A message for Jason.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Friday December 3, 2004
Altamont Dr. -Oak Grove, Moving Sale
Oak Grove is an older suburb that I am not too familiar with. It’s just a place I pass whenever I make the long drive to Northlake Mall. After I turn off N. Druid Hills Rd. I notice yard signs railing against large infill housing construction. Like a lot of older suburbs the ranches are now being razed to make way for McMansions that not only raise property values but also block out the sun.
In front of a 1960’s style two story colonial is a sign proclaiming Garage Sale Now. I like the positive emphasis of the sign. So I first head to the garage but find that the sale is inside. Near the front entrance is a metal outdoor dinning set or 4 chairs and a table next to it is a foreboding pitchfork impaled into the ground. Inside the home I am sad to find that nearly everything is gone. A few lone items ring the perimeter of each room. In the living room is a large old painting of animals lined up to board the ark before the deluge. In the nearly empty dining room I find decorative tiles of the Hermitage (The one in Tennessee not the one in Russia) and Monticello. The owner was undoubtedly a lover of presidential homes. In the den I find a number of books, mostly on religion and travel. There is a 1978 Guide to the USSR, a copy of “From here to retirement”, "A brief course in German” and a Billy Graham book in Polish. There is also some sheet music of a comic opera entitled “The Captain of Plymouth” and a book of sheet music contains 20 Scarlatti sonatas. On a shelf in the den is a Duraflame log still in its wrapper.
Upstairs I find rolls of Christmas wrap, a deep red shower curtain, an ashtray from Guatemala, an old portable typewriter, a large collection of ladies belts, a small collection of ladies bifocals, a WXGZ TV 32 year pin, a pair of crutches and a sweater with a image of a woman hanging clothes on a clothesline embroidered on it.
I buy nothing.
Oak Grove is an older suburb that I am not too familiar with. It’s just a place I pass whenever I make the long drive to Northlake Mall. After I turn off N. Druid Hills Rd. I notice yard signs railing against large infill housing construction. Like a lot of older suburbs the ranches are now being razed to make way for McMansions that not only raise property values but also block out the sun.
In front of a 1960’s style two story colonial is a sign proclaiming Garage Sale Now. I like the positive emphasis of the sign. So I first head to the garage but find that the sale is inside. Near the front entrance is a metal outdoor dinning set or 4 chairs and a table next to it is a foreboding pitchfork impaled into the ground. Inside the home I am sad to find that nearly everything is gone. A few lone items ring the perimeter of each room. In the living room is a large old painting of animals lined up to board the ark before the deluge. In the nearly empty dining room I find decorative tiles of the Hermitage (The one in Tennessee not the one in Russia) and Monticello. The owner was undoubtedly a lover of presidential homes. In the den I find a number of books, mostly on religion and travel. There is a 1978 Guide to the USSR, a copy of “From here to retirement”, "A brief course in German” and a Billy Graham book in Polish. There is also some sheet music of a comic opera entitled “The Captain of Plymouth” and a book of sheet music contains 20 Scarlatti sonatas. On a shelf in the den is a Duraflame log still in its wrapper.
Upstairs I find rolls of Christmas wrap, a deep red shower curtain, an ashtray from Guatemala, an old portable typewriter, a large collection of ladies belts, a small collection of ladies bifocals, a WXGZ TV 32 year pin, a pair of crutches and a sweater with a image of a woman hanging clothes on a clothesline embroidered on it.
I buy nothing.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
The holidays are here and sales are not
The holidays are here, for yard sales this is the dry season, the dead zone, the great lull. I expected little this week and found little. The weather has turned colder and only those who plan poorly or are seasonally confused are bothering to pile clutter out into their front yards and driveways.
When I went down to the corner of McLendon and Clifton to look for signs I found only notices for lost dogs and cryptic pictures of young women with halos and angel wings attired in lingerie attached to utility poles.
When I went down to the corner of McLendon and Clifton to look for signs I found only notices for lost dogs and cryptic pictures of young women with halos and angel wings attired in lingerie attached to utility poles.
Saturday November 27, 2004
Webster Dr.-Decatur.
After actually completing some necessary errands such as getting my oil changed and having a flat fixed I stumbled across this lone sale near Emory University. In an apartment complex a couple were selling a lot of household items outside their front door. They seemed to be from Eastern Europe so perhaps they were immune to all this “don’t have a yard sale get into the holidays” fuss. Like most apartment sales the picking were light. Among the items scattered about were a thigh master, a baby stroller, a Pioneer amplifier, a child’s car seat, several small kitchen appliances including a blender, a 131 piece auto tool kit that looked like it had never been opened and a spindle of CD-rs that was half empty.
They tell me that everything was lower than marked.
I buy nothing.
High Point Place,-Morningside
In a house on this street with a wonderful view of the CDC buildings over a mile in the distance was a selection of items on the sidewalk and in a small garage. On the sidewalk were some framed jigsaw puzzles and a few classical Cds. Going up the driveway to the garage was a selection of small throw rugs, a cat napper that was still in the box, a salad spinner, a toilet seat, a vacuum cleaner with the bold name “World Vac”, two sets of pumpkin shaped Halloween lights, and a old door. Books included “The Goddess Speaks” and “How to live 365 days a year”.
On the way out I noticed a selection of give a way tote sacks from conferences one was from the Georgia Conference on Children of Cocaine Abusers.
I bought nothing.
St. Charles Ave.-Virginia Highlands
This sale represents more of what I expect to see as the year comes to a close and the temperature continues to drop. Two women clad in heavy coats are standing watch over a few small piles of unneeded possessions outside a two story home. A large sign for this sale sits on a metal easel weighted down by a flatbed scanner to prevent it from being blown over by the cold winds. It proclaims “free boxes”. The boxes are not needed for the purchases for there will not be many. The boxes instead indicate instead that the owners are moving leaving these two women most likely renters in this home to stay behind and sell off some meager belongings. Some of the items littering the front lawn include a two tiered hard boiled egg server and a back pack that holds picnic supplies (I have never seem one of these that was actually used). There is also a large plastic tub with some brushes inside of it. I later hear one of the women remark. “ Is that a beer making kit?” The sellers tell me that the owners of the house are also selling the boxes of beige ceramic tile stacked up on the front steps. I am told they paid $600 for the tile and are now selling it for $50. But no buyers are anywhere in sight. Near the street is a small pile of free items that include a Christmas tree stand, some old slide projector trays and a few bowls.
I bought nothing.
Ridgewood Ave.-Lake Claire
A sign on McLendon directs me down Ridgewood to find three pieces of office furniture in someone’s front yard. There is a sign on the desk that says “for sale”. My urge is to go back to the sign and scribble in “attempted” before the words yard sale. This is a sad harbinger of what is to come in the next six weeks.
After actually completing some necessary errands such as getting my oil changed and having a flat fixed I stumbled across this lone sale near Emory University. In an apartment complex a couple were selling a lot of household items outside their front door. They seemed to be from Eastern Europe so perhaps they were immune to all this “don’t have a yard sale get into the holidays” fuss. Like most apartment sales the picking were light. Among the items scattered about were a thigh master, a baby stroller, a Pioneer amplifier, a child’s car seat, several small kitchen appliances including a blender, a 131 piece auto tool kit that looked like it had never been opened and a spindle of CD-rs that was half empty.
They tell me that everything was lower than marked.
I buy nothing.
High Point Place,-Morningside
In a house on this street with a wonderful view of the CDC buildings over a mile in the distance was a selection of items on the sidewalk and in a small garage. On the sidewalk were some framed jigsaw puzzles and a few classical Cds. Going up the driveway to the garage was a selection of small throw rugs, a cat napper that was still in the box, a salad spinner, a toilet seat, a vacuum cleaner with the bold name “World Vac”, two sets of pumpkin shaped Halloween lights, and a old door. Books included “The Goddess Speaks” and “How to live 365 days a year”.
On the way out I noticed a selection of give a way tote sacks from conferences one was from the Georgia Conference on Children of Cocaine Abusers.
I bought nothing.
St. Charles Ave.-Virginia Highlands
This sale represents more of what I expect to see as the year comes to a close and the temperature continues to drop. Two women clad in heavy coats are standing watch over a few small piles of unneeded possessions outside a two story home. A large sign for this sale sits on a metal easel weighted down by a flatbed scanner to prevent it from being blown over by the cold winds. It proclaims “free boxes”. The boxes are not needed for the purchases for there will not be many. The boxes instead indicate instead that the owners are moving leaving these two women most likely renters in this home to stay behind and sell off some meager belongings. Some of the items littering the front lawn include a two tiered hard boiled egg server and a back pack that holds picnic supplies (I have never seem one of these that was actually used). There is also a large plastic tub with some brushes inside of it. I later hear one of the women remark. “ Is that a beer making kit?” The sellers tell me that the owners of the house are also selling the boxes of beige ceramic tile stacked up on the front steps. I am told they paid $600 for the tile and are now selling it for $50. But no buyers are anywhere in sight. Near the street is a small pile of free items that include a Christmas tree stand, some old slide projector trays and a few bowls.
I bought nothing.
Ridgewood Ave.-Lake Claire
A sign on McLendon directs me down Ridgewood to find three pieces of office furniture in someone’s front yard. There is a sign on the desk that says “for sale”. My urge is to go back to the sign and scribble in “attempted” before the words yard sale. This is a sad harbinger of what is to come in the next six weeks.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
November 20, 2004
I awoke this Saturday quite tired and not expecting many sales and I didn’t find many. At ten I was supposed to help a friend move, so I did not have much time to look. After driving from Candler Park to Emory to Decatur and back I located only a single sale.
Elmira Ave.- Candler Park
The signs were very inviting with the words “Yard sale cheap and free stuff”. This sale behind a home was not very big but it was the only thing happening today. The free stuff consisted of a box of old Runners World magazines and a box of small votive candles. The main theme of this sale was Nsync, they had Nsync Cds, Nsync videos, Nsync magazines and best of all Nsync bobble head dolls still in the original packaging. Indicating a time prior to the seller’s or seller’s offspring involvement with Nsync there were also a few New Kids on the Block Cds. Other items included a Ouija board and one of those fortune telling 8 Ball. I asked it if I would find something to buy here. It answered “Not very likely” There was also a large piece of foam bedding.
I bought nothing.
Elmira Ave.- Candler Park
The signs were very inviting with the words “Yard sale cheap and free stuff”. This sale behind a home was not very big but it was the only thing happening today. The free stuff consisted of a box of old Runners World magazines and a box of small votive candles. The main theme of this sale was Nsync, they had Nsync Cds, Nsync videos, Nsync magazines and best of all Nsync bobble head dolls still in the original packaging. Indicating a time prior to the seller’s or seller’s offspring involvement with Nsync there were also a few New Kids on the Block Cds. Other items included a Ouija board and one of those fortune telling 8 Ball. I asked it if I would find something to buy here. It answered “Not very likely” There was also a large piece of foam bedding.
I bought nothing.
November 19, 2004
Northern Ave. Clarkston- Estate Sale
I headed to this sale after work on Friday Afternoon. I had never ventured into Clarkston for a sale before, even though it is not far from my place of work. Clarkston has become an interesting community with the largest percentage foriegn born population of any municipality in the state. The émigrés range from Bosnians to Laotians to Somalis. But this sale represented the old Clarkston, a bedroom community for Atlanta in the 60’s. Northern Ave., is just outside 285(but the near part of 285) is an attractive street of early 50’s bungalows nestled on rolling tree covered hills. Walking down the driveway I first encounter a large metal bell on an old table with a tag reading describing it as a farm bell. Outside the front door were several agrarian looking implements as well as a large metal tank that could have been used for the moonshine trade. Inside the home I was met by an atmosphere of mustiness. The sellers tell me that the house had been closed up for a very long time. The old carpeting underfoot adds to the thick smell of the unpleasant miasma. Aside from the bad air the home contained a number of very wonderful artifacts of the prior residents life. In a closet I found a pair of down foot warmers as well as an electric foot bath labeled a Foot Fixer. There were a number of caps lying or hanging around the premises. One was from the USS John F Kennedy, another from the Knoxville Worlds Fair and one was a sample Masonic cap that had a Masonic symbol and the words “your city and state here” on it. In another closet were several old Naval Officer uniforms slathered with mildew. Books included a number of religious titles such as “The Bible Almanac” but I also found an early printing of “Human Sexual Response”. The décor was very simple and pleasant. The bed was covered with a brightly colored chenille bedspread and the walls had some remarkable artwork. In frames on one wall were a number of childlike bird prints on another wall a 3 by 3 inch painting of a clown. Some old colored pencil hand drawings of sailing ships (perhaps done by the naval officer on a long voyage), and a photo of Shriners in an open caddy convertible were in the hallway and bedroom. Most notable of all were two small decopauged prints, one of Jimmy Carter the other of a very faded LBJ.
In the living room was a box of old Newsweeks and Playboys from the 1960’s. In a box of jewelry and other small items there was a pin with the words “Worlds Best Kisser” on it. On a bed was a stack of old aprons and in the back room behind the kitchen hanging on the door was a “Let me tell you about my grandchildren” license plate. I spent a good deal of my time here going though a pile of old postcards. Of which I selected and purchased about 20.
