September 26, 2006
The Mic is On! It’s Your Dream Home for Sure!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
Tonight we’re talking dream homes!
We might also talk about
- littles homes in the countryside
- mansions on the grounds
- cottage in the woods
- city apartments
AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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The Mic Is Open! Start Your Engines! It’s Cars!
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343 Comments to “The Mic is On! It’s Your Dream Home for Sure!”
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Service Untitled - Douglas said
Liz,
What about McMansions?
ME Strauss said
Hi Doug!
How goes the king of business bloggers? Living in McMansions?
Joe said
Hey guys,
Anybody have a house that has different buildings?
I need to find one with all of the normal rooms, and one so that K. can have her shoppe…
Advice Librarian said
I’ve always had this dream of a modest Fortress of Terror or perhaps a Duengon of Doom - that, or the world’s largest privately-owned library
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Not quite yet. We should be launching in a week or so, though.
I bought an iPod, though, but it has nothing to do with my (non-existent) business blog earnings.
ME Strauss said
Hi Joe,
I thought the basement was the shop?
ME Strauss said
AdLib.
I see you in your Terror of Doom, getting a haircut from K.
ME Strauss said
Doug!
You can use that IPod to listen to podcasts from AdLib’s Terror of Doom!
Joe said
Liz,
Not until the contractors show up and remodel the whole thing.
Until then, the kitchen is for cutting, dying, washing and the dining room is for drying.
I think the living room has become a waiting room…
ME Strauss said
Joe,
Sounds like you’ve moved to the bedroom . . . with the alien.
Joe said
Yes, I did…
If only I could make time warp to have the basement finished…
ME Strauss said
How many comments does it take to finish a basement?
Advice Librarian said
Nobody’s getting near The Hair with sharp implements
Terror of Doom? Uh, I was thinking more along the lines of Melkor’s Utumno - though that was wrecked - or something more modest like Sauron’s Barad-Dur; though that one was destroyed by a couple of hobbits…
Hmm.
Perhaps rethinking that plan has some merits.
Joe said
Liz,
11,005,247
ME Strauss said
I think I want my dream home to be an airplane.
Joe said
Mine will not have the smell of hair dye or bleach.
Advice Librarian said
A Blackbird SR-71 modified with Shi’ar technology, perhaps?
ME Strauss said
Whoa, Joe,
How many comments have you gone throught so far?
Joe said
105
ME Strauss said
I guess we’d better get commenting.
This comment night is dedicated to Joe’s basement.
Joe said
AdLib,
I have a pic of an SR-71 Blackbird in my pic file, unfortunately, it’s not online.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Liz,
Got it. Joe’s basement.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
What’s your dream house really look like?
Advice Librarian said
Joe’s still living in his basement? Whoa, I thought your wife had agreed to let you back up?
Or is it the pinball machine you have down there that just makes it look like you’re living in the basement on account of spending all that time there?
Joe said
Thanks Liz,
I am writing a series on the subject of “Working Together (Separately)”
It’s meant to be a chronicle of the ups and downs, ins and outs, and trials and tribulations of her move from a separate building into a work at home environment. All the while, I have already established my WAH domain (household), now everything has to change to accommidate a new business in my world…
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
What’s your dream house really look like?
Joe said
No AdLib, I’m relegated to the Bedroom…
If I had the basement, I would at least have a separate entrance. :-0
ME Strauss said
Joe, relegated to the bedroom, paces back and forth, like a caged animal. . . . the stress and pressure mounts.
He begins talking to the alien head on his dresser.
Advice Librarian said
Well, practically speaking the top-floor apartment with balcony I’m moving to next month is pretty dreamy - it’s a little outside of town, right next to the local yacht club and has a nice view of the water. It’s even got a spare room that’s big enough to hold all my book shelves with perhaps a bit of room to expand…
Speaking from someplace in my wildest dreams though, I think the new Library in Alexandria looks very good.
Dossy Shiobara said
Aha! I finally got the timing right … of course, now I have no idea what to say.
The current housing bubble is going to burst soon, if it hasn’t already.
Joe said
Liz, do you have a secret camera hidden around here somewhere???
ME Strauss said
Hi Dossy!
That’s Joe, AdLib and Doug!
Here’s a cold one!
ME Strauss said
Joe,
You know I live inside your computer.
Joe said
At least I’m never alone. I have you inside the computer and the alien on my dresser.
ME Strauss said
Dossy,
What does your dream house look like?
Advice Librarian said
..and the voices in your head? Ooops, no, sorry, that’s me
Joe said
Hey Dossy, sorry I didn’t say hi earlier…
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Hi Liz! Hi all!
I don’t think I could decide on just one dream home. I want a beach house, a house in the mountains, and then I need to have a beautiful place in Sedona! Is that too much to ask for?:)
Advice Librarian said
Hey, nice to meetcha, Dossy!
Yeah, all the material I’ve seen on real estate lately indicate pretty much one thing - you americans are about to take a royal beating from the housing bubble bursting. Japan had a serious real estate bubble in the 1980ies - and their economy STILL hasn’t fully recovered.
If you’re lucky, it won’t be as bad for you guys - but I remember writing about the real estate bubble back in May. Though looking back at it now, I think I was being wildly optimistic…
ME Strauss said
Hey Kirsten,
You get as many dream houses as you like. It works like parallel lives and beverages/snacks from the sidebar — as many as you like and their free!!!
Joe said
Hey Kirsten…
AdLib, that’s one good thing, a Dream House is Free, as long as it’s only a Dream
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Well… in that case… let’s add another on a private island in the middle of nowhere. I can only stay for a few tonight, but I thought I’d at least drop in for a bit.
Joe said
Ok, we just passed my MAX Comments, and the night is still young…
Dossy Shiobara said
Hi Liz, Joe, AdLib!
My dream house? The yard paved with concrete … the house a large rectangle, stainless steel and plate glass windows. Clean, crisp, low maintenance.
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
I didn’t have a chance to say so yet, but your new place does sound dreamy.
Advice Librarian said
Well, sometimes when I’m feeling particularily misanthropic, I start thinking of a deserted semi-tropical island someplace…
Phil Gerbyshak said
Dream a little dream, get a little result. I’ll be dreaming BIG here.
My dream home would be a nice place on the water with a deck, and a patio, and 10 or more bedrooms where all my blogging buddies could stay and we’d play Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders, and we’d talk great talks, and sip great wine and/or coffee, depending on the time of day. And it would have to have major high speed wi-fi throughout, and the best electrical system you could imagine.
And a sound studio, so we could podcast together whenever we wanted. Only everyone I wanted to podcast with I would be able to have conversations with.
Someday…
Advice Librarian said
It all started with me taking my own advice - when I ran out of room for more books, it was time to look for a new place with space for more bookshelves
For some reason, right next to the yacht club isn’t all that expensive compared to downtown…
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Hi Phil! Sounds pretty awesome! Perhaps I will get in my boat and swing by!
