Stories from the Sales Frontlines

sterlingdog

Though it has been an arduous task, you'll love the new kitchen and bath once they are completed. You are correct about the choices in tile, granite, fixtures, etc. There are just so many from which to choose. For our granite, we looked at the store samples first, and then headed out to the dealer's "yard". We selected one slab for the counter tops and another one for the island. I'll never forget how hot it was out there that day. Thank goodness it all worked out just the way that we wanted it.

I did want to mention one thing to you in case you haven't thought of it. In the kitchen, have you selected a design to go on the back splash over the sink or under the range hood? There are several designs---fruit baskets, vegetable clusters, flower arrangements, etc. Also, you can use colored tile or simply a design in one or two contrasting tiles. Since we couldn't decide on a store design, I drew ours on a piece of paper and labeled the color tiles to be used for each part of the design. This made the design original and to our liking. I drew a picture of a cottage. The cottage itself is done in a copper colored tile which goes with the light tan tile wall. We used small black square tiles for the windows and door. These black tiles coordinated with our black granite counter tops. We stayed with the tile guy as he did the design so that it turned out the way that we intended. Just remember. Once the process begins, there is no turning back---unless you're willing to rip out the sheet rock. Heaven forbid!

Best of luck to you. At least you're doing both projects at the same time. The agony will only last a couple of weeks. Keep us posted on the project details. It will be exciting to see it all come together.

Richard

stickguy

The designer of the kitchen itself gave some suggestions, and my daughter drew a nice one out (being done in tile that matches the floor most likely, with glass mosaics as the accent). Probably will end up tweaking a bit, but should look nice, and totally custom since we aren't using any pre-made elements.

We finally finished the whole bathroom design. that was a huge chore, since we had the walls, backsplash and shower, but the end product I think will look smashing (and better than the early iterations).

sterlingdog

I like your idea of slipping quietly into retirement. You can't imagine how much better you will feel once that stress is removed. You don't actually realize how much stress there is at work until you retire. Looking back, I can't believe all that I did at work. Besides, there are so many fun things to do when you retire---volunteer work, church work, reading, home projects, traveling, visiting, yard work, etc. The important thing is to have a plan---things to do for others and things to do for yourself. I can't understand it when retirees say that they are bored. We stay busy every day. For you, retirement will give you a chance to focus on your recovery time. That will be a good thing.

Don't get me wrong. I never suggest to a person that he or she should retire. A person will know when the time comes. It's a very individual decision based on many factors. I didn't even realize that I had worked for 40 years until a friend pointed it out to me. Neither did I realize that my retirement funds were the same as what I was making. It just made sense to retire in my case, especially while my health was pretty good. I eased out by doing consulting work for four years at my own pace. Now that I am fully retired, I don't regret my decision for a moment.

Regardless of what you decide, your focus must be on getting well. That's the main quest. Hope you enjoy the weekend trip.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Well, I just got home after five hours busting my butt at our local Food Bank."

We also work at the local food bank. We serve between 50 and 75 clients each Wednesday morning. People don't realize the work that goes into a food bank. We spend Mondays and Tuesdays getting ready for Wednesday mornings. The shelves have to be stocked; bags have to packed with certain foods for the clients; extra foods and juices are put out for selection; foods have to be ordered from the district food bank; grocery stores have to be contacted for packaged foods that they are willing to give us; etc. We have a team of about 15 people who keep our food bank going. My wife and I really enjoy the volunteer work. With a food bank, you can actually see the difference that you are making for people. Our clients are carefully screened so that we can help those who are in real need. With these hard economic times, we have seen quite an increase in the demand for food. Our clients really seem to appreciate what we try to do.

Richard

isellhondas

Last Thursday, we were short handed and one gal nad I worked the counter and served 105 clients!

That is smoking!

driver100

Are you all just dying to get your hands on a PT Crusier?

If you ever get tired of your retro style PT Cruiser just fix her up a bit.....

sterlingdog

The glass mosaics will be a great touch. It sounds as if you've got it all under control and well planned. Hope you get to post pictures for us to see.

If you feel that you can share at some point, I would be really interested in the estimate for the bath. We're going to redo the master bath, and I'm curious as to the approximate cost these days. Rest up for Monday. It will be a busy day!

