I know a lot of men spend their weekends playing golf or lurking in home improvement stores. I spend mine prowling garage sales. It's amazing what people will sell for a pittance because they don't recognize the value of what they own. Last weekend I purchased a painting done by Oscar Bluemner. The owner had it stored in her attic and thought it might have belonged to her dad. I got it at a steal.

I'm not always so lucky, though. I paid through the teeth for a work signed by Louis Bassi Siegriest. It was painted in 1947 and the composition was calming to me. I really didn't mind the price, because to me the painting was worth it.

Last year my sister finally graduated college and got her own digs. As a house warming gift I found an oil painting done by Leonardo Nierman. I considered getting a frame to go with it, but decided to let her choose that herself, at my expense of course.

Another great painting that I bought is by Joanne Riddle. It's called Trade Winds and it's one of the best pieces that I own. It's a huge painting and has a vibrant blue color. It was so big, I had to pay extra to have it shipped to my house.

I used to go out with a woman that had a painting done by Robert Gilberg. It was a signed abstract and it had almost a chameleon effect, since every time I gazed at it, it seemed different.

I have an aunt that shares my love of abstracts and her favorite artist is Lou Monti. I found one of these great paintings during a trip to Arizona and had it shipped to her from there. She promised to bake me some of her famous butter cookies and I plan to take her up on that.

My Grandfather was career military and is very patriotic. I had seen a modern abstract done in red white and blue hanging in town hall. I tried like mad to get them to sell it to me, but no one seemed to have the authority so I had to give it up. Too bad, it would have looked perfect over his mantle.

I tried to get my only nephew interested in abstracts. I bought one painted by Richard Diebenkorn at a good price on eBay, but I misjudged the size and it was too big for his studio apartment. I ended up reselling it at a profit, so it actually turned out well. With some of the profit, I purchased a smaller one done in 1927 and it fit well on his wall. I don't know if he really liked it, but at least he seemed to and that's good enough for me.