Filed under: curtain fabric
Question:
I make a lot of very large kites, and they really love that fabric, because when they get a good run and dive into it, then race across it, it makes the most wonderful z-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T z–r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T sound beneath their claws. Nylon? Ooooh, slippery slides! Joyce
Response:
I didn’t sew much but the little that I did wasn’t worth the "struggle" a tail sticking out there, a set of claws ripping a nice neat four line furough here, the cloth tape measure disappearing around the corner, the small pieces spread from here to there. They won, I stopped sewing and go to a nice seamstress lady downtown when something needs to be done. Cats! Charleen with help from Mr. Pumpkin Aggie Marble Victor Velcro
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right? First, Smudge decided that these big pieces of material on the floor were the perfect place to play "tent". She dove in between the curtain and the lining, and then scuttled around underneath. The sight of a moving lump attracted Licky’s attention, and pretty soon all 3 of them were sitting on various parts of the material. Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes. It’s especially gratifying to see her so playful, since she usually refrains from those activities. Tonight, it was back to the Roxy and Licky Show, but Smudge got in a few dives as well. I had to shoo all of them off repeatedly. Somehow I did manage to get the lining sewed correctly to the curtain, and my friend will not be hanging new curtains with a big, occasionally moving bulge in the middle of it! Joyce
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m also a seamstress Joyce, and I can certainly relate. I always get lots of help from the cats when I lay out fabric. I make a lot of very large kites, and they really love that fabric, because when they get a good run and dive into it, then race across it, it makes the most wonderful z-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T z–r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T sound beneath their claws. I’m strictly amateur as a seamstress, but I was motivated to train Mandy to use a harness (something I’d decided on anyway because of where I lived at the time) because of sewing. At the time I lived in a very open-plan apartment, and the only place I could lay out the fabric and pattern was on the floor. There was nowhere to isolate Mandy (I was already a little worried about whether the landlord would notice the results of her and Betsy’s efforts to reach each other through, or under, the bathroom door when I first introduced them.) And Mandy loved, and still loves, fabric, particularly when it’s got that nice crinkly paper spread on top of it. I actually got to the point where she would sit in her harness on her leash watching me, unable to reach it, but not frantic. But no harness meant instant attacks on that vicious pattern!
Oh yes…..they love patterns. And I found out long ago that you can’t repair them with tape, since ironing the pattern is always required before laying it out, and we all know how well irons and tape go together. I finally just started making my own patterns, and you can bet it’s not on tissue paper. However, I have a couple of favorites from the store, and just did myself a favor to save time in the long run, and traced them and replaced them with good strong paper. (the only bummer with patterns I actually create is that I don’t have the convenience of directions, and ultimately make at least 1 or 2 totally stupid mistakes)yjhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh <—–that was Louies opinion
Response:
Somehow I did manage to get the lining sewed correctly to the curtain, and my friend will not be hanging new curtains with a big, occasionally moving bulge in the middle of it! Joyce
Such helpful kittys. A video camera would’ve been a good thing. Suz Macmoosette Thank Heavens There’s Only One =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel. |__/| (=’:'=) (")_(")
Response:
A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right?
I only sew when my partner is home, so he can take cats off my lap before they eat needles, tangle threads, bunch fabric… –Fil
Response:
<snip Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes. I love that– those crazily dilated pupils. I call that the "crack enema" look. 
Ming always has that look…. When I got him from the shelter, the shelter lady even mentioned that they had the vet check his eyes when they had him neutered, since they always looked dilated. They only look any different when he’s in REALLY bright light, then you can see that his eyes are a two-toned blue (he’s a Siamese-marked moggy-kitty). The very outer rim is pale blue, but the rest is a dark-midnight blue. The result is that if he’s in anything but VERY bright light, you can’t see the pupil in the dark blue, and it looks like he’s stoned. Katrina
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right? First, Smudge decided that these big pieces of material on the floor were the perfect place to play "tent". She dove in between the curtain and the lining, and then scuttled around underneath. The sight of a moving lump attracted Licky’s attention, and pretty soon all 3 of them were sitting on various parts of the material. Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes. It’s especially gratifying to see her so playful, since she usually refrains from those activities. Tonight, it was back to the Roxy and Licky Show, but Smudge got in a few dives as well. I had to shoo all of them off repeatedly. Somehow I did manage to get the lining sewed correctly to the curtain, and my friend will not be hanging new curtains with a big, occasionally moving bulge in the middle of it! Joyce
I’m also a seamstress Joyce, and I can certainly relate. I always get lots of help from the cats when I lay out fabric. I make a lot of very large kites, and they really love that fabric, because when they get a good run and dive into it, then race across it, it makes the most wonderful z-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T z–r-r-r-r-r-r-r-T sound beneath their claws. -bonbon
Response:
A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right? First, Smudge decided that these big pieces of material on the floor were the perfect place to play "tent". She dove in between the curtain and the lining, and then scuttled around underneath. The sight of a moving lump attracted Licky’s attention, and pretty soon all 3 of them were sitting on various parts of the material. Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes.
