Orange County Floor Kitchen Bath

You don’t have to read the whole thing.
The Sun shone like a million light onto the earth. The air was warm, even as a gentle breeze blew. It was the perfect summer day in Newcastle, Australia, the kind of day that felt like nothing could go wrong. My sister, and best friend, tackled me to the ground. “Gotcha!” she shouted. I couldn’t help but laugh. As the wind blew again some leaves fell from the giant gum tree in our backyard, and landed onto us both. My little brother, Timmy, was being bathed by our mum, while our father was at work, as usual, working. I was happy.
“I got you, Michelle!” said Julia, “Now you’re it!” she ran off happily until she turned and saw my face. “What’s wrong?” I must have imagined it. It couldn’t happen, not here. My sister’s innocent smile turned to a frown. “Tell me!” She was getting impatient. I decided not to tell her and started to stand up when it happened again. The ground had shook, a small, but very real, shake. Julia had noticed it too. “Michelle, what’s happening?” I just stared at her, unable to answer; it would make it too real. The ground shook again, harder this time. Each shake was closer to the last, until it was impossible to distinguish one from the other. There was a thunderous sound that felt like it came from deep beneath the earth. Julia was pulling my arm, tears streaming down her face, but I couldn’t move. A tile fell from the roof and smashed to the ground awakening me from my daze. I grabbed Julia close to me and reassured her. Everything was going to be alright. Wasn’t it? What if somebody was hurt or worse? No. Nothing bad was going to happen. A gum tree across the road fell to the ground, crushing the car beneath it like a can. I hugged Julia closer. What she next whispered into my ear made my heart freeze. “Mummy and Timmy, where are they, Michelle? Where are they?” I knew exactly where they were; in the house that was slowly falling apart.
“Julia, stay here.” My voice was shaking. “Don’t go near any powerlines or trees. I love you” You’ll be safe I though to myself. With that I kissed her on the cheek and ran, as fast as I could, into the house. What I saw shocked me. Bookcases were on the grown, the TV was shattered, my mum’s favourite vase lay on the floor in pieces. I rushed through my once perfect home, aiming for the bathroom where I knew, and hoped that mum and Timmy would be. I threw open the door and found the floor was littered with old make up and bathwater, but no mum or Timmy. At that moment I heard my mum’s voice: “Michelle!” I turned to see my mother lying on the floor, pinned to the ground by our ancient grandfather clock, Timmy in her arms. I ran to her side. “Take him” she said, handing me Timmy, she sounded so weak. A thunderous crack was heard above us. “Go Michelle! Now!” I jumped out of the way just as a branch crashed through the roof and fell onto my mum. I could barely hear myself scream because of the pounding of my heart in my ears. I took one last look at her face, peaceful in death, before walking outside, with Timmy in my arms. He still needed me. The earthquake had finished, but was all the damage done? I slowly walked to where I left my sister, dreading what I might find. Would she be alright? Is she hurt? Or did she face the same fate as our mother? Whether she had, or not, they would pay.
This is the first chapter.
PS The last sentence shouldn’t make any sense.

