Well, the Texhoma Hamarama was a blast. Spent basically three days either getting ready for it, attending, or putting things back together. Didn't get the big dollar items sold (still holding out hope for the OK Traders list), but I did clear enough stuff to pay for my admission, the table space I rented, etc.
Additionally, my half.com has been doing pretty good. There have been a number of their "suggested prices" that have blown me away. Like $50+ for "The Preppy Handbook"...I mean, DUH?!? The stupid thing listed NEW for $3.95. Oh well, such is the fun of seeing what things are worth. Here's hoping I get closer to the max on these books...it'd be way cool.
In the battle to downsize, I donated most of the "smaller" things (a full van load in itself) from the sale to the local Salvation Army store. I also gave a van load of computer books and various magazines to the Ardmore Public Library for first, their collection, and if it fails to make the cut, the Friends of the Library sale.
As such, I have a plea to my local friends and readers...go by these places and purchase the stuff, ok? I really don't want any of it to end up in the landfill, but I fear that is pretty much where most of it will end up.
20101031
20101017
The Hazzards of Cleaning
Well, just spent the better part of the weekend cleaning, sorting, organizing, pricing, etc., for the Texhoma Hamarama that will be going on here, in Ardmore next weekend. I have probably a van and a half of stuff to go, all zip-locked, priced, etc. Some of the more "ham" related things, I've also listed on the OK Traders list.
In addition, I just setup a half.com account to try to off-load my 11,000 pounds of books (somewhat). I expect to put many MANY MANY more things as time goes along. I just have to let my eyes uncross from looking at UPC/ISBN numbers for a while.
But let me tell you, as much work as this has all been, as tired as I feel right now, the biggest hazard is what the dust I stirred up has done to my allergies. I'm one big sneeze...here's hoping for some income to offset all of the stupid allergy pills I'm going to be taking for the rest of the week.
In addition, I just setup a half.com account to try to off-load my 11,000 pounds of books (somewhat). I expect to put many MANY MANY more things as time goes along. I just have to let my eyes uncross from looking at UPC/ISBN numbers for a while.
But let me tell you, as much work as this has all been, as tired as I feel right now, the biggest hazard is what the dust I stirred up has done to my allergies. I'm one big sneeze...here's hoping for some income to offset all of the stupid allergy pills I'm going to be taking for the rest of the week.
20101010
The Utter JOY of Cleaning
I must say, I like cleaning...NOT...
Don't get me wrong, there's a beautiful sense of peace that seems to just spring forth from a cleaning job, well done. It is what is driving the whole "Minimalism" craze right now...and I'm all for it.
But the process of GETTING THERE...that's another matter.
When you were raised by dust bowl survivor parents who saved and reused just about EVERYTHING, its hard to get a good head of steam built up about cleaning. When I moved my parents a few years ago now, and found the infamous "can-o-nails," it struck me that part of my problem is my upbringing. I was told, from a very young age, that you saved and reused EVERYTHING...not just the stuff most likely to actually be useful...EVERYTHING...
So when I grew up, I too saved everything. Books (17 full height bookcases loaded to the gills with 11,000 pounds of books and magazines). Electronics (I have a separate HOUSE just to hold all the dead VCRs, TVs, etc. that MIGHT be useful). Wood (I recently had to throw out some that had fell victim to rot). It just didn't matter.
This is the level of unlearning that I must go through. Several other bloggers have outlined some very simple rules that I've been trying to put into practice over the last few dozen hours of intense work.
That's part of my pain. Here in southern Oklahoma there just isn't a good market/outlet/etc. to donate most of this stuff to. I'd love to have a "Maker's Space" somewhere near by, that I could offload most (if not all) of my electronics stuff (both the new stuff as well as the dead VCR's and the like). I'd love to have my library, pretty much EVERY LAST book, be granted placement in someone else's public library space nearby (so I could use it when needed, but didn't have to personally store it all).
Further, as this end of the state doesn't even have a e-Waste disposal facility, all I can do (sadly) is toss it in the dump.
Sad.
Don't get me wrong, there's a beautiful sense of peace that seems to just spring forth from a cleaning job, well done. It is what is driving the whole "Minimalism" craze right now...and I'm all for it.
But the process of GETTING THERE...that's another matter.
When you were raised by dust bowl survivor parents who saved and reused just about EVERYTHING, its hard to get a good head of steam built up about cleaning. When I moved my parents a few years ago now, and found the infamous "can-o-nails," it struck me that part of my problem is my upbringing. I was told, from a very young age, that you saved and reused EVERYTHING...not just the stuff most likely to actually be useful...EVERYTHING...
So when I grew up, I too saved everything. Books (17 full height bookcases loaded to the gills with 11,000 pounds of books and magazines). Electronics (I have a separate HOUSE just to hold all the dead VCRs, TVs, etc. that MIGHT be useful). Wood (I recently had to throw out some that had fell victim to rot). It just didn't matter.
This is the level of unlearning that I must go through. Several other bloggers have outlined some very simple rules that I've been trying to put into practice over the last few dozen hours of intense work.
- If you've not looked at it recallable history, toss it.
- If you are unsure of something, put it in a box and mark it with today's date. Seal the box and store. If you don't reopen to box in a month, you probably didn't need it in the first place.
That's part of my pain. Here in southern Oklahoma there just isn't a good market/outlet/etc. to donate most of this stuff to. I'd love to have a "Maker's Space" somewhere near by, that I could offload most (if not all) of my electronics stuff (both the new stuff as well as the dead VCR's and the like). I'd love to have my library, pretty much EVERY LAST book, be granted placement in someone else's public library space nearby (so I could use it when needed, but didn't have to personally store it all).
Further, as this end of the state doesn't even have a e-Waste disposal facility, all I can do (sadly) is toss it in the dump.
Sad.
20101001
Fun...let's all have MORE OF IT
There are few commercial advertisements that I agree with. But the one that suggest "have a family game night" is one of the few that I do agree with.
Just getting out a good board game, deck of cards, etc. and doing it up "old school," or working through the complications of doing one of the new collectible card games...so long as all are of the "right" age to follow along...it is all good. Doing such old simple games like:
The games that seem to play the best around our house are those that everybody has the chance to win...youngest to eldest...especially the games where a major change of circumstances can happen at a moment's notice.
The larger issue is that if everybody can be engaged in the game, playing with and understanding the rules, time simply doesn't play that much of a role in the whole "I'm bored" cycle. If you are fully engaged, you don't need to go raid the refrigerator for a snack. If you are fully engaged in the game, you don't need to fight over who did dishes/trash/kitty litter/etc. last.
Just getting out a good board game, deck of cards, etc. and doing it up "old school," or working through the complications of doing one of the new collectible card games...so long as all are of the "right" age to follow along...it is all good. Doing such old simple games like:
The games that seem to play the best around our house are those that everybody has the chance to win...youngest to eldest...especially the games where a major change of circumstances can happen at a moment's notice.
The larger issue is that if everybody can be engaged in the game, playing with and understanding the rules, time simply doesn't play that much of a role in the whole "I'm bored" cycle. If you are fully engaged, you don't need to go raid the refrigerator for a snack. If you are fully engaged in the game, you don't need to fight over who did dishes/trash/kitty litter/etc. last.
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