To My Dear Friends in Spain / A Mis Queridos Amigos Espanoles:
My apologies for this late post. IÂ’m experiencing technical glitches which have prevented me gaining access to my ISP and my email for the past 3 days. This is being posted through my TREO, so please forgive its simplicity. It is meant to support the 2,051 who were injured and survived, and to remember and honor those who died. Thanks go to Barcepundit for posting the names. / Mis disculpas por las fallas technologicas que impidieron la actualizacion de este enlace. Finalmente logre publicarlo a travez de mi celular Treo. Gracias a Barcepundit por publicar los nombres de los difuntos.

This post is also for those who do not believe / Este enlace tambien es para aquellos que no crean que
Al Qaeda is an active terrorist group. / Al Qaeda es un grupo activo de terrorismo.
Here are the names of those / Aqui estan los nombres de aquellos
they killed in the name of Allah. / que mataron en nombre de Allah.

Please see all 190 names, their nationalities and ages below:
more...

Posted by: Michele at 10:47 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I've been so busy lately with federal legislative issues that I've not been able to deal with things closer to home. And believe me, there's a lot that has been going on right here.

It seems that the NYC Council, which governs over the 5 boroughs and close to 8 million people, have taken more actions towards getting more press for themselves. And I see that in the process, they've caught the attention of some who are quite pissed. I'd really like to know how the NY City Council intends to enforce this law against people using the "N" word.

I'd like to remind readers & bloggers, that these are the same people that have chosen to become the food / fat police, and the cigarette vigilantes. Now you see why I'm looking for greener pastures to graze on. I just told someone yesterday, that my dreams/goals are not coming true fast enough for me. After this morning (see post below), I feel like I needed to leave this city yesterday and move to Montana where I'll have to deal more with cows than with people!

But a thought just occurred to me... when I leave, what will my new blog be called?

Posted by: Michele at 02:10 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 You could always move here to PA. The pastures are greener, we've many cows and you could vote for me *wink, wink*

Posted by: oddybobo at March 09, 2007 02:34 PM (mZfwW)

2 "Letters From Here" ... or in this case of cows..."And the Cow Goes Moo" "Cow Tipping Chronicles" ? Oh I could go on for hours, except I leave work in 5 minutes. heh

Posted by: Dazd at March 09, 2007 04:27 PM (7Ts4D)

3 Little House in Montana? Memoirs in Montana? Narrative of North Dakota?

Posted by: vw bug at March 09, 2007 04:55 PM (yA7GO)

4 Montanta Moooooooosings? Letters from Cow Country?

Posted by: sticks at March 09, 2007 06:46 PM (bo3Ur)

5 LOL Montana Moooooosings Nice...very nice!

Posted by: Dazd at March 09, 2007 08:10 PM (xjwRl)

6 You guys are just too funny!

Posted by: michele at March 09, 2007 09:11 PM (UgY20)

7 "Letters From NYC... Relocated"

Posted by: Jean at March 10, 2007 07:31 AM (YadGF)

8 Wait a sec, you can't be leaving. That's insane! Where's your loyalty? What about "Only the Strong Survive?" If I find a "Letters from Helena" pop up on TTLB, I won't be very happy. *sigh* Screw the City Council...we could take anything they dish at us, can't we? Cummon, please, say it ain't so.

Posted by: Erica at March 10, 2007 03:40 PM (n1ABe)

9 Michele - I can't believe you would leave NYC! And Montana? Now THAT will be an adjustment! Just make sure it's not eastern Montana. The Rockies are much prettier than the plains. I've lived in both, and Billings was flat. Boring. And cooooold! You ARE joking, right?

Posted by: Bitterroot at March 10, 2007 11:23 PM (9FXen)

10 Hey - I have lived in several parts of Montana (and have contacts there if you need 'em). How about Letters from the Big Sky?

Posted by: Richmond at March 12, 2007 05:31 PM (e8QFP)

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So I was right in the groove of a really funny political post which has been brewing since I returned from DC. And I was trying to finish in time to listen to Ellison on the radio when I got a call from my son's school.

It was my son's teacher calling because of a little incident she had with my son in her history class. For Woman's History Month they are studying woman leaders, among them Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. Well, began to tell me that the class was asked how Americans feel about Pelosi being Speaker of the House, and my son raised his hand and said "Ashamed" without hesitation.

I said nothing waiting for her to finish telling me what my son had done wrong. After a long pause she asks: "Are you there, are you listening?"

Me: Yes, I'm here, I was just waiting for you to finish your account so I could respond appropriately.

Teacher: Well, I just want you to know that he was quite insistent and wouldn't change his mind and went as far as calling her inconsiderate. When I asked him why he said to me, "because of what she did to my mommy and to others." I understand that your politics may be different, but we need to teach our children, especially boys, that we need to be proud of all women, especially our women leaders.

Me: [As I exhale slowly gathering patience for this interuption at work] My son has a personal issue with and strong feelings for Ms. Pelosi and her staff. I suspect that it will be a long while before he's able to let them go.

Teacher: What possible personal issues could a 7 yr old child have with the Speaker of the House?

Me: Her staff kept pushing back our meeting into the late afternoon after which they cancelled our meeting, which made me miss my flight home, along with dinner and my bedtime routine with him. We both have a lot of reasons to be angry with her, so I'm not going to convince him to feel otherwise.

Teacher: Uhm, but that's different she's the Speaker of the House, she's dealing with important matters. [Blah, blah, blah...]

Me: And I'm a mother of a 7 year old that doesn't understand what was happening in DC this week that required my presence there. I've taught my son that lateness and rudeness is inexcusable and to tell him their behavior was ok because of their position would negate what we believe in and would create a false standard. All he knows is that his mom didn't come home for dinner, didn't read him a bed time story, and wasn't able to pray with him or hug or kiss him goodnight as she does every night. That, in his world, carries more weight than any of the Speaker's issues.

Teacher: Blah, blah, blah, ..... [as far as I was concerned our conversation was over, but I had to let her finish. Unfortunately it continued beyond what it had to, but since he's going there on a scholarship I have to walk a think line and be on my best behavior. But yes, we all have a lot of reasons to be angry with Pelosi. except my issues go back... way back!]

