In Chaos my mind is!!!

Taking the fact that I am a Libra out of the mix because Libra's can almost never make a decision at least without second guessing themselves (sometimes even third, forth and fifth guessing) and even after we have made our final decision we worry that perhaps option B would have been better. UGH!!!

Anyway, after a year of car issues and just kinda sorta of keeping my eye on the job market for something closer to home because I am determined not to buy a new car until I absolutely have no choice so we can get as many of our house renovation bills paid off as possible I managed to land a few interviews. Some of the interviews were not close to home but at least I would have been able to take the bus unlike working in Arden Hills where the transit website said there was no way they could get me to Land O Lakes between the hours of 5am and 10am from North Minneapolis even if I were to walk several miles.

Is it me or don't most interviews seem to go really well? Every time I interviewed, even if I wasn't excited about the company or the job I always got good vibes but never any offers. Except for the Wells Fargo job, I did NOT get good vibes in that interview at all and in fact I was getting stressed out just hearing about the job. Don't get me wrong, I know many people that work for Wells Fargo and LOVE their jobs but none of them are in payroll.

I wasn't desperate to leave Land O Lakes and my car seems to be running very well so when I got a call from a local Hospital to come in for an interview, I was like "Sure, whatever" and OMG they called me back for a 2nd interview, followed by a job offer.

CRAP!!! Now I have to make a decision and it's not just a Burrito or a Fajita this will affect not only me but Scott because of the benefits. I will also have to change dentists, learn a new computer system, meet new people, new schedule, clothes, etc... What if they don't like me? What if I don't like them, the job, where I am sitting etc... I am in a Libra nightmare.

Live in the moment, Live in the moment, Live in the moment... Breathe....

In the interview the people seemed great, the location is REALLY close to our house, the job itself is what I already do but it's just different enough to keep me from getting bored at least for a while and based on the description of it I actually got excited because it seemed so perfect.

So I accepted the job offer and now I am faced with another nightmare. I have to put in my notice. In payroll you never know if they are going to ask you to leave immediately for confidentiality reasons or if you will have to stay for the duration of your notice. I was hoping for the immediate option which is why I completely cleaned out my desk before I put in my notice so all I would have to do is grab my bag and go. But alas! I have to stay the duration of my notice and I have NOTHING at my desk to keep me occupied.

So yesterday, I received my job offer confirmation letter and everything in it is at it was offered but then you read things that you already know but to see them in writing causes a little uneasy stir like "The first 60 days are a probationary period" and "Minnesota is an AT WILL State so if we hate you we can fire you for no reason at all" that combined with the full medical examination and drug test that I have to do next Tuesday that warns me not to eat poppy seeds or drink excessive amount of caffeine or I could fail. WHAT!!! Are you kidding me? Why is it every time I have to do a drug test I freak out even though I haven't done drugs in years and years? I am going to a BBQ on Saturday, what if they have poppy seed buns?

OK, since I have put in my notice, nobody asks me questions anymore and my job has been dissected and split up amongst the others and although I am required to be here I have absolutely nothing to do except write this meandering blog that is just really a whole lot of nothin. I wish we had a wireless connection in here, then I could at least sign in to Facebook and send people eggs!

2008 Red Ribbon Ride

Day#1

So here we are at the Mall of America at 5:30am on Thursday 07/17/2008 ready to start another incredible adventure. Some of us are here every year but every year there are a several new faces as well as a few faces missed.

















Opening ceremonies start and finish and we are all itching to just get started so I’m pretty certain the new video was not as appreciated as much as it should have been. We line up to head out the doors of the mall and as I start to roll, my helmet strap broke. I rolled out anyway and stopped at the end of the driveway and tied it together the best I could. We made it out of the MOA at 7am or so, through Pit #1 in Rosemount and Pit #2 in Hastings and we are now 34 miles into Day #1 and am very happy about cooler temps, no head winds, rain or hail so Woo Hoo!!!

By the time we got to Pit #3 in Miesville, MN the rain has begun and it ain't pretty. It's 11:13am and we are still at Pit #3 because I guess there is some rule about riding with lightening. The group of bikers is getting larger and largerbecause they won't let us leave because the route has now been officially closed. I knew I should have skipped this pit and head to lunch because Pit#3 to Pit#4 on Day#1 is one of my favorite routes.

