Wow, guys! Lots of messages posted after I left this morning. Getting to be so many I don't know how to keep up./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions about the mowers. My brother and I went to town this morning, visited Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, and two other lawn and garden places; looked at Yard Man, Cub Cadet, Scotts, Troy Bilt, Murray, White, and some others I've already forgotten, but wound up buying a Craftsman that says "LTX 1000" on the side of it; 21.5 hp Briggs & Stratton V-twin, hydro, 42" cut, and beer . . . er, cup holder. Seemed like the most bang for the buck, but only time will tell. Regular $1899, on sale for $1,599 (minus $100 mail in rebate).
Thanks again for all the kind words and suggestions. And yep, two people made good suggestions for different changes to my signature, since I sold my tractor and implements, so I changed it./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif