Who needs homeland security when you have homeland harmony?
Monday, February 21, 2005
No ice, no trips to Florida but few sales
Who needs homeland security when you have homeland harmony?
I was hoping the Presidents days weekend would propel people to clean out their homes and fill their yards with junk in honor of Lincoln and Washington. Checking the 805 listing in the AJC classifieds noticed that most of the sales were out in the suburbs. Could it be that blue state minded city dwellers do not want to honor America’s great chief executives by ridding their homes of clutter?
Johnson St. - Oakhurst “Yard Sale”
In front of a craftsman bungalow were two tables of stuff as well as a selection of other things scattered about on the yard. On the tables was an assortment of swizzle sticks including ones from the Playboy club and others with an image of Jack Daniels on them. Nearby was a golf club cover in the shape of a bottle of Tabasco sauce, an unopened box of roach fogger, a wooden plaque with a picture of a monk holding a wine glass and the Cliff Notes for To Kill a Mockingbird. In a box on the ground was a number of books including “ The worst of tasteless jokes”, “The life of Rasputin”, “Down on Ponce” and “Free Money for Grad School”. Below one of the tables was a hula costume. Another costume in the yard was a biohazard protection outfit, which could be worn to a CDC get together. Also scattered about were some space heaters, a baby stroller, a boxed horse shoes game, as well as a plush sheep and a plush ewok.
I bought two wooden picture frames.
Medlock Ave. Decatur “Yard Sale”
This sale advertised in the paper was disappointing and pretty boring. On a table were a few books “Under the Tuscan Sun”, “The winner within” and a boxed set of CDs entitled “How to master your time” I also found there the channel surfing game, the remains of a big car audio system including a large amp and some speakers, two baseball gloves, a silk flower arrangements and an Epson printer for $20.
I bought nothing.
Impala Dr.- Motor Hills “Estate Sale”
Driving the distance from Melrose up to Claremont to this sale I found it strange that there were no signs of any other sales. I would have stopped at as estate sale in Toco Hills but Clare Butler warned me that it was just a moving sale without much stuff. So I avoided that bit of deceit and made my way directly to Motor Hills. The sale was inside a one-story brick Greek Revival home. The site was still rather crowded considering that it was mid morning on the second day of the sale. In the living room on some tables I found a trophy with a man and boy on it given for service to the Boys Club, near it were two bronze donkeys and a ceramic skunk. Sitting by itself on a chair was a book entitled “ The life story of Cousin Tubby Walton”. On a sofa in the same room were a number of old Archie comics. In the den also on a sofa was a selection of sheet music including “Bonaparte’s Retreat” by Pee Wee King and “Tweedle Dee” by Lavern Baker. A book of music entitled Homeland Harmony was in the same pile. In the den I also found a copy if the “Dictionary of Thoughts” and a basket of plastic fruit. In one bedroom I found a framed certificate from the Shriners, and some photographs of men in Shriners attire about to slice a cake. On the nightstand next to the bed was a small book simply entitled “Prayers”. In the back of the home was a remarkable site off the garage. Where a massive collection of canes, crutches and wheel chairs made this room resemble the rooms at shrines where miracles have happened and people have left behind their unneeded supports.
The basement was on the sparse side but I did find a copy of the “Fat Boys Book” the dedication reads “To everyone who ever turned around when they heard the call Hey Fatty” some other books included “Getting the most out of life” and “When Sorrow Comes”. Also found in the basement was an old massive comptometer, a roll top desk, a box of pencils from the Georgia Motor Club as well was the usual basement fodder such as boxes of mason jars. In a room that led to an unfinished portion of that level I make a remarkable find in an old cabinet. Among some packages of cancelled checks I discovered some daily calendar books for the years 1964, 1974 and 1975. I flipped open to 1975 to see what had happened on this date 30 years ago- “Boys club for lunch, had a little steak, bed 10:30” From 1965 I found this somber series of entries - 4/17 “Went by Dad’s he was tired from working all day gave him money and a card for Easter”
4/18 “Dad’s arm was sore”
4/19 “He was sore and feeble”
Finally on 4/21 the writer reports that dad had a stroke.
