Okay. Sounds like you've been getting alot of misinformation and half truths. First, there's no such thing as a grout with the sealer built in. Many installers will try and tell you that about modified grouts which include latex polymers in the grouts, but that's bigtime false. The other, which is more of a half truth is concerning epoxies. Although there's no sealer built right in, sealer can not be used on epoxy grout, either, because it's actually a plastic, and as such, won't allow sealers to penetrate into the grout. However, it also doesn't NEED to be sealed being that by itself, it won't allow alot of the staining that normally occurs (although it also can't be said that it's stainproof-- that's also a mis-statement). Now, Many of your questions can be answered if you go to the top of the bathrooms forum list and click on the "gallery" link. I have a thread over there entitled Tile FAQ's. In there, I go into alot of detail concerning grouts and the choice thereof. One of the things I stress is my opinion that you're better off choosing medium to dark colors in high traffic areas, rather than depending on grout sealers, because the BEST that they'll do is delay the inevitable. With the medium to dark colors, you won't see traffic patterns, staining, or aging of the grout NEARLY as much. This also goes for epoxy grouts, with respect to choosing colors. One other thing I say in that thread, and this WOULD pertain to you-- For the most part, it's my opinion that the use of epoxy grouts in residential installations, although everything people say they are, are very high priced overkill. There are only two times where I feel the use of epoxy grout is justified. One is if you're doing a tile countertop, and the other is if you have pets-- especially multiple pets, who might tend to have "accidents" every once in a while. Hopefully, I haven't confused you even further. If after reading this as well as the FAQ, you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask. :-) Matter of fact, I think your questions' going to be added to it, concerning the "grouts with sealer built in"!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and good wishes. The neurosurgeon said I didn't have MS, that I'm a little old because it should have been evident in my 20's. Of course he added, "Not that you're old..." (I've already had my mid-life crisis, over a decade ago!) I can laugh about this now but for those few days, it was pure agony. Thank you all for being there for me. I don't know what I would have done without you all. On the other hand, the "cure" for the facial spasms is surgery and he mentioned a 60 - 70% success rate. I'm looking at this as another one of my life's hurdles... Again, thank you all very much for your support and compassion. It truly means a lot to me. Keeping all of you in my prayers...

Hey CarrieB, About a year ago, there was a forum here called "The Single Life". It was fun to post on, and it was chock full of posts about dating, relationships, ups and downs, break ups, etc. The forum was yanked because it became more like a chat room. Only certain people would post and "talk" to each other; they would post the strangest things, not even dealing with singledom. Things like, jokes, surveys, poster-to-poster messages not even dealing with a single's life. I really, really, really wish that Spike would consider having a forum to deal with relationships. I lurk like mad on this Marriage forum, but I am not married - just in a committed relationship. I feel like I "cannot" post here because I don't have the piece of paper or ring on the finger (which I don't want). I lurk like mad, and post on, the Stepfamily forum; even though I am not married and not 'in' a Stepfamily. But there are enough issues in my life that I need to lurk/post in that forum, because the people there are living the same life. Maybe Spike will consider a dating or singles forum. Just because we are "single" does not mean we will start up some lanky, moronic chat room like the others did a year or so ago. We just have our own set of issues that we'd like to post on (I know I do!) and in the Marriage / Stepfamily forum, it's not really right. - darkeyedgirl

My husband gave me a beautiful string of pearls with a saphire clasp for christmas last year...guess I'm old lady :) But then my newest piece of jewelry is probably 1950 with most of it being 1880's...so perhaps I"m just an old lady at heart :) I love jewelry with history. Sell it and enjoy the vacation...and know that the person who buys it is probably someone like me who will cherish it as much as the original family member of yours did. As to purging...well frankly, I like stuff :oP I love all the stuff ya'll donate to charity because I haunt the goodwill and habitat store looking for it. I use it daily and it makes me feel good. But that said...I rather enjoy purging too, but perhaps that's linked to the fact that I bought a huge house full of someone elses "stuff". I happily donate items to habitat. I like the tax deduction, and I love the feeling of doing something positive for a charity I support. I also do put things outside with a "free" sign (because I think it's cute how people will take ANYTHING!...no one does that in Alaska) but most of those are children's things (which must be taken during school hours so DS does not see it LOL). That reminds me...I have a slide for free to put out tomorrow when he's napping LOL My one hoarded...hang on, I don't know, thing is my son's cloths and cloths I purchased for a set of twins we lost. I thought we were going to adopt or have another child and now that we've give up on that I have to open the boxes. I have literally dozens of large boxes full of lovely cloths, regular stuff, and brand new things for the babies we expected. I know I have to get to that stuff...it takes up a huge amount of space, both physically and emotionally, but I haven't quite gotten into the zone to be able to do that one. Maybe we should make a pledge...those of us who have some purging to do...I'm peronally going to get through those cloths and give them to someone who needs them within the first quarter of 2011. Jak...maybe you should empty the barn by then LOL Ok that's probably asking too much heh heh