I love that– those crazily dilated pupils. I call that the "crack enema" look. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right? First, Smudge decided that these big pieces of material on the floor were the perfect place to play "tent". She dove in between the curtain and the lining, and then scuttled around underneath. The sight of a moving lump attracted Licky’s attention, and pretty soon all 3 of them were sitting on various parts of the material. Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes. It’s especially gratifying to see her so playful, since she usually refrains from those activities. Tonight, it was back to the Roxy and Licky Show, but Smudge got in a few dives as well. I had to shoo all of them off repeatedly. Somehow I did manage to get the lining sewed correctly to the curtain, and my friend will not be hanging new curtains with a big, occasionally moving bulge in the middle of it! Joyce
Boring curtains, those without the bulges…. TBird <— giggling
Response:
A friend is paying me to make some curtains for her. I’m being very slow and methodical about it, measuring everything at least twice to be sure it all fits. The curtains are lined and the pieces are pretty large, so I have to lay them out on the floor to make sure it’s all flat and matched up properly. You know where this is going, right? First, Smudge decided that these big pieces of material on the floor were the perfect place to play "tent". She dove in between the curtain and the lining, and then scuttled around underneath. The sight of a moving lump attracted Licky’s attention, and pretty soon all 3 of them were sitting on various parts of the material. Whenever Smudge’s head would poke out, she’d look crazed, with big black eyes. It’s especially gratifying to see her so playful, since she usually refrains from those activities. Tonight, it was back to the Roxy and Licky Show, but Smudge got in a few dives as well. I had to shoo all of them off repeatedly. Somehow I did manage to get the lining sewed correctly to the curtain, and my friend will not be hanging new curtains with a big, occasionally moving bulge in the middle of it! Joyce
Response:
Question:
THE WAR By Pam Shirk
<snipped wonderful story VERY good Pam! Hugs, CatNipped
Response:
Here is Samuel R Kitten’s story. With a little luck, Amelia’s will follow later today. A Tale of Three Greeblings Samuel Redcat Mahoney When my humans adopted me, rescuing me from a life on the streets, they told me all about the wonderful things they had to offer: a nice, warm place to sleep, plenty of good food and clean water, lots of great kitty toys, all the love I could handle, and protection from external enemies. It sounded wonderful then, and it still does now. What they didn’t mention were the dangers I would be facing – grevious dangers! I’ve since learned that this nondisclosure on their part was not motivated by an attempt to deceive me, they are simply unaware of these dangers. You see, humans are quite unable to see, hear, smell, or otherwise sense the presence of greeblings. For those who don’t know, greeblings are nasty, vile little creatures with sharp teeth, wicked claws, keen eyes, and a malice that knows no bounds. They hide from humans but often seem not to fear their only natural predator, cats. Greeblings delight in causing mischief and damage, from simple stunts like dumping over garbage cans to attempting to set fire to houses. They often steal food, even raiding closed refrigerators and locked cabinets. When humans are unable to find a treasured possession, something that they have seen or held just recently, it is usually due to greeblings spiriting that possession away. In our household we see primarily two varieties of greebling. We see a lot of brown-spotted carpet greeblings, and vast numbers of green-scaled lawn greeblings. A few examples of other species show up occasionaly, but they are relatively rare. This morning is a good example of the dangers I and my feline family members face. I awoke around 4:00 AM like usual, and made a quick patrol of the house to see if anything was happening. Prowling through the dark living room I heard a soft, furtive rustle from behind the oak cabinet. Approaching stealthily and with my senses fully directed toward the region the noises were coming from I was all prepared to pounce on the greebling I suspected was hiding there. I was completely unprepared for what came next – a cowardly attack from above and behind! As I drew close to the cabinet a greebling that had been hiding on top out of my line of sight shoved a heavy glass candle holder off the edge, barely missing my head! At the same moment a third viscious beast jumped from hiding under the coffee table and attacked my hind feet and tail with his teeth. Hearing the noise of the candle holder sliding off the edge above me, I was able to dodge to the side just before the candle holder would have beaned me. At the same time I was able to tuck my head in, roll into a circle, and grab the third greebling in my teeth, dispatching him after a brief battle. As soon as I finished off the third greebling I heard sounds of battle coming from the bathroom. Dashing over there I saw my tiny sister Fluffybutt in mortal combat with an entire herd of rare slime greeblings that had snuck out of the shower drain. She was fighting a noble fight, but a small kitten can hold off only so many greeblings at once. I immediately joined the battle, and between the two of us we finished off over a dozen of the beasts and drove the rest back down the shower drain. Fluffybutt and I tended to each other’s wounds, knowing that letting our humans see our injuries would only complicate things. About this time our meowmie was getting out of bed to prepare for work. She always opens the back door to let us kitties out, as we all really love our outdoor time. Our two older sisters, Cleocatra and Ameliagrump, also finally got out of bed and joined us. All four of us went outside, enjoying the fresh air, the buggie hunting, and the big outdoor litter box. Once the neccessities of personal hygiene were tended to, we began our regular group patrol of the yard. We have a regular routine in the yard. Tabitha and Amelia lead off, and head straight to the far left and far right corners of the yard. I come next, running straight for the center of the yard. Cleocatra follows, heading along the base of the wall checking for beasties hiding in the high grass. You see, we have to be extra alert outside because of Grizzlxx. The green-scaled lawn greeblings live underground, coming above-ground just long enough to wreak havoc then returning to their dark, dank holes. They are led by a very old, grizzled greebling who’s name is something like Grizzlxx (it’s hard to render it accurately, since kitty mouths aren’t built to pronounce greebling). When it’s time for them to launch a raid, Old G sends up a small scout party to check out the locations of the enemy (us kitties), then when he gets the report from the scouts he sends up his large invasion force. He himself hides in the shadows, right outside the chain link fence we can’t cross. When it looks like his forces are about to be wiped out he dashes back down his hole to keep himself safe. Unfortunately he remembers the tactics we use, and trains the next generation of greebling warriors what to expect from us and how to counter our moves. We have known for along time that we need to get rid of Old G, but haven’t been able to do anything about him since he always hides. But this morning Cleocatra had an idea – a brilliant idea! This morning both Ameliagrump and Tabitha Fluffybutt made a dash straight for the greebling-hold that Old G hides in, and made loud hissy-pounces at the hole. Amelia even reached her long paws through the fence as if she was trying to catch Old G. But the two girlcats were just creating a distraction. While they were scaring the greeblings, Cleocatra ran silently up beind them, made a perfect leap all the way to the top of the fence, and hid herself on top of the wooden fence behind the chain link fence. You see, Cleocatra is the only kitty small enough and strong enough to leap all the way up without touching the Sting Wire. All the rest of us have to climb the fence, and when we touch the Sting Wire it bites us and makes us drop back to the ground. Anyway, we all resumed our usual yard patrols. Since Cleo is small and grey and stealthy, it’s almost impossible to see her when she stalks the base of the wall. So the greeblings didn’t notice that one of the kitties was missing. We saw the greeblings scout come out, but we ignored them and pretended we didn’t see them. A couple minutes later we saw the rest of the invasion force coming out – but still we ignored them. When the attack-greeblings were almost upon us we turned, recognized, and gave battle. However, we held back on our battle – we fought only half-heartedly. We let the greeblings think that they were gaining ground. That caused Old G to get all excited, and he came a little ays out of his hole to shout directions to his troops. Us three kitties then fell back a little further, and this got Old G even more excited. We finally allowed ourselves to get backed into a corner of the yard. This got Old G so excited he was beside himself! He was almost dancing in glee. He finally forgot his caution and came a few inches into the yard to get a better view. That was all Cleocatra needed. Before he even knew what hit him, all of Cleocatra’s 6 pounds landed on top of Old G, claws first. Cleocatra finished him off before he got off a squeak. Cleo yowled at us, and we took that as our signal to REALLY fight greeblings. We were so irritated at the little monsters by this time that polishing off the rest of the troops was a pleasure. We laid waste to the entire troop of beasties in less than a minute. Cleocatra kicked a few pieces of Old G’s remains back into the greebling hole, so that those below would know that their venerated leader and victorious general was no longer. That marked the end of our morning yard greebling battles, for at least a while. It is truly wonderful to be able to go out into the yard, roll around in the grass, and hunt flutterbys. all without having to worry about those nasty monsters. Now if we can figure out how to get rid of the leader of the brown-spotted carpet greeblings….