I bought nothing
Drewry St.- Virginia Highlands “ Moving Sale”
This sale was very depleted by the time I arrived and there was not much left for sale. On a table in the dining room of this well restored home were a flatbed scanner, a zip drive, and an electric tie rack. On the floor was a set of golf clubs a collapsible putter, a few books including a 1980 copy of the South America Handbook and a sword. Cindy had told me the two nights ago that if I find a sword at a sale to by one for she needed one for a sculpture she was creating. I told her I almost never see swords at sales. So she constructed on of wood. So even though she no longer needed the sword I bought it anyway since I though this was some kind of sign.
I bought the sword for $10.
Greenwood Ave – Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”
This sale was a disorganized pile of stuff in front of a duplex. Scattered about was a first aid kit, some Xmas décor, a ceiling fan, a birdhouse, an old door and a teddy bear. In the back of a pickup truck was a three-foot high heap of clothing.
I bought nothing
In front of a craftsman bungalow were two tables of stuff as well as a selection of other things scattered about on the yard. On the tables was an assortment of swizzle sticks including ones from the Playboy club and others with an image of Jack Daniels on them. Nearby was a golf club cover in the shape of a bottle of Tabasco sauce, an unopened box of roach fogger, a wooden plaque with a picture of a monk holding a wine glass and the Cliff Notes for To Kill a Mockingbird. In a box on the ground was a number of books including “ The worst of tasteless jokes”, “The life of Rasputin”, “Down on Ponce” and “Free Money for Grad School”. Below one of the tables was a hula costume. Another costume in the yard was a biohazard protection outfit, which could be worn to a CDC get together. Also scattered about were some space heaters, a baby stroller, a boxed horse shoes game, as well as a plush sheep and a plush ewok.
I bought two wooden picture frames.
Medlock Ave. Decatur “Yard Sale”
This sale advertised in the paper was disappointing and pretty boring. On a table were a few books “Under the Tuscan Sun”, “The winner within” and a boxed set of CDs entitled “How to master your time” I also found there the channel surfing game, the remains of a big car audio system including a large amp and some speakers, two baseball gloves, a silk flower arrangements and an Epson printer for $20.
I bought nothing.
Impala Dr.- Motor Hills “Estate Sale”
Driving the distance from Melrose up to Claremont to this sale I found it strange that there were no signs of any other sales. I would have stopped at as estate sale in Toco Hills but Clare Butler warned me that it was just a moving sale without much stuff. So I avoided that bit of deceit and made my way directly to Motor Hills. The sale was inside a one-story brick Greek Revival home. The site was still rather crowded considering that it was mid morning on the second day of the sale. In the living room on some tables I found a trophy with a man and boy on it given for service to the Boys Club, near it were two bronze donkeys and a ceramic skunk. Sitting by itself on a chair was a book entitled “ The life story of Cousin Tubby Walton”. On a sofa in the same room were a number of old Archie comics. In the den also on a sofa was a selection of sheet music including “Bonaparte’s Retreat” by Pee Wee King and “Tweedle Dee” by Lavern Baker. A book of music entitled Homeland Harmony was in the same pile. In the den I also found a copy if the “Dictionary of Thoughts” and a basket of plastic fruit. In one bedroom I found a framed certificate from the Shriners, and some photographs of men in Shriners attire about to slice a cake. On the nightstand next to the bed was a small book simply entitled “Prayers”. In the back of the home was a remarkable site off the garage. Where a massive collection of canes, crutches and wheel chairs made this room resemble the rooms at shrines where miracles have happened and people have left behind their unneeded supports.
The basement was on the sparse side but I did find a copy of the “Fat Boys Book” the dedication reads “To everyone who ever turned around when they heard the call Hey Fatty” some other books included “Getting the most out of life” and “When Sorrow Comes”. Also found in the basement was an old massive comptometer, a roll top desk, a box of pencils from the Georgia Motor Club as well was the usual basement fodder such as boxes of mason jars. In a room that led to an unfinished portion of that level I make a remarkable find in an old cabinet. Among some packages of cancelled checks I discovered some daily calendar books for the years 1964, 1974 and 1975. I flipped open to 1975 to see what had happened on this date 30 years ago- “Boys club for lunch, had a little steak, bed 10:30” From 1965 I found this somber series of entries - 4/17 “Went by Dad’s he was tired from working all day gave him money and a card for Easter”
4/18 “Dad’s arm was sore”
4/19 “He was sore and feeble”
Finally on 4/21 the writer reports that dad had a stroke.
