I cannot remember the exact years, but I remember much colder winters with more snow than we currently have been having. However I also remember a Christmas Eve going outside in just a sweater in 1954 or so. In the 40's It seems I was always sledding and now my grandchildren hardly ever get the chance! So is this global warming or just the natural change that has always been?

Grandma used to say, "Don't cross bridges till you get there". My boss once said, "Treat others like you'd like to be treated". That was good a couple of thousand years ago - and still works. I like a variation on another, "God likes to help those who are helping others". Dad used to say, "I want to leave my farm better than I found it". My variation is to replace "farm" with "community, country and world". Good wishes for helping leave the world a better place than when you came to it. ole joyful P.S. I think that I'll send this link to my youngies. o j

Due to my schedule, I bought the CD-ROM course for somewhere around $250-295 (can't remember, it was too long ago!). I also bought the identical course book so that I could read it whenever convenient, underline, and take notes in the margins. I also took a $75 weekend classroom review course, and I think that really, really helped reinforce the preparation that I needed to pass both the end-of-course exam and the state exam. There's also an application fee, fingerprint fee, and testing fee that were all maybe $50-ish each. That said, I think it was all worth the $$$ whether or not I ever practice real estate (which I plan to do). Firstly, I learned in the review course that I had one week left to file for the homestead tax exemption, which I had learned was NOT automatic when we bought the house, like we thought. So, I probably saved the entire cost of all the courses and books just in property taxes alone for 2009. (But sadly learned that we overpaid in 2008). Also, I learned a lot about a lot. It's not just about sales contracts and disclosures. There's a lot about zoning and law and mortgages and roofs and businesses and appraisals and all kinds of good random stuff. And now (once my license is activated) I can accept a referral fee, gifts, or lunch for say, helping out with an open house, or directing a customer someone's way. So I would definitely recommend taking the course if you're working in an office!

After seeing your latest pics, ans re-reading your OP - I would say the following: 1. You PURCHASED the piece of stone for the Island - it was your property 2. THEY suggested that you wait on the island 2 1/2 years ago, and on THEIR insistance - took responsibility for the piece (still YOUR property) 3. What they are trying to give you as the island made from "your piece" (if the small sample in the pics is what the stone SHOULD look like...) does NOT match with the sample. Based on these three criteria - I would say you have a case, and that your Fabricator now has the responsibility to "deliver" - if he can't to your satisfaction, you'll need to work out fair compensation for loss and de-fault of contract. Hopefully it won't go there - I'm hoping that your guy will make things right and give you what you feel is acceptable... TO YOU !!!! I would hope that your Fabricator can find a stone with waaay more of a match to the sample, and then everyone wins. My guess is - they lost track of your "piece" AND either broke it or fabbed it (the original) for something else, or they just lost track of it and it's still there - burried in their scrap pile.... I work with shops all over the world in my business, and I cant tell you how many other fabricators are in this general group....... EVERYBODY makes mistakes now and then !!! LOL - But..... you gotta hols your guy's feet to the fire and have him fab up an island that YOU will be happy with. Seriously - I'd wait and see what he can do, then lets evaluate your options Not trying to be "self promoting" here, but you can e-mail or call if you need to discuss... www.azschoolofrock.com - I'm hoping that everything will turn out OK for you at the end of the day...... hth kevin