“That’s not fair! I hate the basement! I won’t do it and you can’t make me!” Screamed Julie. She stood a whole four feet and ten inches, arms folded, in the middle of the living room staring at Karen, her babysitter.
“Julie please, calm down. Your mother told me to have you clean out the basement and I’m not taking the blame for you one more time. Stop being such a brat.”
“I am not a brat!” Julie hated it when Karen called her a brat.
“Okay. I’m sorry.” Karen apologized. “After you clean out the basement I’ll make popcorn and we can watch a movie, Okay?”
“Fine. But there better be a lot of popcorn.”
“Sure. Now go get to work because I have to make an important phone call.” As Julie headed for the basement she heard Karen on the phone with her boyfriend peter. “Yeah I’m stuck babysitting again…” Julie stopped by the kitchen to grab a flashlight before she got to work.
There it was. The basement door. “Who knows what scary things are waiting for me down there?” Julie thought to herself. Being only ten years old she hadn’t quite conquered her fear of the dark yet. She clicked on her flashlight and opened the door. A rush of cool air met her in the face. To her surprise she found a light switch but only a few of the bulbs worked. Slowly, she descended down the stairs. They creaked and squeaked with every step she took. Once at the bottom, she looked around. Dusty boxes cluttered the walls, spiderwebs clung to everything, and there was only one small window that shed no light because it was already dark outside.
“I guess I better start somewhere.” She announced to nobody. Julie stacked two old crates on top of each other and climbed up to retrieve a box on top of what seemed like a cardboard castle. She reached up trying grab it when she lost her footing and fell to the ground knocking over several boxes on the way down. She hit her head on the ground and didn’t move for a few seconds . When she got up she decided she wasn’t going to try that again so she decided to clean up around the floor. As she was getting up, something caught her eye. Way over in the corner there was a blue bin. The lid was taped with about ten layers of duct tape. On the front is said” Julie’s Toys”
Julie was very excited. She loved getting new toys, as did every ten year old. How come she had never seen this box before? She ripped off the tape and opened the lid. Toys of every kind filled the box. There were stuffed animals, dollhouses, plastic jewelry, and wait. What was that? Did something move? Julie dug down deeper to the bottom of the bin. “My Play With Me Stacy doll!” Stacy had long blonde hair, a pink T-shirt, yellow shorts, and a never-ending smile. “But how can you be here? Mrs. Whiskers chewed your head off.”
She pulled the cord on the doll’s back. “I don’t know. Hee hee hee.” Julie looked closer at Stacy. On the neck she saw where her cat had chewed her head but somebody had glued it back on.
“Let’s go upstairs. I want you to meet Karen!” Julie told her new doll as she raced back up the stairs.
Mrs. Whiskers was sleeping in front of the fireplace. Karen was still on the phone. “Maybe you could come over later Peter.” She saw Julie. “I gotta go. Julie’s here.” She hung up the phone. “Hey kiddo. You all done with the basement?
“No not yet. I fell really hard but then I found Stacy. See?” She held out her doll for Karen to hold.
Karen looked the doll over and pulled the cord. “Hi I’m Stacy!” Played from the doll’s back.
“Cool Julie, but I’ve never really liked dolls. They give me the creeps.” Karen shuddered. “So you fell in the basement? Maybe you should take a break. I’ll make popcorn and you pick out a movie” Julie set Stacy down on the sofa and went to the movie cupboard. Once she had picked a movie she turned around and saw Stacy face down on the carpet.
“How did you get there Stacy?” She picked her up and put the movie in.
“I got the popcorn ready.” Karen entered with a big round bowl. Julie and Karen ate the whole bowl and had a great time watching the movie together.
“Okay Julie, Its bedtime.” Karen announced. “I already let you stay up too late.”
“I’m bringing Stacy with me. She can sleep in my room.”
“Don’t let her keep you up too long. Do you want me to tuck you in?” Karen asked.
“No, I’m okay. Where are you going to sleep?
“I’ll be right here on the sofa. Goodnight Julie.”
“Goodnight Karen.” Once in her own room Julie put Stacy on a shelf in between the stuffed bunny and the bear across from her bed. She brushed her teeth and got her pajamas on. “Goodnight Stacy.” Julie said as she drifted off to sleep.
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” Julie bolted upright at the sound of Karen’s shriek at about twelve o’clock. She ran for the kitchen where she heard Karen screaming.
“Karen! What happened? OH MY GOSH!” Julie stared at the tile on the kitchen floor where Mrs. Whiskers body lay in a puddle of crimson blood. Her head severed off, three feet from the body. “Oh Mrs. Whiskers! Who did this?” Julie started crying at the loss of her cat.
