jeannekay - my sister is shocked at my low maintenance!! LOL! She is opposite of me that is for sure. I looked at the full length mirror today and thought twice about buying it! LOL! Jennymama- Well, the builder bought the wrong back splash tile and he was leaving for a short vacation this weekend. I went out the house tonight and they came and picked up the wrong stuff so that was a good sign! Tomorrow I am heading out to paint DD's bathroom. I hope it turns out ok. We are doing a fish, ocean, fish kind of thing! LOL! I was walking around tonight and there is so many little things to do but as far as I am concerned they can do them with me in the house! LOL! Let us know if you get moved in!!!!!! Oh wait....it just hit me, the house will be done next week but we won't be closed. Can we move in before we even close????Hmmmmm......

Hi Susan. Yes, there is a Spike Luckstone, sortof. That is the name of my Second Life identity, that much you already know...yes I am a real person in real life ("RL" in Second LIfe speak), and the short bio you reprinted is mine and real. Ronf gave a nice if brief description of Second Life. It's not easy to really explain all about Second Life (SL) to someone who has never seen it or been in it. It is an online virtual world, but it is definitely NOT one of those computer video game types of things that most people are familiar with, it is much more than that. It is known as the "game with no object", because there really isn't a goal or object, there's no bad guys to shoot or damsels in distress to rescue, although there are areas made for roleplay where you can do those things if you wish. I discovered SL by accident a little over 3 years ago when I stumbled across this article on Businessweek.com: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm It will tell you a bit about SL. SL may look cartoonish and silly to those who don't understand it or not been in it but the first thing an SL newbie learns is that although we are represented by cartooney-looking avatars, those avatars have real people controlling them with real personalities and feelings. Second Life is very much like this Real Life... except in SL we inhabit bodies made of pixels instead of flesh. Just like a really good book or movie can draw you in so you feel as if you're part of it, SL does the same. You are where your mind is. I've met many wonderful people in SL and have friends all over the world in SL. About the music... there are at least hundreds of clubs, bars, "outdoor" concert venues of all types and description and SL and as many musicians playing at them. The musicians may be anything from one person singing along with karaoke tracks, or accompanying him/herself on guitar or piano, to full bands playing live and streaming it into SL. Real-life band U2 has even done a live concert in Second Life. The google listings you mentioned of me (Spike Luckstone) playing in various real-life cities is a computer search-bot error, and understandably confusing. Weblogs of events in Second Life post event listing of who is playing and when, for their various SL venues. Somehow, search bots (little search programs designed to search and compile listings, in this case for entertainment) see these listings and somehow relate them to their cities. How that happens I couldn't tell you, but it is an error done by the website compiling the listings. No one in SL makes or wants these false and erronious listings, least of all myself, who supposedly am appearing or have played numerous places in real life that I have no intention of travelling to and I have no need or desire for false information or publicity of any kind. As for me, I am a semi-retired professional musician, I have never wanted to be a "star". My desire was to play guitar with good musicians, and play onstage with the "stars", not to be one myself. I did that already and don't need to do it anymore. I quit the road and settled down years ago. Playing in Second Life is nice because I can play whatever song I want, whatever instrument I feel like, can get bookings nearly any time I feel like playing, I have my own club where I can play any time I feel like it. I don't have to lug my equipment anywhere. I walk into my home studio and there is my stuff all ready to play. I can, and have, play a show in my pajamas if I feel like it. Another thing about music in SL, just about any wannabee can play in there... because of this you hear a lot of people who really are not professional-grade, but I'm glad they have a place that they can play and sing and for many of them it fulfills a life dream that they cannot do in real life. There are also some excellent musicians and bands in SL, as good as you'd find anywhere. I hope this clears up some of your questions. If I can answer anything else just ask. I do have a myspace page for my Second Life self at myspace.com/spikeluckstone if you'd like to hear some newer sound clips and it has a little more of my real life bio if you're interested. I do have a better-looking avatar now than I did when those videos were made. By the way, In Second Life, you can be anything or anyone you wish and no one expects your avatar to look exactly like your real life self. Why do that... SL is where you can be your idealized self so why not. :) You can see some screenshots and find more information at secondlife.com if you wish. Take care, "Spike Luckstone"

In response to Eve72's post, the Kraus 16-gauge stainless steel sinks do not rust. When rust appears on stainless steel it is because something external is on the stainless steel's surface that is rusting. You can use Barkeepers Friend to remove it. Let's clear up the ignorant statement about stainless steel sinks rusting. ANY stainless steel sink can show rust if steel wool like Brillo or other steel wool pads are used on it. I repeat, ANY brand of stainless steel sink, not just Kraus. When you see rust from steel wool, it's from the iron residue left by the steel wool on top of the stainless steel. I'll quote from Franke's website: Steel wool or metal scouring pads should never be used to clean your sink as they will leave a residue of small iron particles. They may not be readily visible, but they will lead to rusting and corrosion of the sink. As to Kraus faucets, I don't have direct experience, but in many years on this forum, I have not seen complaints here from Kraus faucet owners. I have seen Live_Wire_Oak's alarmist posts on this, but no one has ever stepped up in response and said "yes, I have a Kraus faucet which failed". I have seen many posts over the years about faucets failing, and they were often American-name faucets bought at HD. If anyone is worried about Chinese faucets, they better check their own Kohlers, Danzes, and Moens, many of which are made in China. I advise the OP to check out reviews of Kraus products on overstock, as there are quite a lot on that website. Here is a link that might be useful: Kraus Faucets on Overstock

wwwonderwhiskers, Sorry for delay. I didn't know you'd posted to me. Here's half of my peninsula. Click on Flickr pages for more views, but none is good shot of peninsula, sorry. You can see the lights. "Denmark" by Quoizel. Length is almost 9 feet from wall, width is 41.5 inches. DH and I talked about the intensity of light recently. We've decided that my discomfort may also be in part a result of the items we face--a dark wall or windows. The chopping station faces dark wall; sitters face window wall which is light-colored even at night. DH likes the lights even at 100 watt, although he dimmers them sometimes. One issue we did not think through at beginning--the swing of cupboard doors that could smack a pendant. We're very close. Here is a link that might be useful: PENINSULA at Florantha mansion