Posted by: Michele at 12:40 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 " I understand that your politics may be different, but we need to teach our children, especially boys, that we need to be proud of all women, especially our women leaders." This sounds to me as if we're supposed to "admire" a woman just because she's a woman. How stupid is that. We don't admire men for being men... There is so much wrong on so many levels with this conversation. (just the fact that she called you!) But the biggie here is that she is saying your son's opinion is invalid because it doesn't conform with hers. He has his reasons, but those reasons aren't good as far as she is concerned. In other words, because he is a boy, he is supposed to parrot the mantra that "all women are wonderful". Thus making him a good person... hogwash! Makes me wonder if she thinks "all men are scum". I wouldn't be surprised. Although it would be instructive to ask her if she's proud of all the men in this country who are in power... if not why not? If we're proud of all the women in power, shouldn't we be proud of all the men too? As for me... I'm proud of your son for standing his ground.

Posted by: Teresa at March 09, 2007 02:28 PM (gsbs5)

2 I'm proud of him too. Doesn't he count as an American? Doesn't his opinion of her count? I agree with Teresa. Since when do we need to be proud of or admire someone because of their sex? What if Pelosi had used s-e-x and not her gender to get where she is? Should we be proud of her then? Or what if she got there lying, cheating, murdering, etc . . . akin to a third world leader - should we be in her thrall then? All this teaches young men is that it is not ok to be a man, but regardless of historical fact if you succeed in your tasks we should be proud of you because you are a woman. As if it is some major accomplishment to get out of the kitchen or bedroom.

Posted by: oddybobo at March 09, 2007 02:43 PM (mZfwW)

3 I applaud your sense of restraint. I am not sure the conversation would have gone as smoothly had I been one of the participants. Respect and honor are things that are earned, not accidenta of birth. I would not have hesitated to inform the teacher that this standard applies to her as well. Your son has certainly earned a measure of respect, as has his mother for raising him right.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 09, 2007 06:57 PM (Z3kjO)

4 Pat yourself on the back for raising a child who can reason on his own. Then hug him and let him know that there are people out here that think he's pretty special. BTW, all I can say about Teresa's comment is BRAVO *standing ovation*!!! That pretty much nails my opinion of this event. Hope you have a great weekend...

Posted by: Lemon Stand at March 09, 2007 08:04 PM (9i141)

5 Y'all need to come south where the teachers won't be quite so liberal. If your son had said that in my class, I would have been high-fiving him. And my phone call to you would be, "Do you know what your adorable son said today???"

Posted by: Mrs. Who at March 09, 2007 11:41 PM (9FXen)

6 Kudos to your son... and you!

Posted by: Jean at March 10, 2007 07:36 AM (YadGF)

7 Teresa - DITTO! Stephen - Ditto again, and a manly chest-bump! (Okay, maybe that's over the top. Nevermind.) And Michele - as for Mrs. Who's comment... Believe her. I've seen/heard her give just such kudos to parents for real! You're doing a fine job. High-five the young'un for me! This reminds me of an 'episode' I had when I happened to notice a new GameBoy game that my stepdaughter was playing. It was "Power Puff Girls: Battle H.I.M." The villain was - of course - male. I asked Mrs. Who - "You don't have a problem with the media teaching misandry to your seven year old daughter?" At the time, she just laughed it off. I continued fitfully ranting, but Mrs. Who just rolled her eyes, "It's just a game." I asked, "Do you really want your sweet daughter following in the footsteps of Gloria Steinem and her ilk? There's a chasm of difference between being 'feminine' and being a man-hating feminist." Mrs. Who still just laughed, telling me I was over-reacting and being silly. Then we noticed (or I pointed out) how frequently PrincessNO took a negative view of male figures in different circumstances. It was more often than not. (I've since attributed Mrs. Who's then P.O.V. to residual effects of her idiot ex and subsequent post-divorce "men-are-scum" phenomena. She eventually came 'round!) That's when we started watching the cartoons that our kids were watching. They're CHOCK-FULL of misandry - not to mention the incredible amount of sexual innuendo. Apparently having cartoon characters deliver humor aimed 'over the heads' of children is designed to make them "more enjoyable for the whole family." All the "violent" Loony Tunes cartoons are gone, and they've remade them into soft-porn, liberal-spewing CRAP. (Think about it: When was the last time you saw Elmer Fudd toting his shotgun?) /tangent - sorry. It happens. A LOT, I'm afraid. One cartoon in particular had 'Taz' in competition with a female character. In the end, Taz lost the bet and was forced into the "realization" and woefully, downtroddenly professed that "girls were BETTER." Not EQUAL... BETTER. That's when we decided it wasn't worth $40 a month to pay for that sewage to be pumped into our house daily, especially with little sponge-brain kids being the inevitable primary consumers. (TV Executives know this too - look at the amount of advertising aimed at the teen, 'tween' and younger crowd.) And do you know what? We haven't missed paid TV programming at all. Well, okay, there is some discomfort over the loss of SciFi channel and Fox News. If I could get just those two without all the rest, I'd be a happy camper. Interesting side-note, misandry is not even in the Firefox default spell-check dictionary... But misogyny *is*. Oh, and if Teacher ever calls again... Give her my number, please. ;->

Posted by: Bitterroot at March 11, 2007 12:29 AM (9FXen)

8 Wowee! You sure hit the jackpot (or jackboot) with that school! I'm still recovering from court-mandated tuition to a liberal private school and that was a waste of 10 years of my life putting on a smiley face when I wanted to heave my Cheerios. Lemme tell ya - Fortunately, through superb parenting and the cluebat of reality my daughter is carrying a 4.5 in High School and has a much more healthy normal life. And she's checking out ROTC for college. Take that, hippies!

Posted by: Cappy at March 13, 2007 07:00 AM (6gy9P)

9 kudos to your son. and also to you.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at March 13, 2007 12:22 PM (+MvHD)

10 I wonder why she choose those two women leaders for the question. Why no mention of Condi. How about she mention the female troops fighting in Iraq, they are doing more important work then Nancy or Hillary. Good for your son for having his own opinion and not following the sheep.

