It is so very frustrating, isn't it? My kitchen took 9 months from demolition to completion (well, we still have a punch list of stuff, but no one has been here since before Thanksgiving, not pushing because completion of punch list means last payment). I was assured it would be done in the spring, and then certainly by July 4th, and then I realized I'd better cancel the party I had planned for my husband's birthday in August. When my mother said that I would be lucky to have it done in time for Thanksgiving, I laughed, but she was right. We had a major mistake midway that required a big redesign, and some brand new cabinets to wait endlessly for. Weeks where no one came, vacations that interfered with the job, a million little problems that added up to big delays. But you know what? I had a party on Sunday. Late Saturday night after I finished cleaning my kitchen to perfect, I sat staring at it, and I love it. All the bad times are just a funny story to tell. I was discussing the whole process with some women, and we decided renovations are like pregnancy. It feels absolutely endless while you are in the middle of it, and it is so unpleasant and painful at times. You swear you will never do it again, and you'll never get over how much harder it was than you thought. But then when it is done, you forget all the pain and agony, and just marvel at your creation. My advice? Vent like crazy here. Read stories about people's much worse experiences to make yourself feel better. Remain calm, and realize that just about any problem can be fixed, and human beings make mistakes. And as my mother likes to say "this too shall pass." And in the end, it will all work out, and you'll be thrilled with the end result. It really is worth the wait.

redcurls, It wasn't my dr, but that of a friend, who mentioned the connection. I'm sorry you had to go off that med, also. My mom has your problem, & I know it hurts! Mallory, I've had it before, with and without the fluid. When I was an infant, mom would have to give me meds to keep me from getting sick to drive 15 minutes to get groceries! I get motion sick very easily. Patti, they gave me a script for Antivert. It helped a lot! But, by the time I went to the dr. it had already been almost 2 weeks. I didn't have to take it long before it finally went away. Moni, I will check out that link! Jannie, I already take Verapamil for my blood pressure. I've taken it for years. Darn. Wish it would do double duty for me! It's gone now, but I have started with an ear ache in the left ear. May decide to go to the dr. tomorrow. It's only in the evening, tho, so I am wondering if it isn't from the air pressure changing. Tami

Party_music, we used candles and finishing nails pounded into wooden clothespins, then used the electric stove burners to heat rags to polish off the wax. Talk about a fire hazard! Those were the days :) I love grape hyacinths, too. Marcia

Record temperatures around here in recent days, about 60 degrees today. I brought the overcoat - over my arm, for it'll be dark when I leave, I figure ... though I may leave early, for I'm inviting a number of neighbours to contribute to Heart and Stroke research and support, these days (February being Heart Month) and there are only a few days left but a number of doors left on which to knock. I'm slipping, I think, for I invited the old guys at coffee hour at church to participate, and one did, last year: this year - none. Contributed myself, last year, as the stock that I gave to the United Way, which enables me to pay zero income tax on the capital gain, was for somewhat less than usual, so I agreed to write a check for a couple of hundred to four agencies, one of them being Heart and Stroke. Confession time ... I neglected to send a cheque to the other three agencies ... procrastination? laziness? lack of enthusiasm to pay them with after-tax money? Anyway, last year's fund (to go out this year) was somewhat larger than usual, so I'll send a double amount, this year, to those three ... of after-tax money. ole joyful