Richard

isellhondas

Finally! A car uglier than an Aztek!

oldfarmer50

"...Maybe you wife would like a Challenger!..."

I asked her, and even though that car in the picture is the same color as her PT she said "I'm not impressed".

I have to agree with her. The Challenger is one more reason I'm no longer a big Chrysler fan. They took the car of my youth and turned it into a big overweight boat (over 4000 pounds). Only with the big gas hog engine does it have any performance to speak of and a Mustang will run rings around it on the turns.

oldfarmer50

"...other were Pt Cruisers. She hates them..."

Ouch! that hurts

The Cruiser as Isell said is really 12 year old technology so the Malibu can't help but be more advanced. The wife liked it because it's easy to get in and out of and it has a lot of utility as a grocery getter.

To me it was like buying a really low milage 10 year old car, nothing special. I also figure that any kinks the PT design ever had have long ago been resolved. The 2.4 engine stinks on gas milage but seems to be sturdy enough to go well over 100K miles.

By the time I actually do trade it in it will be a true classic car.

oldfarmer50

"...one gal and I worked the counter and served 105 clients..."

Yeah, but how many cans of creamed corn did you move? :P

Seriously, bless you for doing that kind of work. Working any kind of human services can take a lot out of you as you see all the sad stories walking in front of you.

oldfarmer50

'...just fix her up a bit..."

Wow, that one looks pretty nice. I've seen several done with custom bling. One had a Rolls-Royce type grill on it. Another was done up like a hearse.

I thought putting a pin stripe on her's was daring.

gogiboy

"Middle of nowhere on a pretty poor county but it it $100,000.... "

Where I live, it's not hard at all to find a decent starter home (much nicer than Fezo's example) for $100K. In fact, there's a 3 bedroom/2 bath on a cul de sac w/ a privacy fence. covered patio and two-car garage with frig., washer and dryer listed on the cover of our newspaper real estate guide this week for $109K.

In fact you'd all be amazed at what my wife and I paid for our starter home back in 1993. Now I know that times have changed and we sold that house for considerably more than we paid--at the height of the bubble--, but it had hardwood oak and ceramic tile floors, a cast iron pedestal sink and tub, leaded (stained) glass windows, mahogany trim throughout. Even had a decent fenced yard with a couple of peach trees and a nice deck that two of the bedrooms opened onto.

isell--our Honda dealership building caught fire. The firemen had to work in short shifts--not because of the heat from the fire, but due to the 105 degree outside temp. Doesn't look like it did significant damage, but it did finally remove the old dealership name. All the Hondas were moved next door to the owner's Hyundai/Chrysler lot so just a few sad looking trade-ins remain for now. This is the dealership that was bought by the professional (and local university) football legend. He has continued the past owner's screamer ads and gimmicky ploys (keys to win cars/prizes, etc). Could this be Karma? What kind of discount will the dealer give for the showroom cars that likely smell like non-cigarette smoke?

Gogiboy

stickguy

I will figure out the total damage at some point. Getting a good deal on labor, since I am doing it at the same time as kitchen so it is a lot more efficient, but also priced together.

the bits and pieces are where you get a wide variation. Could pay $500 for a vanity, could go $3,500

Our splurges are extra nicer tile, granite counter top and shower trim (wall cap,seat, threshold), and nice frameless glass shower doors (those can run up the price), but if you cut corners at the end,might as well just go cheap and crappy from the beginning!

jmonroe

...and nice frameless glass shower doors...

I can give you some advice for how to take care of those shower doors and the ceramic tile shower area. I gave this advice a few years ago on another forum here at Edmunds. I don’t know how many people took my advice but I still do it today.

Here’s what you do:

Since we’re car guys we’ve probably used Rainx at some point over the years. I don’t use it on my cars anymore but years ago I thought to myself, ‘if this stuff is good for windshields, why wouldn’t it be good for the shower doors and the ceramic tile walls’? So I did an experiment. I thoughly cleaned the glass and tile with a scrub brush and Comet. Once it was clean I applied a couple coats of Rainx. Caution here: make sure you have good ventilation because in a confined area that stuff will knock you out. One application will last for months.