Posted by: sherlock at March 13, 2007 01:17 PM (THj5I)

11 I love that she AUTOMATICALLY assumed it was about politics and never asked him why. A seven year old!

Posted by: caltechgirl at March 13, 2007 03:52 PM (/vgMZ)

12 Personally I think we need to get rid of Women in History Month, Black History Month and any other month in which a particular ethnic, religious or sexual orientation group is held in greater esteem because of their race, religion or gender. Instead of focusing on what is truly important.. Great People of America... we are adding fuel to the flames of prejudice. If everyone is equal and they are, then no one group should have a "month" or all should. I am proud of the stand that your son took with his class. It shows that he has thought out his opinion instead of parroting what his teacher has told him. And you are absolutely correct in that his opinion has value since his life was turned upside down by the inconsiderate rude act of a "woman" in power.

Posted by: Tink at March 13, 2007 05:13 PM (vfIfd)

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"A Statistical Analysis Is Only as Good as Its Starting Assumptions."

Although a basic tenet, it's one that is not always followed by analysts & media types.

Posted by: Michele at 11:53 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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On April 6th & 7th the first (hopefully annual) Podcamp Conference will take place in NYC. It is free to attend, and with attendees from around the world, participating in over 90 sessions, it promises to be venue for interesting discussions that will direct the viral impact and future of this new technology.

There's some very compelling reasons to attend. But I wonder if the free registration, food & tshirt is enough of an insentive for some of my favorite bloggers to attend? [She says expectantly as shelooks over at her blogroll.]

Posted by: Michele at 12:28 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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A big number of conservative bloggers, some who attended the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) think so. In fact, they are so outraged by Coulter's use of vitriolic and divisive rhetoric during CPAC, they have called for her exclusion and a tougher stance against such tactics, as they believe its a threat to their political movement. What say you? Where do you stand on the use of name calling and bias language to make a political point and foster further debate? Is it really a victory when you get more media coverage for the reprehensible remarks made by one attendee, than for your entire conference or your political agenda?

Posted by: Michele at 01:48 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Hat tip to Mark of Knockin' on the Golden Door Below the fold are the pop-psychology quiz results to some of the visual images above. more...

Posted by: Michele at 09:32 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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First, before we go reading and clicking away, I'd like to take a moment to pray for all the victims of these hienous crimes. May the victims receive justice and healing and spiritual wholeness in their lifetime.

In this crime, evil was disguised as a prominent lawyer, coach of several youth teams & as an ACLU Chapter President. The Crime, it's just too horific for me to even write about it.

It is the reason I am glad that Bitterroot is bravely speaking out against these types of crimes and giving parents the knowledge they need to spot, identify and root out these individuals wherever they may be.

Posted by: Michele at 12:04 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Me? I'm finally getting to eat my breakfast... for lunch. How's your Monday goin'? I see mu.nu is having issues. Must be the full moon/lunar eclipse action.

Speaking of which... some of you already know I'm a big fan of all things celestially astronomical (heh!). Well, here's a picture of the most recent lunar eclipse, that made the moon look this blood red, which I found over at (and stole shamelessly from) Dark Knight. He got it from Collicky [Sorry, I'm not linking 'cause I know some of you suffer from arachanophobia or hate bugs & will freak!]. My confession of the day... I've been Dark Knight's lurker for some time now (via bloglines) and I just can't keep him to myself any longer. He has some of the most spectacular and eclectic repository of photos I've seen anywhere, so go visit.

Anywho, to continue the lunar theme, I've chosen for this week's Musical Monday selections 2 fun mellow songs hosted @You Tube. Up first, is a nice updated version of Moon River sung by Irish singing sensation Katie Melua. Next, is an original composition and a very nice song, that's also sung by Katie called: Blame it on the Moon. Yep, you can blame all strange posts this week on the full moon and you'll here me howling later on today if Laughing Wolf gives me permission to share that recording with you!

Posted by: Michele at 01:43 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Dear Jean:

I really hope you donÂ’t mind this open letter, but I couldnÂ’t resist on 2 counts. First, I think youÂ’re a brilliant poet and writer and enjoy your words tremendously and seeing as your muse had left thought I might help. Second, I felt like writing to someone tonight and on this occassion you happen to be it!

I read on your latest post your request for suggestions as you felt you were bogged in a creative fetid pond. How terrible of your muse to leave you in such a place! I hope you wonÂ’t mind, but I'd like to share a few of the exercises I was given in my grad school writing program to coax our muses into returning quickly when they had abandoned us.

1) Open a book of your choice at random, preferably a work of fiction. As you flip through the pages in the book, stick your index fix in the book letting it rest somewhere on the page and read the passage where your finger lands. Then either write a sagacious assessment of a character or scene from either an omniscient writerÂ’s perspective or a visceral response to what youÂ’ve read as either another character or an omniscient reader.

2) Your word play is phenomenal and often inspires me to write a few stanzas of my own. It was suggested to me by a published poet I respect that I should read poets I am unfamiliar with to become inspired. For that I go to either poetry.com or google certain key words and sometimes will add poem in the mix. Sometimes it can be a miss, but the last time I did it I found you, so sometimes itÂ’s a big hit!

3) Recently IÂ’ve been going through a poetic dry spell and felt my muse had left once again in a huff because I wasnÂ’t paying him any mind (yes, my muse is a man). So I went to Barnes and Noble and went to the section called WriterÂ’s on Writing and came across a book called The Pocket Muse: ideas and inspiration for writing. I loved this book so much I bought it. HereÂ’s an exercise I picked at random: Write about the worst visitor who ever darkened your door. Ironically, I already wrote a funny post about that. Its a cynical email response I sent declining his request to visit again.

4) Or you can do like I do at times, visit a new blog at random and strike up a conversation via comments with new bloggers. IÂ’ve encountered the most interesting people that way, you included!

Well, I hope one of these inspires your muse to return, if not thereÂ’s lots more where that came from. I Look forward to reading your pearls once again.

m\

Posted by: Michele at 09:35 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Wow... I am so very touched by this, I am almost at a loss for words! (almost, heh) Your glowing comments about my writing have me blushing... and, I absolutely appreciate your suggestions. I'm making notes. Two other books I often use to kick-start my muse are: 'Walking On Alligators' and 'Write Your Heart Out'. M, this is really overwhelmingly nice! Thank you.

