Glad to hear you like your new mattress. I agree those pillowtops are too mushy. Do you really need a topper if you are happy with the mattress? Just out of curiosity, what did you get?

As I understand it, you can get latex or memory foam. Memory foam is the one which has the reputation for being hot, I think. I got my latex topper from absolutecomfortonsale.com. I think it's pretty firm (3"). Actually I wish it were softer. I'm not saying that's a good place to go because lots of places sell these pads, but there is some information there comparing latex and M.F. as I recall.

[By the way, Chisue, Oski had "his operation" yesterday, and he's wearing a little cone now, poor guy. When he was visiting a couple weeks ago, I put water down for him, and he took to digging in the water bowl spraying water everywhere. Then he picked up the bowl and carried it around the kitchen. Then when I tried to mop the floor he had to play tug-of-war with the rag I was trying to use. Sound familiar? Sorry to be off topic, but I know you like Westie stories.]

We've had a four inch foam topper on our kingsize bed for nearly five years. Still not compressed, still very comfortable. I turn it once or twice a year and have a very nice quilted cotton mattress pad on it. Got it from overstock for $99.

I have the 4" memory foam topper, too - love it! I no longer have a back ache when I get up in the morning.

I have a memory foam topper and sometimes I think I get too hot because of it. Overall, it is worth the comfort.

We've never been hot on ours. Or cold! Just comfy. Don't know if it's latex or what it is. Do you "hot" people have your topper covered with a quilted cotton mattress pad? Ours is....try it.

I've found foam to be waaaay too hot.

Bought a memory foam, and took it back!

I have a thin memory foam and I just love it. I have it covered with a double flanelette sheet. I don't find it hot at all- just very, very comfortable. I love it.

I have a memory foam mattress. It took a few days to get used to the fact that it takes a few minutes to conform to your body. I thought at first that it was way too firm but now I love it. No more back aches. Not too hot and believe me, I'm really hot natured.

I have an inch of memory foam on my mattress, and an inch of soft latex over that. Memory foam is too hot for me to sleep on directly.

I bought both toppers from Overstock a couple of years ago, and they're still like new.

I have about a 1" foam pad, flat on one side and with shallow dimples on the other on top of my single bed mattress, and a synthetic sheepskin on top of that.

I find it very comfortable and not too hot.

I'm thankful to report that I haven't had back problems and commisserate with those of you who do: my retired farmer brother wears a back brace all of the time.

Think that it's time that I go to use the bed: when we achieve a ripe old age, we need all of the beauty sleep that we can get, though frequently I don't get it.

ole joyful

socks -- Assuming you still own some socks, given Westies' love of stealing them. Eliot passed on my slippers this morning, instead reminding me to run a load of wash by bringing out one of Pop's tube socks from top of his laundry bin.

Thanks for the Oski update! We had metal dog food dishes until we had Pip. He was so gentle in everything EXCEPT his dishes, which he upset and pushed all over the kitchen. We switched to heavy ceramics -- sorta like Fiesta Ware. (BTW Pip never was 'altered' until he was about 12 and developed a problem. We had no unspayed females in the area, so it wasn't an issue.)

To answer your question: We bought a Simmons 'Carter' Beautyrest (european king size) at Carson's (now owned by Bon Ton Stores in PA). It was $1001 with tax and delivery/take away. No more $2-3K beds for me! I'm going to try less expensive and not feel guilty about replacing them more often. This comes in a 'plush' mode, but we bought the more firm variety -- which is why I'm looking for foam topper info.

All our married life we've had Verlo beds except for one disastrous Stearns & Foster -- also from Carson's. It sagged almost immediately. Carson's sent out a little lady from what we called 'the mattress police'. (She may have been affiliated with whoever punishes people who tear off the mattress tag that says, "Do Not Remove"; she refused to say.) She verified that the mattress had sunk inordinately and they replaced it, but it still didn't last long. We still have an excellent, much older S & F twin set in our guest room. (I think S & F went into some kind of slump; don't know if they're better again now.

Chisue, one of the five mattresses in my mattress saga (several years of buying and returning unsatisfactory mattresses) was a Stearns & Foster. It held the record of lasting one night before developing the king of sink holes. The mattress police were called out to my house, too, and verified that I'd been sold a lemon. Of course, I think all current S & F's (along with a bunch of others) are lemons.

We've had the mattress police here as well!! What's going on with beds in this world? The lady came with her strings and other measuring devices. Refused to comment to us on the condition of the mattress, but did comment that the cat had torn up the underside of the box springs (thank you Daisy). In the end Aireloom did replace the mattress, but we still hate the bed. Aireloom used to be a wonderful company with handmade mattresses, but they have changed hands a few times and have fallen in with the rest of the ordinary mattress companies.

The salesman at Carson's said S & F started out very good, then rested on their laurels while quality declined, but are now gearing back up again. One night, eh? They should pay YOU to have to futz around with that sort of mess!

I just bought a lemon at the grocery store yesterday. Used it on some salmon last night -- well, tried to. My LEMON was a lemon -- not juicy! (And, really, 99 cents for one lemon?)

Cue Chicken Little, the sky IS falling! (He knew he'd be right one day.)