spazzdog wrote"i wonder if my roomate would mind me disappearing for 6 weeks... during a just beginning kitchen remodel/add-on... with 3 dogs to manage during the uproar...."

details, details, details, besides, it's not 6 weeks, you'd only have to be in CA on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, could fly back in between then. Just think of the frequent flier miles you'd get ;-)