I managed to get permission to leave and head to Pit #4... Uuummm!!! OMG!!! It felt like I was riding in a hurricane with tidal waves and lightening as an added bonus. It was so incredibly spiritual and in that short ride from Pit#3 to Pit#4 it all came flooding into me as a reminder as to why I do these rides, this ride, my ride, OUR ride. I don't think I've had a rush like that in a long time and probably won't again anytime soon because we are all now trapped at Pit #4 which is also lunch. They are trying to decide if they are going to close the route altogether since this weather doesn't appear as though it is going to let up.

We have now been hanging out here at Pit #4 for over an hour which feels like an eternity because we are wet, cold and oh get this... Someone thinks it’s a great idea to wrap wet cold people in mylar (foil blankets) in a lightening storm. LMAO!!!

So we waited at Pit #4 for almost 2 hours when they announced the route was going to be closed for at least another hour so I decided to call it a day and rode the sweep bus back to camp and not 5 minutes later the route re-opened. Although I was initially pissed off I am ok with my decision since the last 20 miles was non-stop rain.

















It's now 7:17pm and I am dry, happy but very tired. Tomorrow is another day and we are hoping for a dry day.

I love being on the ride, you can eat as many desserts as you want and still know that your calorie intake is less calories burned.

Good night...

Day#2

We are going on about 2 (Maybe) hours of sleep. It's 6:05am and we just finished breakfast. Who eats this early?

I am at Pit #3 at St Patrick’s Church in West Albany, MN. I opted not to do the shortcut option that I usually take to make up for the miles I skipped out on yesterday. I am 38+ miles into the 73 mile day. No rain but really overcast which is kinda nice because the humidity is nice and cool. The bad part is you can't wear your glasses. The BIG hill is next so here I go...

WOW! It's 11:15am and I am at Pit #4 and past the most challenging part or could I be remembering wrong...maybe the BIG Hills were after lunch.

I signed up this year almost out of guilt but I'm already thinking about next year (which I already swore I would not do) and people have been contacting me wanting to do ride with me in 2009 so who knows? I wonder what Robyn's gonna do when she finds out the Doug wants us to start a "Team Firm" hehe!!! But so far it's been a great ride and considering I basically went on 1 training ride since last year, and I still feel great odds are I will do it again in 2009 unless I find those hills I have forgotten about.

Ok...someone lied and I did forget. The hills were definitely worse AFTER lunch. But still, not as bad as I remembered. Day #2 ended up being just less than 75 miles and I still feel pretty damn good. It's 1:59pm and I have been done for over 30 minutes and I would REALLY like a Diet Coke and a shower.

I got my shower (kind of) because my clothes are in a route marking car I barrowed a towel and a pair of shorts and took a shower with no soap or shampoo so I will take another one later. I still REALLY need a Diet Coke, a massage and the Chiropractor.

Dinner was donated by Chipotle and there were trays and trays of cookies and brownies.

All is good....

Day#3


The day was relatively un-eventful. We started out at 6:30am and we were at lunch at 9:30am and back to camp just after 1pm. We had some great hills and are now sitting here waiting for a massage.

















I really need to get more into biking trips and stuff. I feel sssooo good afterwards. Why couldn't I have discovered these things when I was 20?

Ok, I did it. Yes, I did it again. I am now officially registered on "The Firm" RRR Team for 2009. $1500.00 to raise AGAIN! I wish I had the money because I would just pay it myself.



























It's friends and family night and
Robyn and Lief came to visit us and I really REALLY hope I can convince them to ride so Robyn will join The Firm team. The speaker tonight was Ryan White's mother Jeannie White. She seems very down to earth and real but and I really want to listen to her for hours but my body is sssooo tired.







Day#4 – LAST DAY

Just rolled into the last pit about 10:30am... The hills of St Paul are probably 1/10 of what we have ridden over the past couple of days but because it’s the last day and we are all exhausted they seem to be almost the most challenging.

Now we wait for everyone to roll in for closing the ceremony... About 2 hours. Oi Vey!!!

Closing ceremonies this year is at the State Capitol and the area we are holding at while we wait has an amazing view. Too me, this is one of the best and worst parts. Everyone is so relaxed and happy to be done and we talk, laugh, eat and we wait. We wait for what seems to be an eternity because we are also tired, sore, sticky and really just want to be home.