Posted by: Jean at March 05, 2007 09:49 PM (86QII)

2 I wanted to comment on this sooner, but time constraints and all. Firstly, what I'll write you may not agree with, but my muses have been beating me for days to write it, so here goes... One's muse doesn't "stop" or get "blocked". The stubborn humans have a pre-determined direction and we want them to try something different. The human is saying "Give me something funny" and we are trying to teach something what the color green tastes like. Do you follow that difference? It's not a matter of apples & oranges - it is a matter of apples and concepts. This "impass" is caused by human stubbornness. Next time, just write down what we want you to write. You don't have to publish it - or even save it. Just let us flow through you. We don't ask much - just full control of your creative process. You have a huge queue items to create - lessons to learn - trying to pick and choose which is counter-productive. So, the next time you claim to have "lost your muse", please don't blame *us*. We know where you are. You're the fallible human here, human. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, let it out, and let your fingers go to work. Shut off that physical-bound brain and listen to our thoughts. We'll all be much happier. ... That is all. p.s. That is what my muses sound like, btw.

Posted by: _Jon at March 06, 2007 05:01 PM (cPJtC)

3 Typical guy... he has a horde of women inspiring him while I only have one... man!

Posted by: michele at March 06, 2007 05:21 PM (BN/Fu)

4 ha..._Jon....er, Muse... you make a lot of sense. Will ponder this. thank you. M- I did a post early this morning, from a reader's request. Kinda long. Thanks, again.

Posted by: Jean at March 06, 2007 07:34 PM (GQv1b)

5 ... Both of mine are men - immature and all that. And if men have women for muses, that would explain why we go crazy. But at least my muse isn't a ferret or some such stuff like Harvey....

Posted by: _Jon at March 07, 2007 09:49 AM (ZM3Qb)

6 My muse is LEMUR, thank you very much: http://badexample.mu.nu/archives/043960.php

Posted by: Harvey at March 09, 2007 10:06 AM (L7a63)

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In past years I've set all my Dreams\Visions\Goals up in a notebook, and I normally always fill up the notebook up not just with the goals but also with ideas and steps on how to actualize them. This year, I want to teach this type of dream\goal oriented thinking and actualizing to my son. To show him how it's done and have him participate, I'm posting just our top 5 dreams/goals (1 for each area we're focusing) on a large cork board. I'll still have the notebook to write the other dreams\goals, but it will also include the major action steps, smaller tasks, etc., with room for brainstorming on additional ideas.

Today I asked my son to think about the kinds of things he'd like to see in his dream house. After pausing for a moment, he began to rattle off excitedly the following list: "a lanai (a furnished covered/roofed patio used during rainy season in Asia); a finished basement, a dog house with a dog in it, preferably a jack russell or terrier; either a jeep, a taurus or a durango; a game room with enough space for me to work in; a big back yard with a patio area and a front yard too; a basketball hoop, places where we can plant 2 or 3 maple trees, where they will never be cut down so they can produce enough acorns to feed the neighborhood squirrels; and a place where he can spread out his toys, especially his race track with all his cars, and he'll never have to pick them up. We were having such a great time that I chose not to tell him that the last item will not be happening. At least not until he gets his own house or apartment.

After awhile he returned to where I was working and asked if he could add something of his own on the board. I showed him the space that was reserved for his personal dreams, then I gave him a large index card and a sharpie. He quickly returned with it in hand and placed it at the top of his space, which means it's the most important goal on his list. As I started reading, it began to break my heart. So I hugged him tightly, told him I loved him, kissed him on top of his head, told him what a good job he'd done on letting his heart search for his wishes and after awhile asked him to finish watching his movie while I finished my work.

It was only after he left that I was able to finish reading his card and let my tears flow. On his card he had written: Go with my father to see a baseball game, a football game and a hockey game.

Now I need to add in my notebook a wish that his father will finally decide to get in touch either with his family or with us, and that he'll want to become part of his life, after choosing not since shortly after his birth. Gosh, I just hope my son has enough faith and patience to wait for his dream to come true.

Posted by: Michele at 12:39 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 I don't know what to say...children are so loving and forgiving. My prayers are with you for a happy resolution to this situation.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at March 04, 2007 01:13 AM (9FXen)

2 Wow - it's amazing how simple and pure a child's wants can be. To be loved. Having been adopted, I understand the void that your son feels. Please, please always reinforce him - make sure he knows he's not 'defective' or 'bad' in some way that caused his father to leave... That feeling was always in the back of my mind growing up. To a child, 'what else could make my parent not love me?' Hugs and prayers for you both. I hope your son one day finds the peace and acceptance he needs. God Bless... 0:-)

Posted by: Bitterroot at March 04, 2007 02:51 AM (9FXen)

3 A father-child bond isn't necessarily a biological one. In fact, one like I have with Julie's kids is stronger in some ways because they know I've chosen to love them, just as they have me. There is no "obligation" of parenthood. (I don't mean that in a negative way.) It's just love. So, I recommend adjusting your prayer that he / you find someone who will be a father to him, if that is in his (and your) best interest.

Posted by: _Jon at March 04, 2007 08:15 AM (cPJtC)

4 On the squirrels... much as I don't want to burst his bubble... no squirrels. City dwellers think they're cute fuzzy little things. They are actually rats with large furry tails. They are destructive and they will throw things at you from up in the trees. They eat house siding, gnaw on wood (not to mention just about anything else they can sink their teeth into) and generally are huge pests. BTW - you can plant maples (silver maples grow fastest) - which grow quickly and produce those really neat whirly-gig type seeds - as kids we called them helicopters. Oaks are VERY slow growing and their acorns are a PITA to clean up. *grin* As for his wish about his father - I think _Jon has said it best and I can't add a thing to it. I hope that one day he gets his biggest wish - maybe in a better way than he anticipates right now.

Posted by: Teresa at March 04, 2007 02:19 PM (gsbs5)

5 What a precious young man you have there!

Posted by: Jean at March 04, 2007 04:57 PM (YadGF)

6 Wow. What a wonderful idea. I am glad he is participating and I hope that his dream comes true in the best way for him. Whether it is his biological dad or some male in his life that loves him as a father.

Posted by: vw bug at March 04, 2007 06:52 PM (h9cSr)

7 Aw, damn. Putting it out there for your son, Michele. I hope the universe is able to connect with his father.

Posted by: Mark at March 04, 2007 09:06 PM (sS1gd)

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Okay, so I'm still working on my list of Dreams/Goals which I have to turn into my financial mentor in about 10 days time. Last night I realized that I'm out of my depth with 2 of the dream/goals on my list and I need to turn to you guys for a little feedback. Why am I turning to you? Well, some of you are already in possession of 1 of my dream goals -- a home of my own. I found a pretty picture of a moderately sized home that I think would be perfect for me [see picture below]. But, I'm torn between a ranch and a multi-level home.