I bought nothing
Drewry St.- Virginia Highlands “ Moving Sale”
This sale was very depleted by the time I arrived and there was not much left for sale. On a table in the dining room of this well restored home were a flatbed scanner, a zip drive, and an electric tie rack. On the floor was a set of golf clubs a collapsible putter, a few books including a 1980 copy of the South America Handbook and a sword. Cindy had told me the two nights ago that if I find a sword at a sale to by one for she needed one for a sculpture she was creating. I told her I almost never see swords at sales. So she constructed on of wood. So even though she no longer needed the sword I bought it anyway since I though this was some kind of sign.
I bought the sword for $10.
Greenwood Ave – Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”
This sale was a disorganized pile of stuff in front of a duplex. Scattered about was a first aid kit, some Xmas décor, a ceiling fan, a birdhouse, an old door and a teddy bear. In the back of a pickup truck was a three-foot high heap of clothing.
I bought nothing
Friday, February 18, 2005
Friday 2/18/2005
Glen Cove- Scottdale “Moving Sale”
Returning from a staff development meeting I pulled into an expensive new subdivision near where I work. A selection of items was neatly arrayed in the two-car garage of this relatively new home. On one table were some neatly folded cotton slacks, shorts and a selection of Tommy Hilfiger shirts. On another table were a coffee grinder, a nose hair trimmer, an empty laptop case, a few caps and a collection of magazines with JFK Jr. on the cover. About a dozen framed prints and painting leaned against the wall of the garage. One painting was an imitation of a Frida Kahlo self-portrait. On a bakers rack were a few books including a guide to Gay and Lesbian films, William Bennett’s “Book of Virtues" and a biography of JFK Jr. Also for sale were several queen size sheets and a dust ruffle. Inside the home they were selling a brown sofa and matching chair.
I bought a framed print of a poster of a cattleya sknneri from the New York Botanical Garden. I needed the frame for one of my roadside memorial photographs.
Returning from a staff development meeting I pulled into an expensive new subdivision near where I work. A selection of items was neatly arrayed in the two-car garage of this relatively new home. On one table were some neatly folded cotton slacks, shorts and a selection of Tommy Hilfiger shirts. On another table were a coffee grinder, a nose hair trimmer, an empty laptop case, a few caps and a collection of magazines with JFK Jr. on the cover. About a dozen framed prints and painting leaned against the wall of the garage. One painting was an imitation of a Frida Kahlo self-portrait. On a bakers rack were a few books including a guide to Gay and Lesbian films, William Bennett’s “Book of Virtues" and a biography of JFK Jr. Also for sale were several queen size sheets and a dust ruffle. Inside the home they were selling a brown sofa and matching chair.
I bought a framed print of a poster of a cattleya sknneri from the New York Botanical Garden. I needed the frame for one of my roadside memorial photographs.
A few days ago Cindy was approached by a gallery in St. Petersburg (Florida not Russia) to do a one woman show there at the end of this month. Seizing the occasion we packed up over two dozen of her works in the Dodge pick up and headed south. So for the third weekend my normal habits of wandering zombie like from sale to sale have been disrupted as I spent most of my waking hours this past weekend driving to Florida and back. But we did manage to go to one sale before the weekend was out.
Atlanta to Valdosta
With the truck loaded we head out of Atlanta. I dread fast trips spent on interstate highways. I dread spending anytime on any interstate highway. While they have given us speed these soul sucking ribbons of asphalt have taken away any possibility of seeing anything of this nation while traveling. Nearly every exit is festooned with the same dire chain restaurants and gas stations. People behave horribly on these roads the scenery is often bleak plus you can’t slow down and stop to see things like roadside memorials or any other strange artifacts along these high speed halls of monotony. I 75 from Atlanta to Tampa is one of these highway fraught with tedium and boredom. Landmarks are sparse. South of Macon near Byron are the two large peaches. Far below the scale of South Carolinas legendary leviathan Peachoid the twin big fruit of Byron only offer minor landmark status. At dusk the larger fruit the water tower peach with its poor illumination resembles the exposed backside of some freckled behemoth. The lesser peach that looks more like an onion than a peach is normally affixed to the top of a tall post, where it serves no other purpose than promoting an antique store. Today it is resting on the pavement next to the antique mart. Perhaps they are planning some modifications to make it look less oniony. . Past Byron we are in darkness with only the images of illuminated billboards for hotels and fast food to light our way. We stopped in Valdosta after selecting the “American Owned” Briarwood Hotel on its for its thrifty rates. This basic inn showed better from the highway for we had to past the exotic Club Paradise and a truck stop advertising two types of chaw before reaching the Briarwood. At the entrance a sign warned against loitering. Across the parking lot a metal building housed an indoor pool with a wooden sign in front stating boldly “Pool Heat on”.