ME Strauss said
Cool dream house, Phil . . . like the details. How about the video studio for your pictures????
Phil Gerbyshak said
Kirsten - you are welcome to swing by anytime. That’s why it’s by the water, for easy access.
Room for more too! Come on over, the water’s GREAT!
Phil Gerbyshak said
Ooh Liz, that’s right. Must have the video studio too. Thanks for the reminder.
And the limo driver would always wait for us, so we wouldn’t have to worry about parking attendants either.
Advice Librarian said
Huh, I don’t know, Phil. That water looks shark-infested to me.
ME Strauss said
Dossy,
I don’t think stainless is low maintenance???
Is it really? Of course, I’m only thinking of the stainless sink. I hate how they always look so . . . so. . .
Phil Gerbyshak said
And there would be room for Joe’s pinball machine too. Bring it along Joe, you’re welcome at the Gerby Shak anytime!
Renée said
Good morning Liz and everyone,
Make it slightly earlier this evening open mic!
Dream Homes tonight, huh? My favorite topic.
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
You’re too funny, those aren’t sharks, They’re just political bloggers.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Sharks are tasty meat, so we’ll just have to catch ‘em and eat ‘em. Should be fun! You in Advice Librarian? I bet you’ve got a book that would show us how to do it!
ME Strauss said
Hey Renee!
You have to have a place to park that car . . . why not a dream house?
Phil Gerbyshak said
Looking forward to seeing your house Renee. Should be a beauty!
Phil Gerbyshak said
Ooh, a big garage too, for the boats and the beautiful cars!
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Well, I best be careful when getting off my boat and onto Phil’s deck! Don’t want to get a bite!
Phil Gerbyshak said
We’ll have trained shark handlers to help you get across the deck. Or my levitation machine could help you out too!
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Ooohh! Cool a levitation machine! I like it! I can just see everyone floating around with their lovely beach drinks!
ME Strauss said
The beach drinks come with cabana boys and girls to deliver them.
Advice Librarian said
Have you read one of the books about the Bounty mutiny? One of the possibly fictional episodes that precipitated the mutiny was a couple of the able seamen using their rations of maggot-infested meat to fish for sharks and getting flogged for it…
‘Course, sharks are usually not dangerous to humans unless you dress up as a seal or something else on their normal menu - and if you want shark recipes I think the icelanders have some ..interesting ones.
It involves burying the shark for 6-8 months to ferment. I think the only humans on the planet who can eat that stuff are icelanders…
Renée said
I can’t complain much about the apartment I live right now. Got everything I want, had it remodelled and feng shui.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Lots of cabana boys and girls. Sounds like a fun place for us all to hang out.
Yep, I just invented the levitation machine for situations like this. Though sharks normally don’t harm humans, bloggers are another story.
Renee - glad you’re loving your apartment. You can come visit me anytime if you like!
Advice Librarian said
Hmm, new rule for visiting Phil’s Dream Home - don’t dress as a seal?
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
You caught me totally off guard with that one . . .
‘Course, sharks are usually not dangerous to humans unless you dress up as a seal or something else on their normal menu
Excellent.
I’m still laughing.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Yep, no seal costumes allowed at the Gerby Shak. Though feel free to dress up like it’s Halloween if that makes you happy
Renée said
Definitely Phil, what is the dress code? =)
Phil Gerbyshak said
Dress code - come as you are, or don’t come at all!
ME Strauss said
I still want to live in an airplane. Phil, you’ll need to put in a rather large airport.
Dossy Shiobara said
Stainless steel … low maintenance: you don’t have to paint it, it’s easy to wash, it won’t rust. People might not like the way it looks, but hell, if I could afford a house like that, I could afford to live somewhere remote enough that no one would see it.
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Awwhh… shucks! I guess I better take off my pretty little seal costume!
Phil Gerbyshak said
A stainless steel airport. SWEET! I wonder if my levitation machine could handle that…Yep, it’s good.
Costumes optional, though I think I’d dress up like a relationship geek if I had my druthers.
Renée said
Hi Dossy - won’t stainless steel a bit to warm for comfort?
Phil Gerbyshak said
Kirsten - fur is so 1999. Let’s party like it’s 2099…Dress up like a porpoise instead!
ME Strauss said
Good point, Dossy.
Now I get it. Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Evening everyone!
Dream homes is a great topic. I just sold mine so I’m looking for a new home. It won’t be a dream one though…*chuckle*
How’s everyone doing?
Phil Gerbyshak said
Yo Ben, come on over! The water’s GREAT! Where’s Basil?
ME Strauss said
Phil,
Did you lose your druthers again!???
I told you to put them away. If you put them away where they go, you wouldn’t lose them. Then you’d never have to say “If I had my druthers . . .” again. “Cause you’d have them.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Phil, you’re in the water?
Basil’s on his way back to Montreal from Australia. Has an overnight flight to Nova Scotia, but I’m going to keep him a few days here, get him to do some work and show everyone a bit of Montreal…
Phil Gerbyshak said
Dang, I lost my druthers. And they were made with the finest stainless steel seal fur too!
If anyone finds them, please send them back to Milwaukee. The people at the post office know me well!
Joe said
Ok, I love the water, I’ll be there Phil.
It takes 25 comments to upload 2 pics for AdLib, here they are, I hope they work.
http://workingathomeinternet.com/WP/wp-content/uploads/12×10_human-space-flight.jpg
and
http://workingathomeinternet.com/WP/wp-content/12×10_sr71.jpg
I really hope they work.
I think I got them from either NASA or space.com long ago.
Rick Cockrum said
Hi everyone! I always liked the idea of a concrete coated geodesic dome in the mountains, the entire top a sky light, solar power and heat, rainwater collection for water, craft room, playrooms, very large open floor living/dining/kitchen area, a dining table large enough that one end can be used for my office (I don’t like to be stuck by myself), a yard with no grass, only gardens that are self-maintaining, and a skycar.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Ben - my dream house has a boat port, Kirsten was going to wear her seal costume, but thought better of it because our friend the Librarian said that the water’s are shark infested and that dressing like a seal might be hazardous to your health.
But I can swim to you pick you and Basil up too if you like
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
I thought I saw your druthers on Basil!
ME Strauss said
Hey, Ben, Phil’s got this dream house going . . . it’s a loony bin.
Kirsten’s wearing porpoise and Dossy’s house is stainless steel.
I’m living in a airplane.
Joe’s relegated to the bedroom with the alien.
Renee likes her apartment.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Dude, we’ve got ALIENS? I thought Basil was a donkey?
BEN?????
Joe said
!@@##$%^%^&*(*()__+||
Neither of them worked.
I’ll see what I can do to remedy that.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Basil is a donkey. I’m not going to get too close and personal with him, but I think you can tell from a reasonable distance…Basil’s all donkey!
Right now I’d settle for a 3 bedroom house in a nice neighborhood. But if we’re going DREAM HOUSE — then sign me up for an indoor ice rink.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Joe - one click worked, the other not so much.