I’m not always fully appreciated for how much I do around the house by Mrs. jmonroe but she thinks I’m a near genius for coming up with this one. No more soap scum look in our house anymore.

FWIW, I’m thinking of using Rainx on the kitchen granite counter tops but I haven’t done that yet. I can’t see why it wouldn’t work as well as the sealer potion that they push for the tops.

jmonroe

driver100

One had a Rolls-Royce type grill on it. Another was done up like a hearse

There are some really nice customized PTs around. Just go to and see a bunch of them, including a woody trim one. I can't copy those;

Customized PT Cruisers

sterlingdog

"...might as well just go cheap and crappy from the beginning!"

I totally agree. Why bother with a redo if it's cheap? You may as well keep what you have.

Richard

sterlingdog

Don't know about the Rainx, but I'm a big believer in Comet. Before you put that stuff on the granite, be sure to check the ingredients. At the granite factory, they gave us this advice: Don't use Windex EVER on the granite. Also, if you spill wine or cranberry juice, get it up immediately. Because we chose black granite, they gave us another tip. It is the one color that doesn't have to have the sealer potion once a year. We just use the granite spray cleaner. Our island is a tan granite with Lapis streaks, so we have to seal it once a year.

Though we like the granite, we'll use Corian in the master bath redo. We like the seamless sinks. Corian doesn't have as many color choices, but it is pretty. Though many new materials are on the market now, I still like the old ceramic tile squares from the 50's and 60's. You could shine them up with most any cleaner, and get most any color you wanted. We once did our kitchen counter tops in navy tile with white grout. We painted the bottom half of the walls yellow and the top half white. With new white appliances plus navy and yellow window treatments and chair cushions, the kitchen really looked like something from a designer's magazine. Oh well. Peoples' tastes change over the years---or is it the industry which makes us feel guilty if we don't decorate with the latest materials? Our country is so market driven.

Richard

sterlingdog

I think that the little PT Cruiser has had a bad rap. I always liked it. We even considered getting a PT convertible at one point. A neighbor down the street has a red one with a tan top. It's a sharp little car. Like so many other cars, the PT will be a collector's item one day. During the last 15 or so years, the PT has served its purpose and brought enjoyment to many consumers. I never heard any complaints about mechanical problems, so it must have been a pretty decent automobile. It was also reasonably priced.

Richard

qbrozen

We had a rental PT for a little while back around '01 or '02. We thought it was pretty horrible. Just very cheap feeling. What bothered me most of all, however, was the visibility. Thanks to those "retro" curves, the A pillar was drawn inward and much more intrusive to my line of sight than any other car I've ever driven.

On the cheap feel front, I think it may have improved later in life. I went along for a test drive in, I believe, an '06 or later with my brother a couple of years ago. He liked it and it didn't seem nearly as bad to me as that rental we had so many years earlier. But, really, by the '06 model year, who was even paying attention to it anymore? Any improvements would have gone largely unnoticed.

gogiboy

" Like so many other cars, the PT will be a collector's item one day."

Richard--

Not sure I agree with you on that, but anything's possible I suppose. I think they made just too damn many of them, plus they were never considered very sporty or unusual (after the first year). Personally, I'm waiting for the Cadillac Cimarron to achieve collector status.

The young woman down the street got a brand new PT Cruiser convertible from her folks after she totaled her car (and the car of the person she hit) when she ran a red light. She was still in high school at that point. There seems to be not only mental, but driving deficiency in that family gene pool as every one of their cars has damage--in some cases significant damage. I think the clan has something like 6 cars/trucks and each one is in need of body work. The PT Cruiser had a dangling front plastic bumper cover that was impinging on the wheel well. Dad eventually got around to "repairing" it by matching the bright blue paint with a near identically colored blue duct tape, Looks to be about 6 or 8 pieces doing the job of holding the bumper cover to the front right corner panel. I do think the duct tape gives the Cruiser a subtle elegance. They seldom put any cars in their three-car garage preferring to park them facing the wrong direction in front of their house. In fact, I think a boat is blocking access to at least one bay of the garage.

Gogiboy

oldfarmer50

"...Customized PT Crusiers..."

