Bidder #105

P and I have a never-ending quest to find new and different forms of local entertainment.  Our most recent venture is a weekly auction held about 20 minutes away in a small farm town.  Each week the inventory rotates between consignment and new furniture.  We've gone a few times and picked up some nice things.  For example, P spent $40 on a Hoover Wind Tunnel canister vacuum cleaner that normally retails for $260.  We picked up a brand new bookshelf tonight for $12.

Not bad, but the real entertainment comes from less popular items that end up at auction.  The following is a list of my favorite auction items we've seen:

10: An extremely rusted pocketknife with a picture of Elvis

9: Boris and Natasha Halloween Costumes (In a set, of course, except that halfway through they ran out of Natasha costumes and just sold Boris alone, which was weird)

8: Homemade clown dolls (I almost didn't add these to the list because they're still too scary to think about)

7: Neon colored q-tips 

6: Doorknob alarms (battery-powered globes that cats, dogs or the slightest breeze could set off)

5: Ceiling tile (seriously, and in massive amounts)

4: Weed wacker wire (no weed wackers on hand, just the wire)

3: Deep fryer with a malfunctioned lid that wouldn't close (add $5 for the splatter screen you'll have to buy)

2: Set of hair nets

1: Rechargeable power drill that only works with European outlets (use it for 20 minutes, throw it away)

Even if you don't buy anything, it makes for an entertaining evening.  If you're tired of movie night, try an auction.  You could become the next proud owner of a rusted Elvis pocketknife.  Fingers crossed... 

Remember the Pink Garden Set?

Just passed it on the steps going upstairs.  Yup, haven't used it.

Lessons From the Farm Market

Gas prices continue to soar, food inflation is the highest it's been in two decades and perfectly good homes are sitting empty.  I imagine crime will increase dramatically before too long.  And all we can do is wait.

As I do about once a week, I stopped at one of our local farm markets yesterday to pick up some fresh veggies (and okay, some chocolate chip cookies).  The same guy works the counter almost every time I stop and we've gotten to know one another a bit.  I had heard through the small town grapevine that a farm market down the street (a dominant competitor) wouldn't be opening this year.  So I asked the guy if it was true and if he thought it would beef up his business.  His response was "I don't ever want to see bad times fall upon anyone."  

I'm such a softie that I bought an extra pound of bologna I didn't need.  

Times are going to get tough.  I've already started saving some extra pennies just in case.  And I think most people are doing the same--re-evaluating needs and wants, and pulling the things most important to them closer.  Maybe even creating a barricade around themselves.  But not this guy.  He's still thinking beyond himself.  And that's nice to know.   

I Know Him Through Drinking...and Bowling

Here's the deal--I love eavesdropping. Not in a manipulative way, just in an observant way. Like standing in line at the grocery store or sitting across from a group of people at a restaurant. I've picked up some great lines just listening to people interact with others. It seems that when I'm by myself, I hear the best stuff. It's as if since I'm alone and not talking, I also don't have the ability to listen. Oh, but I do. I really have to start writing this stuff down, but here are a few of my favorites from recent memory:

• "She failed her drug test.  Again."  (In line at the local Wal-Mart.)
• "You don't want to marry her.  She's crazy.  Just keep her around to feel her fake boobs."  (Except "boobs" was really another word I can't bring myself to type.)
• "I'll have everything...and jalapenos."  (Overheard at a Quizno's.  I don't know why, but this line cracks me up.  Big boy REALLY wanted to get those jalapenos.)
• "You know that guy?  I owe him like $60 bucks!  I know him through drinking...and bowling."  (So you know him through drinking and more drinking?)    

That is all for now.  I'll keep my ears open for some more gems to share.  You do the same and post any good ones below!

WWYD?

I let Bailey out last night for her bedtime bathroom break and noticed that my neighbors across the street a few doors down left their garage door open.  Otherwise, the house looked completely buttoned-up, no lights on or anything.  This same thing happened about three weeks ago to my next-door neighbor.  We know them a little better, it was about 11:30 and it was a weekend, so I knocked on their front door to let them know.  Our neighbor thanked me and was happy because he did, in fact, forget to close it.

However, the people across the street I don't know so well.  They also have a young child and a newborn.  Worth waking the entire house up at almost midnight?  What do you think?  I would definitely want someone to knock on our door, but some people might not feel the same way.

Weighed down by my do-gooder ways...   

Men, Women, Marketing and the Color Pink

One of my favorite activities is reading the Sunday paper.  I like catching up on the news, cutting coupons and browsing the advertising circulars.  When I see something I like or need, I set that particular circular aside in a separate pile.  This past weekend my pile consisted of a 20% Bed, Bath and Beyond coupon, a page from the Lowe's circular featuring outdoor patio furniture and the Aldi's flyer.  (I guess this week I didn't come across anything I needed.)  

