Calli, isn't there a yellow rose called something like "Leonidas"? My best friend once mentioned it as being her favorite flower, and I wanted to plant one if I could find it.

Have the MiracleBorns settled on Halloween costumes yet?

We have not, though I've made some headway on convincing Emeline to go as Madeline. If she does, then I'll be taking her trick-or-treating dressed as Miss Clavel.

We have our Annual Halloween party the Saturday before and it's a circus theme. I'm going as a trapeze artist. I'm going to buy one of these in nude: [link] and cover it with gold sequins, sparkles, fringe, and feathers. I'm trying to recreate this look: [link]

Although I want a mini top hat with sequins and feathers.

Joe will probably go as either the Ringmaster or the Strongman.

Even without a yard, I insist on having at least one rose bush on my balcony. It dies every winter, but I get enough enjoyment from it that even at $20 for the plant, I think it's worth it.

I went condo and I gotta say, it's a mixed bag when it comes to perks/downsides of condo owning. It's nice not having to worry about shoveling sidewalks, plowing driveways, mowing lawns. But then, by the time you add condo fees to the mortgage, your basic monthly expenses are no different than renting, plus you have to do all your own internal maintenance and repairs. So, there are trade-offs. I'm not big on the outside stuff and I have no problem with replacing wall sockets, plugs, fixtures, basic stuff, so in the long run I'd probably still go the condo route. At least, it gets me a better tax refund, so I'm happy.

I'd love to own a condo with the same total payout I do for my apartment.

I have so much debt, though, and so little income....well, it'll never happen.

Okay, Snow Leopard installed and running. I have Seurat as my new wallpaper, but I"m not sure how long that'll last. Don't know if I can take the pointilism 24/7 as it were.

Okay, Snow Leopard decided to post twice. Not that interesting.

I want to own mainly because I want a bit of yard between us and our neighbors. I'm sick of hearing other people's footsteps above me.

I love the stability that comes with owning my own place. In NYC, it's really unusual to have a lease last for more than two years - after that pretty much everyone goes month to month, and you can be kicked out or have your rent skyrocket with basically no warning. With a baby on the way, we didn't feel we could take that risk.

::holds rent stabilized apartment very tightly::

I actually got a three bedroom with roommates so that some day I could have it without roommates. Ah life in NYC.

When I was renting I was always acutely aware that my landlord was allowing me to live in a house or apartment that was not really mine. I like owning, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of financial sense (especially the way property values have dropped since I bought, sigh).

I love owning, even if it does gobble up time and money. Tax benefits are great, but the best part is being able to futz around with the house and yard. Geeky house stuff like putting in attic insulation is very satisfying to me. Researching and planning and doing stuff to the house is my hobby, really.