Since this Blog is not about cheap motels. I will not go into the details but we did get a restful night’s sleep. We did not visit the Club Paradise nor take advantage of the deals on chaw.
With the truck loaded we head out of Atlanta. I dread fast trips spent on interstate highways. I dread spending anytime on any interstate highway. While they have given us speed these soul sucking ribbons of asphalt have taken away any possibility of seeing anything of this nation while traveling. Nearly every exit is festooned with the same dire chain restaurants and gas stations. People behave horribly on these roads the scenery is often bleak plus you can’t slow down and stop to see things like roadside memorials or any other strange artifacts along these high speed halls of monotony. I 75 from Atlanta to Tampa is one of these highway fraught with tedium and boredom. Landmarks are sparse. South of Macon near Byron are the two large peaches. Far below the scale of South Carolinas legendary leviathan Peachoid the twin big fruit of Byron only offer minor landmark status. At dusk the larger fruit the water tower peach with its poor illumination resembles the exposed backside of some freckled behemoth. The lesser peach that looks more like an onion than a peach is normally affixed to the top of a tall post, where it serves no other purpose than promoting an antique store. Today it is resting on the pavement next to the antique mart. Perhaps they are planning some modifications to make it look less oniony. . Past Byron we are in darkness with only the images of illuminated billboards for hotels and fast food to light our way. We stopped in Valdosta after selecting the “American Owned” Briarwood Hotel on its for its thrifty rates. This basic inn showed better from the highway for we had to past the exotic Club Paradise and a truck stop advertising two types of chaw before reaching the Briarwood. At the entrance a sign warned against loitering. Across the parking lot a metal building housed an indoor pool with a wooden sign in front stating boldly “Pool Heat on”.
Since this Blog is not about cheap motels. I will not go into the details but we did get a restful night’s sleep. We did not visit the Club Paradise nor take advantage of the deals on chaw.
Valdosta to St. Peterburg
Leaving the Briarwood we opted for a quick breakfast at a local McDonald’s. This was an unfortunate mistake. Not a frequent visitor to fast food of any ilk I found the Valdosta McDonald’s to be dirty, noisy and totally confused. I made a poor decision to order something that did not sound like a food item and had to wait nearly twenty minutes before being given my Sausage McGriddle. While we were waiting there was a crisis with the French fryer and grease was pouring onto the floor of the kitchen. When this occurred a series of loud beeps, which I suppose was to warn of flooding began and continued for the 20 minutes I waited for my McGriddle. Since this blog is about yard sales and not about inferior food I will not go into details on the McGriddle. Following the McDonald’s fiasco we left Valdosta and were soon across the border into Florida. The billboards along the way were a battle of blue state vs. red state values. The former derided abortion with notices for passing motorist announcing “aren’t you glad your mother didn’t abort you” or asking southbound visitors to drop in at the Bible Factory Outlet. Blue state values were promoted on billboards tempting travelers to visit places such as “Café Risqué”, “We Bare All” and the superstore of debauchery the X mart. Other billboards took no moral stance and offered the usual discounts on Disney while others requested people to thin their stands of pines to combat the dreaded bark beetle. We arrived in St. Pete, had lunch unloaded the art, celebrated my birthday over dinner then retired to prepare for the drive back the next day.