No worries, if they’re your dream house, we can see it in your heart.
Keep smiling
Life is gouda, like the cheese!
Phil Gerbyshak said
Glad to hear Basil is all donkey. If he’s wearing my druthers, I’m cool with that.
Advice Librarian said
Stainless steel seal fur? Sounds like Dennis Leary’s line about the car he was going to get “..with baby seal fur hubcaps” from one of his less polite songs
Dossy Shiobara said
Renee: I don’t know. I imagine metal isn’t going to be a very good insulator, but then, if I could afford the dream house, I’m sure I could afford to heat and/or cool the place.
Rick: Other than the funky Bucky geodesic bit, I think you’ve captured the essence of my dream house.
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Well this was just great! Now I will be dreaming of donkeys riding dolphins to escape the sharks and Liz swooping down in her airplane to save the day!
PHeww… I think it is time for me to call it a night!
Phil Gerbyshak said
G’night Kirsten. We’ll leave a light on for you if you want to come back
Dossy Shiobara said
Mmm, time to step away for a few minutes to go outside and enjoy a cigarette. Be back in a few…
Advice Librarian said
It’s nice to be able to contribute to making your dreams weirder
Kirsten Harrell, Psy.D. said
Thanks! Goodnight all! It has been fun! Thanks Liz for another great night - you really are the best host!
Starbucker said
Howdy folks! My dream house is in the mountains of Colorado, next to a river. It has a big porch an an office with a big window. Nothing fancy (we’re quite the mininalists now, my wife and I). How’s everybody doing tonight? Great, I hope.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hi Liz and Everybody … ~waves
Just doing a google search, I came up with THIS IMAGE .. something that would be home to HART’s Dream House.
You see, it would be Shagadellic, James Bondish .. There’s a lever on that tree that brings up one of those Star Trek Elevators (remember when Dr. McCoy was dying?) and then my 4 acre house would be under ground, below 100 feet of ground and permafrost.
Naturally, there would be one section of the complex that was sound proof - so I can blast my stereo and have band practices. You wouldn’t want to scare the MoooMoooMooo’s up on the surface!
Phil Gerbyshak said
weird people rule!
ME Strauss said
Good night, Kirsten
I’m glad we got your fashions sorted out for you!
Starbucker said
Kirsten, sorry I missed ya - bye!
Renée said
Rick, that dream home of yours… is in heaven!
Phil Gerbyshak said
Welcome Starbucker! Glad you could join us. Let’s move into your place. My place is full of sharks, and no seals allowed!
Rick Cockrum said
Fare thee well, Kirsten. Liz always saves the day!
The thing about the geodesic bit (though this would be kind of neat), is the wind just slips right over it. Hurricane, forget it. Be nice and cozy.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Nice house Rick! Got room for a crazy, weird relationship geek like me??
Renée said
HART, on your dream home…where the internet connection
Phil Gerbyshak said
I need to get some work done to pay for my dream house. The place is wide open for you, please lock up when you leave. G’night
Starbucker said
Yes Phil, I need to avoid sharks, thank you. And I guess my pet seal will have to stay put
And Rick, I dig your place. As for HART……yeah baby!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Goodnight Phil…
And Kirsten…
ME Strauss said
Hi Rick, Starbucker, HART!
I was having so much fun reading, I forgot to say HI!! *waves and curties and gives them all cold ones*
HART (1-800-HART) said
Renée .. the internet connection is buried underground.. T1 or T3 .. thanks for reminding me! I’ll have to add that to the blueprints.
Mike Sansone said
knock knock
Starbucker said
Don’t work too hard Phil, and as they say in Milwaukee, “take ‘er easy”!
Ben Yoskovitz said
HART - is that house in Winnipeg?
Hey Mike…good to see you!
Starbucker said
It’s converstation man! How ya doin’ Mike?
Mike Sansone said
the dream house on the post looks like the isle of eriska (http://www.isleoferiska.com/ )
Rick Cockrum said
Everyone’s invited, Renee, Phil! There’s always room for more.
Hi Starbucker!
Mike Sansone said
Hiya Ben, SB - I’ve missed coming here on Tuesdays - it’s like I need to set a timer!
Joe said
http://www.workingathomeinternet.com/WP/images/12×10_human-space-flight.jpg
and
http://www.workingathomeinternet.com/WP/images/12×10_sr71.jpg
Damn Liz, please erase that other comment. I never had to use http://www. before, ever…
Ben Yoskovitz said
Starbucker — how’s life in Stamford?
I saw something in the news the other day about Stamford…what was it…shoot! Anyway, thought of you, and said, “I know someone there now!”
Starbucker said
I’m so jaded about houses living out here in Connecticut - I never dreamed I’d ever have a mortgage this big! I watch “National Open House” on HDTV and openly weep when I see three times as much house for half the price!
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Hey, I was distracted.
Back now for a little bit.
Mike Sansone said
My dream log cabin would have built in bookshelves, a huge fireplace and lots of candles. Maybe a coffee pot.
Rick Cockrum said
You’re busy, Liz. Thanks for the drink!
HART (1-800-HART) said
Ben .. Actually .. that’s funny - I always pictured it just inside the northern perimeter around Winnipeg city ..
Not on a desert island, or in California or Hawaii or in Europe anywhere .. go figure!
ME Strauss said
No problem, Rick,
Glad to serve you something after a long day working.
Starbucker said
Hi Ben - Stamford is…..still Stamford. It’s kind of a town with no real identity (but really expensive). So I noticed Basil is having a grand ‘ol time Down Under!
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Mike. You gotta have a coffe pot! The more bookshelves, the better.
Ben Yoskovitz said
HART - I had a feeling, that’s why I asked. It looks like the perfect house for Winnipeg - out of the elements!
Joe said
Sorry all, I just can’t get it right, it works when I use the link directly, but not from here.
Liz, please DELETE all of the junk I caused.
Sorry
Mike Sansone said
Yep, I agree Rick. Coffee Pot is a must. and a mug:-)
ME Strauss said
Joe,
Don’t worry, I’ll take a look at them from this side.
Advice Librarian said
Hart, Hart, Hart, what am I going to do with you, dear boy?
When you’re installing connections in your dream home, go for either OC-48 direct to the backbone or one of the new Abilene Network links
Christine Kane said
Not to mention, Starbucker, that hotels in Stamford are REALLY expensive too!
hi everyone!
Rick Cockrum said
Bummer, Joe. When I was a kid I thought by now we would be living in space in L5 colonies at the least.
Starbucker said
Why hello Christine! Yes, those hotels are expensive - I had to stay in one once when we lost power during the winter for two days.
ME Strauss said
Hey Christine!
Great to see you!
Mike Sansone said
Hi CK:-) Great show the other night!
Rick Cockrum said
Hey Christine! Starbucker’s building a soundproof studio in his dreamhouse, though.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Christine,
I just got an iPod. I think I’m going to put your music on it.
Joe said
and all I was trying to do was share a couple of pics of an SR71.
