The sun is shining for the second straight day, but there’s a cold wind blowing against the atypical backdrop of bright blue skies at this time of year. March is up to its usual indecisive ways, wavering between Winter and Spring. Today, we head to the Portland Antique and Collectibles Show to find treasures that somehow became other people’s junk, but first a little exercise with the dogs. Will it be the day I find that long-lost-item I simply can’t live without? What kind of dent will this purchase put in the retirement budget, or will I escape without any damage?

I told you these “Schnauzerthons” were challenging! My wife twisted her ankle and limped most of the way along the trail this morning. I did a lot of stopping and starting, trying to get my 5k run on the books for the day. We’ll see how the ankle injury affects our plans to go to the antique show, but I have a feeling that her strong will to shop will persevere. There is an antique jewelry dealer’s booth in particular that she wants to explore with hopes of helping her youngest daughter find a wedding ring. It is the same place where I ended up buying my wife’s Christmas present after she spotted it at last year’s show. As you can see, it turned out to be an expensive visit last year, so you can imagine my concerns about going back.

A gown purchase for one daughter last night and ring shopping for the other today has my wife excited about both upcoming weddings. I can tell she wants to be as involved as possible, but doesn’t want to meddle. Both girls also seem to be competing for her attention. She walks that fine line of maternal instinct that sometimes leads to argument. I’m certainly pleased for both girls, but as their stepfather I will stay out of the lime-light and focus on the Coors Light. The vows for the oldest will be here in Portland, while the youngest will tie the knot in the Bay area. It will definitely be an eventful year.

Predictably, it was another costly visit to the Portland Expo Center. We had free tickets, but some Fiesta Ware and an antique opal broach caught her eye. I elected to wait until we get back from Thailand later this month to invest in her June birthday, so she bought them for herself. I was satisfied with a corn dog and some soft ice cream. On a separate note while she was negotiating with jewelers, I registered myself on the Heritage Auction website in anticipation of perhaps buying some sports memorabilia. I didn’t see anything that struck me at this year’s version Antique and Collectibles show. It was a little smaller turnout on the part of displaying exhibitors due to rainy California weather that prevented travel into Oregon, so we we were able to get down all the aisles quicker.

The rest of my wife’s Sunday will be spent in the living room. We’re finished with the six-season Netflix series, The Americans, and will move on tonight to the Eugene Levy comedy, Schitt’s Creek. As a side note, I once spotted Eugene on the Oceanside trail behind our Wailea, Hawaii hotel. Also, one woman at work felt that we looked alike – maybe the kinky hair and glasses – so we now have a couple of common bonds. He of course does not know that I exist so I’m the only one aware of these ties. I did enjoy his acting role as Noah Levenstein, Jim’s dad, in the first four American Pie films, and transformed into smaller roles for the final four installments. He eventually finds happiness with “Stifler’s Mom.” I’ll look for him again when we return to Maui in two months, after Thailand, Seattle, and Chicago. Maybe we’ll also run into “Mom” aka Janine, Jennifer Coolidge?

When I think of the build-up to these upcoming weddings, I can’t help but remember American Wedding, Eugene Levy’s third appearance in the classic “Pie” series. The engagement is a near disaster, Stifler’s attempt to organize a bachelor party goes awkwardly awry, and then he inadvertently kills the flowers the night before the big event. It’s some welcome comedic relief for what we hope will be nowhere near as chaotic in the planning of these two family weddings later this year.

In the meantime, my wife I will continue enjoy the quiet time associated with movies and TV series. They at least keep us in the same room, holding hands, and give us something besides work to talk about. She’ll elevate her swollen ankle and comfort our oldest schnauzer Tinker who is also nursing a gimpy leg. For dinner, we’ll enjoy some hot soup with maybe some “Pie” for dessert.