well, I forgot all about this blog...

I'm sad to say that I did...

I got sidetracked by my space... went over there and opened a site because some friends of mine had a site, and just got utterly distracted.

I still have the job from hell, and I still want a new job...

Won't be listing on ebay this week, possibly longer, as they've put in some new fees... It starts out good... listing will be reduced, gallery will be free, but we're raising the final value fee... so, after you crunch the numbers, it turns out that you're actually paying more. That, and now the sellers can't leave negative feedback on buyers. Now, the only negatives I ever left were for people who bid and then didn't pay... but no more, now I just get to take it... Really, this is the most ridiculous pile of crap... anyway, there's a boycott going on, and I'm taking part in it, not because it'll change anything, but as a gesture to my fellow sellers...

I may be looking at selling on my own site, or on one of ebays competitors, which by the way are growing leaps and bounds...

Sometimes you wonder if life is worth it...

I'm feeling a little over-wrought today...

Mom is in the hospital with diverticulitis (SP?) and my sister is laying guilt trips on me because she evidently thinks I should be taking off work to go sit with her, even though I'm the only one in the house that currently has a job, and the job I do have is enough to make me want to spit, and this morning it would appear that I'm going to have to make deliveries in the rain, and I'm just feeling a little put upon.

Of course, that's life and the way life is. I'm certainly going to survive it. And, if you believe the new age PR, surviving it will make me stronger. As long as I get some sleep. Here it is Monday, the first day of the work week, and I'm already exhausted. Weekends are supposed to be when you recharge, at least, that's the theory. But, like most Americans, I tend to use the weekends to run all over hell and half of Canada getting everything done, and if I do have an hour free I watch something that's only vaugely amusing on television.

If you've made it through the post this far, you may realize that I'm having a challenging morning. Well, none of us can be "up" all the time. Ignore me, just ranting.

Later...

put some stuff on ebay, thought I'd post pics here. First up... Fitz & Floyd Florentine Fruit Teapot...

In the great tradition of F & F majolica! This stuff had 2 color variations, these blue scrolls on a white background, which I think I'd prefer, or white scrolls on a blue background. Most people mixed them together... Produced between 1997 and 2000

And next.... Omnibus teapot...


Omnibus is of course owned by F & F, and this is one of the sets they put out that looks very like a F & F line called Country Cottage. Sometime in the late 80's. Remarkably good condition...

Anyway, as allways, if you wish to look at these, or the other Items up for bid this week, go to

Me birthday is a comin...

well, it's about the old 43 year that I've been on this earth, and I'm really not sure how I feal about it.

If somebody had told me I'd be where I am now when I was 18, I'd have rolled on the floor laughing, but at the same time, I can honestly say that all the choices were mine and I don't have that many regrets...

I do wish I'd achieved more, but my stubborn streak is always in the way...

But this year has actually been pretty good for me.

there were some great flowers in the garden...


I've learned a few new things...

I've left a few things behind me, hopefully never to be seen again...

altogether not too bad. Not sure I could ask for more... unless, of course, somebody out there is handing out million dollar checks...

Hi Ho... Hi Ho... back to work I go...

Well, the clutch is fixed, so off to work I go. Actually, went... two days ago. Those few days of not working really helped a lot. I fealt so much better after I was rested up. And the lovely office I mentioned a few posts ago... they've finally, after at least three months that I know of, gotten rid of the dead office plant and replaced it with a silk tree... Now, I don't like fake plants, but it's better than the dead one!

Put a few more things on ebay. The Murano Glass squirrel is going HIGH priced. Surprising, I guess the gold flecking is rare.

I listed a shoe shine box, which dates to the 50's to 70's, almost impossible to tell for sure. It's one of those things that I really like, funky little pieces that actually have a use.



Not much else to say... a few little fitz & floyd pieces, a piece of Frankoma, stuff like that...

Did get a surprise in the yard today... there's this little orchid that my mother got for a present. One of those things you get at the florist, they usually die... Well I have friends who grow them, they always say, "Oh, they're easy to grow..." and then they start giving you this list of requirements that I have no time or patience for... anyway, mom gave me this thing, because I'm the one in the family that actually grows things, and as soon as the blooms died, I shoved it outside on the patio and forgot about it. Went out today, and the darned thing is putting up flower buds... It's nothing too special. A little Dendrobium, but I am impressed... as soon as it blooms, I'll get a pic.

back at ebay...