Response:
A day in the life of Tabitha Mahoney By Tabitha Mahoney with Nancy C.
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <SNIPPING AND INSERTING Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night. Go to the Walmart and pick up a cheap pressure rod and a cheap sheet or piece of fabric and make a curtain to your bedroom so you have privacy and Persia can go in and out. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats. Tough. They wanna stay with you, then they deal with the cat. Package deal! Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office. Just tell ‘em that you tend to get up in the middle of the night and go to your computer. Once again, "tough". And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV. Honeychile’ this is a good thing. Remind him you don’t have cable! Maybe that’ll be the clincher that makes it so they don’t stay there. LOL. Anyway.. this is a tough one because you may actually have to ask him not to turn on TV until a decent hour. My dad gets up at 4:00 AM, too. Is there a coffee shop or something near you where he can go and hang out with other old cronies in the morning while you and mom sleep?
Well, yeah, but he wouldn’t actually *know* any of the old cronies, so he wouldn’t do it. Heheh. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before. Ya know what? They are your parents and they are stuck with you, so be honest. I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been on your own… but I know from experience that you’ll just drive yourself nuts trying to please everyone, then you’ll end up being tired and cranky and the visit will suck anyway for everyone. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh) Maybe part of it is they wanna see where their little girl lives and how she’s doing all grown up (if you are 42 or something, I may be pushing it a bit).
Naw, you’re right on the mark; I’m 42 and my parents are both 77. What I would do is just call mom and say "You guys can stay with me, but you should know that there is going to be very little privacy, the cat owns the place and I don’t have cable TV.. so maybe you (and especially dad) would be more comfortable in a hotel? Or better yet, mom.. why don’t I just come visit you like usual and you guys can come stay with me when I get a bigger place?"
Sounds like what I plan on doing. Bigger place? Heh. This apartment is 1100 sq. feet. It’s just not arranged for guests. If I didn’t have my office set up in the front bedroom it would be fine. Or you could just lie and say you are going to Aruba with a guy named Antonio that you met at the bookstore and you’ll send ‘em a postcard.
(laughing) Oh yeah, that would go over well! Anyway, I’ve been there, done that and when I finally got a place with an extra bedroom and two bathrooms, etc… and WANT people to stay with me, they never do. But that might be the litterbox’s fault. I wish you tons of luck. Just wait till (if) you get married and you have to deal with IN LAWS. Egads. Stacey 
I don’t have to worry about in-laws. Both parents of my SO of 7 years, Ray, are deceased. I hate to say it, but I’m grateful I don’t have to try to please yet another set of parents. Thanks for the input, Stacey! Jill
Response:
Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Your brother probably has Dave staying in his spare bedroom."
<snippity snippity I have a similar problem, Jill. I have a 3 bedroom house, but all three bedrooms are already well occupied. I don’t have a guest room, and while a person could conceivably crash on my lounge, there is still the Shmoggleberry issue. This house just isn’t set up for guests staying over. Sometimes I feel a bit guitly about that, I’d love to return the kindness and hospitality of some of my friends, but thats just how my house is and I’m not going off to by a spare bed and convert a bedroom just on the odd chance that a person or two may happen to want to stay over for a week a year. There is always the blow-up mattress on the loungeroom floor option which might work for 2 nights, but not a week. People need privacy and sleep, and you can only put up with people, even well loved people, getting in your personal space for so long. Like Stacey, I think its time to be honest with your parents. It wouldn’t be a pleasant stay for either you or your parents (or Persia!) for them to stay a week, and you both want to enjoy their visit. A hotel room close by that you pay for or share the costs with may be a far more sensible option for everyone. It snot like you don’t *want* to put them up for the week, but simply, you can’t. If they are reasonable people, they should understand. Yowie
Response:
No, they plan to stay for a week! I was planning to fly down over Memorial Day weekend for 5 days.
That’s not too bad – just think of the joy of the other 51 in the year where you don’t have to worry Cheers, helen s Flush out that intestinal parasite and/or the waste product before sending a reply! Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
Response:
Jill, sounds like the no cable tv excuse would do it for your Dad to insist on their staying at a motel with all the amenities instead. Try it, might be a pleasant solution. If not, just tell ‘em it won’t work out, besides there’s no cable tv. <g Anyway, good luck, I hope everything works out well all around. Jazz & his mama — Irulan from the stars we came to the stars we return from now until the end of time
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Your brother probably has Dave staying in his spare bedroom." Uh huh… a 47 year old man who sometimes drops in from where he works in Atlanta because he has nowhere else to stay here, after cheating on his wonderful wife when he lived in Memphis. Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’ve known Dave since I was 13 years old and I’m now 42; we go way back. He’s a nice guy; he made a mistake but I don’t blame her for not tolerating it. So I said, sure you can stay here, Mom. I’ll have to buy some sheets and pillows for the sofa bed because it’s never been used. So I did that. Then I started thinking about it. This would *not* be a good idea. The problem is the way my apartment is arranged, my sleep habits, and my lovely cat, Persia. The living room is right next to the master bedroom. The problem is one of an open-door policy around here. I’d sleep on the sofa bed, no problem. But Mom told me once she wouldn’t be able to get up off of my water bed (which is just like a regular bed, firm mattress, not in a wooden frame or bouncy). Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night. Her litter box is in the hallway by the guest bathroom and her food is in the kitchen. She’d start yowling if I shut the door. If they slept in my room, they’d also have to leave the door open because that’s where her water fountain is and I don’t have anywhere else to plug it in. Plus, you know cats and their routines; they don’t like disruptions. It would be bad enough having two "strangers" staying here. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats. This would mean, no privacy at all because you can see right into the master bedroom from where the sofa bed is in the living room. Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office. And Persia would follow me, but if I closed the office door to be quiet, she’d yowl again because she couldn’t get out to get to her food or her litter box. And she’s still liable to jump up and startle the hell out of them, because she’s so curious. And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV. Three network channels would hardly cut it for Dad, who has to have the History channel or Discovery or A&E on at all times. At his home, he goes into the den and turns on the light and does this and doesn’t wake Mom up. At my place, he’d also wake up Mom because there isn’t a separate room for watching TV; it’s in the living room with the sofa bed. And then they’d wake me up, and Persia up because the bedroom door would have to be open. Dad would go out of his mind with only three channels of commercial nothing. (I rarely watch TV). So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh) Jill — <^..^
Response:
So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires,
I’m probably too late with these suggestions but I would use google to find decent motel prices near you. Pass them along to the parents with no explanation. Just "Look! Find some great motel prices! Yay!"