“Julie, she could have jumped on the counter and knocked over a knife. I don’t think anybody would have a reason to kill her. Let’s leave her here and clean up in the morning. You just go back to sleep”
“Okay. Thanks Karen. I’m going to miss her and maybe someday I can get another cat and”
“Go to bed. You’re rambling.”
Julie was so tired she couldn’t even think. As she crawled into bed she took one last look at Stacy who was on the shelf next to the giraffe. “Was that really where I had put her? Thought Julie as she immediately fell asleep.
She woke up in the middle of the night due to a nightmare. Stacy wasn’t on her shelf so she went to find Karen. Maybe Karen was playing with Stacy. Julie heard muffled noises coming from the living room and she was beginning to feel very scared. In the center of the room was Karen tied up in a chair with lots of ropes. As Julie stepped toward her Karen tried to scream for her to get away but she was gagged so she couldn’t talk.
“Thaaacccyyy eeevvvooolll!! Thaaacccyyy eeevvvooolll!!” Karen tried to communicate.
Julie didn’t know what she was saying but she knew something dangerous was in her house. Then she saw her. Stacy. She was on the sofa with a bloody knife in her hand. “You! You murdered Mrs. Whiskers!” Then she understood. Karen was trying to say Stacy Evil! Stacy jumped up and started chasing her with the knife. Julie knew what Stacy was cappable of doing. So she ran. She ran to her room and slammed the door. Surly Stacy can’t open a door. Can she? Julie jumped up on her bed and got against the wall. She didn’t know what to do.
Just then her door swung open and there was Stacy standing in the threshhold. Then very slowly in the sweetest, scariest voice Stacy said, “Play with me Julie.”
“AHHHHHHHHH!!!” Julie screamed! Stacy was about to enter her bedroom was a huge axe came down on Stacy’s little plastic head again and again and again. “AHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Then a boy about Karen’s age appeared in her doorway. “Peter!” It was Peter, Karen’s boyfriend! Julie ran into his arms and hugged him. “Stacy was going to kill me! You saved me!”
“No problem kiddo! Now lets go untie Karen!” Peter carried Julie into the living room where Karen was stilled tied up and gagged. Julie took the gag out of her mouth while Peter undid the ropes.
Karen jumped out of her chair and hugged Peter first then Julie. “Julie are you okay? She didn’t hurt you did she?”
“No, I’m okay, a little terrified of dolls now but I’m okay.” Julie answered.
“What about you Peter? Are you okay? You got rid of her for good right” Karen asked Peter.
“There is no way she will ever be coming back.” Peter answered “Now I’m guessing you two don’t want to stay here alone after all that right? Not with the dead cat in the kitchen?”
“Can we go to your house Peter?” Julie asked him.
“Sure! Why not? I’ll drive you two back here in the morning before Julie’s parents get home. What do you say Karen?”
“Thank you peter. I wouldn’t mind leaving this house either.” Karen agreed.
So they went to Peter’s house and Julie went right to sleep on the couch. When she woke up she was in a room that she didn’t recognize at all. She heard somebody say “Look! She’s awake!”
Just then her mom and dad rushed in looking frantic and saying things like “Honey, are you okay?” and “Oh I’m so glad you’re awake”
Julie was very confused. “Where am I? Where’s Karen and Peter? What about Stacy? Is She gone? Did somebody get rid of Mrs. Whiskers? What am I doing here?”
Her mother tried to calm her down. “Julie Honey, You’re in the hospital. Karen is in the waiting room. I don’t know who Stacy is. Mrs. Whiskers is at home, probably sleeping by the fire like she always does.”
Julie still wanted a question answered. “WHY AM I HERE?”
Her father came over to her. “Julie, you were in the basement and you fell. You hit your head and got a bad concussion. Karen found you and brought you here. You have been in a coma for two days.”
Julie had never felt more relieved. None of it had ever happened. She never found Stacy, Stacy never killed Mrs. Whiskers, She never tied Karen up. It was all in her mind. She had been here all along. She was so relieved.
“Can I get you anything Sweetie?” Her mother asked.
“Actually mom, I am pretty hungry. Do you think I could have something to eat?”
“Of course. We’ll be right back.” Her mom and dad left the room.
Julie examined her room. It was nice. There were books, flowers, get well cards, and toys. One toy stood out to her more than the others. It was on a shelf across from the bed.
It had blonde hair, a pink shirt, yellow shorts, a never ending smile, and this time it was holding a bloody knife. It was Stacy and in that same evil voice she said, “Play with me Julie.”
“AHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Brick ranch
Chicago’s nw side
near metra and jeff park cta
3br/2bath
remodeled baths, kitchen
new windows thru-out
partially fin. basement
fully landscaped front yard
nice big back yard
**no real dining room**
(combines w/ living room)

