DH's 50th birthday weekend. I don't think it's going to be pretty, despite my efforts. Kinda hard to lay low since I'm the one doing all the organizing and arrangements. Good thing we didn't invite anyone over (not that we have anyone to invite) as I think DH is going to throw a big hissy today.

He doesn't have a lot of acheivements in 50 years on the planet and he's pretty aware of this. Not my fault and I'm going to tell him so. As adults we are responsible for ourselves (and yes, I too forget this sometimes and blame other people for my problems).

And maybe he'll be quiet. He's never happy but I'll settle for quiet.

Dagmar

These people who continue in their bad habits saying they are going to die anyway are crazy . Why make your last days, months or years anymore difficult than they need to be ?

Saef~there are glass shops that can do this for you and if you ask they may even be able to find "antiqued" mirror. I know we can--but it is terribly expensive. Check with designers to see who they use. Generally regular glass shops don't do work with super close attention to detail, but those that work with designers do. One designer we do work for will call for a quote on an antiqued mirror and we always supply a regular mirror quote as well because the price is often 25 times (no kidding, I asked DH) more expensive and it may not match exactly. He says the antiquing is done with chemicals and that's why it may not match. DH also says there are 5 or 6 six different types of antiqued mirror and it's usually about $75 psf.

Allison, that's very interesting. I have an old mirror which was probably used in a bathroom (I remember mirrors like it when I was a child). The reflection it gives is wonderful. The silvering is coming off and I'd wondered how well re-silvering the old glass would work.

Allison, thank you so very much for your advice on the mirror. I was at a loss on this one. What I cared about was the frame, and the fact that the original glass was still inside it was a bonus. This is one of those two-part mirrors, from the time when mirrors were so expensive that two pieces of glass were used, a long rectangle and a smaller square. What broke is the top square piece. Matching it with the bottom will be difficult. I don't know what I will do.

I'm writing from a Hampton Inn, where I got a smoking room through Orbitz, though I don't smoke. It's just for one night before I go down to the city. I'm still ruminating over all that I learned at the shareholders meeting for my co-op about the reconstruction and the flood wall plans, and the increase in monthly maintenance fees, and the co-op's financial woes.

Tomorrow I'll work out at my old gym, at my usual Sunday 9 AM spin class, which has a new instructor. Seeing the familiar faces always lifts my spirits. It's probably much like going to one's social club. Then, later, I'll meet the contractor at 1:30 PM to walk through my apartment. And then I'll head down to the city, where I'm going to try to relax. I do not think I will see a show, as it will be too late to make a Sunday matinee and the theaters are dark on Monday. But I may catch a lot of the small movies & documentaries that I've been missing out on while Upstate.

Today the long drive down was actually rather relaxing. I haven't had four straight hours to just ruminate in a long time. I am very lucky in this unusually mild winter. (I think.) No snow that I could see in the Catskills. But I got several good looks at bald eagles perched on trees and flying around the twisting riverbeds -- one was particularly thrilling, as it was laden with something which it carried slightly behind it as it flew, and made me think of the times I've seen ospreys carrying fish. Only the ospreys have migrated. And anyway this was a fully mature adult, with a white head and dark body.

After the meeting, I went to look at a sofa being held at someone's storage bin. They commiserated with me over the flood, which is, of course, famous in the nearby towns. The sofa is decent but needs a little work and has to be reupholstered. Still, I like the form and it's an unusual small size, so I left them an offer to think about.

Then, before heading back to the hotel room, I had dinner from the salad bar/hot food bar at a new Whole Foods that's been built in the area. Lovely store. And not that far from my apartment. I could conceivably begin shopping there regularly, but I don't know if I will. It makes food shopping seem so ... precious ... and my fellow shoppers looked so well-dressed. I would not shop there without full makeup and my hair done. I think it will be an occasional trip for the prepared food and one or two staples, if I find they're competitive with Trader Joe's.

saef, around here we call Whole Foods ,Whole Paycheck. I find Trader Joe's to be much cheaper.

saef Glad to hear you're in a better mood. Sounds like your weekend is going well. I hear you on the "precious" food shopping. We have two supermarkets situated across the raod from each other. When I go to the upscale one dressed in my smelly dirty doggie clothes I get all sorts of disdainful looks from the other upper middle class well-heeled patrons.