I headed to this sale after work on Friday Afternoon. I had never ventured into Clarkston for a sale before, even though it is not far from my place of work. Clarkston has become an interesting community with the largest percentage foriegn born population of any municipality in the state. The émigrés range from Bosnians to Laotians to Somalis. But this sale represented the old Clarkston, a bedroom community for Atlanta in the 60’s. Northern Ave., is just outside 285(but the near part of 285) is an attractive street of early 50’s bungalows nestled on rolling tree covered hills. Walking down the driveway I first encounter a large metal bell on an old table with a tag reading describing it as a farm bell. Outside the front door were several agrarian looking implements as well as a large metal tank that could have been used for the moonshine trade. Inside the home I was met by an atmosphere of mustiness. The sellers tell me that the house had been closed up for a very long time. The old carpeting underfoot adds to the thick smell of the unpleasant miasma. Aside from the bad air the home contained a number of very wonderful artifacts of the prior residents life. In a closet I found a pair of down foot warmers as well as an electric foot bath labeled a Foot Fixer. There were a number of caps lying or hanging around the premises. One was from the USS John F Kennedy, another from the Knoxville Worlds Fair and one was a sample Masonic cap that had a Masonic symbol and the words “your city and state here” on it. In another closet were several old Naval Officer uniforms slathered with mildew. Books included a number of religious titles such as “The Bible Almanac” but I also found an early printing of “Human Sexual Response”. The décor was very simple and pleasant. The bed was covered with a brightly colored chenille bedspread and the walls had some remarkable artwork. In frames on one wall were a number of childlike bird prints on another wall a 3 by 3 inch painting of a clown. Some old colored pencil hand drawings of sailing ships (perhaps done by the naval officer on a long voyage), and a photo of Shriners in an open caddy convertible were in the hallway and bedroom. Most notable of all were two small decopauged prints, one of Jimmy Carter the other of a very faded LBJ.
In the living room was a box of old Newsweeks and Playboys from the 1960’s. In a box of jewelry and other small items there was a pin with the words “Worlds Best Kisser” on it. On a bed was a stack of old aprons and in the back room behind the kitchen hanging on the door was a “Let me tell you about my grandchildren” license plate. I spent a good deal of my time here going though a pile of old postcards. Of which I selected and purchased about 20.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Nov. 13, 2004
This was not a good weekend for yard sales. There were a few around but I had to overcome my addiction just was not go. I was Drastically behind on some personal projects in the wake of an ongoing Macintosh disaster, that has left four hard drives dead. In addition I had a house guest and had already spending far too many waking hours trying to decipher how to correctly operate my newly purchased DVD recorder. I only made it to two sales and to a special flea market.
Terrace Dr. Candler Park
This was a beautiful setting with an array of old junk on a vista overlooking the park. Piles of no longer needed clutter nestled among fallen leaves in shades of brown and gold.
Sadly I have lost my notes on this sale and all I recall is a large rag doll nestled next to an old stump. But from my photos I was able identify several boxes of old shoes a red leather jacket and a tee shirt from the Harvard School of Business.
I bought nothing
Oakdale Ave. Candler Park
This was a fairly large sale with a good number of inexplicable items. One of the largest single as well as inexplicable items was a big mirror with a gay 90’s scene of a bicycle built for two etched into the glass. Some other turn of the century styled pieces included a pair of plaques showing a quaint looking Ma and Paw weighting themselves on a scale as well as a sign in the shape of a pointing finger with the words Bath 25cents below the finger. More modern merchandise included a gigantic shop vac and three computer monitor for $10 each. There was a selection of clothing including a “blonde’s t shirt” that had directions indicating where the arms and head go. A large selection of books included the titles “ How to clean practically anything” “ Going the other way” by Billy Bean “The Good Marriage” and “ How I laughed my way through menopause”. A stack of Lps included the omnipresent “Frampton Comes Alive” as well as the soundtrack to A Chorus Line. A box of old travel books included several on Italy such as 1998’s “Eating out in Italy”. Another box of books contained mostly 80’s sci fi and fantasy novels. Other media included a set of 11 Anthony Robbins life improvement cassettes. Also at the sale was a set of golf clubs and a mildewed pair of Eddie Bauer boots. By far the most impressive item was a 1965 white Cadillac Deville with Texas plates parked in front of the home.
I bought nothing
Terrace Dr. Candler Park
This was a beautiful setting with an array of old junk on a vista overlooking the park. Piles of no longer needed clutter nestled among fallen leaves in shades of brown and gold.
Sadly I have lost my notes on this sale and all I recall is a large rag doll nestled next to an old stump. But from my photos I was able identify several boxes of old shoes a red leather jacket and a tee shirt from the Harvard School of Business.
I bought nothing
Oakdale Ave. Candler Park
This was a fairly large sale with a good number of inexplicable items. One of the largest single as well as inexplicable items was a big mirror with a gay 90’s scene of a bicycle built for two etched into the glass. Some other turn of the century styled pieces included a pair of plaques showing a quaint looking Ma and Paw weighting themselves on a scale as well as a sign in the shape of a pointing finger with the words Bath 25cents below the finger. More modern merchandise included a gigantic shop vac and three computer monitor for $10 each. There was a selection of clothing including a “blonde’s t shirt” that had directions indicating where the arms and head go. A large selection of books included the titles “ How to clean practically anything” “ Going the other way” by Billy Bean “The Good Marriage” and “ How I laughed my way through menopause”. A stack of Lps included the omnipresent “Frampton Comes Alive” as well as the soundtrack to A Chorus Line. A box of old travel books included several on Italy such as 1998’s “Eating out in Italy”. Another box of books contained mostly 80’s sci fi and fantasy novels. Other media included a set of 11 Anthony Robbins life improvement cassettes. Also at the sale was a set of golf clubs and a mildewed pair of Eddie Bauer boots. By far the most impressive item was a 1965 white Cadillac Deville with Texas plates parked in front of the home.
I bought nothing
Nov. 13, 2004
Fundraising Flea Market for the Family of Todd Butler
Jake’s Toad House- Outer Decatur
I stopped by this flea market held in honor of one of the great lovers of clutter Todd Butler. Nearly all the items were donated by his friends, who are also lovers of clutter. So I’m sure they had a hard time parting with a lot of the things there. The merchandise was almost neatly arrayed in the parking lot. Several live bands played while people shifted through the stuff. It was also nice to be able to nurse a cold PBR while shopping.
There was almost too much to name but some of the noteworthy things included:
A decopauged autographed print of Marie Osmond
The Sip N Sing karoke mug- a tankard with a built in microphone and speaker.
A Nunzilla figure
A demented looking snowman cookie jar whose face resembled the restraining mask Hannibal Lecter wears.
A bingo money jar.
Old copies of Arizona Highways from the 1950’s
Attack of the 50 foot woman on VHS
A Harmony Bowl- a relaxing indoor desktop fountain.
The Elvisopoly Game
I buy a commemorative plate of the Edaville Railway and a book “Sex American Style”
Jake’s Toad House- Outer Decatur
I stopped by this flea market held in honor of one of the great lovers of clutter Todd Butler. Nearly all the items were donated by his friends, who are also lovers of clutter. So I’m sure they had a hard time parting with a lot of the things there. The merchandise was almost neatly arrayed in the parking lot. Several live bands played while people shifted through the stuff. It was also nice to be able to nurse a cold PBR while shopping.
There was almost too much to name but some of the noteworthy things included:
A decopauged autographed print of Marie Osmond
The Sip N Sing karoke mug- a tankard with a built in microphone and speaker.
A Nunzilla figure
A demented looking snowman cookie jar whose face resembled the restraining mask Hannibal Lecter wears.
A bingo money jar.
Old copies of Arizona Highways from the 1950’s
Attack of the 50 foot woman on VHS
A Harmony Bowl- a relaxing indoor desktop fountain.
The Elvisopoly Game
I buy a commemorative plate of the Edaville Railway and a book “Sex American Style”
Monday, November 08, 2004
Nov. 6, 2004
The election and Halloween are now behind us and even in Georgia the climate is changing. So the holidays will be upon us and the season, that is the Yard Sale Season will soon come to an end. Estate sales will continue for people continue to die or be put away, but the average, “I just want to rid myself of all this junk sales” nearly come to a close. Only a few stout-hearted individuals still have sales for some reason or another. The classified section for in the AJC will soon no longer have a large masthead announcing Fall Garage Sales flanked with icons of Autumn leaves. The nadir of the season, the weeks before and after Christmas will have just scant listings in the paper, a few inches of ads hidden somewhere in the classifieds. I find this season a difficult time. Even though there is much else to do,(well there is always a lot of other things to do) the sales end. They disappear like migratory birds flying to warmer climates or fishes heading to deeper or colder waters. They always return but the holiday world is an empty but remarkable time. A time when useless clutter in people’s yards bedecked with small circular price tags is replaced with garish décor in red and green. Foil wrapped gigantic candy canes, fill in for discarded monitors, poorly constructed animatronic reindeer replace unwanted bread machines and colossal inflatable Polar Bears occupy the space where that huge pile of Fisher Price toys once dwelled on a sunny day in September. But it does indicate that it’s all a cycle. For in this time when no sales are held people are buying LCD monitors and disconnecting their CRTs, soon to be ex-wives are giving shirts of ugly colors to soon to be ex-husbands, and friends are giving friends candles in the shape of cinnamon buns. It is the wheel of life constantly turning as clutter is received then disowned.
I will continue this blog through the dead season with commentary on something of value, but I will no longer be able to observe life through the departing clutter of my neighbors and countrymen.
This week there are less sales. My knee pain of last week is gone. I have still not gotten my cat Tony his shots yet. But he still shows no signs of rabies. In my community the Kerry and Bush sign are slowly coming down but as I drive around I do notice that some Halloween items are still up. The leaves are falling and so is the temperature.
Miller Ave.-Candler Park
I came about this sale by a sign tacked to a light post. This had to be one on the worse signs I have seen this season. It was designed not to be a sign but more of a memo. This printer printed 81/2 by 11 had nothing larger than 24 point type on it. There is no way anyone could read this tiny print from a passing car. The seller did not even bother to use bold type. When I noticed the sign I was expecting it to say, “the meeting scheduled for the accounts payable department has been rescheduled from 3:30 to 3:30”. Anyone driving past this trying to read it would most likely cause a pile up on McLendon. Perhaps the designers of the so called traffic calming improvements on McLendon should have just put up small yard sale signs instead of these horrendous bulb outs. Traffic would have slowed down by people trying to read them or slowed down by people having wrecks reading them. Anyway I end up getting out of the car and walking to the post to read it. When I head to the sale at 9:15 I find nothing but a broken chair and table in the yard. In the driveway is a broken Kerry sign. One the back of the truck in the drive way are a lot of stickers for left wing causes. Perhaps this is all a parallel to the failed Kerry campaign. The Democrats signs were too small and they didn’t have their stuff ready. I don’t even stick around to see what this guy is bringing out.
I buy nothing and there is almost nothing to buy.
McLendon Ave- Candler Park Apartment Sale
This is a small sale on the front stoop of an older apartment building. There are several cheap looking Easter decorations for sale, one that looks like three rabbit heads made out of real eggs. The is a small hand painted plaque with an turn on the century looking waif on it with the quote “You don’t say” written above it. On the same table is a large metal sculpture of a fish. The seller also has an ugly abstract painting, a pair of inline skates and a book “The Everything Dog Training and trick Book:
I buy nothing.
McLendon Ave, Lake Claire
In the drive way of this house is a wide assortment of mismatched items that include a Curious George jack in the Box, 3 alarm clocks, a commemorative plate from Kansas City, a lacrosse helmet and knee pads, an embroidered print of Mt. Fuji, the celebrity Taboo game and old luggage.. There are a number of books and video tapes such as “The Road less traveled” and “The road warrior workout” the VHS tapes include a self made copy of Clockwork Orange and episodes of Twin Peaks, as well as a original copy of Ruth Leitmans “Wildwood”. Near the street is a cardboard box with a dozen or so little dolls in their original packaging. They are labeled “Impkins”
I buy nothing.
Palifox Dr.- Lake Claire
In the front yard and drive way of this home is a vast selection of items indicating the things the owners are no longer interested in. Among them are a bread maker, a zip drive a scanner and two printers. There is a large framed print of three Ibex. Across from it is an old looking record player, when I life the lid I find on the turntable is an Lp by Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers. Also for sale is a set of water and snow skis as well as diving fins. Culinary items include a Swedish Cookie Press and a home beer brewing kit. In the front yard is a pile of dolls and some Fisher Price toys. Near the driveway are two large toy cars, one is a pink Barbie convertible big enough for a three year old to drive,
I buy nothing.
Mead St, Oakhurst
In front of and on the porch of an attractive craftsman bungalow is a huge selection of mismatched clutter. I am impressed by how many ugly items I see here. It is not limited to: Some china from Poland, three patio umbrellas, a large plastic playscape. On the porch I find an ashtray from Miami’s Fontainblue Hotel. Also in the yard is a bin of children’s clothes and a box of cookbooks. “Out of Alaska’s Kitchens” contain a recipe for garlic bread salad, while the very retro “Wonders of the Waring Blended” includes the directions for creating liverloaf.
I buy nothing
Ansley St.- Oakhurst, “Huge Sale”
This sale is not huge at all as the signs indicate, but one of the sellers assures me that there is more on the way. Among the limited offering are several fancy corkscrews, woolen caps that say “The Goods” on them, one figure ( the lady Pilgrim) from a pair of the famous salt n pepper shakers from the overplayed Publix holiday commercial. I presume the Pilgrim man figure was finally eaten by the dog in the commercial. There is also a metal handcrafted looking safety razor that looks like an attempt at art. It does not look safe to use.
