In the land of Guatemala the Indians tell this old story. They teach that
when you have troubles, share them with your dolls. Remove one doll from the
box for each problem. Before you go to sleep, tell the doll your trouble.
While you are sleeping the dolls will try to solve your troubles. Since
there are only six dolls in a box, you are allowed only six troubles a day.

Remodeling a house while planning a wedding sure gives a person a lot to think about. Not only a lot to think about, but a lot to worry about. Since we're doing a basement, and digging right next to the foundation, the o'er-arching worry is that the house will "fall in the hole." Leisa worries about it, then Mark reinforces that by telling her that he saw a house near Central and Northern fall into a basement, once. They get each other going, then I have to speak soothingly to her to calm her down.

How much money the project is going to cost is another thing to worry about. Not only how much the project is going to cost, but how much the wedding and reception are going to cost, too. And a cute little dress. And some cute little shoes. "Oh, baby. We're not going to have enough money to do everything I -- I mean "we" -- want to do," is a frequent refrain.

In an attempt to assist Leisa with her worries and fears, I got her some Trouble Dolls. She keeps them close by whenever she's home, and tells her troubles to them frequently. When she says "I'm so afraid the house is going to fall into the hole," I simply tell her, "get the Trouble Dolls." Realizing, however, that she may not always be home, or near the dolls, I've developed what I believe is an internet first: Online Trouble Dolls!

To talk to a Trouble Doll, click on the box below.

Be careful what you ask for, though. Leisa was worried about the house falling in the hole. She talked to the Dolls about it, and their solution involved a $1,200 beam, a $900 engineering bill, and a $200 bill to remove the beam. They'll solve your problem, but you might not be happy with their solution.