It is now 1:30pm and we roll down the hill towards the front steps of the Capitol Building and we line the sides of a chained off area. The crew is introduced and come marching in and we empty our water bottle on as many of them as we can and we applaud them for their work, dedication and commitment to us, the ride and “The Cause” and if it were not for them there is no way we could do what we do.

Closing ceremonies finish and we all start to scatter, wander, look for our loved ones that came to pick us up, head to our cars and ultimately back to our homes.

The 2008 Red Ribbon Ride may be over but the memories, the people, the hills and reason we all do what we do will forever be etched in our minds and that will NEVER end.

Ride on, Laugh long and always remember what you helped create,
Much Love,
Reeeshar

Click here to see all the pictures I took if your interested>>> http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=17es1pzv.6elcekn7&x=0&y=-suvd9k&localeid=en_US

Red Ribbon Ride - Opening Ceremony Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeEMEAbTBbc

Additional RRR Pictures will be posted below very soon.
http://www.lifeimagellc.com/EVENT_RRR.html

More Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/gerke.benjamin/MinneapolisRedRibbonRideRide2008

http://www.pbase. com/bwlau55437/ 2008_red_ ribbon_ride_ _day_1__4

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Reflecting from room 1506

WOW! I can't believe I moved to Minnesota 10 years ago this year. I remember my first priority after finding a job was to find a Pride group. I wasn't against going to the bars but I had learned that if I was going to meet people that would become "friends" then I would have to find them in places other than a bar.

Thinking back, I am very fortunate having grown up in Northern California but I suppose it depends on the way you look at it. I never REALLY had to"Come out" and everything as I know it is pretty much the way it always has been. I have never had to fight for or been denied any kinds of rights. I grew up in a community that was very diverse so I have always known that people were people and never been exposed to anyone not liking or even hating someone based on their color, religious views, sexual orientation, etc. It was all about who had the better car, was wearing the latest style or who made the most money and a lot of that really hasn't changed.

I met my first partner in 1985, moved to Southern California and went to my first GLBT Pride Parade and I was shocked, scared, curious and in awe over the amount of people crying during the parade and I didn't understand why. I finally realized that in between the scantily clad men on floats from various bars were groups of people holding up pictures of friends,family members, partners, neighbors etc. that had been beaten just because they fought for their rights, our rights, MY rights. the rights that I completely took for granted.

Tears also flowed when the HIV/AIDS Service Organizations and activist groups went by and even though I myself was diagnosed with HIV in 1984(less than a year prior) it was terrifying yet eye opening to see this group of people called "Act Up" come marching along making all kinds of ruckus and then just stop in a dead silence, followed by half of the group dropping to the ground and the other half outlining their bodies in chalk and then they just stayed there in the silence laying on Santa Monica Blvd until the voices in megaphones shouted "pay attention.Act Up" and the people crawled out of there chalk outlined silhouettes and wrote messages inside the shells of what was once them laying in the street that said."ME". "YOU". "MOM". "DAD". "BROTHER". "SISTER". FRIEND". "PARTNER."

Years have gone by but that day will remain in my memory like it was yesterday. It's part of the reason that I got involved with Pride Organizations in the first place.

It is now June 28, 2008 (23 years later) and I am sitting here alone in a very nice, very expensive hotel the night before I am to create the Grandstand and V.I.P. area for the 3rd largest GLBT Pride Celebration in the country. One of my Best friends from California is here visiting and is at home with my partner since I have to be out on Hennepin Avenue at 5am to start my day. I have had about 4 hours of sleep in the last 3 days and although my intention was to be asleep by 8pm, as I was finally drifting off to sleep about 10pm I realized **FUCK** the bin of Pride (which consists of a giant plastic bin that holds so many Rainbow Flags you could pretty much gay up an entire coliseum) is still at our house and my car is at the Festival. Thankfully my partner was home and able to bring them to me to the hotel. But I digress!!!

But what does it all mean now? All over the world there are GLBT Pride Celebrations sponsored by HUGE Corporations. People of all races, genders and sexual orientations dance and celebrate together.

I have often wondered if it really matters to anyone if Pride celebrations actually serve a purpose anymore. I went to here Amistad Maupin speaklast week and he made a statement about HIV Education and how pissed off he was because how much more education do people need before they realize that HIV/AIDS is real, it does affect everyone and you can get it, even if it is "Your 1st time".... again.