Response:
<SNIPPING AND INSERTING
Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night.
Go to the Walmart and pick up a cheap pressure rod and a cheap sheet or piece of fabric and make a curtain to your bedroom so you have privacy and Persia can go in and out. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats.
Tough. They wanna stay with you, then they deal with the cat. Package deal! Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office.
Just tell ‘em that you tend to get up in the middle of the night and go to your computer. Once again, "tough". And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV.
Honeychile’ this is a good thing. Remind him you don’t have cable! Maybe that’ll be the clincher that makes it so they don’t stay there. LOL. Anyway.. this is a tough one because you may actually have to ask him not to turn on TV until a decent hour. My dad gets up at 4:00 AM, too. Is there a coffee shop or something near you where he can go and hang out with other old cronies in the morning while you and mom sleep? So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before.
Ya know what? They are your parents and they are stuck with you, so be honest. I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been on your own… but I know from experience that you’ll just drive yourself nuts trying to please everyone, then you’ll end up being tired and cranky and the visit will suck anyway for everyone. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh)
Maybe part of it is they wanna see where their little girl lives and how she’s doing all grown up (if you are 42 or something, I may be pushing it a bit). What I would do is just call mom and say "You guys can stay with me, but you should know that there is going to be very little privacy, the cat owns the place and I don’t have cable TV.. so maybe you (and especially dad) would be more comfortable in a hotel? Or better yet, mom.. why don’t I just come visit you like usual and you guys can come stay with me when I get a bigger place?" Or you could just lie and say you are going to Aruba with a guy named Antonio that you met at the bookstore and you’ll send ‘em a postcard. But then they’d probably want to stay at your place when you arent home (which is inheritantly worst than staying there when you ARE home!). Anyway, I’ve been there, done that and when I finally got a place with an extra bedroom and two bathrooms, etc… and WANT people to stay with me, they never do. But that might be the litterbox’s fault. I wish you tons of luck. Just wait till (if) you get married and you have to deal with IN LAWS. Egads. Stacey
Response:
So I said, sure you can stay here, Mom. I’ll have to buy some sheets and pillows for the sofa bed because it’s never been used. So I did that. Then I started thinking about it. This would *not* be a good idea. The problem is the way my apartment is arranged, my sleep habits, and my lovely cat, Persia. The living room is right next to the master bedroom. The problem is one of an open-door policy around here.
I have a feeling that it will all work out. At least, I hope it’ll all work out! Since she’s a good girl, and doesn’t object to being confined indoors, or even to one room, she’ll probably be okay. You mention that Persia will yowl if this or that happens, but I’ll bet she’s less predictable than you think! With such a major disruption, who knows how she’ll act? Maybe she’ll be very timid around everyone, and won’t let out a peep. Maybe she’ll fall in love with one of your family members and follow him or her around the house all week. It’ll be interesting to find out though!
Response:
Just wait till (if) you get married and you have to deal with IN LAWS. Egads.
Haha, amen to that! I’m happy living 4000km away from ‘em all! But we get my parents for almost 2 weeks… starting Thursday! Poor Pete!! Jill, not too sure what to do, nor what to advise. I hate losing my privacy, but sometimes yer stuck into it because of family (and yeah, inlaws are waay worse). IF they do come, don’t worry too much about Persia – it’s your place, they have to live with it. Kid *hates* my mom, so I know she’ll be hissin at her for ages (well… kid hates most strangers, KLC Krista here unfortunately knows about that one). But… it’s our territory, so they can be bitchy and my parents will have to live with it. You know..? Well, that’s how I feel =) You’ll get through it… your parents will have to compromise, as perhaps you do (or not… dunno – they’re the visitors. I believe visitors asking for something – a place to stay – have to make compromises). I’ll be thinkin’ of ya, and whatever happens, I hope it goes well. Take care, Jen (and Muggles and Kid).
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Is there any chance you could afford to pay for their stay at a nearby hotel or motel? If so, you could tell them that you realized they’d be uncomfortable at your place, and mention some of the difficulties (the ones that would affect them), so you’ve made reservations for them where they’d be more comfortable – your treat. If not, you might try basically the same approach, except to ask if you could make reservations for them. I realize it’s a touchy situation, and obviously you know your parents better than I do. You don’t want to hurt their feelings, but you don’t want to give up your privacy and your way of life for a week. Good luck! — Joy "You can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late." _Ralph Waldo Emerson
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Your brother probably has Dave staying in his spare bedroom." Uh huh… a 47 year old man who sometimes drops in from where he works in Atlanta because he has nowhere else to stay here, after cheating on his wonderful wife when he lived in Memphis. Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’ve known Dave since I was 13 years old and I’m now 42; we go way back. He’s a nice guy; he made a mistake but I don’t blame her for not tolerating it. So I said, sure you can stay here, Mom. I’ll have to buy some sheets and pillows for the sofa bed because it’s never been used. So I did that. Then I started thinking about it. This would *not* be a good idea. The problem is the way my apartment is arranged, my sleep habits, and my lovely cat, Persia. The living room is right next to the master bedroom. The problem is one of an open-door policy around here. I’d sleep on the sofa bed, no problem. But Mom told me once she wouldn’t be able to get up off of my water bed (which is just like a regular bed, firm mattress, not in a wooden frame or bouncy). Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night. Her litter box is in the hallway by the guest bathroom and her food is in the kitchen. She’d start yowling if I shut the door. If they slept in my room, they’d also have to leave the door open because that’s where her water fountain is and I don’t have anywhere else to plug it in. Plus, you know cats and their routines; they don’t like disruptions. It would be bad enough having two "strangers" staying here. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats. This would mean, no privacy at all because you can see right into the master bedroom from where the sofa bed is in the living room. Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office. And Persia would follow me, but if I closed the office door to be quiet, she’d yowl again because she couldn’t get out to get to her food or her litter box. And she’s still liable to jump up and startle the hell out of them, because she’s so curious. And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV. Three network channels would hardly cut it for Dad, who has to have the History channel or Discovery or A&E on at all times. At his home, he goes into the den and turns on the light and does this and doesn’t wake Mom up. At my place, he’d also wake up Mom because there isn’t a separate room for watching TV; it’s in the living room with the sofa bed. And then they’d wake me up, and Persia up because the bedroom door would have to be open. Dad would go out of his mind with only three channels of commercial nothing. (I rarely watch TV). So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh) Jill — <^..^
Response:
Well, it’s just a weekend. No, they plan to stay for a week! I was planning to fly down over Memorial Day weekend for 5 days.
