# Termites and Trees, A Homeownership MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [August 3, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110 "2009-08-03T00:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/41 "2009-08-04T02:11:59Z")
{{{{Pie}}}} Try what rosie said. Glad **FCD** likes his new job, **Moooooommmm!**. I’ve had the pre dinner martini, dinner, and am working on post dinner beerverages. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/42 "2009-08-04T03:39:31Z")
Thank Og that Monday is almost over! It was most definitely a Monday today too and I actually snapped at my boss (a Very Bad Thing\ to do) on top of it all. Too many things coming from too many directions all at once. Fingers and other appendages appropriately crossed for **MrRebo**. Glad to hear the **FCD** likes the new job so far. Watched “Weeds” and then “Nurse Jackie” on Showtime tonight - if you haven’t checked out “Jackie,” btw, please do, although you’ll have to suspend disbelief over certain things. LOL That’s Edie Falco’s show and boy is it good. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we’re headed to the pool after work; still haven’t gotten ahold of anyone to ask about my swim shorts. I’m just going to go ahead and see what happens. Of course, I’ll share most, if not all, info with mumpers later. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/43 "2009-08-04T05:07:05Z")
> [@Always Brings Pie](#): > > Thanks, **FCM** , we tried the EEOC to no avail. The company says that she must be able to perform her job according to their job description and if she can’t then there aren’t any other jobs available within the company for her. And according to the job description, a cashier position is a standing job. Chairs, stools, and canes are not allowed because they might cause somebody to trip and bring a lawsuit upon the company.:rolleyes: The large supermarkets in my area (where it isn’t unusual for a woman to be 5-zip or shorter) all have shorter-than-usual barstools for the cashiers. They don’t protrude into the area customers walk through, but the cashiers can change position (which is a general safety recomendation, and yes, it is one for OSHA too). Bosses like your mom’s… I’m just out of words. They’re the kind of thing that needs a new name because if you call 'em “pigs,” pigs will sue you for impinging upon their honor. **Hal** , good for your sister for waking up, good on you and **HalWife** for taking them in, and I hope things go swimmingly in the newly-full HalHouse. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/44 "2009-08-04T06:09:46Z")
I haven’t joined in a MMP in, oh, five years or so but as it’s a home-ey one I am inspired! I’m sitting downstairs on my bed, which is in the classroom (I run an English school in Japan) with all our belongings from the upstairs stacked all over the place. Up till last week we had a house with one sloping roof - it looked like a normal house sliced down the middle, with the front door in the sliced part. We have taken off the roof which needed replacing and which started all this, and have made the house a proper foursquare one. So using the same foundations we have gone from three 6 by 12 foot rooms and no storage upstairs, to one 12 by 12, three 6 by 12 rooms, an open living area of about 16 by six (but its a funny shape with arms coming off it as well) PLUS a loft which is 12 by 24 feet (but the ceiling is only 5 ft 6 - we are all under 5 ft 5 in this house!!). Because there was no digging it was cheaper. It is costing us in the region of $80,000 but the original house and land were cheap, so it sort of evens out. It is horrifically expensive by US standards but by Japan standards we have a big plot and a huge house now. I am hating the noise and dust and heat, but I am loving the speed of the work. Japanese workmen are amazing. They work six days a week, 8 am to just past 7 when it gets too dark to see any more. The pace is incredible. My poor husband is working away (or lucky bugger??) so I keep taking pictures every day so he can see the progress too. Yesterday the “minor designer” came round and we spent a happy morning discussing shelving, hanging rods, hooks and the like so that the storage will be used to its best potential. Three weeks ago I was sick with worry about paying for all this but now I’m just excited about the new life!!! (Not so much about putting it all back, sigh… The work is due to finish the night before I open the school again. Bleh) ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/45 "2009-08-04T10:57:21Z")
Yeah, I’m not trying to sound argumentative and I appreciate\*\* rosie’s \*\*advice, however, there is nothing to enforce. The company says that they will gladly accomodate her however a stool (or chair) is not an option. Neither is walking with a cane on company time. Unfortunately we are not clever enough to think of another option. Although, perhaps they can build a bungee swing and hang it from the ceiling for her.:rolleyes: In other, less important news, I now have bangs again. Well, I already did, sort of… It’s just that they were all the way down to my chin. Now they reach my nose (almost). This could be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/46 "2009-08-04T11:43:45Z")
My neighborhood lost all kinds of Bradford pears when the end of Hurricane Ike passed through here in September. One across the street was particularly spectacular. It crashed in thirds, missing a police car by minutes. There are newer varieties that are supposed to be less splitty, by the way… Here’s a trout for **PieDad**. Hope you’re able to find some legal help for your Mom, **Pie**. Employers like that make me crazy. Construction sounds really interesting, **HBrit**. Please share pictures! Cool tree, **Hal**. But I’m more impressed that you’re taking in your SIL and nephew. Yay! I know there’s more I’ve missed, but I’ll be late for work if I don’t stop now… Hugs for all! GT ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/47 "2009-08-04T12:47:59Z")
Morning Mumpers! I’m gonna take the zoo to the **DOGPARK!** before I take them to the vet. Then I have to run around like a maniac, to get things done before I leave tomorrow. **HBrit** , extra space is always nice. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/48 "2009-08-04T13:28:28Z")
Blurf. I overslept this morning and I haven’t caffeinated enough. No phone call for Mr Rebo. He’s disappointed, as am I. I think they _could_ call today, but probably not. The job is down off the website. ☹ That’s BS about your mom, **Pie**. I wish there was something someone could do. I hope your daddy is ok. Have a good day, my li’l mumpers… I’d like to see pics, too, **HBrit**! ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/49 "2009-08-04T13:55:33Z")