Liz wants to live in a plane, so why not go for the fast sporty type?
HART (1-800-HART) said
Adv.Lib .. // Noted and Logged
OC-48 ..
My uncle and aunt built their dream home in Alberta - a log cabin .. it was definately a “dream home” .. I’m looking for pictures on my hard drive .. They just sold it for about 5 times its cost and they moved to remote B.C. at 1/4 the cost, twice the size.. plus a houseboat. Go figure - elderly folks. They just don’t know what they want! hehe
Starbucker said
Ah yes, thanks Rick for reminding me - I forgot about that. That’s where we’re going to record the Ramblings “theme song” (and where I can sing and not annoy any neighbors)
Mike Sansone said
HART, I like their style. I’ll have a log cabin someday (Montana? Virginia?)
Ben Yoskovitz said
Hi Christine…
I’m trying to think of outlandish stuff for my dream home, and I can’t!
All I can think is, “3 bedroom, backyard…” (cause I’m looking for that now!) Crazy. How boring!
Ping pong table and high ceilings would be nice…*yawn*
Starbucker said
I’d pick Montana over Virginia Mike!
Christine Kane said
Hi Liz! I thought I saw you in the Charlotte airport. If you were there, I was the woman staring at you trying to figure out if you really looked like you. (never mind. it was funny at the time.)
Mike! It was so great to meet you. Everybody, I met Mike in Des Moines. (and Tom Vander Well too.)
Hi Rick… Yes, I’ll be recording my next CD in Starbucker’s imaginary studio.
Hi Doug! Congrats on the iPod. I thought you weren’t a mac guy?
Starbucker said
Please Christine, c’mon over to my studio! Maybe we could do a cover of “If I Can’t Have You”
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Christine,
I’m not. However, I don’t like the iPod alternatives and am sad that I have to use iTunes.
Renée said
HART, that’s what I want to be when I grow old. Confused and still making money!
Mike Sansone said
Thought you might, SB. And I’ve done Virginia, though right on the TN border would be great! (Not too far from a Bob Evans or Golden Corral)
Rick Cockrum said
I’ve been working on it Starbucker. I’m about halfway through your blog, and have started with some verses, but nothing to send yet.
Advice Librarian said
Hi, Christine! Doing another show tonight, or are you staying around this time?
Oh, and the problem with Joe’s links is that for some odd reason they’re posted with the wrong character encoding, so that the x in 12×10 gets converted to %C3%97 - which mangles the address.
Try this and this instead - assuming Akismet doesn’t eat this comment
Christine Kane said
Hi Ben… yes, my dream home is one of those contemporary things in Dwell magazine. Preferably in Victoria, B.C. Other than that… I love my house. I live on a river in the woods.
Christine Kane said
Starbucker! Let’s use banjos on our version… we could have a whole blogger harmony section!
Starbucker said
I appreciate it Rick - thanks again for taking that one on!
Mike Sansone said
My favorite toy as a kid was Lincoln Logs…think that has something to do with my Log Cabin dream house?
Joe said
I want a house like the one on Eureka, it talks, has automatic everything, even chills your beer and dispenses it for you.
Advice Librarian said
So your house is IN the river, Christine? Wow, that’s pretty cool
Rick Cockrum said
That or a fascination with maple syrup, Mike.;)
Christine Kane said
Doug… you’ll get used to iTunes. It’s a great invention. I love it. I’ll send you a bunch of 8-tracks if I can find them somewhere…
Maybe your dream home can have an 8-track?
Starbucker said
Banjos - yes!! and we could get Peter Framption to do a little wah-wah pedal during the chorus! I smell a #1.
Renée said
Adlib - Where do you plan to land your home at?
Mike Sansone said
Good Call, Rick! Add a toaster along with that coffee pot. And I’ll share the Eggos
seanrox said
Hi All. I actually stopped by a couple hours ago as I had in my head Liz was 3 hours ahead of me, not 2, so my chance to talk about huge houses first has been foiled. At least I saved a lot of money on car insurance!
I recently moved into a house where the master bedroom is as big as the whole other house I lived in. Crazy. So many rooms and not enough stuff to fill it… yet.
ME Strauss said
My dream home has music any time I think I want it.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
I’m actually heading out now. Got work to do! See everyone next week.
Christine Kane said
Joe, maybe you should purchase an R2 unit the next time the big brown truck comes wheeling in with the droids on it…? I think a droid could do all those things for you!
Joe said
THANK YOU, AdLib…
Everybody look, that’s what I was trying to show you…
Starbucker said
OK folks, I gotta get going now - it’s time for my wife and I to get some together time. I’ll be sure to tell her all about all of our dream houses, and then I bet she will question our collective sanity. Hey, it’s blogging!
seanrox said
Oh and if anyone gets hungry I’ve come up with a 5 minute meal that anyone can put together, no matter if you live in a huge house or small house.
Christine Kane said
AdLib…not in… ON. But yes, it’s nice. Except when it flooded two years ago!
Becky McCray said
I missed Starbucker!
Mike Sansone said
Ciao Douglas, Hiya Sean
ME Strauss said
Hey Christine,
It wasn’t me in the Charlotte airport, . . . unless my schizoprhenic thing has gotten out of hand again, but then I think my husband would know right? He’d know I was gone right? He’d figure that out and then I’d know too right?
Renée said
Good night Starbucker and Douglas
Ben Yoskovitz said
Gack! I’m falling behind here!
I’ve never been to Victoria, but I hear it’s beautiful. I certainly love Vancouver…
Starbucker said
Hi Becky ! Now I REALLY have to go - bye everybody!
seanrox said
Hi Liz, with all the technology available today, it would be easy to get music all over your home with a wireless access point and some speakers.
For added value, we could even connect a clapper to it… hehe… clap on, clap off… music!
Becky McCray said
Ben, pay attention to at least one thing!
Hi, Liz, and crew!
Christine Kane said
Liz, maybe you’re bi-locating. It’s a handy trait!
Mike Sansone said
Bye, SB, and dittos for me
Gotta work on somebody’s site
Needed a smile, so here I came
And you folks made my night:-)
Till next time, thank you
Christine Kane said
bye starbucker! bye doug! goodnight mush!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Becky — I was paying attention to one thing, that’s why I’m behind here!
Did Mike leave already?
seanrox said
Hi Mike Sansone! Welcome to the fun.
ME Strauss said
Bye Guys!
Hey Becky!
Thanks for bringing your smiling face around to see us! What’s your dream house looking like?
Becky McCray said
Mike could paint poetry around my fireplace!
Advice Librarian said
My dream house? I like the new apartment I’m moving into - it’s got a walk-in storage closet that I’m in the process of turning into a library… but as for my dream home? I think this place has a lot going for it.
And the SR-71 pictures shows something I’ve long thought - that’s one damn cool plane, that.
Christine Kane said
bye mike! see ya at panera!
ME Strauss said
Sean,
I want to THINK a song on in my dream house.