Leaving the Briarwood we opted for a quick breakfast at a local McDonald’s. This was an unfortunate mistake. Not a frequent visitor to fast food of any ilk I found the Valdosta McDonald’s to be dirty, noisy and totally confused. I made a poor decision to order something that did not sound like a food item and had to wait nearly twenty minutes before being given my Sausage McGriddle. While we were waiting there was a crisis with the French fryer and grease was pouring onto the floor of the kitchen. When this occurred a series of loud beeps, which I suppose was to warn of flooding began and continued for the 20 minutes I waited for my McGriddle. Since this blog is about yard sales and not about inferior food I will not go into details on the McGriddle. Following the McDonald’s fiasco we left Valdosta and were soon across the border into Florida. The billboards along the way were a battle of blue state vs. red state values. The former derided abortion with notices for passing motorist announcing “aren’t you glad your mother didn’t abort you” or asking southbound visitors to drop in at the Bible Factory Outlet. Blue state values were promoted on billboards tempting travelers to visit places such as “Café Risqué”, “We Bare All” and the superstore of debauchery the X mart. Other billboards took no moral stance and offered the usual discounts on Disney while others requested people to thin their stands of pines to combat the dreaded bark beetle. We arrived in St. Pete, had lunch unloaded the art, celebrated my birthday over dinner then retired to prepare for the drive back the next day.
Back to Atlanta
We left but did have time for one sale, so my weekend was not wasted. The billboards on the return home continued to warn of bark beetles and others offered good prices for unwanted timeshares. We avoided McDonald’s but did stop to examine the selection of citrus at a stop that featured a 13-foot gator taxidermied and polished with a coat of varnish.
We left but did have time for one sale, so my weekend was not wasted. The billboards on the return home continued to warn of bark beetles and others offered good prices for unwanted timeshares. We avoided McDonald’s but did stop to examine the selection of citrus at a stop that featured a 13-foot gator taxidermied and polished with a coat of varnish.
32 St. - St. Petersburg “Yard Sale”
We had a few minutes to stop for one sale before heading back to Atlanta. A small collection of stuff was next to a small palm tree in the yard of a small one story home. On the ground was a large selection of baskets, some women’s clothing, and a few children’s books including Seuss’s “Hop n Pop”. On a rack of clothing containing mostly women wear was child’s ladybug costume. At the end of the rack was a blouse with comments such as “Embroidery sucks” printed on it. Cindy perused a bag of bras and tried several on over her tee shirt but found they were too tight. She later told me that at the bottom of the bag was an unopened box of Trojans. On a table were two scanners, an unopened box of lice treatment, and a gigantic beer stein.
We bought nothing
We had a few minutes to stop for one sale before heading back to Atlanta. A small collection of stuff was next to a small palm tree in the yard of a small one story home. On the ground was a large selection of baskets, some women’s clothing, and a few children’s books including Seuss’s “Hop n Pop”. On a rack of clothing containing mostly women wear was child’s ladybug costume. At the end of the rack was a blouse with comments such as “Embroidery sucks” printed on it. Cindy perused a bag of bras and tried several on over her tee shirt but found they were too tight. She later told me that at the bottom of the bag was an unopened box of Trojans. On a table were two scanners, an unopened box of lice treatment, and a gigantic beer stein.
We bought nothing
Sunday, February 06, 2005
The ice has melted, my students are winners and there is still time for a few sales…
Everyone needs an extra bus.
The weather has changed dramatically, this weekend Atlanta looks far removed from winter wasteland of the past week. A good number of sales are posted in the AJC including one by a self-described overspending yuppie in Morningside. But sadly my paying career calls as I must attend my school system’s Technology Fair from morning till early afternoon. While I long to be perusing boxes of clutter and examining candles shaped like cinnamon buns, I am delighted to witness my young scholars win first place for their iMovie production. Following the awards I make my way down Lawrenceville Highway and am further delighted to find three quite worthwhile sales along the route home.
Frazier Dr.- Rehobeth “Yard Sale”
Following some well placed signs I arrive at a one-story brick home in this half-century-old neighborhood. In the driveway I encounter a MARTA sized bus that appears to date from the 70’s or 80’s. A sign above its front bumper proclaims, “For sale - runs great - $3450”. I decide not to invest in my own transit system and proceed to the sale being held near the garage. The area behind the bus where the merchandise is piled in no particular manner is partitioned off from the neighbors view with sheets of draped canvas. If I were a neighbor I’d much rather look at the junk than the canvas sheeting. The disorder and the age of the materials indicate that the wide assortment of stuff here was stored haphazardly for a long time most likely in the wooden garage at the end of the driveway or possibly inside the bus then dumped out where it is today. A “watch your step” sign seems to be the most appropriate item here. Among the jumble I find a pile of small American Flags, a big Pokemon game promotional stand up display, a very dusty Garrard turntable, a Crimson Tide banner, a birdhouse and a novelty severed arm. On one table are some large half spheres that appear to be speakers next to a medium size stump; another table has a pile of wicker baskets and a turn of the century photograph of a stern looking woman. There are a number of large cardboard boxes scattered around the driveway. In one are old gift cookie tins, another has a small basketball paired with a smaller basketball the size of a baseball, another yields metal tea kettles, yet another houses homemade doll house furniture. One very large box is filled with an assortment of out dated technology. Piled inside it are slow modems, cheap PC speakers, and a flock of ac to dc adapters bound together with a serpentine web of coax, serial, and ribbon cables. In the garage itself it is difficult to tell where the sale ends and the unkempt workshop begins. There one man is pulling a Donkey Kong stand up out from behind a luan panel. The confusion is delightful.
