and I just had my sump pump and gutter downspout lines buried. The guy wanted to put in a bubbler, but I said no because I felt the water would pool into a mud puddle rather than being absorbed by the lawn. (That is what was happening with the old setup, which routed the water into the garden beds. Instead, I had him dig in a big poly catch basin filled with gravel about 15 feet from the foundation. The water collects in the basin and then drains slowly into the ground. The pipe running underground to the basin is unperforated so the water doesn't drain near the foundation and doesn't fill with dirt. HTH. Rachel

Sue, I like the picture of you two old gals riding around, it sounds as though having fun ... ...with that chain lying in the trunk, in case of need, to haul you out of a ditch, should the necessity arise! Seems to me that involves being willing to accept a measure of risk ... ... and assuming that one might well be able to get out of the problem without too much stress and trouble. Having made some preparations beforehand. I'm pleased that your friend was willing to accept the risk of investing into equity-based systems, as well. And that her choice turned out well for her ... and for her beneficiaries. I've said over on the retirement forum that we should keep making new friends, and some asked the reason. You've given part of that reason ... your counterpart has gone to her reward, it appears. I'd said that, on retirement, or after, a number of our friends move away. Or they lose their mental capacity, so that the friendship loses a good deal of its former lustre. Or they, like your friend, depart this dimension of life. Tha problem isn't a problem any more, of course ... ... on the day that we, in our turn, take our departure. ole joyful

LG = Large Garbage. I dropped $2000 on a LG washer and dryer. The dryer had to be replaced within a week because the door gasket allowed air to escape making a whistling sound. It whistled while it worked, loud enough to hear at the other end of my house. The washer will not clean clothes well no matter what we do. Four service calls have been made, no one showed up for the fifth, and LG will not replace or make a refund. The problems? Not enough water and there is dirt and lint on top of the door glass after each use! LG said that there is no way there will be dirt or lint on the door glass. No matter what cycle we choose or what extras we add, all the water the machine adds is 5 gallons. (After a large load, I allowed the machine to drain into a 5 gallon plastic bucket after the wash and rinse cysles and it filled up the bucket once plus a little more in another.) LG customer service stated that for a large load, 13 gallons would be used and with their "Water Plus" feature, an extra 3 liters would be added. To top it all, the repairman who came out the first three times, told me my clothes were to dirty for the LG washer and that I needed to get a $50 trade-in to wash my blue jeans. He also told me that the dryer would require two cycles to dry completely. That he was right about. His advice also was to stop using liquid detergent and liquid softener because they gummed up the interior of the washer, use 1/2 of the recommended HE detergent and to start using dryer sheets. All are not recommended by the LG instruction manual. LG = Large Garbage. LG = AKA Gold Star. Save your money and find something else that really works. BTW The top loading 15 year old Whirlpool that was replaced by the LG was on its last legs before it was replaced. On its last day in my house, it did a better job of washing than the LG did on its first day. Save your money. There are better brands available!

> Friends, I really need your help. I want to buy a car. More precisely not only myself. For the whole family. Have you considered hiring an architect? An architect can design and build a car you will love. He will interview your entire family to gather the requirements and will decide the proper car orientation. Your crazy aunt Sally wants a space on both of her sides for her favorite cats - no problem, she will love our new design. Space for your pet hamster - we will provide the wheel. 60 Gallon aquarium in the center for your pet shark - what a great idea. An architect can help you avoid costly car mistakes like: closets with no window, the gas chambers, wardrobe closet at the end of a bathroom. [Sorry could not help it] -Pizdabolka