You are all so wonderful, thank you for all your support, caring, and prayers. It truly does mean allot to us. I'll make sure to remember about "crying in the shower" and I'm taking Jeanne's little message to heart for sure. I didn't learn much new yesterday--but was very upset by the way the doctor presented information to me. I'm not ignorant and I've done some research--what I wanted was ways to cope with where we are now and suggestions on preparing for future changes and how best to help DH. What I got was a whispered "doom and gloom" dialoge which excluded my DH almost completely. Looking back, I should have stopped her asked for our copies of the papers and gone home and waited to discuss them with his regular doctor. On top of that, the paperwork was obviously a form already on her computer and used for other patients because one section says "her" repeatedly because she obviously forgot to change that part to "him". I guess I am naive to expect paperwork specifically prepared for DH. I hope the test results will be helpful to our doctor in some way, but right now I feel like they were a waste of our time! Oops! Sorry--guess I just needed to vent. I am learning as I go, but I now realize that my job is to care for and protect my DH in every way I can----even if it is from rude, inconsiderate specialists! Enough said--on with the fun decorating that I love. We'd better hurry, Valentine's will soon be here! Thanks for your caring and comforting words everyone, thanks for being there during my "meltdown". Today is a new day and "what doesn't kill us just makes us stronger", right? Luvs

If you look about it Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and most catalog companies do not reveal their manufacturers and even if you could find our who they are I doubt very much if they would sell to you are any other retailer. These retailers can give a manufacturer substantial volume and they are not going to risk their rath for a few sales to individuals or small retailers.

This site is wonderful - I have gotten all kinds of great information here and the folks here especially helped me through one bad night after my floors were put in! I posted at 2 AM about it and by 9 AM when I sat down to work, I had all kinds of positive reassurance coming my way! The people on this forum are wonderful! I'll probably keep coming to see what's going on even after the kitchen is done!!

If you do need to seal--and I actually don't think you do--this is a 5-minute job that does not require your contractor to come back to do. It does not need any special skill - if you are able to wipe lightly in a circular motion, you can do it. In fact, if your counter is the type to need annual resealing, you will have to do this yourself eventually anyway. Buy the smallest bottle of sealer you can find at HD. It will still outlast you in this kitchen, as you just need a very small amount in order to seal. (Don't get one that says "enhancer", you just want "impregnator"). Follow the directions on the container. Seriously, 5 minutes or really 3. It'll take longer to clear your counters of your toaster etc than it will to seal. Having said all that, I am not sure you need to seal. There is such a thing as too much sealant, and/or sealant applied when it is not needed. When that occurs, your counters will show what is called "hazing" as the sealer sits on top and doesn't absorb, either because there is already sealant applied, or because the stone is so dense it doesn't need sealer (I haven't sealed my granite counter in years because it is a dense-type stone). One way to tell if you have hazing if you aren't sure is to drag lightly a dish or bowl on the counter, and if it leaves track marks, your sealer is not needed and hasn't absorbed. That could be what the "swirly marks" you mentioned are, but we can't tell without photos. The drag marks are in the sealer layer, not in the stone. You can remove it with acetone; there are threads about this. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Sealants-16-oz-511-Impregnator-511-PT-SG-H/100672948