I buy nothing.
Medlock Dr.- Medlock “Estate Sale”
In another small one story brick home located near the old Dekalb Farmers market. The Farmers market site is now a lumber yard and where food wise shoppers used to fight for a parking space is now a graveyard of tree limbs and stumps (It appears that stumps are a theme in today’s sales)
A few things are piled up in the driveway but most of the stuff is inside. Before entering in the driveway I encounter a chalkboard leaning against the front steps with the words. “Payday loans- Car title Loans- Buy sell- trade”. The AJC last week ran a major series exposing the evil usury involving the unscrupulous lenders who offer car title and other high interest loans. Perhaps capitalizing on this, are these sellers offering loans to those wanting to buy the stuff inside the house for liens on their Buicks or Mazdas? If so, I would think for such a lucrative business they could have invested in something better than a small blackboard to promote their legal loan sharking. On a positive note, perhaps the sellers had recently held a seminar on the perils of borrowing 200 and losing your late model car after you default on the payments. All I can say is that while I was there I saw no one sign over the title of their Navigator in exchange for a candle shaped like a cinnamon bun or some other artifact.
Outside near the chalkboard in question was an assortment of clutter in the driveway and the small one car garage. On a table set a vintage erector set from the golden era of space exploration. This set allowed the young engineer to construct a working lunar rover out of nuts, bolts and other metallic objects now deemed too dangerous for budding scientist. With this in mind, dare we wonder why the Chinese are making such great leaps beyond the USA in exploring the final frontier? Inside the garage among some old furniture and lamps was a manikin midsection inverted with its stumps of legs pointing to the heavens. Also in the driveway sat a massive copy stand with a heavy Iron base and six large lamps sufficient for illuminating the darkest of copy.
Inside the house most things were sorted into boxes if they could be sorted. One contained an assortment of coat hangers another contained several decor items involving stump like pieces of wood. A small sign on one stump declared “ duck when it hits the fan”. “It” was not in evidence as it may have been broken off the base of the artifact. In a small dinning room a large bookcase covers one wall. Among the titles there are William Bennett’s “Moral Compass” along with ‘The Art of Sexual Ecstasy”, and “203 ways to drive your man wild in bed” in that work method # 167 proscribes “don’t just lie there do something”. Other books include “Move your stuff change your life”, Panic Disorders”. “Unleashing the sex goddess in every woman” and “The Amplified Bible”. There were a few videotapes on the floor including “Easy rider” and the cryptically titled “Ravioli VI” both are VHS.
In the living room I find several boxes of Lps and CDs. CDs include Romantic French Classics, a selection of country artists as well as meditation and yoga recordings. The Lp box includes nearly a dozen Kingston Trio records.
In what may have been a bedroom is a collection of framed prints and other artwork leaning against the walls. One is a drawing of a spectacled gentleman grinning and wearing an Avets cap. In the same room are several 2 by 3 foot playing cards that could be used in a true Texas size game of Texas Hold ‘em. In another bedroom I root through a box of sunglasses to discover a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers with the 1996 Olympic logo. In a back room of the home I come across an empty bottle of Gator beer and several rusty but unopened cans of Harley Davidson beer with a 1985 date on them. I do not know the quality of that particular vintage. Randomly scattered about the back rooms are two bowling pins, nearly a dozen pairs of very new looking cowboy boots, a confederate flag, a “gone shopping” sign, the empty cover of a Dorothy Lamour EP, a time clock with a sign indicating that it works (but it is not showing the correct time) a lamp constructed from a Rebel Yell bottle and a ceramic alligator with its mouth open.
I Buy the Ray Bans and a Latin Dance music CD for $1 each.
