I agree, an excellent post. The key is your line, "...somewhere along the way, they have lost a sense of logical thought, common sense and decision making." The inability to reason, to understand logical consequences of actions -- that's the real problem. I thought at first that my mom was just getting crotchety and stubborn in her old age. It took me a while and several strange incidents similar to what you described to understand that she was moving into dementia. One particularly memorable event was after she had a procedure done on her knees. Both the doctor and I went over the schedule for taking her newly prescribed painkiller so she wouldn't feel any discomfort once the anesthesia wore off. The next morning when I went to visit her, she was moaning in agony. I asked if she had taken her medication. She said she didn't because she was convinced it was making her knees hurt. I could go on with many such examples. But the bottom line was that she could function, remember, communicate, etc. And at times, especially around others, she was perfectly lucid. But her ability to reason and to understand was slipping. That's when I realized she was dealing with something more than the quirks of old age.

Update from the "Whistleblower": On February 6, 2009, the law office of Pernell W. McGuire reported that they filed the petition for the chapter 7 bankruptcy, for their client Buycabinets.com/Trevor Grace, on February 5, 2009. They also confirmed that Mr. Grace would be filing for a personal bankruptcy as well. However, they had no idea as to the timeline for the filing of the personal bankruptcy. If you do not receive your official notice from the court, please contact the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona, at 800-556-9230. The court-appointed trustee will determine which assets can be liquidated to satisfy the debts to the creditors. Since Arizona is a "community property" state, the trustee may be able to access the assets of Ms. Grace, who is a Vice President at a local Chase bank in Flagstaff. Aside from the assets of Buycabinets.com, Mr. Grace and Ms. Grace, the trustee should also be able to acquire the assets that may have been fraudulently transferred to TheDirectCabinetSource.com. Timelines are very important in determining the intent to commit consumer fraud. When preparing the documentation to support your Proof of Claim, please ensure that you include the dates of all communications with Buycabinets.com and/or TheDirectCabinetSource.com. You may also want to include a complaint to the court objecting to the chapter 7 discharge, and request that it be revoked on the basis that the debtor may have committed fraud. The Proof of Claim, which I will be submitting, will include the Whistleblower report that was filed with the Arizona and Nevada Attorney Generals office, the Federal Trade Commission and the local Flagstaff SheriffÂs office. This Whistleblower report contains over 30 possible witnesses and/or persons of interest, who law enforcement can question to establish the intent to commit consumer fraud, and to determine if assets were, in fact, fraudulently used or transferred to TheDirectCabinetSource.com. My Proof of Claim will include a list of at least 9 ex-employees and business associates who can corroborate that Mr. Grace used Company/Consumers money for personal expenses. I will also include my objection to the discharge and request that it be revoked. Whistleblower

Here is the latest update from the Whistleblower: I am posting the following information for those Victims/Creditors who have not received their official "Notice of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, Meeting of Creditors, & Deadlines" from the bankruptcy court Case Number: 2:09-bk-02017-RTBP Please be advised, the Creditors are being advised NOT to file a "Proof of Claim" at this time. It appears that the debtor, Mr. Grace, is reporting that there are NO assets available to the Trustee to pay the Creditors. The Meeting of Creditors will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, March 23, 2009 at the following location: U.S. Magistrate Courtroom 123 North San Francisco Street Flagstaff, AZ 86001 At this meeting, the Trustee and the Creditors will have the opportunity to question Mr. GraceÂs representative, who will be under oath. If you are unable to attend this meeting, I recommend that you file your list of questions, to be asked at the meeting, with the Bankruptcy ClerkÂs office. Address of the Bankruptcy ClerkÂs office: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Arizona 230 North First Avenue, Suite 101 Phoenix, AZ 85003-1727 Phone: (602) 682-4000 Bankruptcy Trustee: Lawrence J. Warfield P.O. Box 14647 Scottsdale, AZ 85267 Phone: (480) 948-1711 I also recommend that you file a request with the ClerkÂs office to revoke the discharge. Please be sure to explain your specific experience including dates and all correspondence with Buycabinets.com and/or TheDirectCabinetSource.com. You may also want to mention the perception that Mr. Grace seems to have chosen to discharge all of his obligations with Buycabinets.com, only to continue "business as usual" with the new company, TheDirectCabinetSource.com. Also, please provide any information you may have that may suggest that Mr. Grace might have used and/or transferred assets to the new company, for which he is the "Senior Executive." Please note, you can now correspond with the Whistleblower at watch-bird@hotmail.com. All emails sent to this address will be forwarded directly to the Whistleblower.

As for reasons for SW's ban..well they did explain it that way..how else you think I got that info? And why would I know about "Hot Topics" at all? Sophie was banned at the time, so didn't hear it from her. Somebody did post her letter to Houzz administration, since her profile was deleted and that was the only way Houzz could read it....but no way that letter can be found again No, I don't remember where exactly what was said as every single one of multiple threads has been removed -as mentioned above-until several folks including yours truly asked to leave a thread for something that at least resembles constructive discussion...this is very long thread with thousand responses, and already dedicated more to general problems of GW with Houzz. Understandably I'm not going through it..yet again)) as for " Anyone would paint themselves in the most favorable light, rather than a negative one, when it comes to an explanation to others. "...Penny, I disagree..)) Depends. On a person, on circumstances. I myself chose -very deliberately-to paint myself in worse light because then I wouldn't have to explain..and it was for the reasons of others, dear to my heart, being better off that way. I looked like a bad bad person to many, especially the ones who wouldn't know me extremely well. And I think I made a right decision. It was painful. But I did the right thing. Doesn't always matter what the world thinks; what you do, and why, and to what end-matters more. Of course one needs to be very certain in his reasoning; I was. Just an example. I'm sure there are many folks who do the exact same thing sometimes. Could have brought examples from literature, but my own life would do:) Now. if SW was indeed reported for constant rudeness, to a degree that permanent ban was suggested, and it went under disguise of her "abusing flagging" as explained..then I'm. like Shee, don't understand what another half a hundred people still doing here. On a lighter note-this oak thing is very interesting..well many things here are..people get so opionated about colors, and where the toilet should stand, and whatnot..this is like Wonderland to me, at times..what' more intersting, I also get invested too much at times, like with this oak, that I'm not even a big fan of..)) And of course I agree..it's very often not what you say, but how you say it. It's pity that it's not obvious to many, but everyone's different. My friends and family that are brusque-they're often proud of it..they say "I'm honest! I say it for what it is!" But they very often don't know at all what it is)) They have so many redeeming qualities though I love them anyway. I'm going to read the link about cream cabinets..seems deliciouly long. really, people feel bad when they like certain colors? They've nothing else to feel bad about? I guess that's a healthy brain for you:) (that was another post that was too long. Sorry..)