We have come so far and yes, I know there is still a long way to go but I just wondered if Pride celebrations is the way to get there. I think I started asking myself these questions when people/friends asked me "Why do you do this to yourself?" and I would often just smile and nod because I never really had a good answer and just knew it's what I wanted and needed to do. But I have been thinking about it more and more and I realized that that was it; I do it because we are"MORE," More than G.L.B.T.Q or any other letter you want to attach to us, more than the stereotypical interior designers, great cooks, people with great hair or fashion consultants because trust me I have my share of friends that can't put 2 socks together and make em match to save theirlife, but we are just MORE. We are auto mechanics, auditors, Politicians or anything we want to be. We are proud to be whatever letter is attached to us or we attach to ourselves. We have good days and bad days like anyone else, we have children, we have houses, we pay taxes, we are equal and we are proud and yes we do still need Pride Festivals.

It was a really long night and weekend of hard work and reflection and of all the years I have worked or volunteered on or with Pride committees I feel more confidant than ever that I am where I need and want to be. A friend of mine asked me once "If not us, than who?" and I realized he is right.

Live, Love and Laugh often,

Richard

Not sure if this link will work but if it does, here are some pictures of TC Pride 2008

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?UAUTOLOGIN_ID=94495276507&UV=932125846630_744564632307&collid=94495276507.442681922307.1215634398314&page=1

P.S. The following letter was sent in from the Mother of a young man that had recently come out that again completely reinforced that I am where I need to be.

To Twin Cities PRIDE board,

I am a 47 year old happily married straight mom of 4. When my one soncame out a year ago (although I'd known for years without him tellingme-parents must just know these things!) we wondered as a family what wecould do to support him in his life journey without any condemnation, criticism, or discrimination. We knew he would get those things from theworld, but we wanted to make sure he was well-loved at home and homewould be a place too where he could be who he was created to be. Our dooris open to anyone important in his life and we recently, gratefully havehosted his boyfriend fora weekend and we adore him too! I found myself involved in a GSA group atour local high school and then volunteered for a few things, the PRIDEevent the biggest. I had no idea how I would be forever changed prior toPRIDE. What I saw on Saturday, while walking around the grounds, was aspiritual awakening for me. How could this wonderful community accept me(straight) just as I am, when I (and I'm talking 20 years ago I felt likethis) did not accept them just as they were? I've come a long way, but myfeelings of any "me" and "them" were forever changed to "us".We're all in this together, straight or GLTB. What a NONISSUE. I feltlike the welcome mat was rolled out for me in almost every booth I stoppedat, chatted it up with people and really got to know some of the strugglesof the GLTB community. I was moved to volunteer now with those sufferingand struggling with AIDS and help even more to love unconditionally. We're ALL children of our creator. I think the straight community is wayscrewed up!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I helped on Sunday as a volunteer with theparade, and even though I had a mass of stitches in my upper leg, I wasable to get around but mostly rode with Andi, the volunteer coordinator. I can't imagine another person in this position-what a RIOT! ROCK ONANDI! Anyway, at 10:59 we had our golf cart at the beginning of theparade and in the midst of a chaotic 1 minute trying to find 2 people tocarry the LEAD banner, it ended up to be me on one side and a wonderfulyoung woman on the other. We started the parade and I just prayed "Godget me through with my leg not hurting". Starting the first block (nowI'm talking the LEAD banner, the one that introduces the parade to people,the 2008 PRIDE parade banner) my heart started pumping and tears came tomy eyes instantly. I was sobbing, and was like "where did that come from"and then I realized I was proud. I cry as I write this-I am so very, veryproud of my son, my entire family for wrapping their arms around him inlove, being a part of something that's so big it's on a spiritual leveland ME, A STRAIGHT MOM FROM A TINY TOWNIN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WHERE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT ON SIGHT(that's exaggerating a little, but not much) TO CARRYING TO LEAD BANNER INTHE 2008 PRIDE PARADE? I tell ya, I was more touched and moved than youcan even believe. I did stop crying and decided to enjoy one of thebiggest moments in my life, but cried all the way home and have cried onand off this week, I was so moved. There are no words. I get what PRIDEmeans now. Even as a straight woman, I understand PRIDE. Maybe not onthe same level as somebody else, but I got it in my own way. Thank youfor a heck of a time Andi, and all of you volunteers? You put your heartand soul into it. What an event. What coordination. Never seen anythinglike it....there was a photo of me on WCCO that I found and I've probablysent it to 50 of my friends. I guess I lost a couple of friends becauseof it (isn't THAT DUMB???!!! They should volunteer next year..maybe itwould open their eyes...) but who cares about that. I have like 50 newfriends just from this past weekend and I will be there next year andplease, can I be the banner carrier again? Thank you, all of you. Yougave this old lady "a moment" in life that I hope is etched on mytombstone. "She carried the banner, and was proud doing so". God'sblessings to each and every one of you.