Greylock Dr.- Decatur “Estate Sale”
This sale inside another one story brick home is far more normal that the last two sales. But the framed art here is out standing. On the living room floor is a painting of a horse named Midnight from 1961 and a painting of a white poodle. The poodle’s name is not given. One the walls are large old framed photographs of distant ancestors. One is an eerie image of a toddler with outstretched arms. On a coffee table are a few videos including Pedro Aldomovar’s “ Tie Me up tie me down” on VHS along with “Modesty Blaise” on DVD. In what may have been a bedroom are boxes of books far more boring that the last sale. Most are dusty 20 plus year old college textbooks. One box contains a 1904 set of the “New Standard Encyclopedia” other titles found are ‘The Age of Reform” and “ Is there life after this life?”
In a small nook like room with a set of built in shelves are a few tiny collectors spoons still in their packaging, including ones from the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Near them is a pair of unopened playing cards from Santa’s World. A selection of small plaques with waif figures adorns the same shelf. On the floor sits a large box filled with old unused greeting cards.
In a bedroom I find a number of golf items, including bookends with a putter and a driver. Other golf items include a box containing a golf “caddy” it is not a little man who will carry your clubs and tell you about the wind but a container for pens and paper clips with golfing images embossed upon it. One a night table is a mahogany plaque with the quote “Laziness: a disease who’s worst feature is that it is neither curable nor fatal”.
In a small attic I find some Christmas decorations, a plush toy red nosed Rudolph, some old luggage, two putters and the popular foot bath and massager entitled The Foot Fixer.
I bought the painting of Midnight for one dollar and donated it to Clare Parker’s extensive collection of naïve pet portraits.
Following some well placed signs I arrive at a one-story brick home in this half-century-old neighborhood. In the driveway I encounter a MARTA sized bus that appears to date from the 70’s or 80’s. A sign above its front bumper proclaims, “For sale - runs great - $3450”. I decide not to invest in my own transit system and proceed to the sale being held near the garage. The area behind the bus where the merchandise is piled in no particular manner is partitioned off from the neighbors view with sheets of draped canvas. If I were a neighbor I’d much rather look at the junk than the canvas sheeting. The disorder and the age of the materials indicate that the wide assortment of stuff here was stored haphazardly for a long time most likely in the wooden garage at the end of the driveway or possibly inside the bus then dumped out where it is today. A “watch your step” sign seems to be the most appropriate item here. Among the jumble I find a pile of small American Flags, a big Pokemon game promotional stand up display, a very dusty Garrard turntable, a Crimson Tide banner, a birdhouse and a novelty severed arm. On one table are some large half spheres that appear to be speakers next to a medium size stump; another table has a pile of wicker baskets and a turn of the century photograph of a stern looking woman. There are a number of large cardboard boxes scattered around the driveway. In one are old gift cookie tins, another has a small basketball paired with a smaller basketball the size of a baseball, another yields metal tea kettles, yet another houses homemade doll house furniture. One very large box is filled with an assortment of out dated technology. Piled inside it are slow modems, cheap PC speakers, and a flock of ac to dc adapters bound together with a serpentine web of coax, serial, and ribbon cables. In the garage itself it is difficult to tell where the sale ends and the unkempt workshop begins. There one man is pulling a Donkey Kong stand up out from behind a luan panel. The confusion is delightful.
I buy nothing.
Medlock Dr.- Medlock “Estate Sale”
In another small one story brick home located near the old Dekalb Farmers market. The Farmers market site is now a lumber yard and where food wise shoppers used to fight for a parking space is now a graveyard of tree limbs and stumps (It appears that stumps are a theme in today’s sales)
A few things are piled up in the driveway but most of the stuff is inside. Before entering in the driveway I encounter a chalkboard leaning against the front steps with the words. “Payday loans- Car title Loans- Buy sell- trade”. The AJC last week ran a major series exposing the evil usury involving the unscrupulous lenders who offer car title and other high interest loans. Perhaps capitalizing on this, are these sellers offering loans to those wanting to buy the stuff inside the house for liens on their Buicks or Mazdas? If so, I would think for such a lucrative business they could have invested in something better than a small blackboard to promote their legal loan sharking. On a positive note, perhaps the sellers had recently held a seminar on the perils of borrowing 200 and losing your late model car after you default on the payments. All I can say is that while I was there I saw no one sign over the title of their Navigator in exchange for a candle shaped like a cinnamon bun or some other artifact.
