We have a very pretty screen door on the front of the house. It has the old-fashioned method of closure, just a little spring loaded doohicky. You just push the door, no knob to turn. Rex mastered it in no time flat. I retired to the security of the bedroom about 8-8:30 last night, helpmeet was watching the Kevin Spacey labor of love, "Beyond the Sea" (it's great) and dozing off on the couch. Evidently, the huge one decided to let himself out (helpmeet having forgotten to close the big door to prevent "AbsentWithOutLeash" activity). He was awakened by frenzied barking and several high-pitched, anguished animal cries. He flew down the stair and called Rex, who returned immediately and obviously stricken. At that point I vaulted out of bed, rolling the sleeping cat (Vera) uncermoniously onto the floor. I raced down the stairs in my night attire, underpants (not lime green ones). I have little fear the imagination of the crew will cue up a nice visual of the dash down the stairs... . The helpmeet was examining Rex, fearfully looking for quills and oblivious to the slowly permeating smell of something akin to burnt rubber... . Yup; SKUNKED. First time in my life I've ever had a pet skunked! Still clad only in underpants, I ordered the boy and his dog OUTDOORS and raced back up the stairs to Google "cleaning a skunked dog". I retireved the dog shampoo, rubber gloves, towels and presented them to the helpmeet. I stumbled to the spigot and hooked the watering wand to the hose and dragged that to the stricken cur (securely tied to the contractor's trailer...) and bolted back upstairs to put on a tee shirt and locate the remaining amount of "Skunk Kleen". And we washed the dog. The helpmeet then located Mr. Skunkie, by the side of the road. To quell the rising smell he decided to put him a plastic bag and bury him in the morning... but Mr. Skunkie was still alive. We decided to call the cops and ask what to do with a wounded skunk in the road... cop arrived, rolled down the window and helpmeet said, "so this is the glamorous side of policework, huh?". The officer cracked up and they went to the site of Mr. Skunkie... no skunkie, but a pool of blood. No blood trail, and a careful search of the area revealed nothing. So we have no idea where he is now, or whether or not he's died somewhere nearby. We do not know if he'd been hit by a car and Rex "discovered him" and was then sprayed or if he was contentedly scrounging around the gaHden and Rex discovered him, attacked him, and then was sprayed. What I do know is that my home still smells of skunk, the dog is going to receive a repeat of the neutralizer, and he is going to smell unpleasant for some time to come. I hate dogs. Eden, beautiful room! Denise... have you seen "Little Miss Sunshine"? LOL, I'll never look at another VW bus the same way again.

got it :-) Lucy

suburbanmd, if you can't see the application of the Springer comment after reading the silly volleys in just the first few posts there's no hope of explaining it to you. So take offense, stamp your feet and go off on a tyrade if you like. Historically, for some reason you've attempted to take offense to anything and everything I say, which doesn't bother me in the least - I usually just ignore it. You have some burr up your butt about me and all I can suggest is try some lotion. Believe it or not, the sun doesn't rise and set on you, at least in my world. Your ego notwithstanding, not everything said in this forum is directed at you, nor is it intended to insult you, compliment you or otherwise revolve around you. Not everything is about suburbanmd, believe it or not. As for your question, it's hard to answer specifically since I can't think of examples offhand but I would imagine there's times you can get a tax credit for something you're required to do. Most tax credits are not given automatically. You usually have to file for them. For instance one tax credit is given to people with children but you have to file and claim it to get it. Obviously that's not a requirement by law, but about all I can come up with off the top of my head. And yes I realize this probably won't meet with your approval and you may well go off again. But such is life in the real world so fire away. I can handle it.

We bought a maytag mtw6500 6 mos ago. We bought from a local business that must have had it in storage for a LONG time. I have had nothing but headaches since owning it! I believe most of the trouble is because of the HE features! THEY STINK! The reason everything tangles is because there is not enough water to move around in. It also causes the clothes to come out still smelling like new, or like perfume, or BO etc. Called maytag cause clothes tangling, spin tearing laundry apart after 6 mos of using because spins too hard. And clothes not getting clean. Dirt in the form of thin mud left on work clothes, etc. I read & reread manual did ALL possible combinations of washing settings, nothing helped! Maytag said would send repairman but warranty does not cover mileage. We live 40 miles from nearest maytag repairman. It was $1 per mile each way. Soooo....$80 just for him to come. Washer cost $900. Repairman said nothing wrong. After hubby & I made several calls to Maytag they just said washer doing what it's supposed to. I finally said "NO, it's supposed to wash clothes and get them clean! It's not!" They say to send them copy of receipt and will buy back minus $150 for 6 mos use. We will see what really happens.