for May 5, 2004 Shopper webmaster will be gone the week of May 12 so the week of May 19 we'll also publish May 12. Dear Annie,
My wife and I are having a house built, and it seems like all we've done since the project started is argue! She reads your column-please tell her this will be over soon, and there are a few things I might know a little more about than she does!
Sick of Fighting in Cinnebar, WA
Dear Sick,
Wow! You guys are butting heads! Maybe you both could do with a weekend away, or at least a little breather from the building project. I've never had a new house built, but I've thought it must be one of the most stressful undertakings people can face. The financing, permitting, contractors, time lines-no wonder you're bickering! Sounds like both of you need reminding that the house is being built for a family to live in and love in. Neither of you wants this hard time to do permanent damage to your marriage. Be nice to each other for a while and see if there's room for compromise on some of the things each of you have been stubborn about. Now, here's what I've always wanted to change about my own house: the laundry room's right off the living room, behind double folding wooden doors, so when watching TV, you hear the washer and dryer. Especially annoying when something with buttons or overall straps is beating around in the dryer. Don't include that plan in your house, not that you would. Also, this house has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the bathroom off the master bedroom is so tiny it's exactly like a hotel bathroom, complete with the tiny tub. I fantasize about having a tub big enough to actually sink down in the hot water! So design definitely does matter, but not more than each other. Take care.
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
May 5, 2004 Strife While Building a House
Apr. 28, 2004 Blessings in a Physically Challenged Child Hunting Easter Eggs
Apr. 21, 2004 Pushy people who keep telling us, "You should..."
Apr. 14, 2004 Abusive Dad, Discourteous Telephoning
Apr. 7, 2004 Guilty About Inadequately Reciprocating to Wonderful Giving Friend
Mar. 31, 2004 Kids Selling Cookies
Mar. 24, 2004 Big Girl Wants to Avoid Brother's Fancy Wedding
Mar. 17, 2004 New Manager Getting Gifts from Subordinate?
Mar. 10, 2004 Loaned Money to Roommate
Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk
Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank
Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners
Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?
Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler