Today is overcast, thankfully. The sun was going to be the determining factor of whether or not I was going to brave the locals or hide in my abode, safely away from the big burny orb in the sky. Today is also Saturday -- it means lean pickings and possible heartache, so my comfort level is very important in this decision. I consider that I should take advantage of the weather for what it's worth and get ready for my journey.
I have several items on my agenda today. The Snoopy doll I picked up a week ago has sold. At first, I was a bit nervous about the sale since the buyer is located in South Korea. I invoiced with international shipping and was worried that the added cost might disrupt the sale. Thankfully, it didn't. Go home, Korean Snoopy... You're no longer wanted here in the states. So, one big thing on my list today was to pick up a shipping box.
I also had planned on listing things today since I don't have any active auctions going. I had skipped out on my lunch break yesterday to hit two estate sales. I found a 1970's copy of that old peg game Super Master Mind and some scientific books dating back to the 1950's at one. I'll be listing Stevenson's "Introduction to Nuclear Engineering" in a few... but don't worry, faithful reader, I've adjusted my settings on eBay to only sell things state-side... At the other "estate" sale -- I wish that if you're just going to have a garage sale, you should advertise it as such -- I picked up a lot of 10 ValuTales books, first editions, but not in as pristine of a condition as my own, so I won't feel as guilty listing them as a lot.
I head out on the morning's jaunt. My first few stops are relatively close to my house. Mostly clothing and nothing of any real interest. These are young families and they are just trying to get rid of their clutter. I move along, hoping to find items of real substance. As I move further down the economic line as far as households, I do find the occasional item -- at one, a biography on Boy George. Another place has a few records that are thankfully in good condition, including 2 sealed 1950's Cyril Ritchard "Alice In Wonderland" volumes, which by rights should pay for the whole day's adventure. I also pick up a decent copy of The Police's "Synchronicity" album, which is one less album that I have been wanting to replace my lost collection of yore. The copy of The Go-Go's "Beauty And The Beat", however, will be a new addition to my new wave selection.
Oh, sure, why not... "Strictly Belly Dancing" presented by Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak. The album cover alone is worth the dime.
Further winding into the lower income neighborhoods... A lot of hispanic families are out with tires and baby clothing. Several of them offer "tamales caliente" and I'm almost tempted. I do love a good home-made tamale, but it's deals that I hunger for and I won't find them here...
Or will I? I'm over in Meth Country: run down homes with trucks on blocks. One sale has a scrawny fellow offering me 2 huge bins of books for a dollar (both hardcover & paperback -- at a glance, mostly romance & spy novels). The plastic bins that the books are in are in good condition. I'm feeling magnanimous today, so I decide to sweeten the quick sale: "Toss in the bins and I'll give you two." It's a done deal. I figure that at the very least, the bins were worth it -- they are pretty solid. At another multi-family sale, the items for barter do not strike my fancy, but I do see a box of books marked "free". Well, I can't argue with the price... I fish out almost complete sets of novelizations of "The Young & The Restless", "Guiding Light" and "As The World Turns". They won't bring much, but whatever they bring, it will be pure profit.
The skies are still holding out. It's muggy, but not extremely uncomfortable yet. I decide to press my luck and meander further east. The neighborhoods I desire now should have cut lawns and all the automobiles visible should run. I venture over to an area that I hadn't been in for a few years and start looking for the signs.
Ah, Li'l Ol' Biddy Land! The sales in this area are all run by your grandma. Normally, this would be paydirt for me, but not today... Apparently, I missed all the good stuff yesterday. Well, when I say "the good stuff" I mean things that I would be interested in. "I just gave a guy yesterday my big box of a hundred 8-tracks for free."
Rats.
I get an eyeful of cheap china and knick-knacks as I snake my way around. One thing that's interesting about this town is that the neighborhoods vary by ways of economic standard within very short distances. Meth Country is about two miles north of me by now, yet I'm surrounded by million dollar homes -- these are the people who do not have yard sales. Yard Sales are for The Little People, the Povs. I decide to give up for the day and head back.
I go through the day's finds, keeping some of the hard-cover books that might be worth something on eBay and placing the others back in the bins. I decide to head over to Half-Price Books to see if I can get a free lunch. After meandering around the store while they sift through the selection, I am offered a whopping $3.50. Well, I didn't expect to get a free steak dinner, but I was hoping for more than a Value Meal.
I stop by WalMart on my way back home and pick up a shipping box for Snoopy.
And now, it's time to start listing. Come on, Nuclear Engineering!
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