Soooooo, here are some of the questions that have started coming up. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a ranch style home or a multi-level home? More importantly, what are some of the features you think I should DEFINITELY HAVE in my home? Truthfully I don't know and I definitely need your help with this, so go to at it in the comments! Or maybe you can tell me some of the features you love about your own homes, the things or features you absolutely can't do without and those that you wish you didn't have. Thanks for all your help.

Posted by: Michele at 12:58 PM | Comments (20) | Add Comment
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1 A ranch or multi-level is really a preference. I have lived in both and it didn't really matter much to me, although our next house will be a ranch due to old age. The MOST IMPORTANT things to look for are not cosmetic, it's what is underneath those walls, ceilings, etc that matters most. You want something with newer furnace, roof. You need good windows, no leaks (water and wind leaks will kill you). Maybe some E glass windows. Alaso make sure the windows were hung square (this will cause leaks) Above the standard insulation, although you could add more. No leaks in roof, the newer furnance should be an energy saver. No cracks in the foundation, or basement or cement. Wiring up to code and pipes up to code. Have a very good company do an inspection and have some good friends (several)"who know" go through the house also and look for things you might now notice (the more eyes the better). It's the things you don't see that will kill you financially. The house Mr Weenie bought just before we married was a mess because the owner before thought he was a Mr Fix-it but wasn't. All his repairs were half-assed and we still wonder how the house didn't burn down before we fixed the stuff. (example, rubber house for a gas line to the fireplace because he could get the rubber hose from work for free). Make sure your wiring is the correct gage. They probably have some good books out there that you should read for things to check and look for. For comestic, a first floor or second floor laundry is heaven, pure heaven. Oh, if it has a finished basement see who did it, the owner or company. There could be a lot of non-code things if the owner did it. Also ask the history of the house, no fires, floods, etc. Know the flooding history as that could bite you if the basement floods alot. Also make sure nothing creepy happened in the house, unless your ok with that. No problems with fixtures, faucets, toliets, showers, tubs, etc.

Posted by: Quality Weenie at March 02, 2007 11:12 AM (BksWB)

2 Gosh, Michele, what I would look for in a home here in Florida is probably not at all what I would look for in a home up North. For instance, we learned a lot during the 2004 hurricane season, and it definitely altered what we were looking for when we bought our house after the 3rd hurricane hit. Not applicable in New York, I imagine! We love to cook, so the kitchen was very important. Also, while we have a very understanding marriage, it was very important to both of us to have a water closet in the master bathroom (toilet in it's own closet) so that we can be in there with the door closed and not worry about the other one coming in to wash their hands and being offended by the stench! I don't know how it is where you're at. But we went to a lot of new communities and walked through model homes to get an idea of features we were looking for. We poured over floor plans picking out things we liked and didn't like. Heh. If you suddenly win the lottery ("the NY lotto, hey, you never know!"), I work for a high end residential design firm. We'll happily design your dream home! Good luck, honey!

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at March 02, 2007 11:54 AM (+MvHD)

3 I personally looooove a multi-level home. IMO you have the perception of much more space. Good luck househunting! :-)

Posted by: Richmond at March 02, 2007 11:56 AM (e8QFP)

4 Okay, things to look for in a home of your own. A few things to ponder. I have lived in both. QW has hit the high points on structural issues. I will strongly second this one: stay FAR away from someone who has done their own home additions unless you know for sure they really knew their job. Our last house was from a "Mr. Fixit" and we spent 10 years fixing his mistakes... it's very expensive. And - the flooding issue is a BIG one - do you have to deal with a sump in the basement? Don't neglect to find out about water problems - our last house was also a flood problem - hugely expensive to fix... Ranch - no stairs - unless there is a basement. Which means you don't have to haul a vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies up and down those stairs. (trust me - unless you have someone come clean your house for you... this is a big consideration). Two story - better separation of bedroom/public areas. The other thing to consider is how "open" is the house? Most houses built in the last 15 years are "too open" - at least for me - even 2 stories. It's good to have somewhere you can get away by yourself. That may not even be the Master Bedroom if that room opens off the Family Room (this is a setup I've seen in some houses... UCK) or if the bedrooms are upstairs and the balcony is open to the family room. Your son is young now - but when he's a teen and has friends over - noise is definitely something to think about. (unless you plan on hanging out all the time with him and his friends - something I don't recommend - LOL) A ranch tends to be "louder" because it's only one floor, unless there are walls and turns in hallways to dampen sound. You will notice I'm big on "having your own space". That's because I grew up without that luxury - even though we were always in houses and not apartments. The house doesn't have to be big to have separate spaces, it just has to be laid out right. Also, what are the floors like. Lots of people go for light color floors - either rugs or tile. You have a son - which means he'll be tracking in lots of dirt all the time. If you get a dog, the dog will track in dirt. So, what's it like around the entries and exits - easy to take off coats, boots, etc? Enough space to wipe down a dog before it dashes through the house? Heating and cooling... heat rises. In the summer - a second floor gets very warm. In winter a second floor generally stays warmer. If you're okay with sleeping in a warmer room - this shouldn't be an issue. But if you need it to be cold in the room to sleep - this will be a problem in the summer - high electric bills for a/c. I realize this is a hodge-podge. Let me think about it a bit more and see if anything else comes to mind.

Posted by: Teresa at March 02, 2007 11:59 AM (gsbs5)

5 Ranch would be my preference, especially now that my wife has difficulties with stairs. That said, a ranch-style will have more roof to deal with when the time comes to have it replaced. I resoundingly second that suggestion to have a quality inspection done on the entire home. One thing I've learned to look at (next time) is where the house sits on the street. We live at the low end of a cul-de-sac and all rain and snow runoff drains towards us. Usually not a biggie, but if the street is wet from that and the temperature dips overnight, then we have to deal with an icy street in the morning. The steepness of the driveway or entrance steps matters during the winter too.