I buy nothing.
Lamont Dr.- Decatur
This is very much a classic Decatur sale, where and in-town family just wants more room and less clutter. Among the belongings they are departing with are: Reflexology socks, two pitchers shaped like bundles of asparagus, “The NYC Ballet Workout on VHS, “Miss Manner Guide to Child Rearing”. Other books include “Millie’s Book” the biography of George H. Bush’s dog, “The search for Significance” as well as a large set of books “Discovering Antiques. There is also a box of old Disney videotapes.
I buy nothing
Drexel Ave.-Decatur
This sale is in the small front yard of an older bungalow. Among the section is a lot of women’s and children’s clothes,
A book “Tips for Quilters” Several framed Ansel Adams prints, lots of kid’s toys a bread maker, an Atlanta Knight’s mug. On the porch I see four gas camping lanterns, but one of the seller’s kids tells me they are not for sale and that her dad collects lanterns.
I buy nothing.
Ponce De Leon Place, Decatur “Estate Sale” (so called)
This is not an estate sale but a crime scene. The victum is the earnest seeker of a true estate sale who is duped by the scoundrels that created this sham. Inside a Victorian bungalow is not an estate sale at all but a ruse. The seller most likely had a failed antique or gift store and moved the merchandise here. Or perhaps this is the shenanigans of some antique store owner wannabe. There is absolutely no evidence that anything in this house belonged to one person or that that person lived in this house. I doubt that anyone even died (or was put in a home). This grisly crime scene is filled with horrifying evidence ranging from umbrella stands filled with fancy unopened rolls of gift wrap to a room full of African art that looks like it all came over in the same shipping container.
I have but one word- SHAME!
I will continue this blog through the dead season with commentary on something of value, but I will no longer be able to observe life through the departing clutter of my neighbors and countrymen.
This week there are less sales. My knee pain of last week is gone. I have still not gotten my cat Tony his shots yet. But he still shows no signs of rabies. In my community the Kerry and Bush sign are slowly coming down but as I drive around I do notice that some Halloween items are still up. The leaves are falling and so is the temperature.
Miller Ave.-Candler Park
I came about this sale by a sign tacked to a light post. This had to be one on the worse signs I have seen this season. It was designed not to be a sign but more of a memo. This printer printed 81/2 by 11 had nothing larger than 24 point type on it. There is no way anyone could read this tiny print from a passing car. The seller did not even bother to use bold type. When I noticed the sign I was expecting it to say, “the meeting scheduled for the accounts payable department has been rescheduled from 3:30 to 3:30”. Anyone driving past this trying to read it would most likely cause a pile up on McLendon. Perhaps the designers of the so called traffic calming improvements on McLendon should have just put up small yard sale signs instead of these horrendous bulb outs. Traffic would have slowed down by people trying to read them or slowed down by people having wrecks reading them. Anyway I end up getting out of the car and walking to the post to read it. When I head to the sale at 9:15 I find nothing but a broken chair and table in the yard. In the driveway is a broken Kerry sign. One the back of the truck in the drive way are a lot of stickers for left wing causes. Perhaps this is all a parallel to the failed Kerry campaign. The Democrats signs were too small and they didn’t have their stuff ready. I don’t even stick around to see what this guy is bringing out.
I buy nothing and there is almost nothing to buy.
McLendon Ave- Candler Park Apartment Sale
This is a small sale on the front stoop of an older apartment building. There are several cheap looking Easter decorations for sale, one that looks like three rabbit heads made out of real eggs. The is a small hand painted plaque with an turn on the century looking waif on it with the quote “You don’t say” written above it. On the same table is a large metal sculpture of a fish. The seller also has an ugly abstract painting, a pair of inline skates and a book “The Everything Dog Training and trick Book:
I buy nothing.
McLendon Ave, Lake Claire
In the drive way of this house is a wide assortment of mismatched items that include a Curious George jack in the Box, 3 alarm clocks, a commemorative plate from Kansas City, a lacrosse helmet and knee pads, an embroidered print of Mt. Fuji, the celebrity Taboo game and old luggage.. There are a number of books and video tapes such as “The Road less traveled” and “The road warrior workout” the VHS tapes include a self made copy of Clockwork Orange and episodes of Twin Peaks, as well as a original copy of Ruth Leitmans “Wildwood”. Near the street is a cardboard box with a dozen or so little dolls in their original packaging. They are labeled “Impkins”
I buy nothing.
Palifox Dr.- Lake Claire
In the front yard and drive way of this home is a vast selection of items indicating the things the owners are no longer interested in. Among them are a bread maker, a zip drive a scanner and two printers. There is a large framed print of three Ibex. Across from it is an old looking record player, when I life the lid I find on the turntable is an Lp by Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers. Also for sale is a set of water and snow skis as well as diving fins. Culinary items include a Swedish Cookie Press and a home beer brewing kit. In the front yard is a pile of dolls and some Fisher Price toys. Near the driveway are two large toy cars, one is a pink Barbie convertible big enough for a three year old to drive,
I buy nothing.
Mead St, Oakhurst
In front of and on the porch of an attractive craftsman bungalow is a huge selection of mismatched clutter. I am impressed by how many ugly items I see here. It is not limited to: Some china from Poland, three patio umbrellas, a large plastic playscape. On the porch I find an ashtray from Miami’s Fontainblue Hotel. Also in the yard is a bin of children’s clothes and a box of cookbooks. “Out of Alaska’s Kitchens” contain a recipe for garlic bread salad, while the very retro “Wonders of the Waring Blended” includes the directions for creating liverloaf.
I buy nothing
Ansley St.- Oakhurst, “Huge Sale”
This sale is not huge at all as the signs indicate, but one of the sellers assures me that there is more on the way. Among the limited offering are several fancy corkscrews, woolen caps that say “The Goods” on them, one figure ( the lady Pilgrim) from a pair of the famous salt n pepper shakers from the overplayed Publix holiday commercial. I presume the Pilgrim man figure was finally eaten by the dog in the commercial. There is also a metal handcrafted looking safety razor that looks like an attempt at art. It does not look safe to use.
I buy nothing.
Lamont Dr.- Decatur
This is very much a classic Decatur sale, where and in-town family just wants more room and less clutter. Among the belongings they are departing with are: Reflexology socks, two pitchers shaped like bundles of asparagus, “The NYC Ballet Workout on VHS, “Miss Manner Guide to Child Rearing”. Other books include “Millie’s Book” the biography of George H. Bush’s dog, “The search for Significance” as well as a large set of books “Discovering Antiques. There is also a box of old Disney videotapes.
I buy nothing
Drexel Ave.-Decatur
This sale is in the small front yard of an older bungalow. Among the section is a lot of women’s and children’s clothes,
A book “Tips for Quilters” Several framed Ansel Adams prints, lots of kid’s toys a bread maker, an Atlanta Knight’s mug. On the porch I see four gas camping lanterns, but one of the seller’s kids tells me they are not for sale and that her dad collects lanterns.
I buy nothing.
Ponce De Leon Place, Decatur “Estate Sale” (so called)
This is not an estate sale but a crime scene. The victum is the earnest seeker of a true estate sale who is duped by the scoundrels that created this sham. Inside a Victorian bungalow is not an estate sale at all but a ruse. The seller most likely had a failed antique or gift store and moved the merchandise here. Or perhaps this is the shenanigans of some antique store owner wannabe. There is absolutely no evidence that anything in this house belonged to one person or that that person lived in this house. I doubt that anyone even died (or was put in a home). This grisly crime scene is filled with horrifying evidence ranging from umbrella stands filled with fancy unopened rolls of gift wrap to a room full of African art that looks like it all came over in the same shipping container.
I have but one word- SHAME!
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Saturday, October 30, 2004
This has not been a good week. I was plagued most of this week by a painful sprain to my knee. My knee pain began after a bicycle ride and several hours spent cleaning out Clare Butler’s basement on Sunday. The basement is a virtual metropolis of junk and clutter gathered over the last 20 years by Clare and her late husband Todd. In his last two years Todd was healthy enough to go out looking for and buying any strange or odd thing he might come across, but he was not healthy enough to store it in some orderly or thoughtful manner. So I may of sprained my knee moving a mountain of found art, a library of old medical books, piles of games based on 1970’s television programs or shifting through a forest of electronic children’s toys some of which had been altered to produce unusual sounds and constantly blared those sounds as I tried to stack them neatly. There is still much work to be done. One of the reasons I have chosen to write about yard sales rather than simply buying lots of stuff and hauling it home where we don’t even have a basement, is that Cindy has warned me that our home will end up like Clare and Todd’s basement. I have accommodated Cindy’s fears as I now go to sales with a note pad and pen instead of cash and a gunnysack. As for my health after several sleepless nights of pain, I visited my Bosnian doctor on Thursday. Today I am now a new man as my relief came though a combination crack Balkan medical expertise and a trip to Walgreen’s where I purchased a bottle of Aleve.
So today without any agonizing knee pain I set off to see what sales await. I spent nearly all the time in my own neighborhood where there are a number of sales with the Candler Park Arts Festival is going on in Candler Park this weekend.
Polifox Dr.- Lake Claire
There are three sales very close to one another on this block of Palifox. At the first house I find a box of children’s software, a treadmill, a large old Polaroid camera, two very big speakers of unknown make and an executive desktop basketball game.
Across the street are two sales one has just a few items of clothing on a small table. The home next to it has a lot more stuff but also a pack of barking dogs fenced up in the back yard. The dogs bark continuously the entire time I am there. This cannot be good for sales. Through the noise I find two framed prints of kittens one is staring at a wine glass and in the other print the kitten is peering over sheet music. Could these poor kittens stand to live in this house of dogs that won’t shut up. As the cacophony of canine noise continues I encounter, an electric rotisserie, some women’s shoes, four sets of golf clubs with bags and an entire case of safety glasses.
I buy nothing.
Tuxedo Dr.- Lake Claire
This is a small sale not far but out of earshot from the last sale. The seller who reveals to me that he is a real estate agent (who isn’t anymore) is pacing about holding a golf club. All he has for sale is a short clothesline full of men’s clothes, included is a camo jacket. In the yard are a sleeping bag and a lamp.
I buy a shirt for a dollar. I think it appropriate that I buy clothing on a street named after an article of clothing.
Mclendon Ave- Lake Claire.
At a home high atop a rise overlooking the new McLendon Ave roundabout a couple is selling a yard full of baby items. Among the baby items are several child safety seats and a breast milk pump. They also have three lawn mowers for sale, a case of auto-organizers (these let you sort things out in your car) and a box of mugs. One mug say “Super Jogger” another thanks gives thanks to day care workers. Above this sale is a sign proclaiming, “This is a Yard Sale”
I buy nothing.
Sterling Ave- Candler Park
There is a sign stapled to a sawhorse in front of a pile of waterlogged boxes indicating that the sale is in the rear.
At first I though that the pile of wet boxes was the sale. I was a little disappointed that it was a slightly more organized event-taking place behind the home. Going down the driveway I find the entire back yard filled with a lot of old junk spread out on tarps and wet grass. Under the deck is a clothesline full of mildewed men’s apparel. They are slightly damp to the touch and have a somewhat unpleasant odor, hinting of mold. To make it worse a few of the jackets are made of suede. On the ground I find a light labeled “disco ball”. It’s not really a disco ball but a multicolored light that throws patterns on the wall. Next to it are a strobe light and a black light. Other items include a Bart Simpson telephone, two ceiling fans that may or may not have all their pieces, two guitar stands, a very ugly brown sofa, five aquariums, a talking bottle opener, a set of golf clubs, flea spray and a tube of hair cream. Among the books I find a biography of Charles Bukoski, “Beers across America”, from the church of the sub genius “Tales of Bob” and a book of those magic eye 3D paintings.
There are also two computer monitors.
I buy nothing.
Elmira Ave- Candler Park
This old craftsman bungalow almost looks like a Norman Rockwell painting with its white picket fence and children standing over piles of toys they are selling. As I enter the yard I hear the Dad tell one of the kids “ No you can’t have the dollar until you sell the dump truck” Among the children’s things are a three ring binder of Pokemon cards and a Fun with your Cat Science Kit. The box asks “What happens when you put a magnet on your cat?” Among the adult items are a ceramic figure of a blacksmith hammering on some indiscernible object, poker chips, fan blades and candy molds (for candy making not moldy candy) with $ signs on them.
I buy nothing but do leave wondering what happens when I put magnets on my cat.
Candler Park Dr.- Candler Park
The seller here tells me everything on one side of the yard is a dollar. On the dollar side are boxes of popular paperback books, a twister game and a cake pan with the statue of liberty on it. He also has an old Soviet flag that he says was left over from the Goodwill Games. Best of all is a set of five mugs in the shape of cholesterol, on is HDL, one is liver and three are triglyerides. He is also selling a lava lamp but that that is on the higher priced side.
I buy nothing.
Oxford Rd.- Druid Hills Estate Sale
The sign for this estate sale has cartoon flames above it. Does this indicate that the person who died has been cremated?