On the weekend when I go in my "good" parka, Blunnies, and swanky jeans, those same patrons engage me in conversation.

DH's birthday was quiet. He was actually quite co-operative, loved his dinner, cake and wine, and was quite touched by his gift. I had his CMA certificate and his University B.A. degree framed, to hang on the walls of his future office.

His whole career/life plan has totally changed this past week. And will again next week. I think I was in a low myself and actually took him seriously. I have to keep in mind that any plan he lays out for me is going to be totally different in a week and I should just .

We are instituting a "date" night every Saturday/weekend. I am planning the first one next week and then DH will plan the next and we will continue to alternate. Nothing fancy, just things to take us away from sitting in front of the TV.

Today I am back OP for myself. I am taking the new puppy Lucy out for a familiarization of the bus, beach, walking with me, etc. I will enjoy this immensely. She is another little fireball (like Hap) and I think she'll be thrilled to be out with the gang and me next week.

Tulip (the foster lab) went out with me in the new snowfall yesterday, for a retrieving test. She didn't know what I was on about but boy did we have fun! She is such a "dog" dog - I love that. I wish I could encourage more of my clients to treat their dogs like dogs.

The dogs are so much happier being what they are supposed to be.

Good Sunday all!

Dagmar

Yesterday we went to the Dr. George car show which is a fund raiser for one of the cancer centers in the valley. Afterward we went to the Stuft Pizza where I had a lovely salad. After that, we went to a small art show near the restaurant. It is the same art show, on the same day of the year, that we attended last year and bought a lovely piece of glass art which we proudly displayed in our living room until the day we brought home our newest kitty, Louie. He knocked it over, shattering it into a million pieces within a couple hours of bringing him home. Yesterday we bought a new piece--very different from the original but still very pretty. We talked to the artist and told him what happened. He remembered the piece and said that if we had photos of the original one he could try to duplicate it. I sent him photos last night and he can do it! He even offered us a "bad kitty" discount! I'm so happy for this little bit of good news. DH, in the mean time, will be constructing new, super heavy bases for the art so little mr. Louie can't knock them over again.

Yes, it felt to me as though they might employ a curator of the food displays. Or that curator of food might be a new course of study at Williams College. And that every meat purchase comes with a mini photo album showing happy moments in the life of the animal of whose body you're about to partake.

Allison, this is something to ask Dale Chihuly: "Are your sculptures pet-compatible? Has a Siamese ever taken out any of them?"

I'm eating my Whole Paycheck salad in a biodegradable brown take-out box. The raw butternut squash is cut in tiny, tiny matchsticks & has a tinge of ginger flavor and I could become addicted to it. I must log off as check-out time is approaching. Don't know if I will be online again for the next day. The stupid hotel charges $14.95 a day for Wi-Fi. Maybe I'll just lug the laptop a couple blocks to the nearest Starbucks. If the lifetime tenants will be willing to nudge their machines aside slightly for a non-regular. ;-)

DH has met Dale--weird dude. We have a lot of clients who have Chihuly stuff in their homes--one that has a "river" under the dining room and there are dozens of pieces of Chihuly set amid the rocks in the river (we, of course, did the glass top over the river). There are also several pieces in the back yard around the pool. Another client, who also owns an art gallery, has a huge Chihuly hanging on an outside window so you can see it as you drive by. It's really pretty if you like lime green. The Desert Are Museum has an even bigger piece there, but it is made of several colors. I like his stuff but cannot imagine how he gets it all to "stick" together.

And I don't think I could afford a Chihuly!

Just googled "Dale Chihuly" - WOW! Totally cool stuff. I always wanted to try my hand at glass blowing. We have a studio down at the harbourfront where you can watch the pros at work. I think it holds workshops. I'd also like to try my hand at pottery.

I did some stained glass years ago and quite liked what I produced. The trick is to have people to sell it to, rather than keeping everything you make.

Dagmar (crafty)