Mike Sansone said
::::where’s that paint brush?::: thanks beck:-) stay contagious all
HART (1-800-HART) said
96. Adv. Lib.. // it was “Whale Skin Hubcaps” by the way .. not “Baby Seal Skin hubcaps”
It’s one of my favorite songs and always on my site somewhere
seanrox said
Think a song Liz? Hmm… you might look funny with a wireless access point on your head but hey, it could be a lamp shade…
Becky McCray said
Coming from a honest to goodness farm house built by farmers, I would love a real closet, reliable wiring, and a bit more room. I want to take along all my trim molding and other 1920’s details.
And really, I just want to talk my Dad out of my Grandparents’ house! But don’t tell my brother!
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Douglas!
Advice Librarian said
Ah, now I get it, Christine - your house is on the river, except when it’s in it?
seanrox said
My dream house would have lots of land around it. I really dislike being so close to my neighbors… I look out the bedroom window and I can see and hear the neighbors kids playing commando at 7am. Ugg.
Don’t get me wrong, I like people and kids just not up in my face at 7am
Christine Kane said
Hi Becky… oh lord, my last house was built in 1927…and seriously, I’ve never seen such tiny closets. It’s like they put them in just in case someone bought one coat!
seanrox said
Oh and I need high speed internet. I could live in a shoe box as long as I can connect my laptop.
ME Strauss said
I’m with you on that, Sean. I want my neighbor’s noise away from me . . . always.
Joe said
AdLib, EM me to tell me how to fix that problem I had with the x and %whatever.
I tried 3 times, and you got it right on your first try.
Renée said
Seanrox - I’m with you about being too close with people. That’s why I live on the 18th floor with no blocking, just oceanfront
Christine Kane said
AdLib… No. I believe it would be more that my house is ON the river, except when the folks from the City of Asheville haven’t learned how to work their flood gates and just decide one day after three days of rain to LIFT the flood gates and not warn anyone that the water would rise 14 feet and carry several houses away. (i was lucky. my house remained!)
Rick Cockrum said
I think I’m lost with Ben. I was looking for speakers and missed people leaving. Hi Becky! You’ll fill up the new house fast enough, Seanrox. Things just kind of …accumulate.
Becky McCray said
Christine, you have me seriously thinking about water here! And I’m in dry, dry, dry western Oklahoma!
seanrox said
Hey all… I gotta run… I will try and pop in a litle later… I have an evening meeting with a client. Thanks again Liz for throwing a nice get together.
Becky McCray said
Hi, Rick! I agree; things have accumlated here up to my eyeballs! That’s why I need those big closets!
Christine Kane said
oo becky, I don’t like dry. (Except Arizona. I love it there. As long as I have chapstick!) But I suppose there’s a happy medium, huh?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Yup, I’m officially lost…but accomplishing stuff elsewhere…I think.
I already live near the water, albeit not on the water. Water is always nice. And mountains…me like mountains.
Advice Librarian said
Joe - in your browser, look at tools->options->character encoding. You want UTF-8 or Unicode, not US-ASCII, which is a limited subset of the other two. It’s not the only thing that can mangle character encoding, but it’s the first one that comes to mind when it comes to browser problems
Christine Kane said
Ben…where do you live?
Becky McCray said
Goodnight, Sean.
Christine, this is kinda like Arizona…let’s see if I can find and link a pic.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Christine - I live in Montreal.
More specifically I live on Nun’s Island, but there aren’t many nuns left as far as I know…
Joe said
Me lost like Ben, me also like water, have rivers on either side of city.
Me also like Ocean, 2 hours away, but Big Bay just down few miles from where 2 rivers meet.
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Sean.
Thanks for being here!
HART (1-800-HART) said
SeanRox .. that toasted cheese sandwich is quick .. but have you tried it in the frying pan with the butter on the outside of the bread? MmmmmMmmmmMmm
Pan Fried Cheese Sandwiches…
Christine Kane said
Ben…are you canadian? or just married to one? cuz now i’m a little jealous. i love canada.
Christine Kane said
And Joe? Where do YOU live?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Christine - I’m Canadian, born and raised…
Born in Montreal. Lived the better part of my life in Guelph, Ontario. Moved back to Montreal.
Now I live amongst the Nuns…or at least on their island.
Advice Librarian said
Ah, NOW I get it, Christine! Your house is on the riverside, except when someone’s accidentally left the river open
I can see the ocean from what will be my new balcony - it’s just across the road.
Joe said
AdLib, it is set at UTF-8 it might have something to do with whatever BlueHost is using in their setup.
That’s where my site is hosted and where I uploaded the pics to.
Becky McCray said
Ben is such a proud Canadian!
Rick Cockrum said
I don’t know, Ben. Kicking out nuns to get your island? D-:
ME Strauss said
Hey, Becky, I think Ben is a little too interested in where all of the Nun’s went.
Becky McCray said
Sorry I didn’t stay long!
Liz, congrats on another award winning party. I’ll bring drinks again soon.
I guess our dream houses need a good bar!
Good Night, all!
Christine Kane said
yea, ben…you are a little bit nun-obsessed!
ME Strauss said
Yep, Rick, I knew there was a story there. . .
Renée said
Good night, Becky! Nice meeting you
Becky McCray said
Liz, you never know with Ben! He needs room to stable Basil when he travels through!
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Becky.
Christine Kane said
Joe, are you ignoring me?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Hey now…hey now…let’s keep it clean people. They’re nuns after all!
Actually, the nuns leased out the island for 99 years to a property company. I don’t know why, but I guess they didn’t need it anymore.
ME Strauss said
Goodnight Becky!
You tell ‘im Christine!
Christine Kane said
Goodnight Becky! I’ll look for pics of western OK.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Night Becky!
Anyway those nuns took up a lot of space…
Joe said
Christine, I didn’t even see you come in, I was trying to catch up. :-\
Nite to all of the early leavers…
Christine Kane said
Again with the nuns, Ben?
Advice Librarian said
Quite possibly, Joe - hosting/browser interaction issues is an area where I’m .. uh, wearing a seal costume in shark-infested waters to use an earlier image
Ben Yoskovitz said
Ok fine, no more nun talk.
Anyway, if anyone ever visits Montreal and wants to meet some…you know…call…someone…ok…
Samuel John Klein said
Coming up as a young rather poor person I didn’t think in terms of dream homes, more like dream rentals: a house that was big enough, that let us have our kitties, that had a landlord that didn’t just treat us like a profit center.
We’ve had some good ones. The most memorable one was the one me and my The Wife lived in just as we were getting married. It was the result of an architectural quirk on what amounted to a mezzanine level in a building in downtown Corvallis, Oregon. It had three bedrooms, and was as big as a small house. Legend had it that it was fashioned as wartime housing. Conveniently located to pretty much every dang thing, it was a little bit north of $300/month (this was 1989-91, remember) and the only real drawbacks were lack of parking (somehow we skated by) and water pressure being horrid as the service was probably jerry-rigged to begin with.
