I must take issue with snidely's item #2 re automatic Windows updates. A few years back there was a real problem with some HP computers that had AMD processors. This may have been the update for SP3, but my memory can't say for sure. The machines went into an endless reboot loop. My desktop was one of the affected ones, as was my friend's. There was finally a "fix" issued by HP which we were able to employ. My HP laptop, also with an AMD processor, although a different one, was not affected at all. I have also had minor problems with some of the .Net updates, so I always install those separately from other updates. Just my experiences, so one does learn from those not to just blithely set automatic updates. Obviously snidely is not a mother, or he would know that 13 year olds can be very sensitive and sometimes overly dramatic. This has nothing to do with good parenting, so he would best keep remarks about such to himself. I am a great grandmother as well as a former school teacher (12, 13, 14 year olds), so I have seen it all.

I think I solved my own problem. I went back to Microsoft Word, and pushed open. Then I can change or add.

Yes, the info is outdated. Also, clerks in paint stores will still recommend painting one wall at a time by cutting it in and then rolling it out while the cut-ins are still wet. They are outdated too. I'm a fast painter. If I cut in a 12 foot wall, some of those cuts are too dry to roll over by the time I get about halfway done with rolling the wall. Honestly, I think you have about 3 minutes before they are too dry. If you can cut-in a whole wall and roll it out in 3 minutes, you are good and fast! Of course this depends on humidity, temperature, etc., and adding Floetrol will always give you more open time, but that's just the general idea. Most paints used to be a vinyl and acrylic mix. Those didn't dry as fast as the paints we are seeing all over now that are 100 percent acrylic. The hatbanding effect can also come from rolling over a dry cut-in line, but I have not seen that happen for some time. It probably only happens with certain products and I guess I stay away from them and use what I know works. Usually if I cut-in a whole room, the cut-ins are ready to be painted over within an hour or so after. Just make sure they are not tacky at all. You can do both coats in one day easily. The best thing to do is read the can to find out what the manufacturer recommends for recoat time and again make sure the walls are not tacky at all before recoating...usually most brands can be recoated in 4-6 hours. My normal pole for rolling normal walls is the 2' to 4'. You want to spread the paint on and then on your final pass roll from ceiling to floor. Don't stop in the center of the wall and change directions.

Here's the latest. I love the Dior Gray and Pigeon Gray. Thanks anntique for that photo of the room. I was leaning towards the darker of the two, the Dior Gray, but I'm worried it might be too dark (I want to use it on the walls that are now lighter gray in the photos) and put the pigeon gray on the fireplace wall. But after seeing that photo, I wonder if I should go with pigeon all over and dior on the fireplace wall, and then in the foyer. Too many decisions and not enough daylight time at home to decide. I'm worried that the darker walls will make the room(s) look too long and narrow. But I love the way the floor lamp next to the green chair shines with the Dior gray behind it. As you can tell, I'm not afraid of dark colors, but I don't want to turn the place into a cave either. I did investigate getting a sample of the pewter mug at 1/2 strength, but there are no samples in Pitts. Paint, so I would have to fork over $22 for a sample. I think that the 2 colors I'm working with are really nice. I just don't know how to use them. Regarding the fireplace, it's real. Although it is only gas and even though it has a blower, it has a label that does say "for decorative purposes only"....no wonder why it makes the room colder. We have actually turned out the pilot light on it and don't even use it. We might replace the insert with something that is more efficient. As we are approaching the empty nest stage, it would be nice to be able to just warm up that room after work and not the entire house. I have the mirror there because the fireplace is extremely hideous and I just can't look at the yellow brass one more second. I think we are going to paint it with high heat paint so it just "goes away", but we'll see, maybe it WILL just go away and be replaced! I posted yesterday in a separate thread about the fireplace wall--If I do the lighter color see that Julianna Moore link above, does anybody thnk I should then paint the fireplace a darker gray to contrast? Maybe the white would look good. I appreciate all the help you guys are giving me on this. Thanks