I am a life that was changed.....Michelle B.

Printed in the Lavender Pride Edition at www.lavendermagazine.com

Living (and Living…) With HIV

by Terrance Griep


By all rights, Richard Carper should have died. Carper was diagnosed with HIV in 1984—during the decade of Duran Duran, Ronald Reagan…and Ryan White. It was that dark, pre-AZT epoch when testing HIV-positive was a certain condemnation to a slow, excruciating, and ugly death.

"It was crazy time," according to Carper, who these days works as a data manager for a local corporation. "Back in the day, people were reluctant to let me hold their baby, or, going to someone's house, they didn't want me to do their dishes. They wouldn't really say why, but we all knew."


Carper's was a rough diagnosis delivered roughly. He had signed on with the United States Navy, and just before the final "t" was crossed, and the final "i" was dotted, he was escorted by military police into an office whose sole purpose was to reject recruits.


"All my paper work was there," Carper remembers, and the officer presiding over the proceedings told him, in his words, "I was a lying, hypocritical faggot, because I had the AIDS cancer, and I was going to die. I was told there was no room in the US military for people like me."


Carper didn't even have the slightest idea that he was sick—this is how he found out he was HIV-positive. But that may have been the only thing positive in his life for the next decade.


"I ended up wandering around for a while," Carper recounts. "I figured I was going to go kill myself, because I'd been told I was going to die anyway. I really had no knowledge of what [HIV] was. I mean, I think I'd heard about it on the news. I was homeless, so I didn't get a chance to sit down and watch TV a lot, and it wasn't really talked about, so I had no knowledge of it except that other people got it."


Carper was a young man suffering alone through a gloomy present that was not tethered to a future, but to the void

"I went into the phase of writing a lot of bad checks, and spending a lot of money that I didn't have," Carper recalls, reviving a dismal breed of liberation. "I never thought I'd have to worry about any kind of retirement, buying a house, going to school—I didn't continue my education. I didn't do anything, because I was going to die. I ended up just living day to day, just waiting to die."

The agony of that waiting was alleviated chemically.

Carper relates, "I got involved in crystal meth, and, after about 10 years, I realized that, OK, maybe I'm not going to die right away. Every time I went to the doctor, he told me I had three months to live. I had three months to live for seven years."


Eventually, very eventually, even the most obtuse of medical professionals saw that HIV was affecting Carper differently than most—but survival had, and continues to have, its price. After years away from crystal meth, he relapsed, which proved to be a turning point.

"I think that's when I really, really chose to live my life," Carper shares. "At 34 years old, I realized I've got to start focusing on retirement, on getting a job and keeping it, and on continuing my education—all the things I never, ever thought I'd have to worry about. And," he adds with a laugh, "it's kind of a chore. I just turned 40 years old. When I wake up in the morning, I feel like I've got bricks strapped to my head. I don't know if that's HIV, or just being 40, but it sucks."


Nietzsche holds that what does not destroy one makes one stronger, and Carper's very existence is a testament to that notion.

"On a life level, I am so much more advanced, like many people living with HIV are," Carper reports. "Every single day, I am so appreciative of every color of every life that exists. It's just crazy. People say, 'Oh, that sounds so cheesy and cliché,' but I seriously believe it's true. The fact that I can pump out wedding cakes and birthday cakes and anniversary cakes, and the fact people who know my status ask me to do this without worrying that, you know, I'm going to bleed into the cake or something—I have a truly amazing life."


And, strangely—or not so strangely—HIV is an integral part of that amazing life.