As far as houses go, I’ve never been one to dream of big mansions (Mc- or otherwise) or “waterfront property” or what have you. A modest thing, two or three bedrooms, attached garage, a corner for my home office. I’m one of those people who think that there’s a certain way to dream big, and if you dream big the wrong way, it makes you greedy and eventually destroys the perspective that enables you to know the difference between price and value (speaking of the housing bubble, there’s a disturbing trend in what they’re calling “serial remodeling”…but that’s for another comment).
As it would happen, things have developed for me and mine that have actually turned us from renters into owners. We have a lovely place now. Two bedrooms, big finished basement with office, hardwood floors, attached garage, modest lot.
Our dream house, as it turned out. And when everyone was going nuts over ARMs and those “interest only” loans, we insisted on a 30-year fixed.
We don’t have a ‘dream house’ anymore, as we are really quite deliriously happy with our little home. I’d wish that everyone could find what they wanted, as good for them as what we have for ourselves.
ME Strauss said
Samuel,
It sounds like that little home is your dream house.
Joe said
Yeah, but Samuel, Who Mows the Lawn???
Advice Librarian said
Oh God, yes, Samuel - ARM’s are Satan’s own invention. My brother and I went over the fine print of an ARM and we just about died laughing at the terms, until we saw some of the stories about people who HADN’T read the fine print.
Christine Kane said
Ben, i grew up with priests and nuns coming over for dinner every weekend. there has to be something else to see in montreal???
ME Strauss said
Christine,
You could visit the monastery.
Christine Kane said
Hello Samuel. I’ve been to Corvallis! (Ben wants to know if there are nuns there.)
Joe said
Christine, I had an uncle that was a priest and an aunt that was a nun.
How did I ever end up the way I am???
Samuel John Klein said
Liz:
It sounds like that little home is your dream house.
Me:
Yawp. You got the right of it! B-)
Ben Yoskovitz said
Christine - no question
There’s tons to see in Montreal. Come on over some time…
And Basil’s with me this week, so I hope to snap some shots.
Are you a hockey fan?
Do you like smoked meat?
We’ve got plenty of great sites too…
Christine Kane said
I’ll meet you there Liz. Next time you bi-locate. A monastery could be a good home… if you’re into cold stone and darkness.
Samuel John Klein said
Christine:
There’s a Catholic church there (St. Mary’s), so, likely they have at least one or two nuns.
B-)
Christine Kane said
Ben… I don’t like sports much. And I’m a vegan. So, really…you might find me as about as exciting as those nuns for whom you have such a fondness…
Rick Cockrum said
Hi, Samuel. Congratulations on the house!
Don’t forget mortgages with a balloon payment at the end.
Samuel John Klein said
Who mows the lawn, Joe?
Why…me, of course.
But…not…very…often….(ahem)
B-/
Advice Librarian said
By the way, just to tip my hat to my late uncle the union man - more reasons why you should be in a union if you don’t own the company
Then again, over here in Norway the Labour/Union relationship tends to be berry, berry different from the antagonistic relationship you guys have. The latest union organizing move here was the management of one of the big shipyards who asked for help in getting a union organized among their polish immigrant employees. Management felt it was a lot easier to have a union on the premises, since it meant they’d have a single point of contact for everything to do with labour relations….
Christine Kane said
Joe… it’s GOOD to have an aunt and uncle like that. So many good stage stories you could tell. I’ll invite you on stage with me next time I’m in… um… you never told me where you live….
Joe said
Samuel, you should talk to Chris Cree (where is he anyway?).
He hates mowing the lawn even more than I, he even writes posts about it.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Christine — there’s actually a great vegetarian Thai restaurant. Not sure it’s Vegan though.
I doubt I’d find the meeting boring. So we’ll skip hockey and smoked meat.
We’ve got plenty of amazing architecture…oh, lots of French people too. French nuns, if you’re REALLY interested…
Christine Kane said
Ben…I can watch you eat meat and play hockey. I just like to sit with Canadians and listen to them trash americans. (All in good fun. mostly.) Canadians are very funny that way!
Advice Librarian said
Vegetarians are mean to animals - they’re eating their food
Ben Yoskovitz said
Trash Americans? I’m shocked!
Ok…no comment…
Canadians do have a great sense of humor on all sorts of subjects.
Christine Kane said
French nuns are my favorite. Aren’t they battered in egg and fried in oil and served with maple syrup?
Ben Yoskovitz said
You bet! French toast…mmmm…
Ok, with that in mind, I’m going to get a snack.
Have a good night everyone!
Please come visit Montreal…
Christine Kane said
Ben, the last time i was in Vancouver, I got an earfull from you people. Luckily, I was pretty much on the same side… so there wasn’t much arguing.
ME Strauss said
Christine,
I don’t want to LIVE in a monastery. I think I’d choose a convent, but only if I could do it like Eleanor of Aquitane and let all of the nuns wait on me.
Rick Cockrum said
Take care Ben. Enjoy your evening.
Samuel John Klein said
Advice Librarian say:
Oh God, yes, Samuel - ARM’s are Satan’s own invention. My brother and I went over the fine print of an ARM and we just about died laughing at the terms, until we saw some of the stories about people who HADN’T read the fine print.
Me say:
I’m having the same feeling: when I started seeing those stories I got this unholy mixture of smugness (for not getting suckered into one), pity (for the poor folks who were made victims and now will likely be renters for the rest of thier lives), and rather inffectual anger (for the idiots who have made thier money from these poor punters and have moved on, at a financial system that is only too happy to make a few extra bucks at the expense of the unfortunate).
And what is up with those bizarre “interest only” loans anyhow? The idea is so contra to the lessons of money I got growing up that I don’t understand why anyone would green-light such an idea, for making money off a ‘product’ (and yet another aside-ever notice how things like loans these days are called ‘products’? Those ain’t products. Stuff you get at the store, those are products) such as that?
Wow…check out the stemwinder I just got off on. Sorry about that…we were talking about dream houses and all. Back to the original discussion!
Christine Kane said
I gotta go too. I was teaching a creativity workshop last week for the federal government. (don’t ask) And I’m still recovering. Gotta post a blog here one of these days! Liz, thanks — as always– for inviting us all over to your pad. I’ll help clean up next time!
ME Strauss said
Good night, Ben.
Give my best to Basil!
Joe said
Christine, about 10 miles outside Philly.
Aunt and uncle were my grandmom’s brother and sister, they died quite a while ago, but if the Blessings they gave took, I’m good for another 10 years.
Rick Cockrum said
I bid you all farewell, too. My pillow is calling me. Thank you for another enjoyable talk, Liz.
Bye!:-)
Christine Kane said
Liz, I totally see you with nuns waiting on you!
Bye Ben!
Hey Rick! I didn’t see you there! You were hiding. I’ll visit you in blogland tomorrow!
ME Strauss said
Good night, Christine!
No worries. Somehow this place always looks the same in the morning when I get up!
Joe said
See ya, Rick.