Posted by: Ted at March 02, 2007 12:03 PM (blNMI)

6 You should really focus on the big things. The things that should last for decades and cost a fortune to repair/replace. The roof, the foundation, the heating and cooling, the plumbing. If it's an older house have someone check out the wiring, Four our next home purchase we are considering a ranch. My wife has serious back problem and live without stairs would be a good thing for her. The other biggie for me is storage. There has to be enough space to put things away so you're not living in clutter. That said, I happen to know of a lovely multi-level home with lots of great features that is going on the market soon if you're interested in moving to CT!!!!!

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 02, 2007 06:11 PM (Z3kjO)

7 Well, everyone else seems to have covered the basics. So, I'll just tell you some of the things I would want in a house. Two floors, a large kitchen with two ovens, stone pillars outside, French doors inside, 10-foot ceilings, a fireplace or two, three bathrooms, a large deep bathtub, washer-dryer on the first floor rather than in the basement, stained glass windows above the doorways and large windows, pocket doors, a spiral staircase, a fire pole from the 2nd floor to 1st, swinging bookcases to secret passageways, a recording studio, a grand piano in the living room, a wood-burning brick pizza oven, a drawbridge and a moat. Oh, and velvet drapes and a chessboard table. And central air conditioning.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 02, 2007 07:49 PM (IPpfj)

8 "Above the standard insulation, although you could add more." Not sure what this is supposed to mean but it bears mentioning that adding more insulation can be counterproductive. If you are referring to insulation batts in your wall spaces in particular. Adding more than is rated for your walls reduces the efficiency of the insulation when it is over-compressed. Lots of great info there, however QW. I would go with a single-level home, smaller yard. Everyone else seems to have covered most everything.

Posted by: Mark at March 02, 2007 10:32 PM (sS1gd)

9 Ranch. Crawlspace or basement. Forced air furnace with Central AC (no "heat pump"). Circuit breakers (vs fusebox) with at least 100 amp, prefer 200 amp service (depends on local). Gas hot water heater, 40-60 gallon. Gas hookup for clothes dryer. Gas stove / oven. Hardwood floors. 9' ceilings. Attached 2 car garage. Laundry room on main floor. 1.5+ bathrooms Enough yard that you cannot hear your neighbor sneeze, cough, laugh, or fart. Plan on hiring someone for yard work - at least $100 per month. ---

Posted by: _Jon at March 02, 2007 11:21 PM (cPJtC)

10 I think everyone covered the basic issues except for meeting the neighbors and talking to them about the house, owners, quality of schools, quality of town services. We have a Cape and although I LOVE my house, I really wish it were a ranch now. Hauling kids laundry up and down stairs can be a pain. I also wish we had a mud room. I can't tell you how much of the great outdoors comes in for a visit on a daily basis. )

Posted by: Lemon Stand at March 03, 2007 07:01 AM (vBKqN)

11 wow. Little late, so here are some things I looked for inside the house: 1. The vent over the stove went OUTSIDE. Most of them seem to put it right back in kitchen. I burn stuff and don't want it blown right back at me. 2. Outlets. How many are outside? If you like to put out Christmas lights, this can be an issue. Unless you have security lights you can unscrew and use. Ohh.. security lights... do they have any on the outside easy to turn on when necessary? More on outlets... inside... do they have any down the hallway. It was a pain having to move the plug everytime I changed rooms. 3. Porches. Front or back... doesn't matter... but does it have a wide enough roof to allow the kids to play when it is raining outside? 4. Rounded corners on the walls inside. If it is a newer house, check to see if they made the corners on the walls rounded. Much less pain when you run into them. 5. Attic access... where is it... easy to get to? Finished inside already? Light available? 6. Laundry room... mentioned already, but if it is on the first floor... would there be room for a sink? I finally have a house with a sink next to my laundry and it is the greatest treat for me. Particularly if the boys throw up or have 'accidents'. 7. Closet space near bathrooms. It is interesting when you don't have a closet near a bathroom. 8. Pantry or lots of room for storing food. Loving to cook, it was really nice getting a pantry so that food went there and my pots and pans were in my kitchen cabinets 9. Wood versus Tile. I love my wood floors. I lived on Tile for years... Florida people seem to prefer tile. But it is hard on your back and feet if you like to go barefooted. Particularly if you are standing in the kitchen a lot to cook. And I love being in the kitchen. 10. Self cleaning oven. Definitely a nice extra. Ok, that's enough. Good luck!

Posted by: vw bug at March 03, 2007 07:17 AM (PeJFE)

