I am hoooome! I am hoooome! I don't have any damage. I don't have any damage! *just imaging me dancing around in circles* The yard is a mess with LOTS of branches, but we are all ok and it looks like our neighbors are ok. Wow, I saw Lake Charles on the news and it looked like we were swung around a bit. The lake had white caps and all. Still it was nothing like Rita. I'm not even unpacking...just waiting to see what Ike is gonna do. ~sigh~

If possible get a cat - they do wonders. We lived by a horse racing track. When the horses left after the season, the rats would migrate over to the homes. Yikes - I saw one once. Got two cats (a female and a male - female was much better hunter) - never saw or heard from rats again. I am currently battling mice each winter we get one or two. We had good luck with regular old standard "snap" traps baited with peanut butter - so they can't steal the bait, it sticks to the trap. We get them after a night or two. If you have a landlord - let him deal with the problem that is for sure!!! It's his problem and obligation to deal with it in a timely (immediate) manner. It may even be a law. Or just tell him if he doesn't do anything about it - you are getting a cat whether or not they are "banned" from the premises unless he does do something about the problem. It is a total health hazard - not to mention the fact that they can bite. I just bought an ultrasonic thing - too soon to know how it works. But my neighbors have one and swear by it. Didn't cost much. Good luck!

Just everything of course! There are tips on the Sherwin Williams page about hanging wallpaper but I want to hear things from the forum because to me it's more "real." Out of sheer laziness I don't even know if there's a special paste to use to adhere it to the wall. What tools do we need? I seem to recall from my childhood that some kind of a stick/bar is used to smooth it once up. Since we're only doing two walls we only have one corner--any suggestions? Best part, the house is over 150 years old, not level or plumb so that adds another challenge--or not; but what do I know? Thank you for asking christophern.

I knew a woman who called someone she didn't like the b word, well her 4 yo child did the same and her mother laughed. Mother thought it funny while I thought it sad and pathetic. I'm amazed at the people I've met thru my life that think it so cute when a child uses foul words. Guess what than the child starts school and its not so funny any longer. I am completely against using words like this in front of children whether they are mine, yours, or someone else's. We're the adults the role models. And I'm not talking about you folks because I don't think most of you are still raising children. Yes i sometimes say some not so nice words, but not around the kids. But I'm sure we've all heard patents out there somewhere thst every few words are foul that's the ones that say them so often they don't even realize it nor could they stop themselves because of children or because its inappro in public. Its just a part of their normal.