My husband a novice has learned a lot from our local SW store. He bought our sprayer from them, it wasn't the bottom of their line. It was worth his time and $$$. He practiced and has gotten pretty good at our trim work too. They suggested different nozzels etc and that made a lot of difference not getting drips, etc. Check them out if they are in your area. Atleast here, extremely knowledgable and helpful.

I've seen a few people who "project" what he might like. I'd like to project the opposite to show what other intentions this stranger might have. He might like to know that you will continue with him and with whoever he can send your way. He might like having that income. He might be able to concentrate fully, pay attention to detail, and advise you well. It is possible. He might appreciate that you will pace things out to suit his current situation. Any other way of projecting is (in my view) a self-serving way of cutting away from someone in need. He could have been "between insurances" when he found the tumor growing, and not felt comfortable about lying / hiding / non-declaring while filling out the application form for the next insurance. I said it "sounds like what I would hear about one of those third world countries. I'll bet this wouldn't happen in one of those countries that have state-run medical services" because in those systems he wouldn't have been fighting against his life savings when a doctor first spoke and said, "buster, that there thing is bad, and you are going to have to get that sucker taken out real soon before it gits ya." Cutting it out happens real fast when the payor is a great payor. There are no delays when the payor is clearly going to pay. It was a cancer, and the best time to snip it out and start following the recovery process was right away. When all you've ever seen is people hedging about when to do things and how much, it may be hard to imagine that some guy like this would NOT delay this kind of surgery. In fact, the doctors don't even present it to you as "you have to get it done" they just say, "we'll schedule it soon, and if you want more tests to be even more certain, that'll be fine too." I saw a remark above stating that even if it were to happen at no cost to him, he might have delayed it until too late. Hmm. Well, we'll never know, because he can't live simultaneously under two systems so we'll never know how he would have turned out under another system. About the medical coverage, my first comments at the top of this thread could be taken either way. So if anyone wants to thank me, I'm willing to hear it. Recently one GW member wrote that I'm also good at projecting, and even to the point of it being a pathology ... Oh, no! Do I have to declare it in all my insurances? Does this mean it's a downward spiral from here on? Am I stuck with the insurance company I'm with now?

There are a couple of review/referral sites that could help you. They are Homestars (which is free) and Angie's List (which charges a fee I think). I have used Homestars and had good luck with it. Have not used Angie's List at all as they aren't really pertinent to our region.

Mike Ingalls from Ingalls Custom Contracting, formerly known as Ingalls Custom Carpentry. I am good friends with him and his wife and admire (drool over) the beautiful trimwork all over their current home as well as their previous one. You can say his wife's friend Tracie recommended you. :) Here is a link that might be useful: Ingalls Custom Contracting