Here's my favorite:

http://www.tinkerz.com/pt/alienpt/alienpt2.jpg

I wonder what kind of money our sales guys would offer for THAT as a trade-in? :surprise:

tjc78

Don't use Windex EVER on the granite.

The guy that did ours, told us that Windex is OK if you get the ammonia free variety.

I'll tell you what, I wanted Corian but am sooooooooo happy my GF wanted the granite. Its the first thing people notice in our kitchen. We even went up the backsplash with it. The installers (from Poland) said that is very European. We just liked the way it looked.

isellhondas

If the smoke was bad enough, those showroom cars may be totalled.

isellhondas

I tried using Rainx on my cars two or three times. I followed directions carefully and had lousy results. Never again!

isellhondas

I highly doubt that a PT Cruiser will ever be a collector's item. They built far too many of them for that.

They weren't bad cars but they weren't great cars either.

Safety ratings were horrible compared to other cars of the same ages.

Chrysler did have a good thing going for awhile. Then the music died.

imidazol97

I just put RainX on the glass shower doors in our home.

I can't see any difference.

driver100

Don't use Windex EVER on the granite.

I got interested in this granite discussion because I didn't think it was a big deal.......we have quite a bit of granite in our kitchen too....yes, they have it in Canada too!

So, I looked up a few sites and though there doesn't seem to be any exact rules, these things seem to be good ones to follow;

They sell spray and wipe granite cleaners at my Tru Value. Try your local hardware store, or Home Depot. I also like to use the non vinegar green Windex, but the special granite spray cuts the cooking grease even better. If you buy the green Windex, be sure it is the kind that does not have vinegar in it.

Another product that seems good is Sprayway for cleaning.

And, I was surprised to learn granite is supposed to be sealed about every 6 months. Ours is 4 years old, hope it doesn't fall apart or get all filmy looking.

I know granite is a big thing, but I think stainless steel or brushed aluminum would be neater and cleaner looking, and it would be more practical, but that is just my opinion - what do I know about counter tops (I know what your thinking....or cars :P ).

driver100

..Customized PT Crusiers..."Here's my favorite:

Geez that PT Cruiser is sooooooooo ugly. How could somebody do that to a car? Actually, I think that guy should be tested to see if he has a psychological problem.

Now here is a PT done up very nicely, and you can actually buy the kit and surprise your wife for her birthday. Just do it one evening, and when she goes to get in her car, the next morning, she will be very surprised.

Make it into a "Woody". You can even carry around surf boards, just to make your neighbors envious.

jayrider

Rented one for a week --- wasn't impressed but could live with it for local trips.

isellhondas

No self respecting surfer would drive that!

driver100

Rented one for a week --- wasn't impressed but could live with it for local trips.

I had a rental one too once and I actually liked it. I liked the high seating position and the room inside. Also, I felt like a gangsta driving around in it. Just needed a wide brimmed hat and a cigar and I would be set...maybe a few bullet holes in the doors.

driver100

No self respecting surfer would drive that!

What would he drive? This?

isellhondas

Now, that's more like it.

I grew up in the big surfer era in a beach town in So. Calif.

roadburner

That's one of the ways I spend my retirement time.

Last week I helped a friend who is a youth minister cut down about 15 or so trees for a service project. The heat index was above 110 degrees. At least I was using my German(Stihl) chain saw; it gave me the real feel of the cut...

isellhondas

I would have died in that heat.

Today is the hottest day so far of the year here and I think it's hitting 80.

One of those days we wish our house had A/C.

Drove the Reatta today and the A/C will nearly blow a person out of that small area. I've always thought GM A/C blows the coldest.

roadburner

I would have died in that heat.

I felt that way by the time I was done.

Drove the Reatta today and the A/C will nearly blow a person out of that small area. I've always thought GM A/C blows the coldest.

I agree. My 1999 Wrangler has great A/C and heat and my 1995 3 Series has an HVAC system that is just about as good. Once the temperature gets much above 90 F you have to switch the Mazda's A/C to recirculate for it to work really well.

sterlingdog

I've never driven one; you and gogiboy would know more than I do. I like the design of the little convertible, but I was never attracted to the sedan. As for the PT becoming a collector's item, it is difficult to say what people may want in 40 or 50 years, or how many PT's will be remaining at that point.

