I would like to plant something in her memory, but haven't decided yet. Maybe some catmint - hee-hee! She was strictly an indoor kitty, but when she was younger, I bought a small kitty leash and would take her out for a walk - on her terms of course. Sometimes she would walk and sometimes she would lay on the grass and roll around or eat the grass (then puke it up later). I took her outside in the backyard again last week so she could lay in the grass and sun herself for a while. She did try chewing on a couple blades of grass, but then decided she was going to walk down the driveway into the alley. I scooped her up before she got to the alley. Sure didn't want to lose her that way!

I think I like ya Dee...come move by us LOL I both sold a home from a fishing trip :) and bought one the same way. The home we sold was a townhouse with lake front access. An agent had a client interested in our other townhouse (actually on the lake) and he sent us a personal letter (not on stationary which I'd have tossed before reading). It was hand written and very nice so I called back with a polite "no" but told him that I had another which was going to to on the market in a few months though again, not on the lake. They asked to see it and I sold it that day, never listing it formally. We settled on a very low fee (since I hadn't engaged him) which was a benefit to the client and to us. It was a nice easy sale which took place in a down market, no money lost on the deal at all (small profit and we had use of the place while remodeling our other house which saved us thousands). Our victorian (we purchased in Nov 09) was never on the market. We looked at most of the big places in town and had negotiated for another one here for over a year. The owner was and is a stuborn old puke who will not receive what she expected her home to sell for. But I will say, we were willing to pay it in the end because we wanted the home and it was the best available. DH said "can you just call the James house?" (we'd had our realtor contact them a year before and she was politely rebuffed). To humor him I did and we bought the home 3 days later over coffee in a little local shop where i used to buy penny candy as a child. :) No agents involved. I appologized to our agent, but as a professional she said "it happens" and she wouldn't take a dime (as a professional would always do). And she's right, it does happen, and it's part of her job. We've refered two clients who have purchased since. Both houses never made a formal listing status. Both sales benefited each party involved and both were friendly sales. I think from now on I'm just going to ask people who have never listed their house if they want to sell verses looking at listed properties LOL So don't limit yourself to listed or formerlly listed....consider anything you like. We've only been here since Nov and I get offers about twice a month. They're not offensive :) We see them as a compliment and always respond politely. The only time I haven't been polite was once at our lake townhouse when a gentleman (I use the term lightly) wearing his shirt open to his waist with gold chains (I kid you not) came in his big pickup and stopped out front to tell me he was damned determined to buy our house for any amount of money. "Everyone has a price". I said our price was one million. He said it would never sell for that...to which I replied, "good cuz it isn't for sale anyhoo" and went in. So leave the gold chains at home when making inquiries? :oP

annz, cynthia and lily316 What I've been telling you is not a story it is real and it has been killing me for a long time. Its hurts me more when you tell me I'm part of the problem when I've cried and set up nights worried sick but did not know what to do. You don't understand, where we live you don't mess with anyone's things but your own. I have to be very careful because I have a home and family that I have to protect. This person is right beside me. My heart has been so hurt with this that I don't know if I can come back and hear you say its my fault. I understand your hurt because that is what I've been living with only much worse because I have to live beside it and see. Where we live everyone keeps their dogs outside and most chained. I don't like it but that is the way it is. I wish it was not that way. We use to have a dog. We loved her so much. After about 16 years she got sick and died. The vets could not get over how well we took care of her each time we took her for her check up. They always would brag on her. She had regular baths and never without food and good. We did not keep her chained and she was an outside dog but only in the day. We would bring her in the garage in the evening and close the door. If we left for vacation our family came every day to take care of her. We kept a really good very thick bed for her in the garage attached to our home. We would bring her in from time to time. She was our baby. We love animals and take very good care of them. We have a cat that stays in the house with us now. She has never been out. We love her and take the best of care of her. So, we love animals and take them regular to the vet. I'm sorry that you feel that I'm part of the problem. I know you feel for them because I'm just like you. I hope it helps you with your hurt to know when I say we will try to do everything we can for the dogs. There is nothing here to help animals but one animal shelter which in a few days if no one comes to get them they kill them. I know that can be better than living in some cases. I don't think very many people go there to get animals. They were shut down for terrible things they were doing themselves but have now reopened. There is nothing here but the sheriff. It is so different her than other places when it comes to animals. I have family that live in other states and the laws protect their animals as much as people almost. There are so many neighbors all around you but here its not that way I'm the only one beside this owner. If something is done he knows its me. I will come back and let you know.

The GE Deep Fill works similarly to the old Maytag A606 machines that served some of us so well - but I don't think made as solidly and may not be something that's going to last 15-20 years. Is anything these days? ;0) Reasonable price comparatively speaking. Stainless tub, a real agitator, and a button that allows for over riding the energy efficient settings, filling the tub to the brim. I don't have it, but know of 4 purchased in the last year and no complaints yet. I used my BILs when they left on an extended vacation without finishing their laundry. First time I've had fun doing laundry in a long time, used the Deep Fill button for every load I washed.