ME Strauss said
Sweet Dreams, Rick,
Think creative thoughts!
Rick Cockrum said
One of my quieter nights, Christine. And speaking as a government employee, I’d be interesting in hearing how you motivated some of us to creativity.
Samuel John Klein said
Advice Librarian:
Vegetarians are mean to animals - they’re eating their food
Reminds me of a song by the Arrogant Worms…”Carrot Juice is Murder”…here’s a verse:
Vegetables live in oppression
Served on our tables each night
This killing of veggies is madness
I say we take up the fight
Salads are only for murderers
Cole slaw’s a fascist regime
Don’t think that they don’t have feelings
Just ’cause a radish can’t scream
It’s hee-lar-i-ous.
Of course, with my lawn-care regime, veggies don’t have anything to worry about from me: I don’t plan on taking up gardening for years. Until then, I’ll let Del Monte do my veggiecide by proxy.
So it goes.
Renée said
Good night Rick and Christine! I too have to get some posts written before I head to town later this afternoon.
Liz, it was fun being invited.
Will catch up with all soon next week. Take care, and keep dreaming of that Dream Home!
Advice Librarian said
Oh, and “If God didn’t intend us to eat animals, he wouldn’t have made them out of delicious meat”
‘Course, I shouldn’t talk on account of living on a semi-vegetarian diet myself…
ME Strauss said
Good day, Renee!
Don’t work too hard!
ME Strauss said
You guys just reminded me . . .
Cut flowers are the amputees of the plant world.
Samuel John Klein said
Check you folks later…I’m doing this from a terminal in the public library and my time’s about up!
Advice Librarian said
I’ve been thinking of starting a vegetable garden on my balcony next year, actually - plant a couple carrots and a potatoe in a pot, just for the sake of doing it
ME Strauss said
Bye Samuel,
Thanks for stopping by. It was fun having you!
ME Strauss said
Oh AdLib, plants are wonderful for the spirit!
Advice Librarian said
Oh yes - my windowsill doubles as my herb garden right now with some basil, chives and watercress, but now that I’m upgrading to a balcony I think I’ll add to it a bit
ME Strauss said
before we moved back to Chicago, I had a garden that took two truckloads of bark mulch every year.
Joe said
My dream house has changed
from a castle so grand
to a salon so crowded
that I can no longer stand.
The kitchen is now
where hair is cut
that it makes me sick
unto my gut.
I hope that when the basement is done
and everything is moved
that things get back to normal
and my ego will be soothed.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
ME Strauss said
Aw, Joe, Nothing lasts forever,
Sweet Dreams.
cat said
When I was younger I had a range of dream homes in mind, complete with dream locations (can’t have one without the other).
I wanted to live on a tropical island, or in an old farmhouse in France, or a thatched cottage in the UK, or in a farmhouse deep in the country, or anywhere on a hill, or on a boat. I never, ever wanted to live in an apartment in a large city.
When I got older I’d lived in a few dream places and x’d them out, one by one. France and the UK are too expensive (I have a flat in Devon but it’s very dear to visit for more than two weeks at a time), tropical islands are limited in what you can do (I’m not sure how I lasted nine years on Borneo), boats get smaller the longer you live on them (now I can only take boats for four plus weeks at a time). I lived for two years on a hillside with the Pyrenees wrapping the windows and it was glorious, but not when it snowed.
Ten years ago my dream retirement home was to be a in Changmai,Thailand. The idea was to buy a large plot of land, build a large open house with smaller guest houses dotted around. The house would be wrapped in deep verandas so guests could enjoy the weather no matter what it was. There would be bowls, tennis, darts, most anything for enjoyment. In addition, there’d be a whole painting, sculpture area set up in a large outside building. Reason - to have paying visitors come to enjoy learning the different crafts taught by local as well as visiting talent. I’d get the pleasure of having a rotating group of new friends as well as surround my life with talent. This was not going to be just a dream, but a reality. It was a plan.
Near on two years ago I moved to Bangkok, the first part of getting to Changmai. It’s what I’ve always disliked. A big, busy, crazy city. It’s filled with people going here and there. Poverty. Power. Yup, too many people.
Since arriving, I’ve moved from a house in north Bangkok to a flat closer near the centre. Strange, but I love it. I can’t imagine living anywhere else but Bangkok now. My dream retirement home has now been nixed. I’m apartment hunting for a dream retirement flat instead.
So, what would it have? A fantastic view of the city of course. And in Ari (if possible). Close by the skytrain and the new Villa market going in down the road. And all the standards one would wish in an apartment - deep balconies, four bedrooms, large living room, no kids close by, spa and exercise room, decent surroundings.
All along I expected that getting older would solidify what my dream home would be. But up until last year, I never EVER imagined that my dream home would be an apartment in one of the largest cities in the world.
Advice Librarian said
Sounds nice, Liz - though dad’s “garden” produces between 10-15 tons of strawberries a year depending on growth conditions, it’s not quite a place for just enjoying
ME Strauss said
Wow, Cat, I completely understand.
How wonderfully you wrote that I saw all of the places in view one at a time and you saved the best for last.
Maybe it’s the life of the city . . . not the city life.
ME Strauss said
Yeah, AdLib, I was a luxury farmer — flowers only. I don’t think I’d sit out to admire strawberries growing in quite the same way. Though they are nice to eat . . .
Advice Librarian said
I think that by the first ton or so, you’d be pretty tired of strawberries
Heh, Cat - isn’t it interesting how our dreams mature along with us?
Whimspiration said
I’m saving up to buy some acreage in the center of town. Dreaming big: I want to make a homestead/farm right in the middle of downtown, live there, and run it as an educational center too. Sorry I’ve come in so late.
ME Strauss said
There’s no late . . . Glad you came.
Your dream sounds wonderful! Where’s town and what sort of education?
Advice Librarian said
Whatever place you wind up getting, I hope it includes real grass - and not the AstroTurf(tm) you got in your comments on your latest Net Neutrality post
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
No worries. I’m looking out the window at a really big lake
cat said
Oh, Yes! It’s been interesting to see the dreams mature. It’s also been a nice surprise, saving the best for [near to] last.
Only problem is, I’m an avid gardener so … HOW to fit in a garden? Right now, even with all I have here (this flat is surrounded by balconies going off each room), it’s not the same as being able to grab a hose and a trowel for a fun morning in the dirt before the sun climbs too high.
Sadly, a penthouse is not in my budget (pity). I’d love to live on top of a tall building somewhere. With trees and palms, peppers and tomatoes all growing under my care.
Ok, as long as I’m dreaming, I’ll have a pool with the penthouse, trees and palms, peppers and tomatoes … [with pool chap and maid of course ... as having a dream home does not mean cleaning the darn thing!]
ME Strauss said
Now that’s going for it, Cat. If you’re going to dream up a dream home, might as well dream BIG!!
Whimspiration said
Springfield, Missouri. I was going to use the farm/homestead as a hands on teaching place. Teaching all about farming, natural gardening, and the like.
