frmrsdghtr - you summed it up perfectly. We live in Ontario and are under 65 - not by much, but still, under 65, which does make a difference (joyfulguy - you are over 65 so would benefit from many things that we do not). OHIP (the Ontario Health Plan) is about to cut many services (eyes - and I don't mean "normal" eye care) - I mean for people like my husband who has had a vitrectomy and cataract surgery. People who are diabetics often have major eye problems etc. and this will affect them - and not all are obese. My husband's eyes are bad enough that one of his eye specialists (he has 3) has been able to run his quarterly eye tests through OHIP, but at his May 8 appointment he was told that he would not be able to do this any longer - and his office plan won't cover it. My husband pays high premiums for family coverage (just the two of us) - yet has deductibles of $1,250 for EACH of medical and dental - so we basically pay for everything due to the deductibles - and since he has only one prescription for eye drops and I have one prescription we are not your "normal" Cdns. Even his office health care provider remarked that for people paying such high premiums we had very few claims (well, they wouldn't pay for his vitrectomy rehab equipment, nothing towards his sleep apnea dental appliance, his office dental plan does not cover specialists (and his regular dentist - an oral surgeon, no longer does root canals) plus there is the deductible problem. Back in the day your GP could zap a wart - now you need to be referred to a derm (heck, I could do it). I had several moles develop suddenly on my neck last year - it took over 6 months to get a derm appointment - and that was with a different derm - first one was going to be 9 months - and both required referrals from my GP. Yet, if I wanted to have something cosmetic done, I could have been seen next day. I have searched the OHIP site but little has been posted yet. The news showed the cost of the glaucoma test being $63.00 with OHIP paying the doctors $25.00 - but that must be for the cost of the equipment, because my husband pays over $200 for each test, so I think they need to get the facts straight. Fees to radiologists are being cut back which will affect mammograms (techs do the mammos but they are read by the radiologist so I guess backlog will come into play, and EKGs. Certain heart tests are being cut as well. I know that if you need a lower back X-Ray it will have to be seriously justified by your doctor. Every time I am supposed to have a bone density test (despite confirming day before) I arrive and am told that I can't have it for another year or two - but I am welcome to pay for it. I fully expect to never be able to get one again! According to my pharmacist, retired people post 65 can have their prescriptions covered, but they must take Generic pills. I can't take Generics - it isn't the meds factor, it is the non-medicinal ingredients I am allergic to - as are many others - and many seniors are paying the substantial difference themselves. My husband recently had a discussion with a N.Y. taxi driver who told him how lucky he was to live in Canada where dental, medical and vision (even glasses) are 100% paid for. My husband tried to set him straight - but the guy didn't believe him. I have had the same discussions in the U.S. and people think I am wrong. As if, I live here. My husband's cousin had to travel from Ontario to the Mayo Clinic to be diagosed with ALS (no one saw that one coming). She had been falling down for well over a year and it was going to take her another year to be seen by a specialist - so they paid to go to Mayo - and this was the horrible result. She is 54 years old. I know what the cost was to go to the Mayo Clinic and I think they could have bought a house in Michigan for less. If we need an MRI we can get it much more quickly in the U.S. - but we have to pay for it. Same with tests for prostate cancer etc. Is our health care better than what you have in the U.S. - DEFINITELY. Is it the health care that people think we have - NO. And let's not forget that we pay very high taxes and do not enjoy the many deductions that Americans have. There would have to be some give and take for the Americans to have our plans. Of course people who work for the government or are represented by strong unions (teachers, postal workers etc.) have excellent pension plans and retirement benefits. The average person working in private business does not. That would be us. If we take out private plans such as Blue Cross the costs are high - much like in the U.S. - and coverage is minimal - not to mention that everything seems to be pre-existing. When you read the list I don't think there is anything that the normal person hasn't experienced at least once in their respective lifetime. This is definitely not the time for my husband to be facing retirement - the economy is horrible - here as well - and we have been earning nil on our investment funds. But our banking laws are a lot better! Actually, the mail just arrived - bringing with it a letter from my husband's GP advising of the cost of this year's premium to cover non-insured services - I have the same with my doctor - it is about $100 - $125.00 for individual coverage. I am very happy with his doctor - for the first time they are offer fees for Individuals, COUPLES, or Families. There are many couples such as us who pay for people with several kids etc., yet we do not get one single tax break - period.

