We, too, had a workhorse KA dishwasher. I fairly wept when it gave its swan song after 20+ years of washing dried on cheeses, tomato sauce and other malodorous gunk. We purchased a new one, bought the extended warranty and had a service call within two months. Control board went. Frustrating part was that Lowe's told me that no matter what died, it was covered. Well, it was covered, but I couldn't get anyone to come out. I'd make an appointment, and the company would cancel the night before. Finally, I called Lowes, told them about it and they sent someone right out. Currently, the little happy chime doesn't signal denoting the end of cycle .... probably signaling another service call. Sorry to corroborate your experience, PKguy. I've become so cynical. I hear energy savings, it only uses a teaspoon of water, blah, blah, blah and I just put up my hand like a traffic cop, thinking "Please. I'll be replacing this in just a few years." Cathy in SWPA

I need some serious advice, and all of you seem like very good people with sincere approaches to coping. My brother took his life eleven months ago today. I so dread the one-year anniversary. This was not his first attempt, but was the only time he tried that he really meant it. The other times clearly were a call for attention. This time, there was absolutely no stopping him. I'll spare you details and get onto my two issues. First, I have been paralyzed from having any relationship with my sister-in-law since my brother's passing. I know I need to reach out to her, but I simply cannot. About three weeks after Chad's passing, my sister-in-law called to ask me a favor, which I quickly performed. During the conversation, though, she digressed into telling me about the last conversation that my brother had with Mom and Dad. It was very clear that my sister-in-law blames my Mom and Dad and my brother's upbringing. This caused two problems for me. First, it really made me question who I am ... if Chad and I shared the same upbringing and Chad took his life, what does that mean for me? Second, we all have to have our own "reality" about why Chad passed in the way that he did, but my reality cannot be to blame my Mom and Dad in any way whatsoever. In fact, my relationship with my parents is stronger than it ever was before. The day that my sister-in-law and I had this conversation was absolutely the most difficult day of coping that I have had. I was literally in the car on the way to work when she called, and I had to pull over, get out of the car, pace and cry while we talked and for a long while thereafter. I could not make it into work for two days following. Hence, I have not been able to make myself call her in months. At forced family gatherings, there is a tension but we're cordial. But, we have no relationship. I hate that, but I'm so apprehensive too. My dad is begging me to call my sister-in-law, and I cannot tell him that I can't call her b/c she blames him and Mom. I've written eight letters to her in an attempt to explain why it is so difficult for me, but I haven't had the courage to mail any of them yet. My second issue is that a couple of months before Chad's passing, he announced to the family how proud he was of himself for quitting smoking. He said it was all because of the anti-smoking pill Chantix. Now, I've learned that the FDA has linked Chantix to suicide. I've carried a ton of anger since Chad's passing and now I'm mad at hell at the pharma company. To make Chad a class rep in a class action against the pharma company may give me an outlet for my anger and grief, but I don't want to be the selfish little sister that drudges the rest of the family through even more pain. Of course, my sister-in-law would have to be on board and that would require my talking it over with her. I'm an attorney by the way.

jennybeth, Easter went great and everyone loved the kitchen (or lied convincingly). My mother, who has seen the kitchen evolve as my father, brother and I did the work, commented on how pleased she was that the layout facilitated several of us cooking at once without bumping in to one another. (That's pretty amazing given that the kitchen also qualifies as "small" on this site: it's only 14'x10'.) On the down side, it seemed like the meal was a bit rushed. I think that having dual-ovens all but eliminiated the usual "digestion" time between the first and second courses. Also, to "keep some veggies warm," my mom put them in an oven that had been turned off 30 minutes prior. She didn't realize how well the Gaggenau ovens hold the heat and didn't warn anyone that the bowls had been "warmed" to 303 degrees. (Hilarity ensued... ;-) For those interested, those courses consist of the following home-made items: First course: meatballs, sweet and hot sausages, and gravy; ravioli and manicotti (of course). (OK, you caught me, the sausage wasn't homemade.) Second course: two turkeys; one ham; white and sweet potatoes, broccoli rabe, and string beans; bread, pineapple, and meat stuffings. Dessert: Italian run cake (store-bought for a cousin's birthday); vanilla, chocolate, and ricotta cannolis (bought from the same store); maple, lemon, and Amaretto pana cotta (I made those); and ricotta and rice pies (from my mom). flyleft, 3Form doesn't seem to like to deal direct. They work with independent firms to represent them in different cities and who handle sales and quotes. I never met my local rep in person, but we spoke several times and exchanged email a lot. I can tell you that the panels that we got (which were the longer 10'x4' size) cost almost $900 a piece plus a few hundred for shipping across the country.

Dogs aren't rocket scientists. The dog simply does not understand what you want. You may think he should understand and worse, you may think he does understand and is being willfully bad. NOT. He needs to do what nature requires but from experience he has learned you will punish him when does what he has to. If not already, pottie time will soon become a tramatic experience for him. First, get your pup on a routine. Feed it the same thing at the same time every day. Very Imortant! You will soon realize that shortly after eating the pup needs to go out. Do not wait around to see if it potties in the hall or the bedroom. Take it out and walk it and play with it until it is finished. Immediately praise it, tell it how wonderful it is, give it a piece of cheese. Do this everyday at the same time--do not change the routine. BTW, a pup will need to go out more than twice a day.