Hi Nik, We are also in zone 9 (central California) and are growing Awakening. It is quite vigorous and thorny and slow to repeat and suffered severely with powdery mildew in the spring. The flowers are not that exciting, around 3 inches across. We bought a grafted Radio Times rose (Rosa multiflora rootstock) around 3 years ago and planted it around 8 feet from the base of a Krauter Vesuvius flowering plum tree. RT decided the it would be more fun to grow as a climber and began to throw up long canes. The canes have invaded the canopy of this tree and you can now see huge (4-5 inch) spectacular flowers peeking through the purple foliage as you come down the street. Most of the flowers are, unfortunately, out of reach. And so one of my winter projects is to cut this monster back and plant it near a rail fence and train the canes horizontally. The repeat is much better than that of Awakening and the flowers are quite beautiful, thickly petalled and very fragrant. Downside: it is a bit thorny and suffers from a touch of mildew (as do many roses with exceptional fragrance) from time to time. Two other pink English rose climbers that we are growing are Spirit of Freedom (own root) and Wedgewood Rose (grafted). Both would be good roses for you to consider. Any yet another is The Generous Gardener, which is a blush pink to blush apricot. TGG seems to have less mildew than the others and has dark green, glossy foliage which is quite attractive. Good luck in your choice! John

We should all look so good when we're 120! *Hijack alert* Hey I just found out that my beautiful leather garage sale find wasn't actually leather at all, it was naugahyde, and the old guy who I brought it to for reuplostering wanted $325 to re-cover it, re-tie the springs and re-do the webbing. He had some naugahyde in stock that was soft enough to "mark" when you sat on it, that is actually desirable to us crazies. And he would re-tack it, it has brass tacks too. Am I totally insane, not just a little touched? Is that a good deal, or do I need a rest in a little white room?? **back to our regularly scheduled program**

Thanks so much for your support, everyone. I have to say, this table has been growing on me pretty steadily, and now i'm really loving it. Knowing you all think it looks good in that spot (better than what i had there, yes?) makes me feel all the more confident i should keep it there in the entry. And i admit, i'm also relieved to know i didn't pay too much for it (i just can't bring myself to haggle). Valinsv, thank you so much for posting here. You know how i feel about your room, so your vote of confidence is deeply appreciated. And now i know what color Restore A Finish i should get! Leahcate, i think i know what you're saying about the flipped up table top, but it looks like i'm keeping it under the mirror so it will have to remain closed. I'll definitely post before/after pictures once i work on it. When you see a close up of the current finish, the damage will make you wince. I hope i don't muck it up. Barb5, thank you also for your vote of confidence, and i might as well comment here about the magnificent woodwork you did in your dining room! The fruits of your labor must have you bursting with pride. Well done. Bigdoglover, you're right about the versatility. That does make it so much easier to justify, and your point about having no regrets in the long run is spot on. In this economy, i can't help but to experience a stronger initial sting over what is essentially a purely self indulgent purchase. But already i've gotten over that (with all your help here), and i'm feeling good about it. :) Thanks again everyone. Cheers!

justgotabeme - still glad I posted - lots to read through and consider, though I certainly didn't mean to start a debate over haggling vs. no haggling! itltrot - thank you for the advice. Oddly enough, I contacted someone on CL to buy something today, and told her she could consider it sold if it was as described/pictured. I then asked for her address and a good day/time to pick up. She responded she would not tell me her address until I gave her my home phone #, which I did. About 30 mins later I got an email back from her that she wasn't going to send me her address b/c no one answered at the number I gave her (I told her no one would answer until later in the day, but I could check messages remotely & respond to her via email). She then wanted my last name and said she was going to look me up on Facebook & LinkedIn, and that if I "checked out" she would send me a number I could call to get her address. Either - wow - or I'm too laid back for my own good! :) ratherbesewing (and others who mentioned consignment) -- I would, really. But there is only one consignment place around me that sells things other than baby/kids gear & clothes, and they are in the process of going out of business. :( And by "near me" I mean that I know of, within about a 50 mile radius (have also checked online, phone book, and word-of-mouth -- nothing so far). I've lost a bunch of weight over the last few years and have (not joking) over 20 55g bags full of clothes (I know, because we moved last year, and guess what I had to lug up from the basement). Plan to go consigment all the way! hollysprings - "...ordinary riff-raff?" Wow, I'm not sure if there's venom there, or sarcasm, or what. For now I'll assume the latter. sweeby - good tip on the holding things. I've "held" things and lost buyers many times, so I was reticent go that route again. Holding for a set time, so I can firmly tell back-up "after X time" seems like a reasonable alternative. mclarke and others -- ebay for loocal pickup would be OK. I really don't have time for doing all items w/ shipping as an option. I hadn't even thought of that. I've sold on ebay, always to be shipped, to so I tend to have that association. arcy - I would probably price a bit above tax deduction. ;) Totally get the concept of economic value, tho. I talked my dad into helping me. He loves to haggle as much as I abhor it. I can't even understand that. I figure I will price items, then go inside & let him handle it. :) On a side note, a girlfriend of mine had a garage sale this weekend and caught 4 people trying to "shoplift" her things. Wowzer! One lady tried to pay for one shirt, but was holding it awkwardly. Ends up she had wrapped the shirt around a crystal vase, which she had stuffed full of baby clothes. My friend first noticed it was taking the lady both arms to carry a button up shirt... Another guy tried to walk out of her garage sale wearing an MP3 player she was selling, then argued with her that it was his (her initials were Sharpied onto the bottom of the case).