My 6-month-old male Miniature Dachshund has been doing very well with Obedience training. The only problem is that I’ve been training him on carpeted flooring. When he’s asked to perform simple tasks (i.e. Sit, Lay Down, Roll Over, etc) on concrete or tile floor, it’s like he has no idea what I’m talking about. I’ve figure that it’s because he doesn’t like the feel of the cold floor, and he’s just being stubborn (as Dachshund’s are known for being) — but what good is a well-trained dog if he will only listen to me while he’s on carpeted flooring?
Is there anything I can do, to make him listen to me regardless of the floor type? Or is there, perhaps, some way to make the floor a little less cold, so that he’d be a little more willing to obey?
Thanks in advance!

My 6-month-old male Miniature Dachshund has been doing very well with Obedience training. The only problem is that I’ve been training him on carpeted flooring. When he’s asked to perform simple tasks (i.e. Sit, Lay Down, Roll Over, etc) on concrete or tile floor, it’s like he has no idea what I’m talking about. I’ve figure that it’s because he doesn’t like the feel of the cold floor, and he’s just being stubborn (as Dachshund’s are known for being) — but what good is a well-trained dog if he will only listen to me while he’s on carpeted flooring?
Is there anything I can do, to make him listen to me regardless of the floor type? Or is there, perhaps, some way to make the floor a little less cold, so that he’d be a little more willing to obey?
Thanks in advance!

What do men and floor tiles have in common?
if you lay them right the first time you can walk all over them for years!

I am remodeling my kitchen. The only thing not being changed is the cabinetry which is Oak with a natural stain (honey or dark blonde). Most likely, I will have tile on the floors, granite or quartz on the counter tops. Oh…the appliances will not be changed, either; they are bisque colored. The tile will also extend into my foyer, which divides my living room and dining room. The common color in those two rooms is red (though red is used sparingly in both rooms).
Any suggestions?

Men are like…Coolers. Load them with beer and you can take them anywhere.
Men are like…Computers. Hard to figure out and never have enough memory.
Men are like…Placemats. They only show up when there’s food on the table.
Men are like…Mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
Men are like…Bike Helmets. Handy in an emergency, but otherwise they just look silly.
Men are like…Government Bonds. They take so long to mature.
Men are like…Parking Spots. The good ones are taken and the rest are too small.
Men are like…Copiers. You need them for reproduction, but that’s about it.
Men are like…Lava Lamps. Fun to look at, but not all that bright.
Men are like…Bank Accounts. Without a lot of money, they don’t generate much interest.
Men are like…High Heels. They’re easy to walk on once you get the hang of it.
Men are like…Curling Irons. They’re always hot and they’re always in your hair.
Men are like…Mini Skirts. If you’re not careful, they’ll creep up your legs.
Men are like…Bananas. The older they get, the less firm they are.
Men are like…Department stores. Their clothes should always be half off.
Men are like…Vacations. They never seem to be long enough.
Men are like…Chocolate bars. Sweet, smooth, and they usually head right for your hips.
Men are like…Coffee. The best ones are rich, warm, and can keep you up all night long.
Men are like…Horoscopes. They always tell you what to do and are usually wrong.
Men are like…Plungers. They spend most of their lives in a hardware store or the bathroom.
Men are like…Laxatives. They irritate the **** out of you.
Men are like…Parking spots. The good ones are already taken and what’s left is handicapped.
Men are like…Snowstorms. You never know when he’s coming, how many inches you’ll get, or how long he will last.
What should you give a man who has everything?
A woman to show him how to work it.
How does a man show he’s planning for the future?
He buys two cases of beer instead of one.
What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying?
The same urge that make dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving.
Why are husbands like lawn mowers?
They’re hard to get started, emit foul odors, and don’t work half the time.
What’s the difference between a new husband and a new dog?
After a year, the dog is still excited to see you.
Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact?
Breasts don’t have eyes.
How do you save a man from drowning?
Take your foot off his head.
How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?
We don’t know, it’s never happened.
Why are men like tile floors?
If you lay ‘em properly the first time you can walk all over ‘em for years.
What do you call a man with half a brain?
Gifted.
Why do men become smarter during sex?
Because they’re plugged into a genius!!
Why is it hard for women to find men who are sensitive,
caring and good looking?
Because those men already have boyfriends

the ground is tile if that makes a difference.

I’m thinking about purchasing a downdraft oven and would like opinions on how you like it. I’m remodeling my kitchen and am putting in a pony wall where the oven is, so I can’t have a microwave/vent and don’t really want a hood so I’ve opted with the downdraft. I want the one that has 4 burners, not the griddle feature. But if you have the griddle feature, do you use and like it? The only brand I’ve seen make this downdraft oven is Jenn-Air, do you know if there are any other brands? Just would like some opinions before I make this pricey purchase.