Ah. That’s quite a haul then. It would be pretty tough. Karen
Response:
Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Your brother probably has Dave staying in his spare bedroom." Uh huh… a 47 year old man who sometimes drops in from where he works in Atlanta because he has nowhere else to stay here, after cheating on his wonderful wife when he lived in Memphis. Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’ve known Dave since I was 13 years old and I’m now 42; we go way back. He’s a nice guy; he made a mistake but I don’t blame her for not tolerating it. So I said, sure you can stay here, Mom. I’ll have to buy some sheets and pillows for the sofa bed because it’s never been used. So I did that. Then I started thinking about it. This would *not* be a good idea. The problem is the way my apartment is arranged, my sleep habits, and my lovely cat, Persia. The living room is right next to the master bedroom. The problem is one of an open-door policy around here. I’d sleep on the sofa bed, no problem. But Mom told me once she wouldn’t be able to get up off of my water bed (which is just like a regular bed, firm mattress, not in a wooden frame or bouncy). Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night. Her litter box is in the hallway by the guest bathroom and her food is in the kitchen. She’d start yowling if I shut the door. If they slept in my room, they’d also have to leave the door open because that’s where her water fountain is and I don’t have anywhere else to plug it in. Plus, you know cats and their routines; they don’t like disruptions. It would be bad enough having two "strangers" staying here. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats. This would mean, no privacy at all because you can see right into the master bedroom from where the sofa bed is in the living room. Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office. And Persia would follow me, but if I closed the office door to be quiet, she’d yowl again because she couldn’t get out to get to her food or her litter box. And she’s still liable to jump up and startle the hell out of them, because she’s so curious. And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV. Three network channels would hardly cut it for Dad, who has to have the History channel or Discovery or A&E on at all times. At his home, he goes into the den and turns on the light and does this and doesn’t wake Mom up. At my place, he’d also wake up Mom because there isn’t a separate room for watching TV; it’s in the living room with the sofa bed. And then they’d wake me up, and Persia up because the bedroom door would have to be open. Dad would go out of his mind with only three channels of commercial nothing. (I rarely watch TV). So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh) Jill — <^..^
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Okay, here’s the deal. I wanted to fly down to South Carolina to visit my parents at the end of May, but they said oh, no, they’re driving up there (west Tennessee) some time in May. (Dang, I don’t get to drive the golf cart around the island where they live!) Anyway, Mom asked, "Could we stay with you? Your brother probably has Dave staying in his spare bedroom." Uh huh… a 47 year old man who sometimes drops in from where he works in Atlanta because he has nowhere else to stay here, after cheating on his wonderful wife when he lived in Memphis. Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’ve known Dave since I was 13 years old and I’m now 42; we go way back. He’s a nice guy; he made a mistake but I don’t blame her for not tolerating it. So I said, sure you can stay here, Mom. I’ll have to buy some sheets and pillows for the sofa bed because it’s never been used. So I did that. Then I started thinking about it. This would *not* be a good idea. The problem is the way my apartment is arranged, my sleep habits, and my lovely cat, Persia. The living room is right next to the master bedroom. The problem is one of an open-door policy around here. I’d sleep on the sofa bed, no problem. But Mom told me once she wouldn’t be able to get up off of my water bed (which is just like a regular bed, firm mattress, not in a wooden frame or bouncy). Okay, so if I let them sleep in the living room on the sofa bed, I can’t close my bedroom door because Persia is used to wandering around in the wee hours of the night. Her litter box is in the hallway by the guest bathroom and her food is in the kitchen. She’d start yowling if I shut the door. If they slept in my room, they’d also have to leave the door open because that’s where her water fountain is and I don’t have anywhere else to plug it in. Plus, you know cats and their routines; they don’t like disruptions. It would be bad enough having two "strangers" staying here. And she’d probably be leaping up on the bed with them, because she usually sleeps there with me. They are NOT used to cats. This would mean, no privacy at all because you can see right into the master bedroom from where the sofa bed is in the living room. Then there’s the issue of me getting up in the middle of the night when I am not at work. Rather than toss and turn, if I don’t have to work the next day I get up and get on the computer. But if they are sleeping in the living room, I would wake them up walking through to get to my office. And Persia would follow me, but if I closed the office door to be quiet, she’d yowl again because she couldn’t get out to get to her food or her litter box. And she’s still liable to jump up and startle the hell out of them, because she’s so curious. And Dad gets up around 4:00 a.m. His first thing is to make coffee, then turn on the television. I don’t have Cable TV. Three network channels would hardly cut it for Dad, who has to have the History channel or Discovery or A&E on at all times. At his home, he goes into the den and turns on the light and does this and doesn’t wake Mom up. At my place, he’d also wake up Mom because there isn’t a separate room for watching TV; it’s in the living room with the sofa bed. And then they’d wake me up, and Persia up because the bedroom door would have to be open. Dad would go out of his mind with only three channels of commercial nothing. (I rarely watch TV). So I’ve got a dilemma. I would like to suggest a nice motel if they can’t stay anywhere else, but I don’t quite know how to explain the intricacies of the open-door policy Persia requires, not to mention no privacy due to the logistics of the rooms in the apartment. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’ve never had overnight guests before. Why couldn’t they have just let me come down there to visit over Memorial Day week? (sigh) Jill — <^..^
Well, it’s just a weekend. I’d bring the litterbox in the bedroom and stock up on reading and water etc. for if I woke up and a few toys for Persia if she got bored. I imagine they want to make sure their daughter is living in a decent place and see it. I know my mom gets very sad that my sister never asks her over for dinner or anything. But that’s just me. I’m pretty accomodating as a rule. Karen
Response:
What about… Telling them you pulled out the sofabed and you realized the mattress is worn out and you would like to treat them to a hotel for a few nights where they can get a good night’s sleep where there’s cable and they can go to sleep or wakeup at anytime without having to worry about bothering you or you worrying about disturbing them. Personally, I think unless you can have a extra bedroom it can be uncomfortable having stay over guests. When my husband and I were in a one bedroom apartment his sister stayed over and kept me up all night (which in itself is a story) she kept going in and out of the bathroom all night. When we bought a new sofa I made sure it wasn’t a sofabed for that very reason. Fuga
Response:
Well, it’s just a weekend.