ME Strauss said
I’ve been to Springfield! That sounds wonderful. In one of my other optional lifes I’m a flower farmer who sits and does read alouds with kids and teaches them how to garden. I used to teach first grade. So I’m right with you in your dream.
Advice Librarian said
Hehe
Well, if you’re short of space, perhaps container gardening can work for you? I plan on doing some on my fresh new balcony, at least 
Whimspiration said
Cal, you can always find a local carport and put kiddie pools with holes drilled in the bottom on top of it. *grin* I’ve heard that many business are really pleased to have someone garden their rooftop too, as it increases popularity and profits just to have a rooftop garden. Might want to give it a try.
Advice Librarian said
Huh, did akismet eat my last comment?
ME Strauss said
Weird. Sorry AdLib. Akismet was so good all night. I stopped checking it about a 1/2 hour ago. Go figure.
Advice Librarian said
Hey, no problem - akismet is tempramental at times
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Akismet and I have a lot in common.
cat said
Hmmm, a carport means fumes from smelly cars … If this were the west I’d opt for a cheaper apt penthouse. But here, cheaper means down the road something will collapse or no longer be. Better to safeguard by paying too much for less.
But I’ll still dream of a garden. Some of my best memories are of gardening. I love getting muddy and dirty, watching bits grow, being bone tired from all the extra work. Growing plants in pots just doesn’t cut it.
In the UK you can rent or buy a plot to play in. I wonder if they have the same out here?
I envy those of you who live where it’s green. Where there is space to grow and be by yourselves.
The only city I’ve seen like that is Canberra, Australia. A garden city built for people, space and quiet. With all the ugly bits tucked behind hills and trees.
And I’ve never met an Australian that liked Canberra. They always say ‘too sterile’ ‘too …’ ….
Advice Librarian said
Possibly, but you’re nicer about it. Akismet tends to spank pre-emptively
Not that there’s anything WRONG with that… normally, I like how it works. Just not when it pre-emptively slaps *me* down
ME Strauss said
I think the problem with Canberra isn’t the green parts. It’s the buildings. They’re all so suburban ugly. Plain, uninteresting.
ME Strauss said
Well, if you put it that way, AdLib, I don’t slap folks either.
Advice Librarian said
I know, you’re the nice one
Though at times I’m sure the temptation to slap some sense into people must be overwhelming, I’m glad you’re made of stronger stuff than I.
I’m terrible at resisting temptation - every time I go into a book store for “a quick look”… my collection grows just a little bit.
ME Strauss said
I have a book store and music store rule. It has to do with my impatience with standing in line. The rule is that I have to find 3 things I want to buy before I will stand in line.
Whimspiration said
There are quite a few community gardens in the US. You can usually contact the state master gardener’s or extention center or some such to find out where the ones near you are.
Advice Librarian said
Wouldn’t work for me. I can never get just three books.
Hmm. Looking at my reading list now, there’s… “Fog” by Miguel de Unamuno, “The idiot” by Dostoyevski, “Dona Flor and her two husbands” by Jorge Amado, and “Flow my tears, the policeman said” by Philip K. Dick.
A pretty typical week, all things considered.
ME Strauss said
Hey Whimspiration,
AdLib lives in Norway. It’s just us holding down this part of the world right now. 
Cat’s not in the US. She lives in Bangkok.
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
What my 3 book rule usually does is curb me according to time. Do I have time to find three books AND stand in line to pay for them?
Advice Librarian said
Ah, yes - good point
Time tends to be in short supply - it’s the limiting factor in everything I’d like to do.
Whimspiration said
And there I was being all Nation-centric. *blush* my bad.
But surely there is some sort of gardening centers in other countries?
ME Strauss said
Not a big deal, Whims, we all think in terms of what we know. . . .
Advice Librarian said
I’m sure there are - though the place I’m moving to has lots of Outside and Nature and things of that ..err, well, nature, just outside.
I’m just lazy - I want to have a short walk onto a balcony with some green things on it
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
Your description is so, so accurate.
Advice Librarian said
Just for that, I’ll post some pictures when I get the place in order
ME Strauss said
I really meant that AdLib. I think you chose the most accurate words to describe nature .
Whimspiration said
Balcony? Oh balconies are so much fun to plant on! Upside down tomatoes, hanging strawberries, greens and herbs in window-boxes, shelves holding other various lovelies. Even a netting “wall” for vines to climb. So much one can do with a balcony!
ME Strauss said
It’s too bad Trisha’s not here. She’d love this conversation, I bet. She’s got a butterfly garden — a real one. She’s raising butterflies! She’s also in Missouri!
Advice Librarian said
Some boxes, some pots, and someplace for peablossoms to climb at least - and I’m going to have at least one potatoe plant
Whimspiration said
Oh how exciting. We let the kids raise some ladybugs and Butterflies last year’s spring, but we’d never thought of raising them wild in a garden. It must be lovely at her place.
I agree witht he potato plants, they are so green and lush.
Advice Librarian said
And they’re also delicious when it’s harvest time - straight from the garden, wash off, served boiled with a light sprinkle of salt and a dab of butter.
ME Strauss said
I need to say “Good night and Sweet dreams”
Thanks for coming Whims.
Thanks for being her AdLib and Cat and everyone.
Advice Librarian said
Good night, everyone
Whimspiration said
Sweet Dreams everyone! It was great meeting you all.
cat said
Well, I’m back. Apologies for that. I had to get some work done. Also, I’m trying to get Virtual PC to work on my Mac (again) so I can try out that typing software. The previous PC emulator was so molasses sloooooooooow, I gave up this morning.
Balconies - well, in the tropics you have to be careful of the power of the sun. At a part of the year it’s fine, but when the sun shifts around it burns what was blooming before. Bangkok is unbearably hot in the warm season (mayish). Unfiltered sun cooking plants in pots needs to be managed partly by choice of plants.
Tomato plants need to be undercover. What I do is plant a gardenia bush and have the tomatoes grow up into the leaves so they do not burn.
Strawberries are out. A lot of things are out.
Palms do well (of course) unless they get too much heat in a pot.
I do keep cut flowers in pots, in a the more sheltered balcony. The smellier the better so I can fill the flat with wonderful smells. But like any other place, if they are in pots, the bugs will come.
Another problems is I’m gone for months out of the year and have to depend on someone else to water. Meaning I now have empty pots. Well, not really empty. They have dirt and dead bits in them. Sad.
I do grow lotus outside on my bedroom balcony, and so far (knock on wood), the plants are living even though the previous maid killed all of my water lilies.
One day I’ll get back out there and pull all the dead trees, palms and plants out of the pots, restock and rearrange. But … it will have to be after the holidays (dec/jan) as I don’t want any down-in-the-mouth surprises.
And now I’ll say my ‘good nights’ to all of you sleeping beauties (until the next lot tip toes in that is).
Thanks again Liz. Sweet dreams.
(off I go to download PC freeware …)
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