Hi Ya! I kicked that ol' tire right outta the yard into kingdom come (I actually had two beers - pointed them into my diary and still kept my day value) on Friday night and a strong sedative....boy...sleep I did and still somewhat groggy today got off my keister, did some light kitchen cleaning, ran some laundry, puttered with my darling baby plants (repotted some and gave my fern a massive heart attack by sawing the root ball down and repotted it) and just made some cinnamon rolls. Yep, cinnamon rolls. I cut them into small sizes and pointed them at 3.5 per roll (probably less). I used splenda and sugar with the cinnamon, drizzled honey to goo things up a little and low fat margarine in the mix. I also use LIGHT carnation evaporated milk - really gives it a lovely texture and taste. I still have 6 points left today and later this evening I am going to have a nice cuppa tea and a cin. roll - finish up my points for the day, freeze some of them for another day and take some over tomorrow when out visiting folk (I love to bake, I still do a lot but I give it away ASAP and freeze a few bites for later). Friday night the family has decided I will be going out for chinese dinner this week coming for my b'day...they never asked what I wanted (I don't really want this, especially on a Friday night - I am usually totally wiped by end week, but I will go with my best foot forward. Just means that Thurs/Friday I will PLAN AHEAD and save a few extra points for that meal. I appreciate their thought and Dave's parents are here for another week before going back home. I should not complain, it has been hard on them even more. Probably be in bed early again tonight but first, gotta read my gardening mag. and my National Enquirer (weekly international edition). I know, I know the NE is pretty much fiction but I enjoy it. Small pleasures. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Tomorrow we start another week and we carry on! Cheers, McPeg

Shareclub usually meets in the boardroom of a daycare behind a Lutheran church, while the caretaker cleans. When we arrived tonight - door locked. Called the caretaker - he's sick. So we arranged for a room in a nearby library, at a fee of $26.50 for a non-profit group. Usually about 20 there, only about 14 tonight (probably some were missed by the notifying person at the door of the daycare). We've been meeting for years - usually have met where room is free. This is the first time that we've had to pay, that I'm aware of and I've been attending for about 7 years, I think. On return home, female canine (changing her title to "feckless canine") had torn the bottom out of a grocery bag hanging on the kitchen chair, chocolate bar wrapper strewn all over floor, she'd eaten some of it. When she was here some time ago, pulled a bag of choc. covered almonds off of a kitchen chair, ate quite a few, threw up after a while. Regurgitated almonds, even though (still) choc. covered, are not an appealing dish. She doesn't like being left alone - the other day, she'd pulled the garbage bag all apart, strewing junk all over the kitchen floor. After my return, I made the mistake of giving a tart a minute of microwave - to smoke when I opened the door, and some raisins rather charred. Glad it wasn't yesterday - or I'd have thought it an inauspicious start to my new year. ole joyful

"Gary, out of sheer curiosity, what wholesale HVAC warehouses did you look into around our area (though I believe you bought it in PA, didn't you?)? Is there one for Trane/American Standard you checked out (do you think you could somehow get equipment from them?)? I think I recall you saying you priced an American Standard system for around $3k and was curious where this was." Ryan: I did indeed get an A/S quote "back in the day" when I first started looking. It was a Heritage 13 3-ton (don't think the air handler was v-s) with 15 kw strip heat for $3600. It was from Northeast Plumbing and Supply. They weren't too happy that I called them for pricing as I am not a pro. I wound up geting a 14 SEER, 12 EER, 9 HSPF Goodman. Copeland scroll, and a full 36,000 btu cooling and 35,000 btu heating. I went with the 3-speed air handler and TXV. Also got a hard-start cap, bypass humifier, filter/drier, sight glass, and condenser mounting pad. Paid $2500 for everything from DESCO, over the MD state line in Hanover PA. I picked everything up from their warehouse with a tow trailer. They provide the 10 year parts warranty. My wife works for a Property Management Company so I paid one of their pros $1200 to install it. 2 guys, 8 hours each. He had to fabricate 2 custom duct pieces for the installation. $3700 total for the new heat pump. So far so good with the Goodman. Take care.

Happy birthday, may this day always be a special one to remember. Shirley