"I am who I am today because of my HIV status," Carper insists. "I know the people that I know today because of my status. I had the attitude of a prima donna, but I'm so not about that now. I do the 300-mile bike ride every year for the Red Ribbon Ride. My partner works at Minnesota AIDS Project. I know a lot of great people through Minnesota AIDS Project, Minnesota AIDS Walk, and the Red Ribbon Ride. And I wouldn't know any of these people, and I wouldn't be at all who I am today, had I not been HIV-positive."

That begs an obvious question: If Carper hadn't become infected, who would he be?

"I can't say that I'd be dead," Carper muses. "I can say that I'd be very lonely, very cold, and very selfish—all caught up in my own little world."

That isn't to say Carper endorses HIV as some kind of "lifestyle choice." He urges everyone, especially queer youth, to employ every ounce of HIV prevention available to them. That said, Carper has been surprised by the bond formed between him and his fellow advocates.


"There's totally a sense of community," Carper declares. "I'm really proud to represent that community in any way, shape, or form. If I can help anybody to stay HIV-negative; help anybody who's positive to feel better about themselves; help anybody who's going through any type of addiction—if I can help anybody at all, I'd be more than proud."

By all rights, Carper should have died—"but," he supposes, "I wanted to live more."

Ready or not floors are DONE!!!

I mean really! Such a lot of fuss over a few floors. Who was worried? Not me! hehe

Remember the ugly multi-colored grey shag carpet I was talking about?



















And remember poor Scotty B. and the staples?















Well NO MORE!!! We gosts some floors and dey purdy and dey taint stickay or lumpy or nuthin!




















We start the slate in the kitchen next. Good Times...
Reeeshar

Minwax® Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane

So we finished staining the floors on Sunday morning. The plan was to go back after the designated 4-6 hours and apply the 1st coat of Polyurethane.
So we went for a drive and then to some corporate restaurant (Chili's I think) back to Home Depot and then finally back to the house about 3pm. The floors were still not totally dry so we decided that we needed to wait on the polyurethane because otherwise we were gonna be up until at least midnight shleppin poly and I would miss Desperate Housewives as well as Brothers and Sisters.
Ok, it is now Tuesday 5/15 and I decided I would go over to the house on lunch from work and do the first coat of poly, go back to work and do the 2nd coat after work because after all the directions say "Apply a thin coat using a lambswool or synthetic pad applicator, or a natural bristle brush. Maintain a wet edge to avoid lap marks." Simple enough, right? OH WHAT THE HELL EVER!!! Thin coat MY ASS! I showed up, stripped down to my undies and entered the room loaded with lamb flesh and a can of something that can apparently spontaneously combust at any given moment and I am about to apply it to the floor we have worked so hard to bring back to life. Whoever wrote these directions has obviously never used this product because there is no way in hell you can apply anything that even remotely resembles a thin coat of anything using the sheet of lamb flesh that turned into a BALL OF FLESH as soon as it got poly on it. It was like the movie "Flashdance" in that applying the poly more resembled more then anything described in the instructions.
















So it is now 1:40pm, I am back at work. My fingers and EVERYTHING else are sticking to everything. I am also guessing the nice poly coated splinters that were shoved into my finger tips are glued in nice and tight now. Side Note: If you try this at home, don't use latex gloves it ate through 6 pairs and I am certain there will be remnants of rubber finger tips permanently glued into the floor.


** Pause ** Will complete blog after work when I see if I created a mess or ???


Ok, I am a BIG O DORK!!! That sheep flesh I was using at lunch time:



















Did you happen to notice the words "REFILL PADS" UGH!!!

This is was I was supposed to be using:



















and it goes on the end of a broom handle like this:


















I discovered all this convenient stuff on my own while trying to track down Home Depot employees with no luck I might add. Maybe they were all here:




















LOL! That place cracks me up. I still haven't been able to get anyone to be able to help me order kitchen cabinets.

Anyway, it is now 7:32pm and the final coat of poly is drying and all I can do is hope that it doesn't look like tapioca or something worse. Maybe the Home Depot employees visiting the masters love will do the naked floor better turn out dance for me. This is what we have so far and what really annoys me is that I never came into contact with the poly with all the new stuff I got. It's a good thing to because I didn't have any more gloves or fingertips for that matter. hehe

Much Peace,

Richard