12 Okay, a few thoughts. Multi-story: advantages are that you can get more square footage (room) for the same land footprint, and can make more advantageous use of space. Separation means that guests don't have to see your actual living area if they visit, and you can "escape" upstairs to get away from things downstairs (i.e. maintain your space without denying others theirs. Disadvantage: Can be harder to heat with houses more than 50 years old, depending on how the home was built (upstairs can get cold/hot much more easily); can make roofing fun; and, if you have or develop mobility issues then getting upstairs/downstairs can be problematic. One neutral: most multi-story have a basement, which I see as a plus (storage, playrooms, storm shelter, etc.) but not all do. Ranch: everything is one one level, so no mobility issues (but check to see if built for wheelchair and such, some older have very narrow doors and halls), usually easy to heat/cool, and you can add on by going out or up. Usually a smaller square footage, and you need to check construction to see how easy it is to fix, repair, replace. What I consider a disadvantage is that many ranch are built on slab, which means little or no crawl space, which can make getting to or repairing things low or under a real pain. Also, no basement or such for shelter (and no storage in either crawl space or basement). Ultimately, there are advantages and disadvantages to each but many are in the eye of the beholder. What is truly important is: Wiring: Is it done right, in good shape, and meeting of all local codes. If the wiring is aluminum and more than 10 or so years old, that is something you really need to investigate as aluminum or mixed wiring done starting in the late 50's and on through the 70's can have some rather severe problems. Most of those houses are either fixed or burned down now, but check. More recent aluminum wiring jobs are not an issue (though I am still biased towards copper). Also, check to see what type main panel/service you have. It should be a 200 amp service to meet the modern lifestyle and give room to grow. Make sure the inspector you hire to check the house removes the front plate of said service -- you would be amazed at what bad things you find that way (I found where water had come into the service that came with the house I bought) and it can and will change price and such. Roof: Roof should be fairly new (less than 20, best yet newer than that pref. within 10), in good shape, good shingles, single layer of roof. If more than two layers, it needs to be replaced. If shingles are dry, cracking, or showing other signs of wear, it needs to be replaced. If you see any signs of seepage or leaks, or the rafters and such have a high moisture content (housing inspector you hire should have a meter for checking, then roof most likely needs to be replaced. It may also need ridge vent and other ventilation, but a good inspector can verify that. If it needs a new roof, check the contractors out very, very, thoroughly, get multiple bids, inspect the work, and get a multi-year warranty. Contractor needs to be licensed, bonded, and more. Do not let either seller or yourself sign any roofing contract calling for arbitration or such. Oh, and where you live you will need ice barrier in the valleys, flashing around all dormer windows and anything poking up through the roof, good drip edging, etc. Insulation: older houses may have it in the roofs, but not in the walls. Check that, and see how any siding was put on. Ideally, there should be tyvek or similar wrap around the house, high-density foam (not white styro), maybe another wrap (depending how who does and how, then insulated siding. Check to be sure all doors and windows are not just in square, but have been properly sealed in, are double pane and have good weather seal, and are set for storm or related windows and screens. Attic insulation needs to be thick and good where you live. Plumbing: How old is it and is it in good shape? Metal is good, with all copper being very good, if it is in good shape. Modern plastic pipe can be excellent, but if it is older plastic find out what material was used. Some of the early stuff turns out to have issues and a limited lifespan... While returns don't need this, check and see if any of the pipes taking water to sinks and such are insulated. If not, not a big issue but look at insulating them if at all possible. It can save a nice amount over the long run. Whatever plumbing you have, look to the building stores for classes in how to repair, add, etc. that are often done for cheap or for free. They also do classes on wiring and other repairs... Heating/Cooling: You want a modern, efficient system. If it more than 15 years old, beware as those systems have only about a 20-30 year lifespan. Also, see if your inspector can see if it is the best rating for the size house you have. One that is too much (too many BTU's/tons of air) is just as bad as having one that is not large enough for the job. Have a reliable company inspect the furnace and AC in addition to the inspector for the rest of the house, as many inspectors don't/won't inspect those systems. Make sure it is the most efficient unit on both sides of the HVAC equation; and, if it needs replacement, look to see what type of geothermal and such might be available and if you can get the seller to buy in. Housing Inspector: The best money you can and will spend in buying a home. Get a good one who is thorough, and insist that all areas be cleared for inspection as needed. If they identify a potential problem with any of the areas above, get an expert in from those areas to check, verify, and certify. I had a good one, a very good one, and even he missed a few things. That said, he caught things that the seller's inspector had missed (glaring things too) when they had purchased the home. This should not be more than a few hundred (not over $400), but is critical. So, research, check references (decided on mine based on what people who had used them said as well as other checks), and go with them on the inspection. Oh, and if the home has a basement, check the walls for bowing, seepage, leaks, etc. Check to be sure beams are not bowing (many older homes require steel posts and beams to deal with this). Check to be sure sump pump is clear and operating. Look for signs of mold, mildew, etc. as they indicate real problems.

Posted by: Laughing Wolf at March 03, 2007 07:52 AM (rkPu/)

13 .. indoor plumbing is a must these days....

Posted by: Eric at March 03, 2007 08:51 AM (NlzwQ)

14 I agree with Eric...electricity helps too.

Posted by: Dazd at March 03, 2007 02:35 PM (Y6s/Z)

15 Think about your property taxes too. For some reason, Ranch style homes tend to be a tad pricier with the property taxes. By the way that picture is lovely! In a multilevel house (which I love for the separation of public/private) make sure there was no flooding in the upstairs bathrooms too. Don't want to come through the floor while in the tub! Make sure the stairs are not too narrow - makes getting furniture in a pain. Lastly, make sure there is a bathroom on the lower floor. Beats running up the steps every time you have to pee. . . Good luck!

Posted by: oddybobo at March 03, 2007 03:40 PM (mZfwW)

16 It's been mentioned several times, but YES, a good building inspector is worth. every. penny. We had one that had the selling realtor groaning because she knew how thorough he would be!! Better a few hundred dollars now than thousands for repairs when you can't back out. And be sure to check out the school district you'd be in, being sure to check the high school if you will be pursuing public education for your son. A 'perfect' house won't make up for a sucky educational situation.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at March 03, 2007 06:31 PM (9FXen)

17 All of the above are good ideas. But seriously, if you give Cappy grief over Unix, you need a ranch. Badly. While awking and grepping the night away a zillion little damn maintenance jobs pile up, and it's always worse on houses with a lot of gingerbread. Just be sure if you get a ranch in a snowy climate that it doesn't have a flat roof.

Posted by: Cappy at March 03, 2007 08:27 PM (8fo3Q)

18 You guys are simply AWESOME! Thank you so very much for all your great suggestions. I will be printing them out and putting them in my notebook. Again, THANK YOU!

Posted by: Michele at March 04, 2007 01:11 AM (Lrt1F)

19 Finally, know your math. When we purchased our home, the lot was advertised at 1.5 acres, and gave the frontage length and one side of the lot as dimensions (e.g., 340' x 195') which would be accurate if the lot were rectangular. However, the plot showed that the lot was actually triangle-shaped, and using a little high-school geometry, we recognized that there was only .75 acre of land - still 50% larger than the rest of the subdivision's half-acre lots and all the more impressive because of its huge frontage and being backed by woods that promise to remain 'undeveloped' for some time... We prepared to go a few rounds of 'hardball' and bid *very low*, pointing his math error out. The seller was so embarrassed and apologetic, he accepted our initial bid, which probably saved us *at least* $10k under what would have been a fair negotiated price for the property!! (See kids, memorizing all those stupid formulas really DOES pay off later in life!!)

