Doing fine so far, and thanks for the thoughts. Randy, the people who died this morning had their generator outside, but the CM fumes got into the house thru cracks and crevices in doors and windows. So, it needs to be outside, but some distance from the house itself, too. Still too big of a chicken to get one. I left my faucets dripping, my cats are fine with plenty of food and water. My neighbor keeps an eye on the house for me. We check every so often to see if the power has come back on. Lots of people are having problems, though, with the power coming back on for a bit and then losing it again. Makes me a bit nervous to go back over there and then have it go again and have to come back. So would just as soon stay here until it's been on for a day or so. I was actually hoping a tree would fall on my house and I could get a new roof because I need it! LOL! It's an old house, built in 1947, but I love it. The news has been showing pictures of the damage in Crown Heights district in OKC, and that's where we are close to. In fact, Jess and I drove down that very street the other day when we saw the trees down across the road and one completely uprooted. I've seen many trees split and broken, but never one actually uprooted. Susan

Wanton: The agaves were A. americana. They were pups from parent plants grown on the campus of my school. They were just gonna get thrown away, so I collected them up to give to anyone who wanted them. I did not realize they were water hogs, though. I'd be willing to bet, then, that's what I did wrong - not enough water. Thanks so much for that list and link. I'll definitely have to check that out. As to my losses, I had been working really hard to try and keep them out of direct sunlight. When I noticed that the sun's orientation in the sky was shifting as we progressed closer to the end of summer, it was getting harder and harder to keep the plants out of direct sun, so I put up a sun screen curtain thingy. It's certainly helped to keep the front stoop cooler; but by the time I put it up, most of the damage had already been done. I think they just weren't meant to be in that kind of heat, especially with me freaking out over the heat and overwatering them. When I eventually replace those plants, I'll be sure to keep them indoors during the summer heat and winter cold. Stush: Yay, the agaves are looking great! I'm so happy they're doing well for you. Alas, I lost the one you sent me a while back. The only agave I have left is this one, bought at a nursery. I do still have that monstrose you sent, and it seems to be doing just fine. Here's a pic, taken just this past week. Rosie: Hi, Rosemarie! I know how it is, being super busy. No worries, I'll chat with you when you have some time. :) *CG*

We bought our land 4 years before we built our home. We wanted to build our dream home and were not in a hurry to rush into it and then regret decisions made too quickly. I was the designer on the project and honestly enjoyed all that it entailed. We also had a wonderful builder that made the whole process go seamlessly and stress free. After we chose a house plan and had it updated to include the must-haves on our list, I poured over those plans for hours and hours making sure each room was as ideal as possible. Now is the time to decide if you want an HVAC duct in that place or a light switch or outlet in that spot. Decide if you want floor outlets, special outlets in pantries or cleaning closets. Are the rooms the right size? Could a couple feet make a difference anywhere? I sure wish we had made our laundry room 3 feet wider. Choose as many products as you can before your builder gives you his estimate. If you want granite and he's giving you laminate pricing the cost will be more. Also, painting the interior all one color is less expensive than having several rooms painted differently. Are you going with pre-painted siding or having the exterior custom painted? Are you using brick, cultured stone or natural stone? Huge difference between brick and natural stone. Plumbing fixtures vary in price as do lighting and appliances. Make sure he's taking your choices into account with his bottom line. Think about any upgrades in insulation, soundproofing, radiant heating, etc. The best advice I can give from someone who's been there, done that, is to sit down and really think about how you want the house to look, function and feel....and cost. Are there things you can't do without? For us it was a 3rd garage, his & hers master's closets, a computer space off the kitchen area where we can monitor our son, and a particular type of kitchen layout. Break the house plan down room by room if it's overwhelming but KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If you're unsure of that then you can be talked into a lot of stuff you will find out later you really didn't need or want. Almost all of us have to stick to a budget so the trick is getting what you want overall at a price you can afford. This website is a treasure trove of information that I'm sure will benefit you in the days to come. Good luck on your build and keep your chin up.

Part of the problem is that it's not always obvious that a stop light even exists. Many of the lights were completely turned around so that there was no pole stretching across the intersection. To someone not familiar with the area, or to someone with little driving experience, it might not be intuitive to stop at some of these intersections. And that's a good reason NOT to be driving at night till all the stop lights are repaired. But even in the daytime, many of these intersections are just plain dangerous. It really is amazing how much we depend on certain things that we take for granted. After nine days without power, I was so freaked out that I still don't feel recovered, even though it's been 4.5 days since we got it back. I will not restock my fridge & freezer for at least a couple of weeks. I've hit the grocery store twice since Sunday, each time buying enough to cook for two nights only. I still come home every night wondering if the lights will still be on. As of this morning 433,000 customers still don't have power. At least four of them sit near me in the office. Today will make two weeks. Until they all have power and all the stop lights work and all the schools reopen and all the stores reopen, we will still be in hurricane mode. Y'all are right, the aftermath is much worse than the actual storm.