Inside this Druid Hills ranch I find a number of interesting items but nothing too revealing on the life of the former occupant. In the bedrooms are lots of empty ornate picture frames; I wonder where the art went. Of the framed pieces remaining are a pair of bas-reliefs of composer’s heads. I assume they are composers as I can definitely make out a Bach but I am unsure of the other three. On a bed in one bedroom are four gray wigs, a box of lancets and a diabetes monitor that looks unused. In the dining room a boombox plays “Autumn in New York”, while I listen I notice a Florida novelty figure of an alligator with a black child’s head in its mouth, the seller’s are asking $30.00. In the kitchen I find a wall mounted electric knife as well as a commemorative plate from Natural Bridge in Virginia and a Jim Beam bottle saluting the St. Louis Arch. In a cabinet in the den I find a few books. One of the sellers tells me “there’s only cookbooks down there” as I should not even bother to look. I find a copy of “Italian Kosher Cooking” and “Love and Knishes” Also in the den are spoon rack that says Shalom, a Passover platter and poker chips. I notice then that in the den is a small second kitchen. The late owner had kept kosher. After this sale I doubt if it’s still kashrut since next to the refrigerator is a drawer full of leather belts and since the electric knife was in the other kitchen this leather ridden kitchen must have been dairy.
I buy nothing.
End of the day one shirt for one dollar.
So today without any agonizing knee pain I set off to see what sales await. I spent nearly all the time in my own neighborhood where there are a number of sales with the Candler Park Arts Festival is going on in Candler Park this weekend.
Polifox Dr.- Lake Claire
There are three sales very close to one another on this block of Palifox. At the first house I find a box of children’s software, a treadmill, a large old Polaroid camera, two very big speakers of unknown make and an executive desktop basketball game.
Across the street are two sales one has just a few items of clothing on a small table. The home next to it has a lot more stuff but also a pack of barking dogs fenced up in the back yard. The dogs bark continuously the entire time I am there. This cannot be good for sales. Through the noise I find two framed prints of kittens one is staring at a wine glass and in the other print the kitten is peering over sheet music. Could these poor kittens stand to live in this house of dogs that won’t shut up. As the cacophony of canine noise continues I encounter, an electric rotisserie, some women’s shoes, four sets of golf clubs with bags and an entire case of safety glasses.
I buy nothing.
Tuxedo Dr.- Lake Claire
This is a small sale not far but out of earshot from the last sale. The seller who reveals to me that he is a real estate agent (who isn’t anymore) is pacing about holding a golf club. All he has for sale is a short clothesline full of men’s clothes, included is a camo jacket. In the yard are a sleeping bag and a lamp.
I buy a shirt for a dollar. I think it appropriate that I buy clothing on a street named after an article of clothing.
Mclendon Ave- Lake Claire.
At a home high atop a rise overlooking the new McLendon Ave roundabout a couple is selling a yard full of baby items. Among the baby items are several child safety seats and a breast milk pump. They also have three lawn mowers for sale, a case of auto-organizers (these let you sort things out in your car) and a box of mugs. One mug say “Super Jogger” another thanks gives thanks to day care workers. Above this sale is a sign proclaiming, “This is a Yard Sale”
I buy nothing.
Sterling Ave- Candler Park
There is a sign stapled to a sawhorse in front of a pile of waterlogged boxes indicating that the sale is in the rear.
At first I though that the pile of wet boxes was the sale. I was a little disappointed that it was a slightly more organized event-taking place behind the home. Going down the driveway I find the entire back yard filled with a lot of old junk spread out on tarps and wet grass. Under the deck is a clothesline full of mildewed men’s apparel. They are slightly damp to the touch and have a somewhat unpleasant odor, hinting of mold. To make it worse a few of the jackets are made of suede. On the ground I find a light labeled “disco ball”. It’s not really a disco ball but a multicolored light that throws patterns on the wall. Next to it are a strobe light and a black light. Other items include a Bart Simpson telephone, two ceiling fans that may or may not have all their pieces, two guitar stands, a very ugly brown sofa, five aquariums, a talking bottle opener, a set of golf clubs, flea spray and a tube of hair cream. Among the books I find a biography of Charles Bukoski, “Beers across America”, from the church of the sub genius “Tales of Bob” and a book of those magic eye 3D paintings.
There are also two computer monitors.
I buy nothing.
Elmira Ave- Candler Park
This old craftsman bungalow almost looks like a Norman Rockwell painting with its white picket fence and children standing over piles of toys they are selling. As I enter the yard I hear the Dad tell one of the kids “ No you can’t have the dollar until you sell the dump truck” Among the children’s things are a three ring binder of Pokemon cards and a Fun with your Cat Science Kit. The box asks “What happens when you put a magnet on your cat?” Among the adult items are a ceramic figure of a blacksmith hammering on some indiscernible object, poker chips, fan blades and candy molds (for candy making not moldy candy) with $ signs on them.
I buy nothing but do leave wondering what happens when I put magnets on my cat.
Candler Park Dr.- Candler Park
The seller here tells me everything on one side of the yard is a dollar. On the dollar side are boxes of popular paperback books, a twister game and a cake pan with the statue of liberty on it. He also has an old Soviet flag that he says was left over from the Goodwill Games. Best of all is a set of five mugs in the shape of cholesterol, on is HDL, one is liver and three are triglyerides. He is also selling a lava lamp but that that is on the higher priced side.
I buy nothing.
Oxford Rd.- Druid Hills Estate Sale
The sign for this estate sale has cartoon flames above it. Does this indicate that the person who died has been cremated?
Inside this Druid Hills ranch I find a number of interesting items but nothing too revealing on the life of the former occupant. In the bedrooms are lots of empty ornate picture frames; I wonder where the art went. Of the framed pieces remaining are a pair of bas-reliefs of composer’s heads. I assume they are composers as I can definitely make out a Bach but I am unsure of the other three. On a bed in one bedroom are four gray wigs, a box of lancets and a diabetes monitor that looks unused. In the dining room a boombox plays “Autumn in New York”, while I listen I notice a Florida novelty figure of an alligator with a black child’s head in its mouth, the seller’s are asking $30.00. In the kitchen I find a wall mounted electric knife as well as a commemorative plate from Natural Bridge in Virginia and a Jim Beam bottle saluting the St. Louis Arch. In a cabinet in the den I find a few books. One of the sellers tells me “there’s only cookbooks down there” as I should not even bother to look. I find a copy of “Italian Kosher Cooking” and “Love and Knishes” Also in the den are spoon rack that says Shalom, a Passover platter and poker chips. I notice then that in the den is a small second kitchen. The late owner had kept kosher. After this sale I doubt if it’s still kashrut since next to the refrigerator is a drawer full of leather belts and since the electric knife was in the other kitchen this leather ridden kitchen must have been dairy.
I buy nothing.
End of the day one shirt for one dollar.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Another Saturday morning, today there are not as many signs in the neighborhood as last week. Perhaps the traffic delays that will be caused by the Little Five Points Halloween parade later in the day have made some not to want to have sales. The good thing is that I do not have any big impending errands that with conflict with my pilgrimages to these yards and driveways of assorted clutter. Cindy did tell me that I do need to take Tony my cat in to get his rabies shots. But that can wait another week, since those raccoons that hang around the back yard have not been looking rabid lately.
Harold Ave. -Lake Claire
A meager sale begins the day in this driveway close to my home. Among the few items is a zip drive, a wooden rocking horse; some baby items a wooden stool and a large water-conditioning tank.
I buy nothing.
Leonardo Ave. -Lake Claire.
The next street over yields two sales, if you can call a small table with some folded clothes and a hand held vacuum a sale. This is obviously just a parasitic sale feeding off of the one across the street. There I find no less than five of those old Italian cappuccino makers, several Amos and Andy audio cassettes, a framed photo of a bunch of cigarette butts, a bank in the shape of a Krispy Kreme truck, a egg poacher, a box of old potpourri and a flatbed scanner. There is also a mysterious very small pair of ancient looking Chinese shoes. Perhaps these people were experimenting with foot binding.
I buy nothing.
Callan Cir. -Candler Park
From the conversations I over hear this couple is moving to New York, among the items not going north are strangely enough four pairs of ski gloves. They have a number of books including "The History of Freemasonry" and "Sad Mac Bombs". Also being sold are two espresso makers, a disco ball, a hot tub cover, a bowling ball with bag, boxes of photo paper, a pair of inline skates, a wrestling trophy and a tile cutter.
I buy nothing.
Josephine St. -Candler Park
This very tiny yard is filled with a lot of old dusty and mildewed objects. There I find several old Libframilch bottles, skis and old Easter decorations. There are quite a few books many quite musty including "Plants are Like People", "Bonsai for Americans", "Rob McKeun’s New Ballads", "Three days to a powerful vocabulary", "Leaves of Gold" (an anthology from the Atlanta writers club), "What happens after death" and an autographed copy of "Traipsin Woman". Other items include an old blowtorch, a pig shaped mug and a license plate that says, “Take time to laugh”
I buy nothing.
Boulevard -Cabbage Town
In the side yard of one of the quad mill homes I find, the Candy land game, a small TV, some framed photos, a laptop computer for $20 that needs, according to a note attached, an operating system and some Christmas wrapping paper.
I buy nothing.
Rosalia St, Grant Park
Just as I am about to give up I come to this small sale on a side street. They mostly have women’s clothes but I find two boxes of large format printer photo paper. I buy both boxes for $1.00 each.
Harold Ave. -Lake Claire
A meager sale begins the day in this driveway close to my home. Among the few items is a zip drive, a wooden rocking horse; some baby items a wooden stool and a large water-conditioning tank.
I buy nothing.
Leonardo Ave. -Lake Claire.
The next street over yields two sales, if you can call a small table with some folded clothes and a hand held vacuum a sale. This is obviously just a parasitic sale feeding off of the one across the street. There I find no less than five of those old Italian cappuccino makers, several Amos and Andy audio cassettes, a framed photo of a bunch of cigarette butts, a bank in the shape of a Krispy Kreme truck, a egg poacher, a box of old potpourri and a flatbed scanner. There is also a mysterious very small pair of ancient looking Chinese shoes. Perhaps these people were experimenting with foot binding.
I buy nothing.
Callan Cir. -Candler Park
From the conversations I over hear this couple is moving to New York, among the items not going north are strangely enough four pairs of ski gloves. They have a number of books including "The History of Freemasonry" and "Sad Mac Bombs". Also being sold are two espresso makers, a disco ball, a hot tub cover, a bowling ball with bag, boxes of photo paper, a pair of inline skates, a wrestling trophy and a tile cutter.
I buy nothing.
Josephine St. -Candler Park
This very tiny yard is filled with a lot of old dusty and mildewed objects. There I find several old Libframilch bottles, skis and old Easter decorations. There are quite a few books many quite musty including "Plants are Like People", "Bonsai for Americans", "Rob McKeun’s New Ballads", "Three days to a powerful vocabulary", "Leaves of Gold" (an anthology from the Atlanta writers club), "What happens after death" and an autographed copy of "Traipsin Woman". Other items include an old blowtorch, a pig shaped mug and a license plate that says, “Take time to laugh”
I buy nothing.
Boulevard -Cabbage Town
In the side yard of one of the quad mill homes I find, the Candy land game, a small TV, some framed photos, a laptop computer for $20 that needs, according to a note attached, an operating system and some Christmas wrapping paper.
I buy nothing.
Rosalia St, Grant Park
Just as I am about to give up I come to this small sale on a side street. They mostly have women’s clothes but I find two boxes of large format printer photo paper. I buy both boxes for $1.00 each.
Friday October 22, 2004
Friday October 22, 2004
I have been having unsettling dreams. I know this has nothing to do with yard sales. But they are worth mentioning. On Friday I was reading Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant to some third graders. I read the part where the giant is labeling the dreams he has captured and the descriptions of each dream, so perhaps this made me want to write about my own dreams of the following two nights. On Friday night I dreamed the presidential election was held that day and the returns were in and Kerry had lost 30 to 70%. I was very disturbed at the amount he had lost by. I think I had fallen asleep with the TV on and some commentator was talking about the election. On Saturday afternoon I went to The Contemporary to see the retrospective of Chris Verene’s photographs. That night Verene was in my dream. He was standing on a large metal scaffold erecting some large installation for some show he was doing. The scaffold was under high power wires and an electrical storm started. Lightning then struck the scaffold and the artist on it. Latter after I told a number of people he knew that he was dead he turned up alive and thought it was funny.
I have had dreams about yard and estate sales in the past. In times long ago when I had little money I had dreams of finding things of great value only to have them vanish or disintegrate after I purchased them or when I went to pay for them.
Laurel Way, Rehoboth, Dekalb Co.
I find out about this sale from an ad in Friday’s AJC. The estate is that of a 20 plus year employee or Rich’s Downtown book department. Rich’s book department on the sixth floor of the store for homes was once regarded as the literary epicenter of this city, Georgia and the south. I think Rich’s stopped carrying books sometime in the 80’s when it started dropping a lot of other departments like toys, records and pet supplies. Like most department stores it became a shadow of its former self. Rich’s to the best of my knowledge never had a live pet department that was best left to Kress or Grant’s. The combined smells of hamsters and popcorn is something I still associate with a good shopping experience. It is so hard to find anymore.