anyone else having connectivity issues this morning? **db** - I call that “headless chicken day” - and I always take one before a trip, no matter the length, even if I have nothing pressing ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/50 "2009-08-04T14:28:17Z")
Yes, **Rosie**. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/51 "2009-08-04T14:42:32Z")
Afternoon all. Is it too late in the day to have the blurfs? I am so looking forward to Monday and my holiday. Anybody want some rain? We have far too much of it here and I’m bored looking at it. Luckily I’m going where the temps are averaging 30 degrees during the day and it’s bone dry. Heaven! ETA: First on two! Woot! ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/52 "2009-08-04T14:53:15Z")
**swampus** , you have my sympathy. I just got a few quotes to get our ginormous elm tree pruned and de-deadwooded, and I’m still all :eek: over how much it’s going to cost. The cheapest bid is still a whopping $1500, which I suppose we’ll have to swallow because it’s still cheaper than what it would cost to rebuild the garage if one of the big dead branches was to come down on it (or worse yet, the neighbour’s house, which has a few big limbs looming over it) I’d only just recovered from looking at the quotes for a new bathroom window and the deck/fence replacement, too. On the bright side, no furry critters needed to be disposed of this week, something my gag reflex is most thankful for. **Hokkaido** , I’d give my right arm for a work crew that were as reliable and hardworking as your Japanese crew seems to be. Wanna send them over here when you’re done? 🙂 {{ **Pie** and **PieMom** }} Hope you’re able to find a low-cost lawyer to sort things out. It’s outrageous that the company isn’t willing to make minor changes to accomodate a disability, especially when it’s not going to cost them a fortune and wouldn’t cut down on her productivity at all. Taters, those scallops sound Teh Yum. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t go wrong with any scallop recipe that includes wine and/or bacon. Nom nom nom. We had a long weekend up here in Ontario, which as always required a three-day road trip to visit one of the parental units. This time around, we drove up to Ottawa to visit Papa Dearest (or, as his step-grandkids call him, Bumpa) and his wife, with a couple of side trips to see The Boy’s little bro who also lives there. It was pretty uneventful… lots of eating, lots of sitting around and chatting, lots of playing tug-of-war with their [Pugalier](http://images.google.ca/images?q=pugalier&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=6kp4StvwA46CswPz66zXBA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1) puppy and a whole lot of not much else. Then I got to the office this morning and discovered I had to move all my stuff to a new desk on the other side of the floor. I’ve accumulated a surprising amount of crap over the years… it took me seven back-and-forth trips to move it all. I’d tahred. Is it lunchtime yet? ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/53 "2009-08-04T15:05:57Z")
> [@ScareyFaerie](#): > > Anybody want some rain? We have far too much of it here and I’m bored looking at it. Yes, please. Last week they released the latest climate figures here, and we’re more than a foot under where we should be for precipitation over the last 12 months. We did get about an inch the other night, but that still leaves us just under a foot low on precip. We need rain! A coworker brought in donuts this morning, which were yum. Sometimes you just need a donut. Yay on the house expansion **Hokkaido**! And welcome back. What’s combined with a pug to make a pugalier, **Muppet**? Cavalier King Charles spaniel? That’s all I can think of. Darned cute though! Sorry about your parents’ issues, **Pie**. Keep us updated on how it goes. Has anyone seen **Moonie** lately? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/54 "2009-08-04T15:20:17Z")
_looks under her mousepad_ No **Moonie** or **Noonie** here. 12 days to go. It’s a good thing I don’t have a flamethrower. I have to get a facebook account so I can get in a facebook group with my future teachers and classmates. When I tried to sign up, my name got rejected for having “too many words.” Sent in a ticket. Got back an email asking me to verify that I am indeed the owner of the account mentioned in the ticket; well I’m the person who would like to be the owner of the account, but the problem is that I can’t create it, d’uh… and why is the mail in English when I was creating the ticket from facebook.es? I’d be 😕 only I learned a long time ago that localization doesn’t usually involve things like name structure or even phone number structure… ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/55 "2009-08-04T15:39:20Z")
Good morning everyone. I’m up and enjoying the peace around here before the rest of the family stirs. I wish I could offer some constructive advice, **Pie,** but I guess all I have are hugs. We’ve actually got a bit of cloud cover this morning, but I think it’s supposed to burn off. No big news or doings here. I think we’re going to head off to a couple of museums today, that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/56 "2009-08-04T15:40:36Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > I’d tahred. Is it lunchtime yet? Well, yeah… It’s always time for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/57 "2009-08-04T15:52:43Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > I’d tahred. Is it lunchtime yet? > [@VunderBob](#): > > Well, yeah… > > It’s always time for lunch. Where is he, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/58 "2009-08-04T16:40:55Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > Where is he, anyway? Me? Firmly ensconced in Cubeville. Any other ‘he’, and your mileage will vary. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/59 "2009-08-04T16:42:28Z")
Howdy all. Vertigo testing was horrendous. That’s all I gotta say about that. 😛 **pie** , your poor mom. I hope she can get some relief. **taters** , the scallops recipe sounds delish! **muppet** , a Pugalier??? Gotta go look that one up. Lunch today will be at Amigos Restaurant. I’mma thinking Taco Sallit. Tupug. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110/60 "2009-08-04T17:09:27Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Me? Firmly ensconced in Cubeville. Any other ‘he’, and your mileage will vary. 😛 I meant the one occasionally known as “ **lunch** ” - since that’s what we were talking about, no? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/termites-and-trees-a-homeownership-mmp/505110.md?page=4)