In a message dated 5/20/2004 10:20:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Nice to hear from you, Heidi! Two words: meal ticket.Whose? The termites, or the exterminator's? Two more words: retirement fund. Whose? Not mine, although the possibility that signing up for a 30 year mortgage at the age of 51.5 may well take care of my chances of ever seeing mine, and my chances weren't good in the first place. Two furthermore words: second opinion. Whose? Some Pinhead's? She got those already. Unfortunately they were consistent with MY opinion, and although I thought she was actually going to see the light, she has evidently relapsed. As a woman/guyette/girl-currently-shopping-for-a-house-myself, I can only say the mere THOUGHT of those disgusting insects in a house of mine puts me off. I should think you got there in Merryland, and from what John says, you gotta go to Hudson's Bay to escape from the little bastards. I don't even like killing the occaisional spider What, you feel sorry for God's little creatures? Fuck 'em. We're not talking baby seals here. At least, I don't think so. On the other hand, my idea for a horror movie is having the bugs take over and start dishing out what they've been taking from us. millions of insects eating my house would NOT be a selling point. One would think that it would give a person pause. I would certainly use it as a bargaining tool. I would say "a club" rather than a bargaining tool, but this is her battle, not mine. But at $500K in North Jersey, I suppose its already undermarket. (I am so homesick. I miss New Jersey. Try to think about the half-million-dollar termites; might cheer you up.) Oh and I have heard the term "wife-beater" tee shirt I still don't like it (in my capacity as Mr. Sensitive, that is ; the sick side thinks it's even more creative than "Guinea tee.") used in the Cecil I suppose that's pronounced "see-sill", not "sess-ill," but it's a pretty awful name either way. Co., Maryland area (often identified as the hick hinterland of Maryland.) Just keep what we've said in mind as you house-shop, and you'll be OK. All my best, Ralph