Well, they just called today and I didn't get the job. Boo hoo but just teeny tiny boo hoo because I wasn't really sure I wanted to go back to work. This job this time next year would have been ideal. I had a really good talk with the principal when she called to tell me and the other woman with all the experience got the job. She was really encouraging about applying for future positions which is very reassuring. In the meantime, I can actually have time all to myself for the first time in 8yrs! I just realized when I was contemplating the unruliness of my hair that I can actually make a hair appt without calling 3 different people trying to arrange someone to watch one or both of the kids. OMG, I can sign up for a yoga class! And DH is satisfied because I did actually try to get work. I've got calls out to a couple of teacher friends to see what they recommend for getting some more experience teaching reading (the principal said this would be a good thing to work on). So all in all, I think this will work out for the best. I can still substitute and tutor for extra cash - we won't be getting that new car but that can definately wait. Thanks again everyone for keeping me company during this experience. I really appreciated your good wishes and support.

Seting posts in concrete is normal in a lot of places including OKC. A simple request to land the posts on the piers should do it along with your willingness to pay extra for it. My outfit always set the posts on the footings but most of my compatition dont. J.

I'm a little late in chiming in, and you may have already found someone to work with. My best advice, after beating my head against the wall for four months, is keep looking until you find someone who is interested enough in listening to YOU. The visions that you have, and what you want out of your kitchen. I wasted $2,000, before firing, an architect that said he would design what I wanted and would listen He then submitted to us concepts in a home, and my kitchen, that I wouldn't even be remotely interested in building. We then hired a "house designer" that thought a 34 foot long kitchen was wonderful (I'm not training for a marathon), and that an 11 foot laundry room had tons of storage when all it had room for was a washer and dryer, and several doorways! VERY wasted square footage that any idiot could make better use of. I guess you're supposed to dump dirty clothes in one doorway and heap the Sam's Club haul in one of the others. I like simple, and I like quality. I don't like convoluted and fancy cookie cutter trends. I was very specific, made sketches, and had a folder of pictures of things I like. I've been to Lowes and Home Depot...several times. Home Depot was customer oriented and wanted to help. Had neither the vision nor the skills. My local Lowes, whom I like, has kitchen design staff not remotely interested in helping a customer design a kitchen. They were more interested in chatting with friends on the phone. I finally found a kitchen design store in Lake City and think I've hit paydirt! The first fella that I had my appointment with today just wasn't getting it. It was like "you don't want a pot filler? You want TWO ranges?! Not a cooktop and wall ovens?!" "You want a walk in pantry?!" "You can and freeze food?!" Do I have three heads and six eyes or something? I mean, this is a custom home after all. His very experienced associate took over. Good thing or I would have walked out. After one hour we are 75% there and I have no doubts we'll wrap it up by the end of next week. And this is starting from square one with basic kitchen layout for my blueprints to start house construction with. My house plans all hinged on my kitchen design. Everything else is secondary. Keep looking. I thought I was sure I would have a heart attack or stroke before getting to blueprint stage. This has taken a toll, and I was close. You'll find the right person and don't stop looking until you do. All you need is for someone interested enough to listen to what your needs and your dreams are. From there if they have any common sense at all, you'll get your kitchen designed. My point is, credentials aren't always a guarantee that someone is any good. Your gut will tell you after one hour of time spent with the person. The architect liked to brag he had 8 years of college. He was useless.

OK I looked at your project link. Seein gall the amterials together, the brown I had pictured would not be right and I would not match the floor. if you did a brown, you'd probably be looking at something pretty dark, and maybe towards the black side to keep it from getting too red -- something in the espresso/almost black range. With that in mind and the pewter glaze, I think I'd go for black too, but I think I'd favor it not rubbed through. You' ve got enough going on with the granite and the heavy grained floors. I'd rather have calm in between them than a third texture.