Since this thread last appeared, I bought two really comfortable linen chairs for my LR (an updated wing back shape) - one at our HomeGoods store and one at a Marshall's about 25 miles away. Also found some towels I really like -- bought three sets after searching for months and finding only the same not-right colors nothing but solids or solids with embroidery. I was bored with all those and was relieved to find a couple of patterns and a fun color. That's on top of my 3 wool rugs, chunky crystal lamps and a lot of my All-Clad and bakeware. I've been told our store gets deliveries 6 days a week. If you see something you like, you'd better put in in your cart while you think about it. With both my stainless and the chairs, I got what I could and called around to find another, risking a return if I didn't find them -- but I did.

Is the kitchen open to the FR on the left? If not, it seems to be a long way from the kitchen to the FR! If you're planning for children, I would make opening up the kitchen to the FR a top priority in this remodel, even if it means making do with existing appliances for now...just create space for new appliances (e.g., a 36" wide x 72" high alcove for the refrigerator). Here's a first quick layout: I think you'll find that you have a lot more storage space in cabinets plus the pantry pullout next to the refrigerator (that also acts as "filler" b/w the wall and refrigerator to allow the refrigerator to open fully). Note: The 6" cabinet next to the sink is a 6" filler pullout. You get more storage with a "filler pullout" than with a cabinet b/c filler pullouts have no walls, they are attached to the walls of the cabinets in each side...that means you don't lose the 1.5" or more to walls and cabinet frame (if framed cabinets). It could hold spices and similar small items. The 9" cabinet to the right of the range could hold cutting boards or trays. I will say, though, that you don't have much prep space b/w the sink and range...that's b/c you want the sink centered on the window. If you're willing to give up the "sink centered under window" paradigm, you could have more prep space. Something like this: It puts your primary prep space under the window. Since 70% of your time spent & work done in the kitchen is spent prepping, it only makes sense to put it in the most desirable place. (Prep Zones need ready access to water, be near the Cooking Zone, and have no obstacles (like a DW) in the way.) Or, even better, this (my favorite, btw) Yes, that's the range in front of the window. While it's not ideal, it's a viable alternative when space is at a premium, especially wall space. The only caveat to it is that Code in your particular municipality may not allow it or require the window to be "non operating" (i.e., cannot be opened). It's worth checking with your town/county, IMHO. The range hood can be a low profile hood that does not obstruct the view out the window very much. Here are #1 & #3 with the primary work zones marked: BTW...I just use Microsoft PowerPoint for layouts. I made a "template" and work from there. I can send you the file if you'd like...it is in PowerPoint 2010, but I think I have a 2007 version on my work laptop if 2010 is a problem for you. Email me via My Page...

We don't have Waffle House here, but I know it from traveling in the south. I'm okay with anyplace with butterscotch anything on the menu. Spent the morning at a waterpolo tournament. We won both games, big. I scheduled my day tomorrow with job#2 (first day back) thinking tournament would finish in the morning, but I'll miss the last game, regardless. So I may not go tomorrow. We have a good shot at winning the whole thing, so I'm sad not to go. But I think it'd be harder to go to one and not get to see the championship game. And almost as hard if we lose the first game tomorrow after winning so big today. So I think going to a game is a lose-lose proposition for me. I want to get my bathroom drawers/cabinets cleaned out. I've had it on various to-do lists for years. Things are just piled/crammed in. I decided I'll plan it one drawer/shelf at a time. Trying to get it done by the end of break. It's 'chunked' enough that way that I don't have to plan a big period of time. So far so good. Yesterday before we went to the inlaws' I did one drawer and one shelf. I'm about to go hit another in a bit. Good plan. I'm definitely struggling with the day of the week. I was listening to talk radio on the way to and from the games. The person filling in for the regular host...I thought he was saying the wrong regular host, today being Saturday and all. Not. That was my first indication that it's really still Friday. This is not a good timing for me of Christmas and New Years within the two week school break. I think I do best when it's on the weekend or at least butts up to the weekend rather than being in the middle. I lose some of my precious 'normal' weekdays off. I'm going to try mixing up my bread recipe. Going to try one of the variations with some whole wheat flour. Wish me luck!