BethFromVA

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's an either/or. A concrete slab is to heavy to have a basement underneath, and a basement is always under a subfloor. So you did nothing wrong, you just had to choose one or the other.

Me too. A lot of people are usually surprised when they meet me. Expecially that I don't have horns and a tail. :thumbup: And that's a big part of the problem: I misunderstood and thought you were. Not really, considering that I don't have cable, but yes, I could scan the internet for news sources. Sometimes I find stuff. Sometimes I don't. True, and understood. Also understood. Well, this is true... but we are smart women. We can figure out a way to make it fun anyway. Besides, I CAN have a fun, heated debate with people I absolutely disagree with where nobody has come away with hurt feelings. Lulu is a prime example: We couldn't disagree more, but I really enjoy her and (she says) she enjoys me too. To be honest, I wouldn't have her any other way than the way she is, even though we probably wouldn't agree on which side of the earth the sun rises. Very fair. Yes, Rodney.

Yeah, I know it can't be done in all houses. You pretty much have to have a concrete subfloor to do tile like that. I guess that's why you see mostly wood floors out east this way because of all the basements. In Texas, I doubt anybody has a basement (well, Houston, anyway) because of the clay ground. They just can't have them there. My upstairs master was tiled, but it was the smaller 3-inch tiles (I don't think you can get much bigger than that with a wooden subfloor unless the tiles are thick), and even so, I have some broken tiles. It's very 80's looking, as is the tile in the shower, and I'd LOVE to re-do them both. Hubby apparently isn't onboard with me in doing it ourselves. Punk. :thumbup:

By the way, I'm sorry it's so long and I quoted so much of what you said, but I thought it was important to address all of your concerns.

S'okay, we can start over starting over. :thumbup: I don't know about "most of the time," but we have cited proof many times and what I feel we got in response were comments that you didn't want to read the links, or the posted material was too long, or it was attacks asking if it was from FOX. It's frustrating to try to communicate with somebody (as I'm sure you well know, lol) when they seem to not want to even try. Now granted, we'll never change each other's minds on things, but if one side seems to want information and the other side provides it, only to feel rebuffed, it pretty much closes down the conversation at that point. I'm going on memory here, so forgive me for not being able to cite specifics, but what I took issue with were assertions made by you which came across as anything but opinion. They came across as fact. To be fair, you may not have said they were; so for me, what I'll do to meet you halfway on this is ask you if you are asserting something you can back up with data or if it's your opinion -- and if it's your opinion, why do you feel that way. Does that sound fair? But if you ever do have evidence to support a fact/assertion/opinion, I'd be willing to read it. Believe it or not, I HAVE had my mind swayed on some things by people I never saw eye-to-eye on. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true. I know I can tend to do that, and I'll work on it. I don't see plain as being that way, but I'll let him speak for himself. I'm pretty much a pit bull sometimes, and I know this about myself. Many things I couldn't care less about and don't really fight for a stance; but other things that I'm passionate about, I get a bit overboard. I can't promise I'll change overnight, but it IS something I recognize in myself and will try to do better. Maybe it's just in the presentation...? The way it is presented, maybe because you are such a staunch believer in a topic, it comes across as if there is some data to back up your assertion. Maybe if you say, "It is my opinion that..." or I/we ask, "Is this your opinion, or have you found data that says 'X'..." it will help us communicate better.

Ditto. I have gotten into heated arguments with people on various message boards who were mistreating others because of their race. So for anybody to think that I am okay with racism, all I can say is they are very wrong. I guess my thing is that I need to know it's overt -- whether it's racism, sexism, weight-ism, or whatever. Anybody can believe it's one way when it's really another if they knew what people are thinking. When it's overt, there is no question. When it's not overt, I'd prefer to think it's something less harsh. Obviously we all handle things differently. As for your friend, that just chaps my hide. So much for that "brotherhood" in the military, eh? I would hope that is one place that racism is not experienced. For crying out loud, they are all fighting for the same freakin' team! They are to have each other's backs! If that person is good enough to give his or her life for their country, then WTF does it matter what skin color they are (as if it mattered anyway!!)??

Was her husband also black? Not that it really matters because either way, obviously her husband was good enough to die for his country and possibly die trying to save his buddies. I think that behavior is totally shitty, especially from supposed "higher-ups" in our very government.

Hehehe, don't get too excited. My club is way over in the closet and I'm too lazy to even keep it nearby.

