ernern's Profile

Yeah, agreed. And you have to be doing extra well if you can afford to contract it all out.

I wonder how much a conceptual pod costs? And I wonder if anyone at the time claimed it was an 'investment' piece.

The sketch is originally Picasso of a dog named Lump.

When my nieces were born, I gave them each a glow worm, because I loved them as a kid, too. Now, they're into My Little Pony (the updated version), but its still awesome to be able to give them presents that are very similar to what I had as a kid.

But is it weird that seeing things like that still make me happy? I also love the cartoons I watched as a child. They were great.

A very valid point. And even when they're older, they're still kids. Three years ago my nephew threw up a belly full of fruit punch all over my sister's 'investment' couch. It was only about ten years old, and, although still in good condition, they'd moved on from that style so they weren't as heartbroken as they could've been. Sure, they could've reupholstered, but that's another 'investment' of a few thousand dollars to do the chair, couch, and ottoman. Instead, that few thousand went into an expensive leather sectional. They love it, but they aren't thinking of it as an investment in the future anymore. If it only lasts ten years, they still love it. If it lasts twenty, great.

Furniture isn't an investment; it's furniture. It's no an investment than a haircut. There are stylists who charge $12 for a cut and ones who charge $500. Is the $500 cut better quality? Probably. And it may do wonders for your self esteem and make your life better, so in a way you might consider it an investment in your lifestyle. But it isn't an investment.

If it were an investment, there wouldn't be people on here talking about buying used versus new but poorer quality. A good investment shouldn't be depreciating in value. Furniture is more like a car than a house. With very few exceptions, a car is not an investment. Some people will buy the bargain and others will go for luxury and quality, but no one buying that car is investing.

Definitely talk with the neighbors. If they're outside a lot they may already be trying to come up with a solution to make their yard more private, too. We are in the position of your neighbors (being at a higher elevation than the surrounding yards) and its equally uncomfortable in terms of privacy - when I stand in the middle of my yard, I'm essentially at the same height as our fence top, meaning anyone around can see me despite the fence.

If your main concern is them seeing in your windows, definitily look into privacy films. They aren't too expensive, are easy to put on the windows, and have plenty of options in terms of how much privacy you want, and you won't have to wait for anything to grow or undertake a major reno project. Plus, if you think of a great solution later, the film can just be added privacy without making your house look like a compound.

We used sharpie to draw on canvases at the painting studio I used to work at. It will definitely bleed through normal acrylic paint, so I wouldn't count on latex to cover it. But a coat or two of Kilz does the trick. That's just what we had at the studio. I'm sure any decent primer would block it.

On the plus side, with all those windows, there isn't going to be any lead based paint.

A Catalano- its good to know you and the others managed to survive the trials and hardships of life without banisters. Although just barely, I'm sure.

They'll double as art? For $150, they better double as a dishwasher. Sorry, I'm sure that's a perfectly reasonable price for some people. Personally, I cannot fathom spending that much on a cutting board, unless maybe it cuts the food for me...

I don't work in this industry, but my pet peeve is job postings that don't state salary or compensation. Come on, its a waste of everyone's time - you'll spend time considering candidates who need or want more and candidates will go through the hassle of applying and, potentially, interviewing for a job that doesn't work for them. I know job posters probably think it weeds put those motivated by money or some crap, but it's a job... nearly everyone works for the money.

But maybe that's just in my field. Maybe the Admin job sector is more standard and applicants will be able to accurately predict what this sort of job pays?

Hah! That was my thought too. Fortunately, it seems the party was on the smaller side. I can just imagine the chaos of keeping 10 four- and five-year-olds from double dipping or putting their fingers in the fountains.

Guess it's good I don't have kids - my version would involve hazmat suits, single use utensils, and guards strictly enforcing single dip rules.