One morning a friend of mine and I were having breakfast at a local eatery. While we were there we saw two women from another local business wheeling a cart of garbage to the dumpster. The garbage cart was jingling curiously. Having little pride, I followed them and saw that they were throwing away a snappy looking chandelier. I asked them about it and they told me that their company policy dictated that they weren't allowed to give it away or sell it. They were required to throw it away. I told them that I could understand this. It's probably a deterrent to keep employees from selling off the store fixtures.

After they had left, my friend and I returned to the dumpster and I hoisted myself into it. It was a big dumpster and when I picked up the chandelier I was impressed that the women had been able to heave it over the top. It weighs plenty. Even though the chandelier had taken quite a trip, it seemed fairly intact. We carried it to my car in as nonchalant a manner as possible. It took a little cleaning but the chandelier survived its trip very well. A few new light bulbs and a new plug and it was back in business.

Since that day, the chandelier has hung in my basement but has made a few guest appearances at an academy award evening and at a retirement party. As pictures of it become available, I'll add them to this site.

The Fabulous Chandelier presiding over a retirement party.

Another picture, dramatically off-center, at the party.

The Chandelier Goes to a Barn Dance
The chandelier's next appearance was at a barn dance at my brother's house (in the barn, actually.)
I don't have any pictures of the dance but here's the chandelier...

This is my favorite picture of it so far.  Hard to tell it's in a barn.

Here are the chandelier and I at the dance.

After that, the chandelier and I went to my friend Janet's house for dinner.

Cocktails on the deck.