Anyway this is an actual estate sale not some trumped up event, here someone has died or been put in a nursing home. The house is a medium sized ranch home located near Lawrenceville Highway. I call the neighborhood Rehoboth because that’s what it says on older maps (and I have lots of older maps) But I have never heard of anyone using that term for this area in over 20 years. Inside there is ample evidence that there was a bookseller at this home. There are a lot of books but the majority of them are cookbooks. There are also a few reminders of the old life in Atlanta as I find a pair of matching mugs from Pittypats Porch. Near the mugs is a teapot shaped like a penguin. I am pleased to find in the kitchen a fair number of food products for sale including plastic bags of almonds and pecans. Not in the original packaging but just freezer bags of nuts and they are not in the freezer. There is no indication of their age. I also find a large bottle of sorghum molasses it does not appear to have been opened. Near it is a small bottle of Liquid Smoke. A friend tells me later that Liquid Smoke was taken off the market because it was carcinogenic. Perhaps estates sales or over the border sources such as Canada are the only place one can score some of this delightful smoky flavoring today. (I later regret that I did not buy the bottle). Stranger is a half filled bottle of Taylor Port that is selling for $3.00 there is no indication of when it was opened. Other foodstuffs include 5 six packs of commemorative bottles of Coca cola (6 oz of course) from the 1996 Olympic Games.
Scattered about the house are other artifacts such as a trio of ceramic rabbits, a 1955 Statesville NC phone book, and a Cyprus knee. Downstairs is where the mother lode of books are located as well as a lot of other stuff. In the finished basement I find two early computers a TI99 and a Commodore Plus4, which was just a Commodore 64 with some built in programs. A box of lps has Ferrante and Teicher’s “You asked for it”. There is a framed chart of the course of the SS Rhapsody and it’s voyage through the Caribbean on April 9-16, 1983. Other items in the basement include a drainage calculator and a bicentennial calendar of the American Revolution. But the books the main draw of this sale titles include: "The $25,000 Mardi gras cake and other prize winning recipes", "You can do the Rubik’s Cube" "Easy Icing", "Mein Kampf", "Recipes from Old Virginia", "I love being a cardio cook", and "The Mike Douglas Cookbook". Deeper in the basement I find a framed certificate from the Water Pollution Control Association and a book from 1936 entitled "Sewage and Sewer Treatment". So in the end the main outcome of having worked in the south’s premier book department for over 20 years is that one has an excellent assortment of small press cook books and the secret of solving a Rubik’s cube.
I buy a copy of a 1966 Delta Airlines in-flight magazine for 25 cents.
I have been having unsettling dreams. I know this has nothing to do with yard sales. But they are worth mentioning. On Friday I was reading Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant to some third graders. I read the part where the giant is labeling the dreams he has captured and the descriptions of each dream, so perhaps this made me want to write about my own dreams of the following two nights. On Friday night I dreamed the presidential election was held that day and the returns were in and Kerry had lost 30 to 70%. I was very disturbed at the amount he had lost by. I think I had fallen asleep with the TV on and some commentator was talking about the election. On Saturday afternoon I went to The Contemporary to see the retrospective of Chris Verene’s photographs. That night Verene was in my dream. He was standing on a large metal scaffold erecting some large installation for some show he was doing. The scaffold was under high power wires and an electrical storm started. Lightning then struck the scaffold and the artist on it. Latter after I told a number of people he knew that he was dead he turned up alive and thought it was funny.
I have had dreams about yard and estate sales in the past. In times long ago when I had little money I had dreams of finding things of great value only to have them vanish or disintegrate after I purchased them or when I went to pay for them.
Laurel Way, Rehoboth, Dekalb Co.
I find out about this sale from an ad in Friday’s AJC. The estate is that of a 20 plus year employee or Rich’s Downtown book department. Rich’s book department on the sixth floor of the store for homes was once regarded as the literary epicenter of this city, Georgia and the south. I think Rich’s stopped carrying books sometime in the 80’s when it started dropping a lot of other departments like toys, records and pet supplies. Like most department stores it became a shadow of its former self. Rich’s to the best of my knowledge never had a live pet department that was best left to Kress or Grant’s. The combined smells of hamsters and popcorn is something I still associate with a good shopping experience. It is so hard to find anymore.
Anyway this is an actual estate sale not some trumped up event, here someone has died or been put in a nursing home. The house is a medium sized ranch home located near Lawrenceville Highway. I call the neighborhood Rehoboth because that’s what it says on older maps (and I have lots of older maps) But I have never heard of anyone using that term for this area in over 20 years. Inside there is ample evidence that there was a bookseller at this home. There are a lot of books but the majority of them are cookbooks. There are also a few reminders of the old life in Atlanta as I find a pair of matching mugs from Pittypats Porch. Near the mugs is a teapot shaped like a penguin. I am pleased to find in the kitchen a fair number of food products for sale including plastic bags of almonds and pecans. Not in the original packaging but just freezer bags of nuts and they are not in the freezer. There is no indication of their age. I also find a large bottle of sorghum molasses it does not appear to have been opened. Near it is a small bottle of Liquid Smoke. A friend tells me later that Liquid Smoke was taken off the market because it was carcinogenic. Perhaps estates sales or over the border sources such as Canada are the only place one can score some of this delightful smoky flavoring today. (I later regret that I did not buy the bottle). Stranger is a half filled bottle of Taylor Port that is selling for $3.00 there is no indication of when it was opened. Other foodstuffs include 5 six packs of commemorative bottles of Coca cola (6 oz of course) from the 1996 Olympic Games.
Scattered about the house are other artifacts such as a trio of ceramic rabbits, a 1955 Statesville NC phone book, and a Cyprus knee. Downstairs is where the mother lode of books are located as well as a lot of other stuff. In the finished basement I find two early computers a TI99 and a Commodore Plus4, which was just a Commodore 64 with some built in programs. A box of lps has Ferrante and Teicher’s “You asked for it”. There is a framed chart of the course of the SS Rhapsody and it’s voyage through the Caribbean on April 9-16, 1983. Other items in the basement include a drainage calculator and a bicentennial calendar of the American Revolution. But the books the main draw of this sale titles include: "The $25,000 Mardi gras cake and other prize winning recipes", "You can do the Rubik’s Cube" "Easy Icing", "Mein Kampf", "Recipes from Old Virginia", "I love being a cardio cook", and "The Mike Douglas Cookbook". Deeper in the basement I find a framed certificate from the Water Pollution Control Association and a book from 1936 entitled "Sewage and Sewer Treatment". So in the end the main outcome of having worked in the south’s premier book department for over 20 years is that one has an excellent assortment of small press cook books and the secret of solving a Rubik’s cube.
I buy a copy of a 1966 Delta Airlines in-flight magazine for 25 cents.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Saturday October 16, 2004
Fall has arrived and this morning is considerably colder than last Saturday. This seems to create a different experience as the rays of bright sun radiate through the thin cold air on to random piles of flotsam and jetsam of peoples lives placed in yards and driveways. The sellers are more fidgety and less relaxed in the early morning chill, as they stand in jackets and coats looking over their piles of items of no use to them any more. Are people more willing to get rid of things as the seasons turn cold or do they react to their nesting instincts and keep useless things in their homes? Do they ponder that odd shaped soaps, out of date travel books and attempts at art may help them through the winter months?
The newspaper shows a long listing of sales, but most of these are outside the perimeter. Perhaps that region follows a different cycle than the neighborhoods surrounding my home.
Sadly, today I have several things I need to do in addition to feeding my yard sale habit. The main chore of the day is trying to protect Cindy’s fishpond from attack by predators. A few nights ago some unknown creature came and ate our fish Splash, Splish and Dick leaving only Moby to fend for him self. So my main job today is to erect some sort of barrier over the small pond to keep out this unknown carnivorous intruder, be it cat, raccoon or wandering schizophrenic from the shelter down the street.
Connecticut Ave- Lake Claire
Two adjacent homes have sales in parallel driveways. One woman is selling several books- “Smart Women, Foolish Choices” and “From PMS to Menopause”. She is also parting with a selection of unused rattraps, boxes of insect fogger and an unused inflatable bed. The other driveway has cans of sterno and a very ugly portrait of a clown.
I buy nothing.
Rosedale Rd.- Virginia Highlands
I head to Va-Hi since there is an estate sale in this neighborhood. But I am starting to have second thoughts of spending my Saturday mornings in this overpriced section of the city. This sale with relatively large signs is quite meager. Among the items is a copy of Sim Golf, a scary looking child’s mobile, a book –“The strong willed child” some kids clothing and a monitor for $10.
I buy nothing.
Amsterdam Ave.-Virginia Highlands –Estate Sale
This is a real estate sale inside a brick home that looks small from the outside. Inside it’s a peculiar labyrinth of split-levels and short staircases. The interior is illuminated by shadeless lamps with bright bare bulbs that cause an annoying blindness when you encounter them. A chair full of framed family ortraits gives an indication of who formerly resided here. In one room is women’s clothing from the 1970’s including a trunk full of belts and a large pile of gloves. On a table is a soup tureen shaped like a bass. In a corner is a small black and white TV tuned to PBS for which the sellers are asking $5. In a closet I find two sets of matching luggage, one has a tag from the Pagoda Hotel and Floating Restaurant. A small closest is filled with old telephones. I examine some books- “Arthritis and Common Sense”, “Day by Day with Billy Graham”. I pull out a first edition of Masters and Johnson’s “Human Sexual Response” (17th printing) to find the stamp of the Unitarian Universalist School on the inside cover. Was this book secretly purloined from a church library? On one of the lower levels past a table full of bottles and boxes of cleaning products are more books. One is a 40 year old self help tome entitled “You don’t have to exercise”. The most remarkable work is “Nurses Verses” an anthology of poetry by America’s nurses. Some of the poems include “Hospital Dawn” and “Endocrinology”
I consider buying these two books but leave empty handed.
Orme Cir- Morningside
A large house with a small and disappointing sale with two framed Kandinsky posters and a clothesline full of women’s clothes.
I buy nothing.
Cresthill St.- Morningside- Street sale.
Street sales always seem promising but seem to always disappoint. As I have said before that since the sellers are not having a full-blown sale where they are moving, combining a household, desperately needing space or money or just trying to clean house, these sales lack intensity. In an upscale area like Morningside, sometimes I think people just haul stuff out to impress their neighbors about what they don’t need. As in “I’m so well off I no longer need this food processor” or “My children don’t even need these books or clothes anymore”
In addition it is very hard to get a feeling about anyone’s life when each household is only putting out a dozen or so items. On this street of about eight sales nearly every home has a computer monitor they were getting rid of. Among other items of note are an Easter Tree still in the box, Prince Andrew’s Royal Wedding on VHS, a Precious Hands hand molding kit,(never opened) and a lot of baby items. One woman had a bag full of paperback books. I pulled out a copy of Isabel Allende’s “Portrait in Sepia” and ask the price. She says the books are $5. Startled I reply, that I never pay over 50 cents for a paperback at a yard sale. She then remarks to someone next to her in that almost all books on Half Bay are $5 or more. I turn and say “But this is a yard sale”. She then gets this fearful look in her eye as though I am about to cause some sort of yard sale riot. But I leave saying nothing more to this poor disturbed individual who will have these books she no longer needs sitting in her den taking up space for possibly the rest of her life. While this out of touch pricing disturbs me it also entertains me. I am equally bemused by someone who terribly under prices items as someone who overprices or even by someone trying to sell something that no one anywhere (at least in this country) would want, such as used shoe insoles. Curious about what she though the prices should be, I later examine both Amazon and Half-Bay for this same title. Amazon has the book for 98 cents and Half Bay, whom she said was selling books for $5 has this title for $1.01. Oh the delusions of those who buy overpriced in-town housing.
On Cresthill I buy nothing.
St. Augustine Ave- Virginia Highlands
Fleeing Va-Hi and the delusional prices of Morningside, I stop at this sale being held by a local photographer. She is selling a lot of matted prints of her work but most buyers are not even looking at them. Among the items of interests are a audio book by Zsa Zsa Gabor, a component 8 track player, women’s clothing some old LPs that she said came from the attic (I guess that where people keep LPs now) some include “Tubular Bells” and “Isaac Hayes live at the Sahara, Tahoe” There are also three caller ID devices.
I buy nothing
At the end of the day I have purchased nothing. But I do go to the Home Depot and buy some chicken wire for to protect the fish pond. After that I go to the adjoining Petsmart (isn’t it great to now have suburban shopping centers in-town) and buy five new fish for only 24 cent each.
The newspaper shows a long listing of sales, but most of these are outside the perimeter. Perhaps that region follows a different cycle than the neighborhoods surrounding my home.
Sadly, today I have several things I need to do in addition to feeding my yard sale habit. The main chore of the day is trying to protect Cindy’s fishpond from attack by predators. A few nights ago some unknown creature came and ate our fish Splash, Splish and Dick leaving only Moby to fend for him self. So my main job today is to erect some sort of barrier over the small pond to keep out this unknown carnivorous intruder, be it cat, raccoon or wandering schizophrenic from the shelter down the street.
Connecticut Ave- Lake Claire
Two adjacent homes have sales in parallel driveways. One woman is selling several books- “Smart Women, Foolish Choices” and “From PMS to Menopause”. She is also parting with a selection of unused rattraps, boxes of insect fogger and an unused inflatable bed. The other driveway has cans of sterno and a very ugly portrait of a clown.
I buy nothing.
Rosedale Rd.- Virginia Highlands
I head to Va-Hi since there is an estate sale in this neighborhood. But I am starting to have second thoughts of spending my Saturday mornings in this overpriced section of the city. This sale with relatively large signs is quite meager. Among the items is a copy of Sim Golf, a scary looking child’s mobile, a book –“The strong willed child” some kids clothing and a monitor for $10.