Outside near the chalkboard in question was an assortment of clutter in the driveway and the small one car garage. On a table set a vintage erector set from the golden era of space exploration. This set allowed the young engineer to construct a working lunar rover out of nuts, bolts and other metallic objects now deemed too dangerous for budding scientist. With this in mind, dare we wonder why the Chinese are making such great leaps beyond the USA in exploring the final frontier? Inside the garage among some old furniture and lamps was a manikin midsection inverted with its stumps of legs pointing to the heavens. Also in the driveway sat a massive copy stand with a heavy Iron base and six large lamps sufficient for illuminating the darkest of copy.
Inside the house most things were sorted into boxes if they could be sorted. One contained an assortment of coat hangers another contained several decor items involving stump like pieces of wood. A small sign on one stump declared “ duck when it hits the fan”. “It” was not in evidence as it may have been broken off the base of the artifact. In a small dinning room a large bookcase covers one wall. Among the titles there are William Bennett’s “Moral Compass” along with ‘The Art of Sexual Ecstasy”, and “203 ways to drive your man wild in bed” in that work method # 167 proscribes “don’t just lie there do something”. Other books include “Move your stuff change your life”, Panic Disorders”. “Unleashing the sex goddess in every woman” and “The Amplified Bible”. There were a few videotapes on the floor including “Easy rider” and the cryptically titled “Ravioli VI” both are VHS.
In the living room I find several boxes of Lps and CDs. CDs include Romantic French Classics, a selection of country artists as well as meditation and yoga recordings. The Lp box includes nearly a dozen Kingston Trio records.
In what may have been a bedroom is a collection of framed prints and other artwork leaning against the walls. One is a drawing of a spectacled gentleman grinning and wearing an Avets cap. In the same room are several 2 by 3 foot playing cards that could be used in a true Texas size game of Texas Hold ‘em. In another bedroom I root through a box of sunglasses to discover a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers with the 1996 Olympic logo. In a back room of the home I come across an empty bottle of Gator beer and several rusty but unopened cans of Harley Davidson beer with a 1985 date on them. I do not know the quality of that particular vintage. Randomly scattered about the back rooms are two bowling pins, nearly a dozen pairs of very new looking cowboy boots, a confederate flag, a “gone shopping” sign, the empty cover of a Dorothy Lamour EP, a time clock with a sign indicating that it works (but it is not showing the correct time) a lamp constructed from a Rebel Yell bottle and a ceramic alligator with its mouth open.
I Buy the Ray Bans and a Latin Dance music CD for $1 each.
Greylock Dr.- Decatur “Estate Sale”
This sale inside another one story brick home is far more normal that the last two sales. But the framed art here is out standing. On the living room floor is a painting of a horse named Midnight from 1961 and a painting of a white poodle. The poodle’s name is not given. One the walls are large old framed photographs of distant ancestors. One is an eerie image of a toddler with outstretched arms. On a coffee table are a few videos including Pedro Aldomovar’s “ Tie Me up tie me down” on VHS along with “Modesty Blaise” on DVD. In what may have been a bedroom are boxes of books far more boring that the last sale. Most are dusty 20 plus year old college textbooks. One box contains a 1904 set of the “New Standard Encyclopedia” other titles found are ‘The Age of Reform” and “ Is there life after this life?”
In a small nook like room with a set of built in shelves are a few tiny collectors spoons still in their packaging, including ones from the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Near them is a pair of unopened playing cards from Santa’s World. A selection of small plaques with waif figures adorns the same shelf. On the floor sits a large box filled with old unused greeting cards.
In a bedroom I find a number of golf items, including bookends with a putter and a driver. Other golf items include a box containing a golf “caddy” it is not a little man who will carry your clubs and tell you about the wind but a container for pens and paper clips with golfing images embossed upon it. One a night table is a mahogany plaque with the quote “Laziness: a disease who’s worst feature is that it is neither curable nor fatal”.
In a small attic I find some Christmas decorations, a plush toy red nosed Rudolph, some old luggage, two putters and the popular foot bath and massager entitled The Foot Fixer.
I bought the painting of Midnight for one dollar and donated it to Clare Parker’s extensive collection of naïve pet portraits.
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