It is late to be still harvesting, isn't it? Of course, farming is not so dependent on the calendar as on how weather will influence the crops. It says something about you that at 82 you can just go and do this hard work, I know some 50 year olds that moan when picking up a 50 lb. feed-sack LOL

WOW... active seismic zone, and there's FRAMING/strapping issues, in what I assume is a FRAMEd house? Surely, by now, someone has coined a catchy acronym to describe the now-proverbial "So-Cal-nightmare-hacked-together-during-boom-by-illegal-labor-with-no-meaningful-inspections-by-AHJ..." ;') In most states the current owner would have legal recourse against the builder for 10 YEARS, but it's 40:1 odds this shoddy builder has folded shop and vamoosed, circa 2005-07. It's not hard to imagine the FOUNDATION/soil preparation was done with similar "quality". If this dubious house is really a contender, it would be cheap insurance to hire a licensed Geotechnical Engineer, who specializes in foundations, to do "the kitchen sink" inspection, including drilling core samples, peeky-peek with a borescope, etc. Oh yeah. Knowledge is power, not to mention further negotiating leverage, buyer's market and all. At the very least, determine other homes in the 'hood built by the same hosers, and talk to the owners, especially original owners. OTOH, I do envy the apparently significant legal liability HIs work under in high-tax CA. Here in corrupt ol' low-tax FL, the HIs are on the hook ONLY for the price of the inspection--at most--I kid you not!

I want to add one additional comment. When you ask Larry if you can keep Buffy, let him know Buffy can visit anytime he wants to see her. It's hard to say how Larry feels about the dog without knowing him. He may be very attached but not have the time or money. My guess is though, based on the matted hair, that he is not a very responsible owner. If that is the case he will be more than willing to give up the dog. If he does give you the dog I would write up adoption papers and have him sign them. Just something that says he is relinqueshing his ownership to you. You can make something up to Larry about needing proof of ownership for pet insurance. Good luck and keep us informed. Donna P.S. You can also tell Larry when Buffy comes home that she will be needing follow up vet care. If Larry thinks the vet bills will start adding up he will be more willing to give Buffy to you.

And I am sure this isn't the first time she has had an antibiotic so I don't think an allergic reaction was a biggie...I think that she has the right to choose whether to take a shot but with children and others as well as a job to think about, including having reached the point of blood in the urine, I think it was foolish not to take the shot... The thought also struck me that you have children to throw into that mix and I wonder if you are passing that fear of needles on to your children. I don't like needles and I have a gashong port in my chest so that I don't have to deal with them but in the situation you described, nikki I would have taken the shot. I hope you are feeling better and I wish you a speedy recovery.