I buy nothing.
Amsterdam Ave.-Virginia Highlands –Estate Sale
This is a real estate sale inside a brick home that looks small from the outside. Inside it’s a peculiar labyrinth of split-levels and short staircases. The interior is illuminated by shadeless lamps with bright bare bulbs that cause an annoying blindness when you encounter them. A chair full of framed family ortraits gives an indication of who formerly resided here. In one room is women’s clothing from the 1970’s including a trunk full of belts and a large pile of gloves. On a table is a soup tureen shaped like a bass. In a corner is a small black and white TV tuned to PBS for which the sellers are asking $5. In a closet I find two sets of matching luggage, one has a tag from the Pagoda Hotel and Floating Restaurant. A small closest is filled with old telephones. I examine some books- “Arthritis and Common Sense”, “Day by Day with Billy Graham”. I pull out a first edition of Masters and Johnson’s “Human Sexual Response” (17th printing) to find the stamp of the Unitarian Universalist School on the inside cover. Was this book secretly purloined from a church library? On one of the lower levels past a table full of bottles and boxes of cleaning products are more books. One is a 40 year old self help tome entitled “You don’t have to exercise”. The most remarkable work is “Nurses Verses” an anthology of poetry by America’s nurses. Some of the poems include “Hospital Dawn” and “Endocrinology”
I consider buying these two books but leave empty handed.
Orme Cir- Morningside
A large house with a small and disappointing sale with two framed Kandinsky posters and a clothesline full of women’s clothes.
I buy nothing.
Cresthill St.- Morningside- Street sale.
Street sales always seem promising but seem to always disappoint. As I have said before that since the sellers are not having a full-blown sale where they are moving, combining a household, desperately needing space or money or just trying to clean house, these sales lack intensity. In an upscale area like Morningside, sometimes I think people just haul stuff out to impress their neighbors about what they don’t need. As in “I’m so well off I no longer need this food processor” or “My children don’t even need these books or clothes anymore”
In addition it is very hard to get a feeling about anyone’s life when each household is only putting out a dozen or so items. On this street of about eight sales nearly every home has a computer monitor they were getting rid of. Among other items of note are an Easter Tree still in the box, Prince Andrew’s Royal Wedding on VHS, a Precious Hands hand molding kit,(never opened) and a lot of baby items. One woman had a bag full of paperback books. I pulled out a copy of Isabel Allende’s “Portrait in Sepia” and ask the price. She says the books are $5. Startled I reply, that I never pay over 50 cents for a paperback at a yard sale. She then remarks to someone next to her in that almost all books on Half Bay are $5 or more. I turn and say “But this is a yard sale”. She then gets this fearful look in her eye as though I am about to cause some sort of yard sale riot. But I leave saying nothing more to this poor disturbed individual who will have these books she no longer needs sitting in her den taking up space for possibly the rest of her life. While this out of touch pricing disturbs me it also entertains me. I am equally bemused by someone who terribly under prices items as someone who overprices or even by someone trying to sell something that no one anywhere (at least in this country) would want, such as used shoe insoles. Curious about what she though the prices should be, I later examine both Amazon and Half-Bay for this same title. Amazon has the book for 98 cents and Half Bay, whom she said was selling books for $5 has this title for $1.01. Oh the delusions of those who buy overpriced in-town housing.
On Cresthill I buy nothing.
St. Augustine Ave- Virginia Highlands
Fleeing Va-Hi and the delusional prices of Morningside, I stop at this sale being held by a local photographer. She is selling a lot of matted prints of her work but most buyers are not even looking at them. Among the items of interests are a audio book by Zsa Zsa Gabor, a component 8 track player, women’s clothing some old LPs that she said came from the attic (I guess that where people keep LPs now) some include “Tubular Bells” and “Isaac Hayes live at the Sahara, Tahoe” There are also three caller ID devices.
I buy nothing
At the end of the day I have purchased nothing. But I do go to the Home Depot and buy some chicken wire for to protect the fish pond. After that I go to the adjoining Petsmart (isn’t it great to now have suburban shopping centers in-town) and buy five new fish for only 24 cent each.
Monday, October 11, 2004
October 9, 2004
Harold Ave,-Lake Claire
This is a small sale in a driveway. I find an old Technicolor format video recorder; I had not seen one on over 20 years. I don’t know how it got here. Among the items are a Paula Abdul dance VHS tape and kung fu workout tape, a pack of playing cards from Mount Rushmore, A Mac G3 without a hard drive, that is being sold for $100. The package includes a massive scanner and printer. There is also a bag of toy plastic food that includes a fried egg and an ear of corn.
I buy nothing.
Claire Dr, -Lake Claire- Multiple sales
The Lake Claire tour of homes is today so this street has more than a half dozen sales. Whenever I encounter sales like this I find I am disappointed. Perhaps its because the sellers really don’t have to have a full blown sales for one reason or another but just haul out a half drive way or table full of items in hope of making a little money. They really are not good indicators of what is happening with these people’s lives. Among the items I find are a Three Dog Night songbook, rolls of yarn, a wet suit, a book “The gift of fear” a video tape from a Romanian Airline, a prodigy CD, a cap that says “Dream” and some old looking prints of an English fox hunt.
I buy a Bossa Nova CD.
Mathews St.-Lake Claire
This house had started the sale yesterday so I don’t know what I’ve missed, Among the items are a book-“Guidelines for Safe drinking”, A leather bra, a cow skull, a 1966 copy of Playboy, some old canned peppers, yarn and several Nine Inch Nails CDs.
I buy a Clyde McPhatter CD, but return later to buy a bed frame for Todd Butler’s daughter, Kitty.
Ferguson St,-Candler Park
This is a rather boring sale that includes a VHS copy of “Waterworld”, a plastic shark, a shark mask, a old child’s microscope kit, a very ugly abstract painting and a monitor for $20.
I buy nothing.
Lakeshore Ave, -Lake Claire
Most of the stuff is picked through, but there is a book entitled “ Everything I know in life I learned growing up in Florida”
I buy a pair of Ray Bans for 25 cents.
Howard Circle, -Lake Claire
This home has a lot of stuff in the yard including a Bush Cheney sign. Among the items are a pair of camo pants, a motor for a bass boat, golf clubs, a tie with a hammer and cycle, a pack of cards entitled “52 Relaxing Rituals” a candle shaped like a cinnamon bun and a Sigma Kappa sweatshirt.
I buy nothing.
8th-St, Midtown
This is a somewhat strange sale as the seller has a cake and a pie from a local supermarket for sale. Maybe he was supposed to go to a potluck dinner on Friday but decided to have a sale instead. He is also selling an old bottle of Mexican Sherry. The original price tag says 61 cents. There is a table with home recorded VHS tapes with carefully caligragraphed labels indicating title like Silverado, World Cup 94 and Mad Max, a feather boa, a set of Marlboro BBQ cooking tools and a surf board.
I buy nothing but do consider the bottle of Sherry.
Elmwood Ave, -Morningside
Two houses next to one another have a number of items in their yards. One has more antique like stuff. One item is a vintage 1972 answering machine still in the box; it’s a bit of a behemoth compared to today’s compact machines. The seller also has a set of green telephones that looked like they were pulled out of an insurance office in 1974, there is also an old floor model radio and a very large picture of a hippie-looking girl, the painting has spirals of rope winding around the figure.
I buy nothing.
Courtney St, -Virginia Highlands
I drive out of my way following the signs to this small sale. In the yard a few things are on display. In front of a woman in a wheelchair is a pile of old Life Magazines. Holding one up she remarks “Why here’s Liz Taylor when she turned 40”
I buy nothing.
Middlesex, -Morningside Massive Sale
Another Bush Cheney Sign is at the Massive Sale. But I find no evidence of massive stuff at this sale in the driveway behind the house. There are CNN and Headline news mugs, a pink Barbie convertible, a toy Meile oven, a bobbing head Tiger Woods figure, a monitor for $10. Mostly it’s kid’s stuff. There is a sign that says “ask me about the treadmill”. In the center of it all is a large pile of Beanie Babies in perfect condition. The market has obviously collapsed on those once popular collectibles.
I buy nothing.
End of the Day- 2 CDs and a pair of Ray Bans- $2.25
This is a small sale in a driveway. I find an old Technicolor format video recorder; I had not seen one on over 20 years. I don’t know how it got here. Among the items are a Paula Abdul dance VHS tape and kung fu workout tape, a pack of playing cards from Mount Rushmore, A Mac G3 without a hard drive, that is being sold for $100. The package includes a massive scanner and printer. There is also a bag of toy plastic food that includes a fried egg and an ear of corn.
I buy nothing.
Claire Dr, -Lake Claire- Multiple sales
The Lake Claire tour of homes is today so this street has more than a half dozen sales. Whenever I encounter sales like this I find I am disappointed. Perhaps its because the sellers really don’t have to have a full blown sales for one reason or another but just haul out a half drive way or table full of items in hope of making a little money. They really are not good indicators of what is happening with these people’s lives. Among the items I find are a Three Dog Night songbook, rolls of yarn, a wet suit, a book “The gift of fear” a video tape from a Romanian Airline, a prodigy CD, a cap that says “Dream” and some old looking prints of an English fox hunt.
I buy a Bossa Nova CD.
Mathews St.-Lake Claire
This house had started the sale yesterday so I don’t know what I’ve missed, Among the items are a book-“Guidelines for Safe drinking”, A leather bra, a cow skull, a 1966 copy of Playboy, some old canned peppers, yarn and several Nine Inch Nails CDs.
I buy a Clyde McPhatter CD, but return later to buy a bed frame for Todd Butler’s daughter, Kitty.
Ferguson St,-Candler Park
This is a rather boring sale that includes a VHS copy of “Waterworld”, a plastic shark, a shark mask, a old child’s microscope kit, a very ugly abstract painting and a monitor for $20.
I buy nothing.
Lakeshore Ave, -Lake Claire
Most of the stuff is picked through, but there is a book entitled “ Everything I know in life I learned growing up in Florida”
I buy a pair of Ray Bans for 25 cents.
Howard Circle, -Lake Claire
This home has a lot of stuff in the yard including a Bush Cheney sign. Among the items are a pair of camo pants, a motor for a bass boat, golf clubs, a tie with a hammer and cycle, a pack of cards entitled “52 Relaxing Rituals” a candle shaped like a cinnamon bun and a Sigma Kappa sweatshirt.
I buy nothing.
8th-St, Midtown
This is a somewhat strange sale as the seller has a cake and a pie from a local supermarket for sale. Maybe he was supposed to go to a potluck dinner on Friday but decided to have a sale instead. He is also selling an old bottle of Mexican Sherry. The original price tag says 61 cents. There is a table with home recorded VHS tapes with carefully caligragraphed labels indicating title like Silverado, World Cup 94 and Mad Max, a feather boa, a set of Marlboro BBQ cooking tools and a surf board.
I buy nothing but do consider the bottle of Sherry.
Elmwood Ave, -Morningside
Two houses next to one another have a number of items in their yards. One has more antique like stuff. One item is a vintage 1972 answering machine still in the box; it’s a bit of a behemoth compared to today’s compact machines. The seller also has a set of green telephones that looked like they were pulled out of an insurance office in 1974, there is also an old floor model radio and a very large picture of a hippie-looking girl, the painting has spirals of rope winding around the figure.
I buy nothing.
Courtney St, -Virginia Highlands
I drive out of my way following the signs to this small sale. In the yard a few things are on display. In front of a woman in a wheelchair is a pile of old Life Magazines. Holding one up she remarks “Why here’s Liz Taylor when she turned 40”
I buy nothing.
Middlesex, -Morningside Massive Sale
Another Bush Cheney Sign is at the Massive Sale. But I find no evidence of massive stuff at this sale in the driveway behind the house. There are CNN and Headline news mugs, a pink Barbie convertible, a toy Meile oven, a bobbing head Tiger Woods figure, a monitor for $10. Mostly it’s kid’s stuff. There is a sign that says “ask me about the treadmill”. In the center of it all is a large pile of Beanie Babies in perfect condition. The market has obviously collapsed on those once popular collectibles.
I buy nothing.
End of the Day- 2 CDs and a pair of Ray Bans- $2.25
October 3, 2004
On of the greatest lovers and collectors of found objects passed away today my friend, Todd Butler died at the age of 39. Todd spent a good of his life in thrift stores, yard sales or anyplace where the unusual might be found. He was quite adept at pulling the most remarkable items out of dumpsters or just finding things beside the road. He delighted in the strange, the unusual, the obscure and the banal. His collection included everything from found audio tapes of personal conversations to Kirby vacuums abandoned in the street. He was most proud of having found a 1920’s era enema bag, unused and in its original box, which he sold for a tidy sum on ebay.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
October 7, 2004
I am a bit worn out by the death of Todd Butler, but do manage at attend a sale on Thursday after picking up my car from the bar where I left it after the Todd’s wake.
Adams St,-Decatur.
I did not take notes on this fairly large estate sale since I was did not expect it driving home. Todd’s widow Clare told me I was led here by Todd’s spirit. Among the items I recall was a souvenir wall hanging from Mecca and some empty Billy Beer cans. I found several items there that I did purchase, including an autographed Lester Maddox Lp, a commemorative plate from Cristus Gardens in Gatlinburg, a 1968 copy of Atlanta Magazine featuring Julian Bond in a fashion spread, and a 1932 book called “How to Speak Good English”
The book offers the following advice, “don’t say tellya for tell you” and “not chet for not yet”.
