"Reply to solargary...I took a look at my 'cracked' windows in relation to the return air vents and had an A-Ha moment. I also threw another blanket over the house fan in the attic. Is there some kind of special blanket or material that can be thrown over attic protruberances to deal with heat loss? I thought about sacrificing my best down comforter to the job but decided it might be better used on my bed." I have a whole house fan also, and built up a box around its perimeter made from 2 inch thick rigid foam board. In the winter I put a lid on this box also made from 2 inch foam board, and put a couple of rocks on it to make sure it seals down to the foamboard edges (high tech eh). I then throw some batt insulation over that. The foam board box seals up the whole fan in the box, and also keeps loose fill insulation out of the fan area. Another notorious leak area is the hatch to the attic. I've seen studies that concluded that a large part of the total attic heat loss can come from a leaky hatch. For other penetrations (like wiring, plumbing, can lights), I raked away the existing loose fill insulation, then used the polyurethane foam in a can (eg Great Stuff) to seal all the gaps. Its a bit messy, but easy. You have to be a bit careful insulating around can lights if they are not approved for direct insulation contact. For the problem of increased depth of loose fill blocking the soffit vents, they make thin foam board "chutes" that you staple up the roof sheathing before putting in more loose fill. The chutes keep an air channel open. Home Depot type places sell them. Bushleague -- I'm also a big fan of the Onset loggers -- I'm up to 3 of the 4 channel ones (don't tell my wife :). Gary

This is like some language I don't know igloochic. :) My brother has a natuzzi and he isnt that happy with it for some reason. I think rosesstink just suggested I give my DH a time out. :) that made my morning. I have to say, I used to get upset. The spills on the floor, the rips on things, I can not believe I am typing this because it makes it real, but the fact that when I asked DH to hang the pictures in my DR recently he accidently hit my mothers crystal ball with the HAMMER! and I still do get upset fleetingly, but I realized I could either learn to live with it, or get divorced. He happens to be wonderful in many other ways, and takes such good care of our son, that I decided to learn to live with it. :) He just doesn't get it. Well, he does to a point. I didnt' find out about the entire container of V-8 juice that was spilled on my rug until a couple days after he did such a good job cleaning it up. I think it took him hours. I couldn't remember your screen name srg215, but I have become obsessed with that sectional and it is your fault! I am going to move the sofas we have to you can't walk through the opening mimicking a sectional and see how we do for a few days.

I also noticed that recently some "pros" seem to take over some posts with snide remarks and what I can only assume are inside jokes. Not really on this board I don't think, but on the remodeling and building boards. It makes me hesitant to post a question now or ask for advice on those boards, and I feel sympathy for other posters who are put down and/or have their posts hijacked. One of my recent posts went that way so I just abandoned it. I would have deleted it if I could. I've been a member of Gardenweb for a long time (maybe over 15 years?) and never noticed it so much before, even though I used to spend more time on the boards. I also don't usually complain about it but just started flagging some comments that were pretty bad.

I usually agree with you, Sophie, but not on this one. I have a WONDERFUL handyman - he's worked for me now for about 15-18 years. He's in great demand in my neighborhood as he's an excellent workman, is honest and works quickly - no breaks to check his email or have a smoke or a drink. Mine prices jobs only by the hour. If one wants a set price, he tells them upfront it's going to cost them more as he's going to build in "surprise" money just in case. I think he charges $75 @ hr. He is not a licensed electrician but can do lots of small jobs - he has a brother who is and for big jobs they work together. He said he'd have to give up his business and do a 2 yr apprenticeship to be licensed in my state and that's just not realistic. He knows what he can and cannot do. He's invaluable. He much prefers doing small jobs and I know he makes a good living doing this. He was at my house today to hang a new door on a cabinet in my breakfast room. He also checked my whole-house generator, which he and his brother installed - it went on yesterday during a power outage of a few hours, but I saw a light on it I had not previously seen. So he checked it and it's due for a servicing which he will do later this week. If he could clone himself multiple times, all of his "clones" would be as busy as he is. He's who I call if a fence section blows down and I need help quickly. He installed inside storm windows on my basement Crittall windows - I'd have frozen if he hadn't. He has added outlets to rooms when I've needed them. He has repaired the trellis under a small deck off my DR. I can't even remember all that he has done but I would find life in my house very hard without him. He would never be happy working for someone else, and he would never tolerate the work ethic (or lack thereof) of any helpers. He's a one man band and he plays a VERY sweet tune!