Im Shell

I wrote a check to a contractor on Friday. It cleared my bank on Monday - and I have produced a copy of the cancelled check from my bank. It is Thursday and the contractor is refusing to work onsite until the check 'clears'. They are saying it hasn't cleared their bank.

My understanding is once it is out of my bank (and has been for 3 days) - it is considered 'paid' - regardless if her bank holds funds. At this point, i couldn't withdraw the funds - so there is no reason to not proceed.

My question is - where can I find the statute (for Virginia) that says this. Everybody 'says' it - but I need it in writing.

I have a contract with a General Contractor who is, let's say, being less than honest with me. I work all day, come home and find errors that he then wants to charge me for. I have a friend who was willing to be onsite and handle any questions or concerns that come up. The GC refused to talk to him - stating he didn't sign the contract. I granted him Power of Attorney over this project, had it notarized and presented it to the GC - as the point of contact for all future correspondence regarding the contract. He reviewed a requested change order for me and found the $3500 for a new panel box wasn't needed - and even if it was -would have been less than a third that price!

In any case, is there any legal reason that the GC can refuse to abide by his requests or direct correspondence to him as requested?

Children can come up with the most innocent questions or comments - that can embarass the heck out of us parents!! What is the most embarassing / funniest thing that your child has said?

My then 3 year old daughter once 'scolded' another mom for telling her kids to 'shut up'. We were in line at WalMart - and this frustrated mom finally broke and told her 4 kids to 'just shut up!' My little one, in all her wisdom, said 'Awwww, we don't say shut up!' - Had her little finger wagging and everything. It was so precious, but I felt for that mom, too!!

Have a great day!

My mom lives with me - is on disability b/c emphazema, COPD, depression and anxiety - to name just a few. I am a single mom with an 11 year old daughter.

Part of the problem is health - she sits in a chair all day (I work) and says 'too weak' - but I think she's too weak bc she won't do anything. I can't 'make' her get up and move around.

There is an incredible amount of tension between all 3 of us! Particularly mom and my daughter. Every time I correct my daughter, mom chimes in - frustrating both of us. She'll ask her to do something - say, do the dishes - and because she didn't do it 'that second' she yells at her. In fact, she's asked her to do something, and then yells at her for not doing it WHILE she is doing it.

If I tell mom to pls let me handle it, I hear 'I can't do anything right' and she has a panic attack. If I say nothing, then I get frustrated and so does my daughter.

What can I do to ease the tension - and at least make the two of them happy?!?!

Two days ago, my kitten (who adopted us about a month ago) decided to do a Wyle E Coyte run off of a platform about 12' off the ground. She took off running, never stopped, never looked down, just ran right off the end! I took her to the vet, and he bandaged her leg - it's not a 'bad' break.

The leg is supposed to be non-weight bearing. Tell me, please - how do you keep a kitten off her feet?!?!?! She is so frustrated, just wants to play and walk. I had her in a confined area (old play pen) thinking she'd have her food, water, litterbox, and a little room to breathe. She just about went insane! She just refuses to be still!

Any suggestions?!?!

My daugher's weakest subject is reading. She reads well, and if you ask her 'what's the story about' she can tell you in great detail - so I know she's 'comprehending' it.

The problem is, she'll read the story and then read the question. She will inevitibly answer the question with what she thinks is the 'correct' answer - which may or may not be the answer that was in the story. Her reasoning is that they are wrong - and it should be 'this way'.

For example, she read a story on Amelia Earhardt. There was a quote that said 'it is ability, not gender that determines a good pilot.' The question was - what determines a good pilot A) gender B) ability C) education D) courage.

Her answer - D) courage. Her explanation - if you don't have the courage to follow your dreams, how do you know that you have the ability to do it? Can't argue that point, but that isn't what the story said!!!

How do I get her to focus on the story - not her opinion without trampling on creativity?

My mother moved in with me in January of '07. She is on social security/disability. We spend more on her medications than she gets from social security and she has no savings, house or anything else.

I love my mom - and would have it no other way than having her live with me - but I'm a single mother raising a daughter on my own and supporting my mother. I want to make sure that I make the best financial decisions for all of us.

My question is - what is the best way to file taxes this year? What are the pro's and con's of claiming her as a dependent?

I've been divorced 9 years, and although my ex and I have a 'neutral' relationship, as my daughter gets older, there have been more problems. She's 11 now. For Christmas, her father and his wife (of 8 years) gave HER son a wii, $80 shoes, and a bunch of other stuff. They gave HER daughter similar gifts - they are 17 and 19 yrs old. My daughter got a pair of jeans (that were too small) a book and a couple of knick-knacks from her father - for Christmas AND her birthday which was a week before.

Ok - whatever - I got over that - she got plenty from me. The issue is, my daughter wasn't overly enthused about her presents and when asked - said something about the difference. Her step mom told her 'Did you know we give your mom a check every month? We can't afford to just buy you stuff - we're trying to put (her son) through community college.

My daugher is heartbroken - should I say something or just bite my tongue?

My contractor is telling me that it is 'standard' when creating an access door to my new addition that they not provide access TO the door - ie steps. Therefore I incurred a $2000 change order to have steps to access the back door. I thought that a residence had to have a minimum of 2 ways in/out - therefore, they must provide access to the second door to meet code. Am I way off??