Adams St,-Decatur.
I did not take notes on this fairly large estate sale since I was did not expect it driving home. Todd’s widow Clare told me I was led here by Todd’s spirit. Among the items I recall was a souvenir wall hanging from Mecca and some empty Billy Beer cans. I found several items there that I did purchase, including an autographed Lester Maddox Lp, a commemorative plate from Cristus Gardens in Gatlinburg, a 1968 copy of Atlanta Magazine featuring Julian Bond in a fashion spread, and a 1932 book called “How to Speak Good English”
The book offers the following advice, “don’t say tellya for tell you” and “not chet for not yet”.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Saturday October 2, 2004
Hurricane Jeanne has come and gone. My sump pump project ended up as a disaster. The guy at Home Depot told me to put the pump in a plastic container in the dug out hole in the basement so I would not have to line the hole with concrete. When the rains began my basement filled up again with water. The water went into the hole, lifted container, which with the pump, floated like a listing ship around the water filled basement. So this weekend I need to re do the sump pump in some other fashion so this does not happen again.
Because of the events of this week I was not able to post my findings from last week until Oct. 11 So my memory may be a bit foggy on what I encountered at these yard sales.
Oakdale St.-Candler Park
In the driveway of this home I find a matching pair of pogo sticks, a Stratego game, a bread maker for $15. Another price drop from Atkins dieting. There is a box of dried apple headed Christmas angels looking a bit scary. There is a flat bed scanner for $15 (non USB of course), a selection of books includes Borges’ “Dream Tigers”, and a box of old Better Homes and Gardens from 1956.
I buy nothing.
La France St.-Edgewood
In the front yard of this Victorian home is a lot of stuff that looks like its been in a damp basement for too many years. There is a strange costume that may be either a cat or an octopus head. There is a suitcase with old Playboys; an 8 track entitled “Polka Party” some copies of Ferret Magazine, a Mr. Potato head, books –“Know Your Fish” and “ Freud for Everyone” LPs by Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Procol Harum.
I buy nothing.
Estoria St.-Cabbagetown
I haven’t been to many sales in neighborhood so I don’t know what to expect. A small sale in a front yard here has a used bicycle, some very big bike tires, an espresso machine and a wicker bed.
I buy nothing.
Powell St, -Cabbagetown.
This is a larger sale billed as an estate sale, but its does not seem to be a real one. There is a lot of stuff on the seller’s porch and side yard. The fence approaching the house is lined with old windows for sale some with broken panes. On the porch I find a Republican National Convention scarf, which seems very out of place here. In addition I find a confederate flag, the Big Thumb game, a Japanese mother and child ceramic figure. There is also soap shaped like fish, an empty 16mm film can from the US Navy with the title “Under the Influence” on it. There is also a lot of knitting supplies.
I buy nothing.
Argonne Ave, -Midtown
In a driveway I find a Tae Bo WHS tape, a Cat in the Hat hat, a set of golf clubs, a Spice Girls CD, and a small pile of old cell phones.
I buy nothing.
8th St.-Midtown
Here I find three boom boxes, a love seat with a stain and a strange water sprinkler that has a head that looks like a bug.
I buy nothing
Glendale Ave, -Midtown
This sale is very small and it’s in one room of a man’s apartment. There is a juicer, a book-“Finding true love, in a man eat man world” an Atkins diet book and corn holders.
I buy nothing.
St. Charles, -Virginia Highlands
Books on management, some old cell phones a monitor for $40, a graduation gown, a book by Chic-fil-a founder Truett Cathy-“ Its Easier to Succeed than to fail” “ and a slinky.
I buy nothing.
St. Charles, -Virginia Highlands
The front yard is covered with bight yellow Fisher Price toys. There are also two old vacuum cleaners.
I buy nothing.
As I indicated I am writing this over a week latter and I may of lost some of my notes. It seems like I did buy something but I can’t recall at this time what it was.
Because of the events of this week I was not able to post my findings from last week until Oct. 11 So my memory may be a bit foggy on what I encountered at these yard sales.
Oakdale St.-Candler Park
In the driveway of this home I find a matching pair of pogo sticks, a Stratego game, a bread maker for $15. Another price drop from Atkins dieting. There is a box of dried apple headed Christmas angels looking a bit scary. There is a flat bed scanner for $15 (non USB of course), a selection of books includes Borges’ “Dream Tigers”, and a box of old Better Homes and Gardens from 1956.
I buy nothing.
La France St.-Edgewood
In the front yard of this Victorian home is a lot of stuff that looks like its been in a damp basement for too many years. There is a strange costume that may be either a cat or an octopus head. There is a suitcase with old Playboys; an 8 track entitled “Polka Party” some copies of Ferret Magazine, a Mr. Potato head, books –“Know Your Fish” and “ Freud for Everyone” LPs by Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Procol Harum.
I buy nothing.
Estoria St.-Cabbagetown
I haven’t been to many sales in neighborhood so I don’t know what to expect. A small sale in a front yard here has a used bicycle, some very big bike tires, an espresso machine and a wicker bed.
I buy nothing.
Powell St, -Cabbagetown.
This is a larger sale billed as an estate sale, but its does not seem to be a real one. There is a lot of stuff on the seller’s porch and side yard. The fence approaching the house is lined with old windows for sale some with broken panes. On the porch I find a Republican National Convention scarf, which seems very out of place here. In addition I find a confederate flag, the Big Thumb game, a Japanese mother and child ceramic figure. There is also soap shaped like fish, an empty 16mm film can from the US Navy with the title “Under the Influence” on it. There is also a lot of knitting supplies.
I buy nothing.
Argonne Ave, -Midtown
In a driveway I find a Tae Bo WHS tape, a Cat in the Hat hat, a set of golf clubs, a Spice Girls CD, and a small pile of old cell phones.
I buy nothing.
8th St.-Midtown
Here I find three boom boxes, a love seat with a stain and a strange water sprinkler that has a head that looks like a bug.
I buy nothing
Glendale Ave, -Midtown
This sale is very small and it’s in one room of a man’s apartment. There is a juicer, a book-“Finding true love, in a man eat man world” an Atkins diet book and corn holders.
I buy nothing.
St. Charles, -Virginia Highlands
Books on management, some old cell phones a monitor for $40, a graduation gown, a book by Chic-fil-a founder Truett Cathy-“ Its Easier to Succeed than to fail” “ and a slinky.
I buy nothing.
St. Charles, -Virginia Highlands
The front yard is covered with bight yellow Fisher Price toys. There are also two old vacuum cleaners.
I buy nothing.
As I indicated I am writing this over a week latter and I may of lost some of my notes. It seems like I did buy something but I can’t recall at this time what it was.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Saturday 9/25/04
The weather is great, but I need to get this sump pump installed so my basement does not flood when the hurricane Jeanne arrives. So I have to go to the hardware store and spend some time in the basement digging the pit to put the sump pump in. But I still manage find time to visit a few sales.
Fowler St.- Kirkwood
At this duplex the sellers are young and have not had very much of their own history to get rid off. They have gone through a lot of coffee makers as they have three for sale. They also have a set of golf clubs, some popular literature and a few kid’s toys. Over all it’s pretty boring.
I buy nothing.
Seneca Rd. - Decatur
This back yard sale has a rowing machine, an oversized stuffed teletubby the size of a five-year-old child. It’s the yellow teletubby not the Twinky Winky, the purple gay one. A book on Literary Criticism, and a John Jakes novel, “ On Secret Service” A Umberto Eco’s “ The Open Work”, a salad shooter, plus a lot of kid’s stuff of no particular interest.
I buy nothing.
Pensdale Dr. - Decatur
In the driveway of this house a nice looking Sony stereo system is playing an instrumental version of “Cry Me a River”, the system sells for $50.
There a number of office items including three file cabinets and some office chairs. They have one of the ugliest Christmas decorations I have ever seem- an anemic looking snowman figure created from an old wooden board. Books include “Sinus Survival” and “No More Allergies” They also have a Cuisinart ice cream maker.
I buy nothing.
Scott Blvd. - Decatur
At the entrance of an Apartment complex a young Goth looking girl is holding a sale. There is not a lot of stuff here. She does have a large stylish shoe collection. There is also a two expensive looking Star Wars masks( of minor characters) still in boxes.
I buy a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers for $1.
Ponce De Leon - Decatur “ Colossal Yard Sale”
The Colossal sale is big but its should be called the Dangerous Yard Sale as the buyers have to cross Ponce De Leon at a curve where the cars are coming around at a high rate of speed. Using caution, I wait for the light to change. At the entrance is a sign from a cemetery indicating which direction is the funeral. It is October and people are starting to sell their old Halloween stuff. The seller indicates that I missed out on the coffin. But there is still a big box of Halloween items including masks and party items including a plastic bag of 30 spiders. There is also a large sack of soccer balls, and a lot of old toys. One of the items on her tables includ candles shaped like garlic bulbs. There is a box of cassette tapes the seller made years ago that include David Bowie, the B-52’s and the Grateful Dead. There is a boxed set of a Book and Cassette that features recipes that go with the music on the cassette.
I buy a copy of Eco’s “Foucault’s Pendulum” for $1.
Drewry St. - Virginia Highlands
This is a relatively small sale in a man’s front yard. The majority of the books he is selling are on day trading. He tells me a man can’t make money in day trading any more and that he’s going into real estate. He is also selling an espresso machine and a selection of Hawaiian shirts.
I buy nothing.
St. Augustine Ave.- Atkins Park, “See Elvis Yard Sale”
This is a relatively large sale in the front yard but a lot of the stuff has been picked through. There is a pair of dogs playing poker jigsaw puzzles, a white satin Elvis outfit, a commemorative plate with a picture of Jesus, a book on Feng Shui, a boomerang, several guides on moving to Washington DC, a Linux handbook and a toilet bowl cleaning brush shaped like a potted plant.
Mell Ave. - Candler Park
This sale in driveway is every well organized. Almost to the point where the seller looks professional. Among the items a tarnished French horn, a clock in the shape of South America, an exercise bike and a rice cooker. He has a large group of original artworks for sale that are mainly male figure studies. Other artwork includes large embroidered copies of Blue Boy and Pinkie. In the back he has a number of Tiki party items including grass skirts and large plastic wall mountable Tiki heads. For Halloween he is selling a skeleton in a nun’s habit. Among his books are The Japanese Way”, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Love” and a sushi cookbook. He also has a book on the art of Duane Hanson autographed by Hanson. I consider buying it but balk at the $10 price. I may latter regret this.
End of the Day: One pair of Ray Bans and an Umberto Eco book for a total of $2.00
A footnote:
After these sales I went home and dug in the basement to install the sump pump. When I went out for lunch later I could not resist the temptation and stopped at several other sales in Candler Park, but did not take notes since I was in a hurry. I did go back after lunch and finish the sump pump installation. In addition a friend of mine who is a professional reseller was having a sale at a house around the corner from us on a busy street. Cindy took two chairs that have been sitting in our shed for years down there to sell and made $60.
Fowler St.- Kirkwood
At this duplex the sellers are young and have not had very much of their own history to get rid off. They have gone through a lot of coffee makers as they have three for sale. They also have a set of golf clubs, some popular literature and a few kid’s toys. Over all it’s pretty boring.
I buy nothing.
Seneca Rd. - Decatur
This back yard sale has a rowing machine, an oversized stuffed teletubby the size of a five-year-old child. It’s the yellow teletubby not the Twinky Winky, the purple gay one. A book on Literary Criticism, and a John Jakes novel, “ On Secret Service” A Umberto Eco’s “ The Open Work”, a salad shooter, plus a lot of kid’s stuff of no particular interest.
I buy nothing.
Pensdale Dr. - Decatur
In the driveway of this house a nice looking Sony stereo system is playing an instrumental version of “Cry Me a River”, the system sells for $50.
There a number of office items including three file cabinets and some office chairs. They have one of the ugliest Christmas decorations I have ever seem- an anemic looking snowman figure created from an old wooden board. Books include “Sinus Survival” and “No More Allergies” They also have a Cuisinart ice cream maker.
I buy nothing.
Scott Blvd. - Decatur
At the entrance of an Apartment complex a young Goth looking girl is holding a sale. There is not a lot of stuff here. She does have a large stylish shoe collection. There is also a two expensive looking Star Wars masks( of minor characters) still in boxes.
I buy a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers for $1.
Ponce De Leon - Decatur “ Colossal Yard Sale”
The Colossal sale is big but its should be called the Dangerous Yard Sale as the buyers have to cross Ponce De Leon at a curve where the cars are coming around at a high rate of speed. Using caution, I wait for the light to change. At the entrance is a sign from a cemetery indicating which direction is the funeral. It is October and people are starting to sell their old Halloween stuff. The seller indicates that I missed out on the coffin. But there is still a big box of Halloween items including masks and party items including a plastic bag of 30 spiders. There is also a large sack of soccer balls, and a lot of old toys. One of the items on her tables includ candles shaped like garlic bulbs. There is a box of cassette tapes the seller made years ago that include David Bowie, the B-52’s and the Grateful Dead. There is a boxed set of a Book and Cassette that features recipes that go with the music on the cassette.