Well, the truck blew it's clutch, and it looks like I won't be courier driving for a few days. I'm trying to think of it as a little mini-vacation. To be blunt, I needed a break from it...

but I'm taking the opportunity to list some things on ebay...

things like this...



A little Murano glass squirrel... I've seen a few of them over the years, but this is the only one with those lines of bubbles in the glass, and gold flecks... most are silver. Or at least the ones I've seen...



And then we have to start getting the Christmas stuff going... after all, if you're ordering it through the mail, it's best to get it bought now... the weeks before actual Christmas are hideous for the post office. These are Fitz & Floyd, Damask Christmas, still in the origional box. Circa 1995...

That's just a couple of things... There's going to be a bunch more.

And I really should get back to listing...

random thoughts...

Got up at 4:30 AM, and couldn't get back to sleep, so here I am... figured I would drop in here.

Latest delivery story... can't tell you the name of anybody, that's client information, but there's this place I have to deliver too. They're accountants, they do the books for some of the biggest companies in the area. So once a week, all the paper work is delivered to them from the factories and production offices, then later all that paperwork is delivered back... Pretty standard for a courier, and no big deal.

So you get to this office with 15 file boxes that weigh about 50 pounds each. You put four on your 2-wheeler. You wrestle your way through the door that wants to slam shut on you.

You are immediately confronted with a reception desk that's covered with dust and has never been used. You look around, to your right is a big conference room that has never been used. To your left there is a chair and a plant. A dead plant. Three stalks sticking out of a pot, and a circle of brown leaves on the carpet. No one in sight.

You call out "Hello"

From a half open door, someone yells, "We're back here"

So you manuver your way around the inconvienently placed and totally useless desk and go through the door.

There's a rather sad looking office, with 8 women who've just stopped caring.

None of them under 200 pounds. None of them have done their hair or make-up. They're all wearing polyester stretch pants and old t-shirts.

One looks at you and says - "they go over there" and kind of motions with her head. you assume that she means the table against the wall, because that's the only table that doesn't have dust on it.

So you start hauling in boxes, despite doors that want to slam on you, and indifferent employees who certainly aren't going to go to any effort to be of assistance.

Then you ask... "who signs for this?"

All of the women look around at each other, totally silent mind you, until one rolls her eyes and actually stands up and just looks at you. So you walk across the office, because it's obvious she's not moving an inch, and she signs the ticket. Then you leave.

This is my job.

great, huh?

I've got to find something else soon...

Wow, I haven't kept up with this blog at all, have I?

Still selling on ebay, sporadically now, and still selling at Forrests Antiques and more... but I have a new job as an industrial courier, and that's really a full time job, so between all of them, I'm just too tired to blog!

Anyway, I don't much like the courier job, but it's cash, and ultimately it's a disposable job. I can quit it when I find something I like better. I have to use my own truck, and buy my own gas... so while the money at first looks good, when you figure in the wear and tear and the cost... you're not really doing that great. I have to find something better soon. And you're considered an independent contractor, so you have to pay this huge tax rate. The IRS doesn't seem to like people who aren't corporate drones...

The people I deliver to are nice sometimes, and total morons at other times... in other words, they're just people, and that's how people are.

Not much of a post, but I thought I'd check in... and I'm going to try to write more soon. Maybe tell some of my adventures... (I'm collecting lots of strange stories as I drive all over Dallas/Ft. Worth... )

hello... been a while...

I've been writing to people on one of my yahoo groups, and between that and keeping listings going on ebay, it's sometimes very difficult to remember to blog... and then the last few posts were kind of bitter...

things have actually been going ok. There are three deer skins listed... going for a good price, which I didn't really expect... ebay constantly surprises me... Had some vintage cashmere yarn... dating to about the 50's, and some knitter snapped it up... that was a surprise to me too...

Only goes to show you, no matter what it is, just because I can't figure out what to do with it, doesn't mean somebody else can't.

some china on right now... and some 1 to 2 yard pieces of novelty fabric. That always sells decent, there are a lot of quilters and crafters out there... But it always surprises me how much of it goes to buyers in Japan, especially the older vintage pieces that you find at estate sales that have been in storage for 30 years...

I guess I'll stop this rambling post.

Later, and the link to the ebay store is on your right... somewhere...

not much happening really...