Posted by: Bitterroot at March 04, 2007 03:24 AM (9FXen)

20 I love multi level but make sure you can have all of your main functioning on one of the levels... you know... foot/knee problems, etc. You can retreat to one floor if necessary. As to other things, well, a log cabin for me. Lots of trees. A few less crows attacking the cabin every morning. A waterfall or moat. A laboratory, a much bigger library with secret panels that lead to secret corridors, an escape route, motion sensors around the property that detect the heat signatures of humans so they can distinguish between the long-pig and other animals, an outdoor fireplace with cooking grill, a huge kitchen with a eating area next to another stone fireplace, solar panels and a turbine in the water feature so when things go bad I can live just fine for weeks or months off the grid, a media room so I can hide all my technology stuff and have one place to watch old black and white movies on a big screen, vaulted ceilings (I love mine) in the living room, reading nooks all over the place, an apartment like area with its own kitchen and entrance in case my mother wants/needs to come stay or a soldier needs a place for a short while, and most importantly, several comfy bedrooms that are unusually peaceful and quiet so my friends can have a place where they know they can retreat and can feel comfortable bringing their children. Not that I think about this stuff...

Posted by: RSM at March 04, 2007 12:36 PM (asw+D)

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A bit of fluff for a busy and dull Thursday.
If all of the desserts listed below were sitting in front of you, which would you choose? Pick your dessert, and then look in the extended entry to see what psychiatrists think about you.

1. Angel Food Cake
2. Brownies
3. Lemon Meringue
4. Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Icing
5. Strawberry Short Cake
6. Chocolate on Chocolate
7. Ice Cream
8. Carrot Cake

My choice, as well as the answers, are listed in the extended entry. Please let me know how accurate your choice was for describing you.

[Hattip: Mark of Knockin' On The Golden Door]

more...

Posted by: Michele at 01:25 AM | Comments (23) | Add Comment
Post contains 487 words, total size 3 kb.

1 You caught me in Lemon mood. And it seems to fit. I picked 3. LEMON MERINGUE.

Posted by: vw bug at March 01, 2007 07:06 AM (PeJFE)

2 I picked number 8...carrot cake.

Posted by: Dazd at March 01, 2007 08:09 AM (gs32i)

3 Lemon Meringue, what can I say?

Posted by: Lemon Stand at March 01, 2007 08:32 AM (/4/ss)

4 I'm chocolate on chocolate, or brownie. Kinda close. Except for being "an oddball." That part's way off...

Posted by: That 1 Guy at March 01, 2007 08:33 AM (Hn1Gg)

5 Okay, I picked four of the deserts. brownie WITH ice cream Chocolate on chocolate strawberries Because, really, this sounded like a buffet, and I'd take some of everything that looked good.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at March 01, 2007 08:39 AM (+MvHD)

6 oh, and i thought they were pretty accurate. But I hate sports.

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at March 01, 2007 08:39 AM (+MvHD)

7 I know what deserts say about me every time I look in the mirror. Time to join a gym before it reaches the critical stage. Oh - Chocolate on chocolate, but you knew that! Thanks for the linklove!

Posted by: Mark at March 01, 2007 08:53 AM (sS1gd)

8 I did vanilla with chocolate icing. It wasn't me. I'm hungry now...

Posted by: Bou at March 01, 2007 09:00 AM (PQFHD)

9 While a Lemon fan, not the meringue - that was my mood this morning. And kinda close - except for that whole Diva part. That was WAY off!! ;-)

Posted by: Tammi at March 01, 2007 01:18 PM (Bitcf)

10 I really am a chocolate on chocolate person. Gooooo chocolate!

Posted by: Oorgo at March 01, 2007 05:59 PM (ZUQGo)

11 Although, DAMN brownies are good.

Posted by: Oorgo at March 01, 2007 06:00 PM (ZUQGo)

12 Chocolate on chocolate...yummy!! With brownies and strawberry shortcake a close 2nd.

Posted by: Cindy at March 01, 2007 06:11 PM (lhXpw)

13 Mmm, brownies...and I guess 'flying off the handle' is the same thing as 'whipping out my saber'. But everything about the brownies is true. But chocolate on chocolate was my second favorite. How about chocolate on brownies...yeah, that'd work, too.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at March 01, 2007 07:01 PM (9FXen)

14 How did they leave cheesecake off this list?

Posted by: zonker at March 01, 2007 07:35 PM (PrUNH)

15 z,they left out cheesecake because it was too milky or bland, and therefore nothing of substance to write a post or comment about. Sorry, but I think it sorta fits you to a tee. Heh, heh, heh.

Posted by: michele at March 01, 2007 09:01 PM (Lrt1F)

16 I'm a strawberry shortcake person, to be honest. I'd like to think I'd go after the chocolate, but really, if all the dishes were out, I'd want strawberries AND I'd get the angel food cake in the process. I'm not emotional. Dammit.

Posted by: RSM at March 01, 2007 09:56 PM (asw+D)

17 Brownies, but the analysis is WAY off. I'm a comfort junkie, I hate trying new things, I root for the favorite, I stay out of arguments, my sense of humor is classic MST3K, and I have no sense of direction whatsoever. However, I do have a dragon head or two on my mantel, and I have links on my blog for people who stopped blogging 2 years ago. At least they got the loyalty part right.

Posted by: Harvey at March 02, 2007 01:27 AM (L7a63)

18 A) What Zonker said. It's a travesty, I tell ya. I mean, helloooo...Juniors! B) I went for the carrot cake WITH the ice cream, so, it's boiled down to me being a Mets fan to the exclusion of any other sports team...I did used to want to be the first lady player on the Mets...almost never touch the remote, or watch TV for that matter...am extremely LOW maintenance...and all of number 8 is 100 true.

Posted by: Erica at March 02, 2007 08:42 AM (n1ABe)

19 100 'percent' true, is what I was actually getting at. (d'oh!)

Posted by: Erica at March 02, 2007 08:43 AM (n1ABe)

20 I was torn between brownies and carrot cake (yeah - I know.... but I am craving lots of interesting things right now.) And reading the descriptions - I am still torn. Huh. ;-)

Posted by: Richmond at March 02, 2007 12:03 PM (e8QFP)

21 Carrot Cake. No hesitation.

Posted by: Ted at March 02, 2007 12:06 PM (blNMI)

22 Why is everybody always pickin' on me?

Posted by: Charlie Brown with a mullet at March 02, 2007 04:25 PM (PrUNH)

23 Tiramisu! I don't care if it's not on the menu, it's my favorite!! Fine. I'll settle for strawberry shortcake because it's 'comfort food' that reminds me of good times long past. But the vanilla cake w/ chocolate frosting personality probably fits me better. Just don't call me 'sassy' or you'll make me angry. People don't like it when I get angry...

Posted by: Bitterroot at March 04, 2007 02:37 AM (9FXen)

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