No, they plan to stay for a week! I was planning to fly down over Memorial Day weekend for 5 days.
Response:
What about… Telling them you pulled out the sofabed and you realized the mattress is worn out and you would like to treat them to a hotel for a few nights where they can get a good night’s sleep where there’s cable and they can go to sleep or wakeup at anytime without having to worry about bothering you or you worrying about disturbing them.
Great idea! They know I’ve only had the sofa bed since I moved in here 5 years ago, but I can sleep on it tonight and can probably honestly tell them their backs would be killing them in the morning. The darned thing pulls out practically into the television set anyway. Might not just be the *cat* crawling over them in the middle of the night to get to the office! (chuckling) Personally, I think unless you can have a extra bedroom it can be uncomfortable having stay over guests. When my husband and I were in a one bedroom apartment his sister stayed over and kept me up all night (which in itself is a story) she kept going in and out of the bathroom all night.
Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. If I have to keep doors open for the cat, it’s practically like all sleeping together in one room. When I was a kid and we travelled across the U.S. (Dad is a retired Marine), we all had to stay in one motel room. My parents got a double; my two brothers slept in one bed, parents slept in the other. Me, being the only girl, I always got the rollaway cot. Gosh, it would feel like that! And I can’t even say, "Can we stay where they have a pool?" LOL Thanks, good idea. Jill
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Question:
I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
check to see if the wife dropped her panties behind the tub. that’s where I saw them last.
Response:
I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
I’m sure you already did, but remove all linens and rugs and wash them. We have a fabric shower curtain that gets stinky from humidity even though it never gets directly wet. Can you use your nose and locate the source?
Response:
I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
Response:
If its not sewer it is probably mold.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
Response:
I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
Response:
I have an eight year home, with a finished basement. The bath has a one piece toilet, jet tub and pedestal sink. Lately I have been noticing a really strong musty smell coming from the bathroom. I don’t notice and water on the floor, and I have ran all three pieces to get the water into the P trap. ( I was told if you don’t use the sink, lets say, and the water evaporates from the P trap, then you will get sewer fumes coming thru. But, I don’t think it is sewer fumes… Any ideas?
Most likely is a wax seal under the toilet seeping into the subfloor. Second choice would be a leak under the jet tub. Does it have any access door you can peer in there? Jim
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Question:
Toaster <toasternos…@net.ntl.com> escribi
Question:
Did anyone try squirting in a bunch of RTV silicone sealant and then applying a bead to both sides of the window-to-fabric joint? I’ve seen RTV do some pretty amazing things and take the abuse (how about lifting one side of a 7,000 piece of equipment on just a thin bead that was probably a collective 20 feet long?). I’ll probably try that before I succumb to buying a new window piece. Problem is, the top’s so faded that it’d look kinda weird with a shiny black rear curtain and a dull, faded black top. Maybe it’s just time for a new top… at $1000 a pop tho… hard to swallow. JS
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks guys. I tried screaming at it too, a lot, didn’t work. hehe You saved me a lot of time and trouble. I’ll check out Texas Mustang. Many thanks, Jason Sorry to break it to you guys, ut you’re going to need to replace the rear curtain on your tops. I’ve been battling this same problem for months now and have finally waved the white flag of surrender. NOTHING will work to re-attach that glass. I’ve tried epoxies, glass adhesives, screaming at it, heavy duty industrial epoxy…none of them work. They may hold for a few days, or even a week (no longer), but it WILL separate again. The good news is that Texas Mustang has the new rear curtains starting at just $125.00. I’ve taken mine out a couple of times trying to fix it, and it’s not that difficult to do. My new top should be here next week and installed next Sat. Good luck, Rich The bottom part of my rear window has come apart from my convertible top. The window is still in place, just the bottom part now has a hole where it detached. It looks like the adhesive wore off somehow, but the other 3 sides of the window are holding fine. Is there any way to fix this? Can I use some kind of window glue or something to reattach?
Response:
Sorry to break it to you guys, ut you’re going to need to replace the rear curtain on your tops. I’ve been battling this same problem for months now and have finally waved the white flag of surrender. NOTHING will work to re-attach that glass. I’ve tried epoxies, glass adhesives, screaming at it, heavy duty industrial epoxy…none of them work. They may hold for a few days, or even a week (no longer), but it WILL separate again. The good news is that Texas Mustang has the new rear curtains starting at just $125.00. I’ve taken mine out a couple of times trying to fix it, and it’s not that difficult to do. My new top should be here next week and installed next Sat. Good luck, Rich
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The bottom part of my rear window has come apart from my convertible top. The window is still in place, just the bottom part now has a hole where it detached. It looks like the adhesive wore off somehow, but the other 3 sides of the window are holding fine. Is there any way to fix this? Can I use some kind of window glue or something to reattach?
