Brentology.com

Busy and fun weekend this week. Grace, Jerry and Matt came into town and along with Paul and Alison, we all took a trip to West Virginia to visit the Blenko Glass Factory. Matt also went on a tour and info session of the University of Pittsburgh. Matt may be the next family member to be recruited to Pittsburgh. We will see if U of Pittsburgh makes it onto the final list of choices for college. Some shopping, good meals, and running around Pittsburgh rounded out the weekend before the Michiganders left for home today after brunch at Alison and Paul's house.

I was glad to be able to go to Blenko Glass, it has been years since I have been there. I started collecting hand blown Blenko Glass several years ago. My mother got me started as she collected it for many years. I have several of her pieces and together with mine; a nice collection is coming together. This trip, I only purchased one piece, a blue triangular vase. I also was surprised with a " blue face plate " upon returning back to Pittsburgh. Thanks Grace and Jerry! I hope to go back in the near future, after saving some money, and get some pieces I really liked. Going to the factory directly is the best way to acquire pieces because the onsite store has much better pricing than on the website or through the stores that sell it.

Also saw " Eight Below " at the movies. It was an ok movie. A good story of survival among some cool sled dogs in the frozen Antarctic. The human actors play second fiddle to the dogs as a focus in this movie after they have to leave them behind during a harsh winter to fend for themselves while enduring a variety of dangers. Frankly, humans could learn a lesson or two from the dogs in this movie about loyalty, sacrifice, and living together in this world. To the humans credit, in particular Paul Walker's character, he is filled with some major regret at leaving his " kids " behind and sets out to retrieve them even while faced with little hope of finding them alive. It's a sad movie and one that can make you feel good too. I'd recommend it.