Richard

sterlingdog

"We even went up the backsplash with it."

Neat idea!

Richard

sterlingdog

Man oh man! Your help with that service project certainly beats our work at the food bank. I can't imagine cutting down 15 trees while enduring a heat index of 110! Some of the young prison inmates should do that kind of service. Talk about rehabilitation.

Richard

sterlingdog

"I've always thought GM A/C blows the coldest."

I believe that you are correct. The last few days we've had 101-105 temps. The SRX really blows some cold air---and quickly. The Chrysler convertible does a decent job, but the air doesn't seem as cold as the SRX.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...always thought GM A/C blows the coldest..."

I'll agree with half that statement. Up until my son's Deville I never had a GM product that didn't need the compresser replaced sooner or later. One siezed up on the way to bring my new born home from the hospital. The nurses almost didn't let me take him for fear the car would burn up. :lemon:

jayrider

The a/c might blow great in GM's but unfortunately a few I've had blew gaskets just as well. My VW's were rotten in both respects.

cdnpinhead

Personally, I'm waiting for the Cadillac Cimarron to achieve collector status.

You have just hit a home run, my man.

Well done.

cdnpinhead

and thanks to H.L.Mencken (who said it first), with regard to the PT,

"No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public."

I feel the urge to repeat this every year or so, for some reason. While there are different strokes for different folks, the people who tart up cheap s*** (let's say stuff), to make it seem to be more than it ever was in the first place, completely baffle me.

But, then again, I easily baffled.

stickguy

I thought about the backsplash, but have been seriously outvoted. We are using the same granite in the powder room (right off the kitchen, so getting done too) and for that will using the 4" rise backsplash. The kitchen will be tile down to the countertop. I am sure the granite guys (been around a long time) will have plenty of advice.

one thing I always heard was to do a bead up test (like for car wax). Drip some water, and if it beads up and sits on the granite, you are good. If it starts to absorb, re-seal.

Hot here yesterday too (102 I believe, and humid). I spent the day ripping up the old ceramic tile (probably about 300 SF) by hand from the kitchen, and hauling it in buckets out to a dumpster on the driveway. think I lost about 5 pounds, and worked up one heck of a sweat!

tough way to save some money (but we saved a lot for what amounted to about 10 hours of work), proving that the contractor really did not want to do it either!

Can't wait, tomorrow they come and gut the bathroom and kitchen. Should be a fun next month! Should be all done by the end of August.

my car fund, however, is taking a huge hit! Actually my wifes fund, since she is due next (12/2012 is her target, but if we had not done all the house work, could have had something sooner).

Make the last college touition payment (well, we only get 1 year off from that) and buy her a car. The Van will be 8 years old by then, so I think she put in her time and we got our money's worth out of it.

tjc78

Drive anything from the mid- late 70s with the giant Frigidaire compressors. My 79 Lincoln Continental literally would blow frost out of the vents. I think it took over 4 lbs of R12 freon. No new car can compete IMO.

isellhondas

You are 100% correct!

The smaller compressors and the lousy R 134 freon that shoved down our throat don't get nearly as cold.

imidazol97

>mid- late 70s with the giant Frigidaire compressors

I had a car in for service (Ford) back then and the shop had a GM Pontiac sitting on the lift with the AC running and the doors open. Hot humid summer day and the AC was dribbling water stream out the size of a pencil. The mechanic said those compressors would handle 3 normal family homes AC load.

roadburner

Your help with that service project certainly beats our work at the food bank. I can't imagine cutting down 15 trees while enduring a heat index of 110! Some of the young prison inmates should do that kind of service.

Any service project is important, Richard. In my case my friend was under the gun- he was in charge of clearing an area in one of Louisville's inner city parks. The city was going to grind up the trees but they needed to be moved to the spot where the chipper was located. My buddy had a bunch of high school and middle school kids coming in on Thursday who were going to drag the trees to the chipper- but here it was Tuesday and only a few trees had been cut.
I'll tell you one thing, when I came home I took a long shower and vegetated on the couch for a couple of hours.