Response:
Thanks guys. I tried screaming at it too, a lot, didn’t work. hehe You saved me a lot of time and trouble. I’ll check out Texas Mustang. Many thanks, Jason
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry to break it to you guys, ut you’re going to need to replace the rear curtain on your tops. I’ve been battling this same problem for months now and have finally waved the white flag of surrender. NOTHING will work to re-attach that glass. I’ve tried epoxies, glass adhesives, screaming at it, heavy duty industrial epoxy…none of them work. They may hold for a few days, or even a week (no longer), but it WILL separate again. The good news is that Texas Mustang has the new rear curtains starting at just $125.00. I’ve taken mine out a couple of times trying to fix it, and it’s not that difficult to do. My new top should be here next week and installed next Sat. Good luck, Rich The bottom part of my rear window has come apart from my convertible top. The window is still in place, just the bottom part now has a hole where it detached. It looks like the adhesive wore off somehow, but the other 3 sides of the window are holding fine. Is there any way to fix this? Can I use some kind of window glue or something to reattach?
Response:
The bottom part of my rear window has come apart from my convertible top. The window is still in place, just the bottom part now has a hole where it detached. It looks like the adhesive wore off somehow, but the other 3 sides of the window are holding fine. Is there any way to fix this? Can I use some kind of window glue or something to reattach?
Response:
I definately need to follow this here thread… I’m getting a ‘90 LX vert that has the exact same issue going on… I may try to call my convertible top people and see if there’s any way that it can be reattached. If not, you can buy that part seperately… JS
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The bottom part of my rear window has come apart from my convertible top. The window is still in place, just the bottom part now has a hole where it detached. It looks like the adhesive wore off somehow, but the other 3 sides of the window are holding fine. Is there any way to fix this? Can I use some kind of window glue or something to reattach?
Response:
Question:
re stinky Coolmax… I found a solution that sounds really weird, but works… when you shower after a run, just throw the stuff onto the floor of the shower and let the soapy water run thru it. Rinse briefly and the clothes will usually dry with relatively little odor. (I discovered this one day after a really hard run, when I was too tired/lazy to do rinse the stuff out in the sink.) Karl
Response:
I wonder if a washing soda like Borax would take away the odors?
The kind with pumice, applied with a wire brush works well. "Make no mistake about it! Without humor, freedom would drive you insane." Bill I am so cool, that sheep count ME before they go to sleep. http://hometown.aol.com/mrrobottow/
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Cool Max, and augghh. I can smell myself after just one run. It is pretty bad. I can’t hang the thing up to dry in my closet, because it smells up all my other clothes. If you don’t have an alternative hanging place (back porch, balcony), one solution would be to hand-wash or at least rinse the shirt in the bathroom sink after each run, then hang it to dry in the shower. CoolMax dries FAST so you’ll still be able to wear it the next day.
I do as Brian suggests above. After the run, as I’m getting into the shower, the run clothes go into a sink to be rinsed. They’re aways dry again by the next day if they’re hung in the shower right after. Otherwise, one run and they already smell. It’s amazing how they hold onto scents so well. Teresa in AZ
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Anybody else have this experience?
Yes! My experience, however, is with cotton shorts vs. the Coolmax variety. With cotton shorts and underwear, I don’t exactly smell like roses; but with Coolmax shorts, oh, man alive! My wife doesn’t know what to do with me or where to best point her nose on the way back from the run. Let’s just say that rolling down the windows in the car provides minute relief. My theory is that Coolmax material reacts very negatively to the chemical composition of my perspiration. — Eduardo Suastegui "Test everything. Hold on to the good." (remove ‘701′ when replying via e-mail)
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Polyester will always just be polyester! The cool max is better than the tightly knit bike or soccer jerseys.. Smelly!!! I wonder if a washing soda like Borax would take away the odors? Jenn
Response:
Just buy the 100% nylon shirts, they wash and dry in minutes. "Make no mistake about it! Without humor, freedom would drive you insane." Bill I am so cool, that sheep count ME before they go to sleep. http://hometown.aol.com/mrrobottow/
Response:
Me either. The used duds go directly into the hamper if not the wash machine. While I don
Question:
Search endlessly for some simple palns for what I think is a doorway canopy or portico. We have standard French Doors exiting out to our deck. Its on the side of the house that gets hammered by rain. I just want to build an approximately 8 ft wide small frame and shingle roof/overhang that projects out about 4 or 5 ft. I realize I could just buy and awning but I like the idea/look of this concept better. I know i could build it myself with instructions but don’t trust myself enough to do it without guidance ;^) Will be ataching to brick on the outside. Can’t find any plans anywhere. I dont intend a full portico (slanted roof projecting out and supported by 4×4s). Just a slanted one angle mini overhang with supports that angle back toward the house at the ends and brace against the brick. Ive seen plenty of these in cape cod houses but they are typical 4 ft wide over single entry doors. Mine will be twice that. Any ideas? Thanks everyone Todd
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Search endlessly for some simple palns for what I think is a doorway canopy or portico. We have standard French Doors exiting out to our deck. Its on the side of the house that gets hammered by rain. I just want to build an approximately 8 ft wide small frame and shingle roof/overhang that projects out about 4 or 5 ft. I realize I could just buy and awning but I like the idea/look of this concept better. I know i could build it myself with instructions but don’t trust myself enough to do it without guidance ;^) Will be ataching to brick on the outside. Can’t find any plans anywhere. I dont intend a full portico (slanted roof projecting out and supported by 4×4s). Just a slanted one angle mini overhang with supports that angle back toward the house at the ends and brace against the brick. Ive seen plenty of these in cape cod houses but they are typical 4 ft wide over single entry doors. Mine will be twice that. Any ideas? Thanks everyone Todd
First, the wall system that is to support the cantilevered structure consists of a 3 3/4" thick layer / curtain of brick stacked several feet high and kept in place with metal ties that connect it to the wood frame that is the structure of the building. The curtain of brick is separated from the wood structure by – say – an inch of air. Water penetrates the brick and tends to run down the cavity. This moisture is diverted back out of the cavity at the top / head of any opening in the wall with flashing. So, any structure such as the canopy in question must be supported by members that pass through the brick veneer and the cavity behind it and are attached to the wood frame. At the same time, the wood or steel members need to be protected from any moisture in the cavity; the joint between the canopy roof and the face of the brick must be closed to water; and the brick must be supported. Starting from the last, the brick removed to allow the canopy members to penetrate to the wood structure can probably be removed in small triangular sections and re laid to maintain the fabric of the veneer. Space should be left between the members and the brick to allow some movement in the canopy without stressing the veneer. Flashing can be installed to bridge the gap between canopy and veneer. The quick and easy method is to run the flashing up the face of the brick and seal the top with "stuff" which would be renewed every few years. The more permanent method is to use cap and base flashing with the base flashing running up the face of the wall and the cap flashing starting in a horizontal brick joint and dropping down over the base flashing. Protecting the members in the cavity starts with a choice between short and long term protection. In any case, materials that resist rot or rust are needed. They should be painted to resist moisture intrusion. One can stop there and let any moisture in the cavity drop past the new construction to the flashing and weep holes that already exist over the opening below. A more careful solution would be to install through wall flashing and weep holes above the new construction. TB
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I am restoring a 1984 Winnebage Chieftain and I am looking for thw drivers door snap on curtain. Also looking for bolt down swivel chairs
The chairs can be had from most any RV dealership or van conversion shop. You probably won’t be able to get an exact match, but you’ll something you like. They’ll probably be better than the origionals. For the curtains, start at a fabric shop. You’ll not only be able to pick out exactly the fabric you want, they’ll also be able to set you up with someone who can stitch it up for you. If there is specific hardware such as snaps, or of they are the type that slides on tracks, then you can get that hardware from the RV dealer. Another possiblity is someone who does automotive interiors, they’ll be able to make it from scratch with all the hardware attached. I went that route once for a windshield curtain.
