Lynn, I just read your story and am so happy to learn your beautiful dog is finally recovering well. One of my cats had a toe amputated recently. I picked him up the next day, drove home (12 miles) and then realized no one had given me an antibiotic for him. I called the vet, and a tech apologized for the slip-up. Drove back to the vet's. Then there was the time I had an antibiotic prescription for myself. I took it to Walmart to be filled, drove home (16 miles) and (as is my habit) looked up the numbers printed on the capsules. Turned out the pharmacy had sent me home with antidepressants. The pharmacist didn't even apologize for this one. And she said, "Just throw them out." I insisted she dispose of the pills properly--after I drove back to Walmart with them. But I wouldn't be surprised if she "just threw them out."

I still haven't eaten the fallen apple, but I will do so this week. I do like apples that are sweet/tart and crisp, and so it might be okay with me. I don't expect to get many apples from this tree, and if it's a big disappointment (like the plum tree), I'll replace it with something I like better. I'm wondering how expensive it will be to have the trees removed. Kevin says I have to have it professionally done, but I think I could get rid of most of it myself and then have someone else just remove the roots. I looked at some Fuji apples in the grocery store, and they were more of a blush color than solid red, but at least I have an idea of how they are supposed to look. Next time I will buy one to see how the grocery store version tastes (and costs). Lars

Okay, to be honest it is promising, but hard to determine because of it being so early in the framing; it could take a turn for the worse. The house to the right appears to have a bit of a "modern prairie" design to it (that's a play on the imaginary term "modern farmhouse"). Many time a designer will paste prairie style details to a house and call it a prairie design, without regard for any grid system or spacial relationships. If we haven't chased you off, could you post some exterior elevations and floor plans of the structure.

Before moving in, I wanted to install a central air filtration system since I have pets and sensitivity to VOCs. I saw this one system was recommended so I went on the brand website and located nearby dealers. I picked one that appears to be the most well-reputed based on their reviews and years in business. They sent their guy to take a look at the house and gave an estimate. The guy kept telling me there’s no point to add a new filtration system for one or two thousand dollars as the duct job was done so badly. He showed me some photos and pointed out how the pipes were zip tied and would limit the air flow. This is how they get you. Alot of these air filtration systems come about because of the pandemic. Make claims to kill covid etc. Then the con is revolving around exactly what they use in your case -- you come this far you might as well replace the whole system. I see it all the time. It starts from an inquiry - they use every tactic they can to get their foot in the door. It's a free estimate, they have sales people dressed like Techs. They are trained to sell. They have to do that because often times they have high and large advertising budgets. So if a companies over head is so large there isn't any thing that would prevent them from charging whatever. What's fair when you figure in all other possiblities like hard access, no materials (the haves and the have nots) -- when the haves -- have all the materials? They can charge whatever they want with impunity. I just completed a job yesterday that was something similar except the home owner got additional quotes to compare. They called me for a quote to replace everything. However when I get out there and start looking at things I questioned the why would they do this with what they got and what their plans are for this house. If you don't open up and provide those answers the honest guy can provide solutions as to what you want. So it goes both ways. So I asked what they really want and they opened up and told me. From there I laid out their options. Some of the other companies that they called were flat out lying. Telling the home owner they had freon leaks, the unit was old R22 freon etc. When in fact it was R410a and only 11 years old. They hadn't owned the house that long, the house was previously a rental house so maintenance was neglected. They use things like code violations and such. Yet in my case I told the home owner you just bought the house without having the previous owner to fix this code violation? (The house was built in the 80's so name a house that doesn't have a code violation compared to today's building code.) It's used as something to motivate you and part you from your money. There are limitations: the risk was for the home owner that the repair I was offering would fix all concerns. So I gave them additional choices for that within reason --- meaning not quoting a whole system replacement just because. They chose the repair and in their case the situation has been remedied, until the machine breaks again. Now because I took the time and energy to do what I did --- it goes against the grain of these companies who come in and say you need to replace everything. Sometimes replacing everything *might* be in your best interest. The big companies didn't get big by quoting repairs focusing on smaller less costly options. Delving into VOC's I think it's an impossible task when you build a home using things that emit VOC's. Then trying to put a HVAC system in to remove the VOC's with questionable tactics to suggest they really work. There is a price to education, so I think you just chalk it up as that. It doesn't sound like they didn't do what they quoted you. Charging more for something is argumentative doesn't go anywhere.