Thanks for the info. Will have to have Sue run me down to 100 Oaks and check things out at Best Buy. No big rush, don't plan on getting one till late next year.

As far as the Tablet and Smart Phone suggestion, that's what I'm trying to avoid. Use a basic cell phone now and have the texting option blocked.Not a big technology buff. Just want oneitem I can use for everything. Will keep checking.

Take care, Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Still looking for the rules to be posted so we can see if there is a cash option other than the 50K. Will just have to wait until next week when the sweepstakes opens.

Question on another subject. How well does the Ipad work with your vision. We're planning a family reunion in Europe for the spring of 2016 and am considering pickingup a tablet before the trip. Don't have a btablet right now and just trying to find out which one is best for low vision issues. Can getan Ipad free from the VA, but it'll be an older model. Would that work or should I just buy an Ipad Air?

Biggest issue for me would be, is it even worth it. I can get a low vision International phone to make phone calls and that's all I ever use my phone for. Are there any apps or options (such as CCTV capabilities, GPS, etc) that I can use. Also, if I get one with both WiFi and 4G, can I use it to make phone calls to phones other than those made by APPLE?

Take care, Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Just going to have to wait and see on the BC. Haven't been following it long, but first time I've seen it with a check and a boat. Who knows, they might surprise us and add a cash option. Like you, we don't intend to move there, so the glare won't be an issue. We can put up with the heat, but the humidity is just way too high. Besides, I've never fancied having a pet alligator, lol.

Not really lucky enough to be spending a lot on the lottery. Just enough to keep the dreams alive.

Take care, Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Not sure about the UO. If I remember correctly, there was no cash option last year. We'll just wait and see.

Blog cabin is in a nice area. Used to date a girl whose parents owna wunter home there and have visited the area. Far enough south of Orlando to avoid all the Disney/Universal mess, but close enough if you want to get to the airport and head out of town. It';s where Cypress Gardens used to be located. Probably won't enter it though unless there's a cash option. Guess we'll just wait for the Dream Home unless something else comes our way first.

Not a big deal on the lottery for us. We only play one game (Hot Lotto) and then only 1 ticket (with Sizzler) per drawing. We live by the adage,"It only takes one ticket to win".Not our decision anyway, if it's our turn, it'll happen.

Take care, Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Well, they posted the announcement and it was neither one of us unfortunately. Better luck on thenext one.

Doubt we'll be entering the Blog cabin. Usually no cash option and we don't intend to move out of the Nashville area. Might consider the Urban Oasis if there's a cash option there. Live in an apartment now and have no interest in moving to a condo. Guess we'll have to rely on the lottery, lol.

Once again, better luck next time and take care. Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Understand completely. Since we've been following these shows, the one we've liked the best was the onein Georgia. We really liked the layout of that house and it appeared to be in a community that would suit us.

Do like the location of the Smart Home. It's about 1.5 miles down the road and in a very good area. We've lived around here for about 15 years and it's very quiet. Shopping is plentiful and there are a number of restaurants. However,after doing some more research, we'd probably go with the cash option.

We do like this area, buttheowners of the other houses in the area all seem to be younger couples. We're in our late 60's and just don't feel we would fit in. We've found a house in Ashland City (about 20 miles outside Nashville) that has many of the same features as the houses we've been designing and isin a neighborhood that would suit us better.

TheUrban Oasis just isn't us. We live in an apartment now and why move ifit's to another apartment. Besides, we don't plan on leaving the Nashville area so anything not located here would have to have a cash option.

The latest Blog Cabin is in a good location. It's in Winterhaven . That'swhere Cyprus Gardens used to be located. It's close to Orlando, but far enough away so you don't get the Orlando tourist mess.

Good luck on the Smart Home. Let's hope we hear something soon.

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: Eugenia27 replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Well, still nothing new. I guess no news is good news. Me however, I'm the type of person that wants to be kept informed. Good or bad, I just want to know so I can start looking at options.

Haven't decided yet whether or not to take the Smart Home or the cash option. Depends on wheter or not there's a HOA and if we can get a reverse mortgage to cover the federal taxes. We know and like the area and it's close to the VA Medical Center at Vanderbilt. If we move in, we plan on turning the dining/office area into our exercise room/office. It's not really big enough to serve as a formal dining room and with the remote controlled blinds, would be perfect for the glare issue. For now, it's a matter of sit and wait.

Have a great 4th and take care. Fabian/Sue

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

She did do a good job.The office area in the workout room is actually a modified closet. One of my biggest issues is glare and putting it there cuts out just about any directsunlight. She's modified the basement space somewhat by closing off a portion of it and turning it into a control room. I won't be going downstairs too much, but just in case we're using a system we saw in The Netherlands to mark the stairs. Basically it consists of 3 large white circles painted at floor level at the top and bottom of the stairs and then a single white circle painted on the side of each individual step.

My favorite thing is the coffee balcony. We're both big coffee drinkers and saw that on one of the House Hunters shows. We liked the concept and decided to add one to the master bedroom. Nothing gigantic, just a small balcony where we can put a small table, a couple of chairs and sit out there and relax with a cup of coffee on a cool morning or evening.

The yellow keyboard is nice. Mine is set up for Zoom Text and has a number of hot keys for that program. Unfortunately, I'm using Windows 8.1 and a number of the hot keys are not compatible. Not a buig deal, they'll eventually get it fixed.From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Agree on the creative persons. Crew they have now seem to be more focused on Bling than function. But what can you do. We still watch their shows when there's nothing else on. Can understand the HOA situation. Don't know if there is one for the Smart Home, but that would make us reconsider the options if we win.

Sue has the HGTV Home Design program and has designed several houses (actually, predesigned house plans modified for our use). The one we'd really like is posted on her website; www.suerarick.us. It's the slideshow on the far right under the heading; Another home design project. It's basically a 1 story house with all the living space on the ground floor because of my eyesight. It incorporates a walkout basement for Sue to use as her production studio. She kind of liked the basement layout of the smart home so she mimicked that. It's not a perfect rendition, but we've got to work within the program limitations.

All we can do is hope and pray on the Smart Home. Someone will win, let's just hope it's someone that needs it.

From: notifications@intensedebatemail.com
To: fabianab47@comcast.net
Subject: minitoni replied to your comment on HGTV Home Gnome Hiding Places Revealed

Really have no idea if this is going away or not. I do know we've stopped watching a number of their shows on various networks. They've just become too formulated and (IMO) too yuppie. Look at House Hunters for example, everyone wants the same thing, stainless steel, granite countertops, hardwood floors, gas range and open concept.

Personally, we liked the green home concept more than the smart home. It's just a little too techie with a lot of totally unnecessary gadgets.

As far as the urban oasis or the blog cabin is concerned, we usually don't enter those sweepstakes. One, we don't fancy living in a condo or a rebuilt cabin. Two, usually neither one has a cash option and you already have to have money to be able to move in. To us, neither sweepstakes is really designed for people like Sue and I.

Good luck on the Smart House and maybe we'll hear something soon. Do know they haven't knocked on my door yet. LOL/