As part of my lunch break today, my gracious co-worker made a stop at Aldi's so I could pick up a 5-piece garden tool set advertised in the above-mentioned Aldi's flyer.  The set was only $13.50 and I like the idea of all my gardening tools being stored together.  So instead of searching my garage for the trowel, then the pruner, then the cultivator, I can just hunt for one bag.  Hopefully, this will cut down my total search time from 15 minutes to 5 minutes.  See how I'm organizing my disorganization?  Clever, huh?

My co-worker and I arrived at Aldi's and after a quick search, spotted the set.  There was only one left!  I can't tell you how much this delighted me.  Seriously, that giddiness carried me through the rest of the afternoon.  Did I mention that the set is pink?  Pink little tools in a pink little bag.  It's as if Elle Woods designed it herself.  It's also sponsored by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which makes it even more appealing.

Arriving back at work, one of our male co-workers pulled into the lot at the same time we did.  He asked us what we did for lunch and because my giddiness was still impairing my judgement, I happily announced "I bought THIS!" as I held up my kit.  He looked at the kit, then looked back at me and said "That is stupid."

He then listed all the reasons he thought it was stupid:

1. It looked cheap.
2. One of the pieces would probably break the first time I used it.
3. The pruners don't look sharp enough to cut paper.
4. I won't actually use it.
5. It's pink.

Which I get.  I really do.  He's a guy and doesn't care about whether or not his tools are green, blue or lined with diamonds.  Do they work?  Check.  Can the tools be easily located when needed?  Check.  But it got me thinking.  How could I have been so excited about something that another person looked at once and without skipping a beat, deemed a worthless piece of garbage?  

My friends, it's called men, women and marketing.  Which means I'm either a sucker, a supporter or just another female surrounded by emotional marketing targeted my way each and every day.  I'm not saying it's a bad thing; it is what it is.  Would I have made a special trip to Aldi's if this bag wasn't totally cute and sponsored by a breast cancer foundation?  Or if it was brown instead of pink?  Yikes.  Honestly, the answer is probably not.  Until now it didn't occur to me that the quality isn't top-notch (but it was only $13 and I'm happy with the quality vs. the cost) and the company doesn't disclose the amount they donate to the breast cancer foundation.  It just says "a portion of all proceeds."  It could be a penny and I would have no idea.  

My husband doesn't look at the ads in the Sunday paper, and he certainly wouldn't run out and buy something because it's pink.  My co-worker only goes shopping out of necessity, like when he blows out an elbow in one of his dress shirts.  (For those interested, I believe the 2008 count is 3.  Dude, get those elbows in CHECK.)  However, I'm proud to say I have a male marketing example to share with you as well.  

Last night at the local Blockbuster, P practically knocked me over scooting up to me to tell me he had the best idea for what we should rent.  Are you ready? Indiana Jones.  He was very excited about his idea--like really excited.  I thought--fine, whatever, I'll probably cut coupons while you have it on.  We were walking to the check-out counter when I finally noticed the HUGE Indiana Jones display in the middle of the store.  Posters, Indy hats, glasses and the movies were everywhere.  I'd walked past it 3-4 times and hadn't taken notice.  It wasn't meant for me, but it worked.  My husband rented one of the movies in the trilogy (don't ask me which, I don't care) and also realized a new Indy movie is coming out this summer (he lives under a rock). 

So here we are.  Me with my pink garden set, P with his Indiana Jones movie and my male co-worker with three elbowless dress shirts.  No damage done, just very interesting.  In case you're interested, here's a picture of the garden set:

As a final note, I wanted to give a random shout-out to the Cleveland Browns.  I googled the National Breast Cancer Foundation and browsed their website.  The fabulous Cleveland Browns are the only NFL team listed as a Corporate Sponsor.  Actually, they are the only sports team of any type listed as a Corporate Sponsor.  And before you haters conjecture, the NBCF is based in Texas, not Cleveland or anywhere else in Ohio, so it's not a local deal.  Which, in my opinion, makes it even more awesome.  I work in partner marketing and sponsorships, and know how hard it is to take the leap of being the first to sign up for something like that.  Cleveland Browns, I salute you with my new pink trowel.   

4-Day Weekend...Working

I really wanted to make an effort to never discuss work on this blog.  However, my work occupied all of my time last Thursday through Sunday.  It wasn't horrible, just long and the type of tiring that one doesn't fully realize until the job is completely over.  Which is good,  I think.  It's amazing to be part of a large group working toward the same common goal.  It's not amazing, however, when one person clearly doesn't see the same benefits of this type of working environment.  

That aside, I ran into an old college friend I hadn't seen in about 7 years.  Crazy.  Other pluses include not spending any money for four days, getting to know some of my co-workers better and spending a few nights in a really nice hotel (one of them with P)!  Time for a mini-vacation though.  Thinking about a camping weekend in a few weeks.  It has to be somewhere in a 3-4 hour radius of C-bus.  Thoughts?

In other news, I want a scooter.  $3.64 a gallon?  Are you kidding me?