Mentha says, "I could live without the pain, but that's what the Lord gave me to deal with, it could be worse." I struggle daily with *much* pain and am always looking for ways to cope, so I'm going to put your comment on my bathroom mirror---I love it! It's straight to the point, there's no drama or "woe is me," and the final truth, "it could be worse." Being the practical girl I am, I think the simplicity and truth of your words are an inspiring way to get on with the day! Besides, if I hadn't had my injury to slow me down I NEVER would have discovered my *burning* passion for plants. It is what sustains me though everything---I can feel my blood pressure drop when I work on them. When God closes one door he does open another----sometimes it just takes awile to find it. (shiver now steps off her soap box) :)

Consider an induction burner. There are several manufacturers and there is a thread on this forum about refurbished viking single burners at a reasonable price. I have a single burner induction cooktop and I use it to make Shabu Shabu at the dining table and also use it to stir fry stuff when I am cooking for too many people at one time. It will be useful after your remodel too. Suppentown, Burton etc all make induction single burner rings. Cooktek is more expensive but make a great unit used by restaurants. Good luck!

Yes, you're right in what you said at the end of your post; this is coming from 3-way calling. Many phone companies have now enabled 3-way calling and all the other "custom calling features" on a pay-per-use basis, so your line probably does have 3-way calling enabled on it. This will not occur on all calls because if it is on your local exchange that you have gotten a busy signal, the phone company's computer is "smart" enough to know that you would not want to put a busy signal on hold and dial a second number. However, if the busy signal is on a long-distance number, your local phone company's computer doesn't know it's a busy signal, so it will let you put it on hold and dial a second number. You need to keep the phone hung up longer before making a second call. In some cases, you may be charged long distance for the call that's hearing a busy signal but is on hold, and in others you might be charged for a use of 3-way calling if it's on your line as a pay-per-use feature.

Rosefolly - What a surprise to find someone here whose father invented the very thing we're talking about! Since I didn't touch the epoxy (wore new workmen's cotton gloves), that isn't what caused my skin to react. It was on my face only. The lumps were below the skin surface. But, it was combined w/ paint; so the mix is maybe what did it? After the anti-biotics, my skin was as smooth as glass. And the project? A great success. I'd painted the porcelain wall tiles, tub, sink, toilet in my new apartment. Not only did it look custom-made, but it shone as if all new. Even scrubbing w/ scouring powder didn't mar the finish -- that's why epoxy is needed in the paint. People asked me if I'd had the bathroom remodeled...a neighbor saw it, did his w/ epoxy paint, too. In spite of my little debaucle w/it , I recommended it to everyone. Sarah Canary - Maybe one reason "Smilla's Sense of Snow" appeals to us so much is because we're both January babies? ... As to the characters -- I'm not having any problems keeping them straight in my mind. Could be because they have such different first and last names...makes it easier. Yes, I agree, the atmosphere is a big part of this story -- really sets the mood.