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And if that doesn’t work he can take it to a boat top maker. Bill
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Curtains are easy to make – you can buy snap tape to sew on if you have rods with snap fittings. Or you can buy snap sets if you are snapping the curtain to the interior wall. Both snap tape and snap sets are available from Camping World. I am restoring a 1984 Winnebage Chieftain and I am looking for thw drivers door snap on curtain. Also looking for bolt down swivel chairs Thanks
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I am restoring a 1984 Winnebage Chieftain and I am looking for thw drivers door snap on curtain. Also looking for bolt down swivel chairs Thanks
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Curtains are easy to make – you can buy snap tape to sew on if you have rods with snap fittings. Or you can buy snap sets if you are snapping the curtain to the interior wall. Both snap tape and snap sets are available from Camping World. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am restoring a 1984 Winnebage Chieftain and I am looking for thw drivers door snap on curtain. Also looking for bolt down swivel chairs Thanks
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I’m an amateur attempting to takes some portrait stuff for friends and family but don’t have a studio nor any of the "portrait" equipment that I would like. I’m going to have to make do with me kit which is: Canon EOS 300 Canon 28-105 Canon 50 f1.8 Speedlite 380EX I don’t have any studio lighting or anything like that. Was going to use the lights around my house, maybe use a spotlight to bounce of the roof or wall… not really sure what to do actualy, and hence this email. I have a few questions: 1) What would be the best sources of light I could use, given that it has to be stuff I can find around the house? Also what other sort of equipment could I make or use as pseudo-studio stuff (like diffusers or bounce boards or as a background? 2) What would be a good way of setting something like that up? 3) Most of the lights I have are tungsten- not sure about the temperature of the lights, but I guess if I combine a few, they will be of different temperature levels and could probably be a cause for concern. 4) And thus I’m considering using tungsten balance film… what are the pros and cons? 5) what portrait film is tungsten balanced? 6) What films cope with mixed lighting well? 7) Will I be better off using ISO160 or 400? 
These are what I was considering for use: Fuji NPH 400 or NPS 160 Fuji NPL (is this t-balanced??) Thanks… Ben.
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I’m an amateur attempting to takes some portrait stuff for friends and family but don’t have a studio nor any of the "portrait" equipment that I would like. I’m going to have to make do with me kit which is: Canon EOS 300 Canon 28-105 Canon 50 f1.8 Speedlite 380EX
<snipped I set up my own mini-studio in my living room to take pictures of art glass. I used three sheets of white bristol board, one as a backdrop and two reflectors. I set up my tripod with my flash (a Vivitar 283) mounted on the hot shoe aimed on a 60 degree angle to bounce the light off the ceiling. I turned off all the lights in the house and closed the curtains, so the flash was the sole light source. The best results were obtained when I opened up one stop from the suggested aperture on the flash dial. For portraits, you may not want to bounce light off the ceiling. Instead, you might want to bounce off a light-coloured wall with a reflector on the other side of the subject. Good luck. — Alan The Group B rally cars http://www.stormloader.com/groupb
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For portraits, you may not want to bounce light off the ceiling.
Instead, you might want to bounce off a light-coloured wall with a reflector on the other side of the subject. Natural window light + a reflector, or outdoors in open shade, are other possibilities the poster might want to consider. A good book on portraiture would be a good starting point. Kodak used to have a nice book with lots of examples, but there may be others. …pt www.philiptobias.com means Business/Communications
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Let’s make some fairly cheap additions to your kit. An umbrella and flash bracket you can mount on a tripod. If you want to spend a little more pick up a light stand. Set the umbrella directly in front of your subject and down at them at a 45 degree angle. This is the simple light setup you see at your local Wal-mart and gives good if not dramatic results. The fabric department at is a good place to find a cheap background you can tape up behind your subject. Take some test shots, but you’ll probably find that a full power flash at f/4 or f/5.6 on 400 speed film will give you a good exposure. You may decide you never need anything else. I’m an amateur attempting to takes some portrait stuff for friends and family but don’t have a studio nor any of the "portrait" equipment that I would like. I’m going to have to make do with me kit which is: Canon EOS 300 Canon 28-105 Canon 50 f1.8 Speedlite 380EX
Before you buy.
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It needs to be indoors at night because it is a pre formal function and the girls won’t have their hair done till the evening! It’s a once in a long time thing so well… Yeah, so artificial lighting it has to be… Thanks for the suggestions so far. Please keep them coming! Ben
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I would scratch the house lites idea. Squinting, sweating, blinking, long exposures, color balance, mostly a bad idea. In shutterbug they advertise screw-in strobes with built in slaves for $20 and up. Screw that into a lamp or wall with a small white umbrella or translucent plastic panel at 45 degrees, and use your on camera flash set low ( if you can adjust it ). A white wall or foam core as a reflector, on the other side with a piece of fabric or a dark curtain a a back drop shouls do it. The whole job should cost not much more than a test roll with NPH. Try to get your lite to subject distance so that your shooting at f5.6 or f8. Good Luck Bob Hickey
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