Ahh, thanks Anne! :-) I *know* they can communicate! Birds are awesome and can pick up on emotions and ill health and fun things too. I could bore you to tears with stories of our Kramer, the starling, and his interactions with everyone. After my Mom died, Olive saw me crying and asked: "What's the matter Sweetheart?" I told her and she told me something very reassuring back. Words we never heard her say before but very nice. This morning Olive is getting ready to cheer for the football game. RAH! over and over and over again! We live in such a crazy house!!! x 13! :-) I am ~very~ lucky because I have been able to meet a variety of bird species, and others, on a very up close and personal basis. They're all so different in their personalities but they all do communicate with other birds and with their human captives. All the critters communicate. We just need to take the time to watch and listen to what they tell us. :-)

Oh "carp"....something else to lust after!!

Hello, it is me again. I started the thread. I'm sorry to have posted and then gone incommunicado, but I had a nasty motherboard problem. Eeeek! But I am now back online. I am very, very grateful to those who stepped in to answer questions. I hope you all don't mind if I do some quick clarifications under headings to save time, rather than respond to each individual. Therapy Dogs (TDs): Delta, TDI and Therapy Dogs Inc. are all great. The 14 point test on Delta's site is a very good example of what a TD must be able to do. If you want to volunteer as a TD team, you might want to get a CGC first. It is a good basis. If chapters of the above organizations are not in your area, please do not give up hope, but do a google search for Therapy Animal Groups in your state. There are smaller organizations, and some hospitals are beginning to start their own groups. I do advise joining a TD organization that offers training, ongoing support and, most importantly, insurance in these litigious days. Please don't try it on your own. We get huge enjoyment from our TD work. We also know we do good. We do both "social visiting" and "Animal Assisted Therapy". The first is just pleasant visiting, the second is working with a medical or educational team to achieve identified goals. So, we do regular volunteer visits at: an elementary school Reading Program, an Assisted Living, an Alzheimers Unit, and a residential facility for the severely Develpomentally Delayed. We also do Hospice on request. One of my dogs is a natural TD, and does most of the harder Animal Assisted Therapy work. The other I never expected to pass the test (!) but she has a huge affinity with seniors, and is amazingly understanding of those with dementia. She has totally exceeded my expectations and is enormously loved. Mental Heath Service Dogs: Autism and severe Anxiety Disorders have been mentioned above. Yes, and yes! Northstar is an exellent example of training service dogs for autistic people. I'd also add ADHD to that list. Sometimes petting a dog helps people to focus on the task at hand. Finally, Service Dog training: I did not mean to imply that there are not many wonderful training facilities for service animals. And the larger organizations provide valuable documentation. I do think that it is important to acknowledge that not all legitimate service animals have certification from *known* organizations. To date, there is no federally recognized training or certification for service animals. Some may disagree, and as I said it leaves things open to abuse, but this is a good thing IMO, for the individual who has a well trained animal bonding to them, and for smaller groups just starting up. Most people whose service animal is self-trained, carry a prescription from an MD for a service animal. That is usually accepted as documentation. In addition, most make sure the animal in question is well trained. Finally, Quirky and plasticgarden, I am very glad that you were joking. I did not find the jokes in particularly good taste, but that is because I work with and volunteer with so many disabled people. Possibly I should lighten up. But I would prefer not to. Quirky, and others considering it, best of luck with TD training. I'm sure you will all love volunteering. All the best.

Thanks! I am hoping to find a concealed hinge that will work on a 3/8 in inset.. Long story short.. Lost everything in Harvey.. Kitchen finally being rebuilt and the carpenter built doors that are the 1970's (80s if I'm being generous) I finally get a new kitchen and it's already old. The doors aren't hung yet so I'm making a last ditch effort to find a concealed hinge. Who would have thought a new kitchen could be so depressing? And I hate the semi-concealed with the spring. They seem worse than the exposed. Being a professional, would you know of a hinge that would work? I'd really appreciate your opinion.