Rhoni, "Why should we pay a professional?" There are a number of reasons including leaking pipe from the old system undermining the pool decking and compromising the integrity of the concrete decking and/or the gunite shell of the pool. (Concrete breakout and repair is expensiveÂIÂd say it probably starts around $2500 or maybe more.) A professional irrigator would provide you a design which provides some semblance of distribution uniformity, professional grade products, (unlike the "material" sold at the big box stores) and a warranty, not to mention insurance in case of an accident or mishap. IÂm sure there is no warranty from your "professional" CPA on your taxes, much less on the work he did on your system. I donÂt profess to be a CPA, so I have a CPA do my TAXES. You see Rhoni, a professional irrigator is going to access the damage done to the existing system and give you his professional opinion on how best to rectify the situation. This not only includes the integrity of the plumbing servicing the system, but heÂll also recommend changes to the design/layout of the system to best cover the "new" areas created when you plopped a pool in the middle of the existing system/design. ItÂs not just a matter of reconnecting pipe and eureka, and itÂs as good as a "new" 1 ½ year old sprinkler system. It sounds as if you had 2 different IRRIGATION professionals tell you that the system needed to be renovated for similar amounts of money. But you chose to essentially call both of them ripoff artists and tackle the job yourself. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. So go ahead and hook up your pipe again. Let it water your pool, decking, summer kitchen, house, fencing ect. all the while leaving dry areas which cant be covered short of adding heads or complete zones. When it doesnÂt cover properly, I DARE you to call those same 2 contractors whose time you wasted previously and bid the "repair" work. I bet they give you a bid of $2500 or probably more. But please, please, PLEASE donÂt call ME to come repair it. As I have told people in the past, "I can put spinners on your Yugo, but I cant wave a wand and turn your Yugo into a Cadillac". IÂve been a licensed IRRIGATOR for 24 years, but IÂve never been much of a magician.

Well, if your kitchen turns out anything like the bathroom re-model you just did before this, it will be well worth the 'non-decorating' gene domination!!! And I'm sure your kitchen is a dream come true! Can't wait to see pics! After our floors remodeling I have put off the kitchen countertops & maybe taking down one cabinet to open up even more ...so I know your feelings first hand! Later it will happen. My decor has been lacking lately because of all this wonderful weather!...so I'm outside alot...but today is cleaning day for Easter weekend (inside, ugh) I'm glad you 'whined' as you stated... cause losing any mobility is just the pits! Hope it heals for you & that you will be able to use your left hand more soon! Happy Easter, Marlene. Jeanne S.

Gee everyone thanks for all your thoughtfull words and advice. minnie...I like the idea of the inverter for the car and will keep that in mind. As far as water, canned goods and candles...I usually keep that on had ALL the time..it was just to darn cold - more so inside the house than outside...and I just didn't feel like cooking. I used to own a wood burning stove in my old home and used it for warmth & cooking..(I sure miss it)..but with just a fireplace now, you have to sit real close to feel comfortable. Candy...before we got the snow, I heard that Co. was having snow storms...and thinking I couldn't do that so early in the season...I guess I spoke too soon. Karen...I wish we had that generator sooner too! I don't to humid heat or COLD very well...and I was really reaching the end of my sanity! Marlene...I guess we can all relate to going thru something like this at one time or other...and it will always bring back miserable feelings. Punk...wow - Several Generators & Toy Hauler!! DH must be a survivalist! I'd feel pretty safe knowing I had all that 'backup' !! lol mm...you are so correct about pure boring misery..with COLD thrown in. That gas hot water heater sounds good, but I probably wouldn't want to come out of the hot tub to freeze! janet you're so sweet to think of me. Sounds like you're pretty well prepared for storms with a generator, wood stove and fireplace! I miss the old stove I had and did some cooking on it like you. I hope they take care of your water problem soon. I agree with you on 'Snow Pictures' being beautiful...as long as you're not in them...lol jane

Donna, Your Christmas tree photo made my day. I'm STILL laughing. I am not an expert by any means, but I think you can try a tad bit harder, lol, lol! Now, that second pic is breathtaking. How do you get anything accomplished? I used to live in a high-rise years ago, and the scenery from the windows kept calling out to me. Your view is magnificent! You probably don't drink coffee (right?), but I can just see MYSELF sitting in your kitchen sipping a hot cup and enjoying the view. Vickie ca, did I hear you mention a sheltie? My sweet fat girl is a sheltie! Aren't they just the sweetest, most loving and comforting dogs? Angelcub, you described my one and only baseball game experience perfectly! I don't love the game on television, but the hot dogs, the thrill of the open air and the fans, was a magnificent experience. I had almost forgotten how I felt, walking to the field. Since my boys left the game, I haven't felt the urge to attend another game. Ah. Nostalgia!