Seriously? Usually pretty hysterical and emotionally unstable. lol Sorry, you asked. It's what I see. However, I don't always disagree with you. Shocking, I know. I very much agreed with your post to PG the other day and wanted to vocalize my agreement partly so you can see that we can actually agree on things. And believe it or not, I DO try to find similarities in our thinking. I don't seek you out to "pound on you," as you stated. I think we're both intelligent, passionate women who have strong beliefs that we adhere to. And truly, there's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it's just about the presentation (on both sides, yes) more than the belief or stance. My posts on this thread started out thinking (hoping) that maybe what the OP experienced wasn't what she thought it was. There is always that possibility she did, but I also thought there was a possibility she didn't but simply misinterpreted. Based on the limited information provided, both theories are plausible. It wasn't to demean her in any way. Beyond that, yes, there are -isms as far and wide as one can imagine. People are mistreated because of their gender, their size (height and weight), their race, their hair, and/or any other types of differences you could imagine. Blacks aren't the only ones who experience racism. Everybody has probably experienced (or will experience) some form of it at some time in their lives.

Um... deal... though it's odd that you would offer up a truce and say you would be "happy to never post any personal attacks about me" when you did just that in the paragraph above your offer AND the sentence right before it? And for the record, you weren't the only one I was talking about. There are a number of people I've met online who tout things as fact when they are only emotionally based. When we're talking about policy or changing the system, I'm sorry, but I want to see data and facts to back up somebody's claim -- especially when it's presented as the gospel truth. If one says it's their opinion, that's a totally different thing and can be handled as such. I can't speak for Plain, but I'm sure that's why we call you on some of this stuff because it takes multiple posts and lots lf wailing and gnashing of teeth before it is admitted to be opinion instead of truth.

Honey, there's a thread that I've posted on that is all about this. You may find some similarities or solace in some of the posts: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f7/true-divorce-after-wls-within-3-years-why-73277/

That was pretty much my point. No one group of people has a corner market on being singled out.

Patty is the only poster I have on ignore in this forum, and it makes life much easier. I am a Christian and believe her type of drill-seargent style of "proselytizing" does no service to God OR Christianity at all. :wink:

For those without FB or who are not in my network (and yes, it's like showing off baby pics, lol):

Yeah, I love my baby. And eBay? Why? Gonna buy a motorcycle? :wink:

Well, the thing about Texas is that you don't have basements. Therefore, all your floors are concrete. The only thing you need to do (if necessary) is level out low areas before laying tile so you don't have pockets. Actually, don't take my word for it. I don't recall where I saw info on green board (maybe online on a how-to site?), and it's very possible it's meant more for bathtubs and not for showers. If what you've done has worked, please, don't listen to me! lol

If I'm understanding what you're saying (that people can choose to keep their own insurance or go with the government-backed one), then I have to disagree with you. With insurance such a huge financial burden for employers, WHY would any employer continue to offer insurance if the government will be offering it? There will be no reason or incentive for them to continue offering it. If I didn't understand you correctly, then nevermind -- though this scenario is still likely to occur.

Actually, the walls were a soft beige (they just look tinged because of the pic). The lower part was paneling that I painted a color called Kitten White, and the upper part was just plain off-white. It was before it got painted the green it ended up. These pics were also before I painted the cabinets a better white, or nailed up the baseboards, or resurfaced the countertops or replaced the double oven. As you can see, they were all the original goldenrod from 1972.

Don't drop your teeth, but I agree. :wink:

Actually I've always seen it required of people who say, "It's a fact that..." and then have no proof to back up those "facts." And then later it's found out to be somebody's opinion. Facts can be proven. Opinions are... well, there is a saying for what opinions are. :wink:

I haven't done walls (Ebony? Sounds like you did...), but I did floors and they turned out FANTASTIC. I would think the walls would be very similar, and the biggest thing to remember is you HAVE to start out with a good foundation. What I think you must have is greenboard (I think it's a fiberglass-based board to repel moisture AND create a proper backing). All I can tell you is the internet is fantastic. You can find out pretty much everything you need to know from there. We had no formal training for the tiling but we really researched. I don't know how well it will show up here (or even if I can link a photo properly), but here is how the tile looked when finished.

Actually, the place I interviewed with a couple weeks ago (where I bumped into the attorney) just called me again this morning for another interview. Same department, different job. So I will be schlepping back down there on Tuesday for another panel interview.

That's a very interesting technique! And yes, I'm not sure why it's okay to white bash any more than I would ever think it's okay to bash others of different races. However, some act as if racism only goes one way. I can say that from my experience, it most certainly does not. It's sad that it happens at all, but for those who think it's only directed at black people, I say they need a wake-up call. Somehow, to "make up" for past atrocities, some think it's okay to reverse the situation. As if that levels the playing field. All it does is keep fanning the flames of something that is attempting to be eradicated if only because we are becoming such a mix of races, even in individual families.

You mean he hasn't crawled on his knees over broken glass and groveled on his belly? Hm, I'd say no. :wink: CONGRATS!!! That will be SO fantastic! A blushing PJTP bride! :sneaky:

Yeah, but that's why basements are so hard -- you come UPstairs and shut the door. :wink: But yes, DH and I need to get our butts down there and try to finish it. He has said the same thing a few times already, realizing that I'm losing out on a huge chunk of my exercise which he believes (correctly) I could really use right now due to how the unemployment thing is affecting me.