids are now showing early signs of infection with this alarming and completely enjoyable affliction. I hereby propose a behavioral theory to legitimize the orchid addiction and romantic relationships metaphor proposed earlier in this thread. Obtaining new plants, maintaining established ones and raising plants from seedlings are all activities that I contend activate pathways in our brains that are involved in the feelings we experience in romantic relationships. The excitement and anticipation brought on by a flush of new growth or a flowering spike is not at all unlike the feelings associated with those experienced by some in a new relationship. The promise of what may come is what helps to nourish optimism and joy along the way. Success at meeting cultural requirements, having your plants thrive and flower all perpetuate the process of obsession by stimulating reward pathways in our orchid addled brains. At the same time having a plant sulk or be in a state of decline arouses feelings of loss and grief, perhaps even guilt very much like feelings that may be encountered in a struggling relationship, though I cannot say I have been jealous or angry or betrayed at the thought that my plants might be seeing other pollinators I do know of others that were at least irked by the outcome produced by this particular indiscretion. One unanswered part of this theory is; can one rid ones self of a partner by over watering as readily as one can a cherished orchid? The treatment I have chosen for my addiction is to save for a green house, find a way to manage my humidity in the winter in Wisconsin, visit the websites of Olympic Orchids, AndyÂs, OHG, EooM, Cal-Orchids, NWO and others frequently to check for new plants in need of a loving home or specials too good to pass up. When was that meeting again?

OK, here's a possibility. Go to the local sign or photocopy shop and have them print, in big, bold, plain(for stupids) writing, "There is a hidden surveillance camera" or omit the surv part if you live in an area with real, real stupids, "which is recording every move(ment)"!!!!OMG, my stomach really hurts. "So, if you belong here, stay and do your duty"(!!!!ha, nah, don't say doody, unless you think it clearly applies to your locale. "Joggers, go at home or go ahead 1/4 mile, but not here"(I'm a mom of a marathoner, but a considerate marathoner) or, "If you can't hold it, go home! This ain't your home!" Plaster these signs INSIDE and outside the porta.. OOOOH, I have a great idea. Instead of 'violaters will be prosecuted... something like, violaters will be given a free, disposable, mop, plastic gloves, strong trash bags and YOU will be responsible for cleaning up your mess. Who defines what is a 'mess'? Your co-workers. If they don't think it's a mess, then they can help you clean it up. If the consensus agrees that it IS a mess, then the consensus (colleagues) can video your clean up activities!!!!This is so much fun! Pecanpie, I spit out my champagne(cheap 9.5% low carb) while reading your post! It was downhill from there......Breathing is difficult. This is a 'save for posterity'(don't go there) thread. Time capsule worthy. Love it Bev I will breathe normally soon. Ok, I can't resist. We have a beach cottage where, (I wish I had written this line...no, I'm not a snob, but) the handymen have more tattoos(sp) than teeth.

Well, at this point, I only have"intermediate" :-). The existing sectional, coffee table and end table were bought used as a temporary solution - when we moved out of our long-time home, we got rid off almost every stick of furniture. It was old and we were tired of it, plus we wanted to go much more contemporary this time around. We had always promised each other we'd redecorate when we moved, but we weren't going to seriously decorate the rental we were in for 10 months. Now we're settled in, remodeling is mostly done, so we get to buy new furniture. As I said, we ordered the new sectional in December! Couldn't get a rug, or paint the wall, or really anything until the sectional is here. I'm okay at picking individual pieces I like, but terrible at putting it all together, so we'll need help. The room is half of a great room the living room half measures about 21x18 and the kitchen/dining room half measures about 21 x 22. The picture is of the living room half.

Desertsteph- Yes, by "water" I mean the plumbing. We have a slab foundation, so that would require jacking up the floor, etc. Along with the money, I would save time by taking out that process. There actually isn't a window by the cabinetry, just over by the breakfast nook. And no, the order had not gone in so I'm fine. I was waiting for you, Buehl. I feel you might be holding your tongue. How do you like that protected cook area? The only cons I've come up with- Right now the DW is on the left. Not sure how I feel about it since I am right handed. Flooring. While I love the look of wood floors, I'm terrified of putting them in the kitchen (we are messy). However, that is what I want in the FR. Would it look like crap to do tile on the kitchen side of the beam and wood on the other? I have never had an island. Except for my apartment days, I have had alot of floor space in my kitchens. Not sure about the 4' aisles. Can it function with more than 1 cook? I thought about creating a separate thread about this. Should the trash go beside the sink, or on the island (prep area)?