D2M at home - V2 Edition 8

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the D2M House - Autumn 2000 (Volume 2 Edition 8)

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.... The continuing saga that has become known as Family News is here again. This is somewhat of a mini-series covering past/present/recent events in and around the house. This is Volume 2 Issue 8.
This is one page of several others that "getting better as we go" keeps you up to speed of events around here. The idea that this may appear as a monthly thing is false. It is written when the weather keeps me indoors or when the notion strikes me. Remember this is not only for those far away but for those of us who have a moments to spend during the day when reading is much better. Take a moment to write and let us know events unfolding at your end.
Something Different: Take a step back to 1969 and see a photo of the Glamorgan Grad's Details are there.
I'm sure images and certain proprietary items are here somewhere, they at all times belong to/ registered to the respective owners, you know who you are.

Before It's like reading old newspapers, "It's News to Me" After

Karin's world
20001014 - Cars, are these with us, or against us. Now that it feels better with new battery and charging system, the passenger door is now on the fritz. sigh.
20001020 - I can't imagine that college is almost over for the season, didn't it just start. What the deal here? Oh my, it's almost time to pay for next semester.
(Mount Royal)

Sherri's world
20001010 - The office is changing, a friend has left to begin another challenge, another to a new job. Those who are left still carry on business as usual.
20001020 - Notice the photo of the fuzzy feline? This is one of the rulers of the house, Luna. The other ruler of the house, Cosmo is waiting to have a suitable portrait taken and brought over. hint, hint.
(Snap-on tools) (La Vie en Rose)

Carolyn's world
20001020 - The salt mine return engagement is going well so far. A few adjustments on her schedule to smooth out some details and this may in fact be the maximum for a duration of yet to be determined time. In other words much more per week might be pushing it for a while yet. We remind ourselves that such a dilemma took decades to almost cure (not complete, but medicine is not really a fine science) but to adjust and recover may take a bit more than a few months, I'm thinking a couple of years. December will be another "tune up" and turning point. Looking forward it can only get better.
(SAIT)

TOP

Don's world
20001010 - Unless you have been taking the bus or walk you may not have noticed the thieves at most busy corners. These thieves represented by co-conspirators calling themselves petroleum retailers. The mysterious part of the story is the price of gas seems to up at a moments notice. Never down. Then just within an almost nano-second timing the competitor across the street has suddenly petroleum for sale at EXACTLY the same price.
Is it only me or do you shop at the place (or at least check it out) that has the better deal for pretty much the exact same product. Gasoline does not differ much (ya, I know Esso has more Sulphur and Mohawk has alcohol) but from what is left to choose from I do buy the current best price. This better price would bring people in droves to some other product but why do we not do so with gas for the car?
It comes out of the ground for a price that was determined at the time of drilling and pipeline transport construction. From this point once these costs are retired the price is pretty much profit aside from site & pipeline maintenance. Paint the exposed parts once a decade and you have a LARGE profit. Of course it has a bit more to it than that but not much. Why then does the price double in the course of a few weeks. Just before a long weekend it always goes up.
We are consumers, not idiots. The sad thing is they can do it and no one person, organization or country can do anything about it. Who is going to disturb the huge (I'm talking very huge, the hugest) amount of money that is made from this industry. That's all, we will whine for a month or two and then learn to put up with another form of extortion. There must be another form of fuel that can be used that the automotive industry will buy into. By this they must buy into something that they can use that does away with the greed of the oil business almost completely. They thinking they are baseball players and can charge whatever they want if you want to play their game.
Retailers do the price change thing to avoid lost business, if they charged what it actually cost plus their profit it would be a different story. It's a story I would like to see. I will have more....
20001021 - Ready for the festive All Hallow's Eve? Kids come out in us all at this time of year, it's autumn, it's the crisp nip in the air and the goods as far as the eye can see. The very second twilight hits the streets are mobbed. I love "giving" the wee one's their money's worth and their reaction to the night is too cute. Naturally spooky lights and sounds are found at our door, the best part is the scary guy who opens the door. Lets hope the weather is reasonable!
(Telus)

The House
The fan keeps us cool...
20001020 - The 7RP (70's Renovation Project) is stalled. Research is continuing into the many options available. We have been looking at new home builder's use of space and amount of thought used in each product with attention paid to kitchens in particular.
We have seen more show homes than I care to remember with about 15 pounds of brochures to prove it. This is an industry that needs some guidance. The housing industry insults the average individual. They are some of the most arrogant people around for reasons that cannot be understood. The product they assemble is not a really good product but they are under the impression there is no better. The product shown in the form of a show home can be compared to a new car. Every year there is a new model and new features, all of course their respective object of pride.
The difference is the home builder does not have a very good product. If you bought a new car and the finish was poor, the floors squeaked, the doors stick, the temperature was way off, the windows are placed where there should not be windows, etcetera etc, we would be hesitant to buy. Right!
This is the new house business at it's best. Substandard to other industries and yet we all want one. The larger ticket house is worse, poor use of space, high tax properties, terrible fuel efficient heating & cooling, and the list goes on. Planning and design are another story altogether. The excuses from the salespeople are .... too numerous to explore.
Let me lament something recently seen. In a show home from one particular builder we saw a placard on the kitchen island extolling the finishing details available. On the placard was a price of $9000 for optional floors in the kitchen and hall alone. These floors were on display within this show home so we actually examined them. Squeaky hardwood floors. Something told me this is not a good option at any price. First the show home is supposed to be the show piece of what the builder offers in it's finest detail. And secondly the product should be in a form that would be in a condition of what the buyer would receive. The car dealer does not put rusted buckets in the show room, should the house builder be any different? Perhaps the placard should have also noted the squeaks are included at no addition cost. You know, people buy new because the existing is squeaky and old. This was only the first step into the building, we did not take our shoes off yet. You get this for about $200,000.00, for firewood and industrial waste. May I add that not all builders charge $9000 for squeaky floors, some were much lower for squeakless floors, some charged even less for squeaky carpeted floors and of course the same price for squeakless in other builders show pieces.
Kicking tires on new houses is an experience. We have not seen any one builder that has an excellent product, some come close but no where near excellent.
We are waiting and standing by to solve another house emergency.
(D2M)

To be continued...