People are so awesome. I posted on Freecycle yesterday that Keith's SIL (I've talked about her before) is trying to lose weight too. She has PCOS and is IR and is hoping to conceive in the not so distant future. She needs to lose at least 100lbs. Anyway, her doctor wants her to start walking more, but with winter coming up, she was worried about how she'd get her exercise in. She can't afford to buy a treadmill right now. So, anyway, I posted this on Freecycle, and I got a reply today. Someone is giving us a stairmaster and a stationary bike. Can you believe it? How awesome is that. At first, I was a little aprehensive about posting this for Shanna, because sometimes she gives up on things too easily. And I can just see this equipment sitting in a room getting no use. But, I'm making her PROMISE that if she doens't end up using it, she'll let me know and I'll come get them and I'll use them. :-)

No shows are such a pain. And the cynic in me wonders if some of them are just playing a game or something more sinister? Try to find out what you have, when you're home and away and pay an unwanted visit perhaps? So I will still do this, but I take a little precaution. First, I tell them to give me a time that they will be here. Secondly, I do not give them the address. I give them directions into the neighborhood and tell them to call me (on a prepaid cell phone - easy to change number if I need to) and I'll guide them by phone the rest of the way. If they say they don't have a cell (and really, how many do not have a cell these days? But it can happen.) then I'll tell them I'll meet them at a certain spot, usually a corner I can see and tell them they can follow me but when they arrive I go out and wave them over. When it gets close to the time, I'll know who's playing games and who's serious. I laugh when I see someone put "serious inquiries only"! Everyone is "serious", just how serious? Every no-show has insisted they're serious to come and get it. But I've found that the ones that are playing games won't bother calling of course and then I know they're not showing up. If I have a bad feeling, I tell them to call when they leave or when they reach a landmark that i'll know an approximate distance/time. It really works well. I would think that people getting something for free or a bargain would appreciate it. But so many people today don't. Offer them something for free and they want you to pay them to take it and throw in a bonus. It's sad. And I've wound up throwing out perfectly good stuff because of that attitude. Right now I have several things I'd like to give away. I've offered them to everyone I know but they refuse. Some have bought new instead. OK. But it seems a waste to toss a rolltop desk, perfectly good and efficient freezer, dorm frig and the like. But when you don't need them, you don't need them. Drives ya crazy!!! (sigh) Venting feels good! :)

Isn't that just the most frustrating thing? We Freecycle and offer free on Craig's list quite a bit, with the same struggle, Patti ... NO_SHOWS! We live out of town, so I don't feel it's fair to people to just set something out on the driveway and say "first come gets it," but I'm about at that point. Tough cookies if they have to drive extra miles, I'm tired of penning up the dogs, sitting and waiting ... and waiting ... for someone who doesn't have the decency to show up when they say they will, or call and tell me they're running late or can't make it. Oh! and the ones who want me to DELIVER a free item to them, because they don't have gas money????? It's one thing to want something large and you don't have a truck ... but a bag of clothes? Will you bring it to me because I can't afford gas? GET REAL.

Yes- the door by the world map is the front door. Although we rarely use it b/c our driveway and garage are off of the back of the house. I do think the sofa along that wall looks funny and chops the flow. I moved it out far enough to get a console table behind it and I'm not liking how far over i would have to move it. All in all I think the flow works better with the couches over by the patio(narrower space). I hung the curtians just to see... what do you think? Navy or white? Both will have two panels per side. I'm leaning toward navy(but I'm really biased toward color)