I buy a copy of Eco’s “Foucault’s Pendulum” for $1.
Drewry St. - Virginia Highlands
This is a relatively small sale in a man’s front yard. The majority of the books he is selling are on day trading. He tells me a man can’t make money in day trading any more and that he’s going into real estate. He is also selling an espresso machine and a selection of Hawaiian shirts.
I buy nothing.
St. Augustine Ave.- Atkins Park, “See Elvis Yard Sale”
This is a relatively large sale in the front yard but a lot of the stuff has been picked through. There is a pair of dogs playing poker jigsaw puzzles, a white satin Elvis outfit, a commemorative plate with a picture of Jesus, a book on Feng Shui, a boomerang, several guides on moving to Washington DC, a Linux handbook and a toilet bowl cleaning brush shaped like a potted plant.
Mell Ave. - Candler Park
This sale in driveway is every well organized. Almost to the point where the seller looks professional. Among the items a tarnished French horn, a clock in the shape of South America, an exercise bike and a rice cooker. He has a large group of original artworks for sale that are mainly male figure studies. Other artwork includes large embroidered copies of Blue Boy and Pinkie. In the back he has a number of Tiki party items including grass skirts and large plastic wall mountable Tiki heads. For Halloween he is selling a skeleton in a nun’s habit. Among his books are The Japanese Way”, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Love” and a sushi cookbook. He also has a book on the art of Duane Hanson autographed by Hanson. I consider buying it but balk at the $10 price. I may latter regret this.
End of the Day: One pair of Ray Bans and an Umberto Eco book for a total of $2.00
A footnote:
After these sales I went home and dug in the basement to install the sump pump. When I went out for lunch later I could not resist the temptation and stopped at several other sales in Candler Park, but did not take notes since I was in a hurry. I did go back after lunch and finish the sump pump installation. In addition a friend of mine who is a professional reseller was having a sale at a house around the corner from us on a busy street. Cindy took two chairs that have been sitting in our shed for years down there to sell and made $60.
Weekend of 9/17
Atlanta has survived Hurricane Ivan. The city is a minor mess and people are disoriented mostly because everybody though it was going to be a lot worse. I have a flooded basement and no hot water. No one even thinks about having sales on Friday. On Saturday the weather is great, but I’m busy helping Cindy set up her booth at the East Atlanta Festival where she’s selling her art. After that I have to head home and try to get the standing water out of my basement. I see very little evidence of sales between East Atlanta and Lake Claire. I see one small sale in Edgewood, but I’m too busy to do anything but slow down, it doesn’t look like I’m missing much. There is another sale I pass on Fairview but I have no time to browse and it looks like its mostly piles kids clothes.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Saturday September 11
Ridgewood Ave, Lake Claire-
This sale was advertised in the paper but there’s not a lot to it. Most of the stuff is laid out in the driveway. Among the items are a windsock shaped like a monkey, a monkey shaped candleholder, a ceramic basket containing ceramic fruit and a 17” monitor that has a sticker on it saying "free".
McLendon Ave. Candler Park
This sale looks bad from the start its in the garage of one of the new infill homes and it contain mostly kid's stuff. Among the items are two boxes of candles shaped like golf balls, a framed Keith Haring poster, and racks of children’s clothes. A few books including “ The Crafter’s Book of Santas” and “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” Lots of toys including bags of plastic army men and wrestlers, and an old pot bellied wood stove.
I buy nothing.
San Antonio Ave, Virginia Highland “estate sale”
I can tell that this is not an estate sale once again the sellers are misusing the term. Here are two yards with items scatted among them in one yard is mostly some old antique chairs and dresser, in plastic bags for $10 are old copies of American boy. I can tell this is one of those “ I want to be an antique dealer sales but this pitiful stuff is all I have sale” the adjoining yard is something else altogether. There are dozens of boxes of unopened CDs. They are being sold as 15 for 15 dollars. Most are compilations of older material re-released with the logos of companies like Saab and Heineken on them undoubtedly promotional items. I ask the seller if he was a distributor, but he tells me he’s a producer and no one can make money in the music business any more.
I buy nothing but the producer gives me one of the CDs.
Courtney St, Virginia Highlands
A modest assortment of items arrayed in a small front yard. Among them are a Power Puff Girls waffle maker, old law school text books, a copy of "Chariots of the Gods" a copy of ET on VHS, a Better than Ezra CD, a Paula Abdul cassette.
Across the street is a sale that not really in a formative stage as a few pieces of office furniture are in the driveway. A man fumbles around the garage where the is more office furniture and parts of cubicles. He asks me if I need office furniture.
I buy nothing at either sale.
McLynn Ave, Virginia Highlands
Two older women are having this sale but this is one of those sales that have less merchandise than it appears to have. The two ladies are pining the loss the weekend service of the Virginia-McLynn MARTA route when I enter. I hear a shopper remark, “my husband never buys anything”. Among the possessions in the yard are a framed print describing what it is to be a southerner (“eat black eyed peas and sit on porches”) a humidifier still in the box, a soup tureen with UGA’s bulldog Uga on it, a long handled ax, a book on crewel embroidery, a bed pan and a ceramic ashtray with a sticker on it that says “hand painted”
I buy nothing.
West Ponce De Leon, Decatur.
This sale started yesterday so it been picked through a bit. There are lot of children’s items as well as books and tapes on raising children. Among the items, a torn leather sofa (why have nice furniture when you got kids) an Abs of Steel video, a Curious George CD Rom, a book “ How to Sign with Your Baby” which on close inspection is not how to negotiate contracts with infants but rather how to communicate with babies without speaking. A Palm computer with a folding keyboard and at least 3 dock stations, There is a electric guitar next to a lemonade stand. The dad says to his son “ Maybe if you play that thing you could attract some business.” I leave before he does.
I buy nothing.
Fairview Ave, Druid Hills –“Yard Sale of the Century”
This must be a very dull century. They should of just called it yard sale of the millennium it's the same four years. It’s late in the day and there is not a lot left. A fake mustache, a old bike, a Steve Miller Band T shirt, a formal shirt some old tote bags. A woman recognizes me and asks me if I am still a comedian. I ask her if she used to heckle me. She said no but she did say that I once asked her if she was manic-depressive. She tells me now that she is. She also tells me she wants to be a comedian.
I buy a pair of men’s shorts for $2
This sale was advertised in the paper but there’s not a lot to it. Most of the stuff is laid out in the driveway. Among the items are a windsock shaped like a monkey, a monkey shaped candleholder, a ceramic basket containing ceramic fruit and a 17” monitor that has a sticker on it saying "free".
McLendon Ave. Candler Park
This sale looks bad from the start its in the garage of one of the new infill homes and it contain mostly kid's stuff. Among the items are two boxes of candles shaped like golf balls, a framed Keith Haring poster, and racks of children’s clothes. A few books including “ The Crafter’s Book of Santas” and “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” Lots of toys including bags of plastic army men and wrestlers, and an old pot bellied wood stove.
I buy nothing.
San Antonio Ave, Virginia Highland “estate sale”
I can tell that this is not an estate sale once again the sellers are misusing the term. Here are two yards with items scatted among them in one yard is mostly some old antique chairs and dresser, in plastic bags for $10 are old copies of American boy. I can tell this is one of those “ I want to be an antique dealer sales but this pitiful stuff is all I have sale” the adjoining yard is something else altogether. There are dozens of boxes of unopened CDs. They are being sold as 15 for 15 dollars. Most are compilations of older material re-released with the logos of companies like Saab and Heineken on them undoubtedly promotional items. I ask the seller if he was a distributor, but he tells me he’s a producer and no one can make money in the music business any more.
I buy nothing but the producer gives me one of the CDs.
Courtney St, Virginia Highlands
A modest assortment of items arrayed in a small front yard. Among them are a Power Puff Girls waffle maker, old law school text books, a copy of "Chariots of the Gods" a copy of ET on VHS, a Better than Ezra CD, a Paula Abdul cassette.
Across the street is a sale that not really in a formative stage as a few pieces of office furniture are in the driveway. A man fumbles around the garage where the is more office furniture and parts of cubicles. He asks me if I need office furniture.
I buy nothing at either sale.
McLynn Ave, Virginia Highlands
Two older women are having this sale but this is one of those sales that have less merchandise than it appears to have. The two ladies are pining the loss the weekend service of the Virginia-McLynn MARTA route when I enter. I hear a shopper remark, “my husband never buys anything”. Among the possessions in the yard are a framed print describing what it is to be a southerner (“eat black eyed peas and sit on porches”) a humidifier still in the box, a soup tureen with UGA’s bulldog Uga on it, a long handled ax, a book on crewel embroidery, a bed pan and a ceramic ashtray with a sticker on it that says “hand painted”
I buy nothing.
West Ponce De Leon, Decatur.
This sale started yesterday so it been picked through a bit. There are lot of children’s items as well as books and tapes on raising children. Among the items, a torn leather sofa (why have nice furniture when you got kids) an Abs of Steel video, a Curious George CD Rom, a book “ How to Sign with Your Baby” which on close inspection is not how to negotiate contracts with infants but rather how to communicate with babies without speaking. A Palm computer with a folding keyboard and at least 3 dock stations, There is a electric guitar next to a lemonade stand. The dad says to his son “ Maybe if you play that thing you could attract some business.” I leave before he does.
I buy nothing.
Fairview Ave, Druid Hills –“Yard Sale of the Century”
This must be a very dull century. They should of just called it yard sale of the millennium it's the same four years. It’s late in the day and there is not a lot left. A fake mustache, a old bike, a Steve Miller Band T shirt, a formal shirt some old tote bags. A woman recognizes me and asks me if I am still a comedian. I ask her if she used to heckle me. She said no but she did say that I once asked her if she was manic-depressive. She tells me now that she is. She also tells me she wants to be a comedian.
I buy a pair of men’s shorts for $2
Friday September 10
N. Superior, Decatur
This is a small sale in a driveway that I happened to see heading to an estate sale advertised in the paper. There is not a lot of stuff here and it’s really a bit boring. There is a collector’s boxed set of the Ted Turner movie “Gettysburg” on VHS, a tote bag from Cabo San Lucus, manuals for Photoshop 4 and for designing corporate web pages, old graphic design magazines, a box of teddy bears, a box of dreadful looking xmas figurines and a cookie jar shaped like a 1950’s car.
I buy nothing.
Princeton Way, Decatur- Estate Sale
This seems to be a real estate sale. It’s late in the afternoon and the ladies with the aprons are getting ready to close so I have to rush a bit to see everything. I first encounter a table of paper items with books pamphlets, postcards and other things. I find one entitled “ The Strange Case of Jacob Javits” another “ Moscow’s Master Plan for Sovietizing America” The latter is a 1948 publication of the Lutheran Research Society that links Langston Hughes and Eleanor Roosevelt to the Communist International in a plan to mongrelize America among other things. It is not every day that I encounter such things at a sale and I think it is quite bold that the estate sellers place this stuff right at the door so one can see at one that you are picking through the leftover goods of an old right wing bigot and anti semite. Last year I had the fortune to go through the former home, filled with all sorts of wonderful stuff, of George Bright one of the men indicted in the temple bombing. In that sale there was no bold presentation as you entered telling you what you for in for. There you discovered it bit by bit as you searched through the the reamins of one man's life. When I finally asked questions to the new owners of that property they told me the story behind the home and its contents. They did sadly admit that some of Mr. Bright’s old cronies had broken into the house after he died and made off with who knows what.
But at today’s sale we have what is left of a radical right wing Lutheran’s life. Some of the other publications include “The Cross and the Flag” a German language newsletter entitled “ Klutter Blatter”(does this translate to blathering about clutter?) There are also a few postcards of Glacier National Park.
Past the literature I find a number of unusual items, a plastic device that resembles a shoe horn that says “ Chiropractic Back Problems” a desk top statue of the See, hear, speak no evil monkeys and a mug with a confederate flag on it.
In the basement I find a few dozen old VHS tapes among them are episodes of Brides Head Revisited, Treasure Island, David Duke and a Brinks Home Security Guide. There are also three commemorative plates with Presbyterian churches on them (why not Lutheran?) an empty container of Lincoln Logs, about a half dozen ribbons awarded from a men’s gardening society, a poster for Herman Cain, a black man who lost a Republican bid to the senate, this year, and a black velvet painting of a puppy. In a glass case (I presume these are considered rare and valuable items by the sellers) are a old matchbook cover advertising an Elvis Presley belt buckle, some Wallace for President buttons and a credential badge for the 1969 Republican convention as well as a button that says “I milked Rosebud”
This Rosebud was not Citizen Kane’s sled but a famous cow in a local dairy that school children could milk.
I buy “Moscow’s Master Plan” for $3.00
This is a small sale in a driveway that I happened to see heading to an estate sale advertised in the paper. There is not a lot of stuff here and it’s really a bit boring. There is a collector’s boxed set of the Ted Turner movie “Gettysburg” on VHS, a tote bag from Cabo San Lucus, manuals for Photoshop 4 and for designing corporate web pages, old graphic design magazines, a box of teddy bears, a box of dreadful looking xmas figurines and a cookie jar shaped like a 1950’s car.
I buy nothing.
Princeton Way, Decatur- Estate Sale
This seems to be a real estate sale. It’s late in the afternoon and the ladies with the aprons are getting ready to close so I have to rush a bit to see everything. I first encounter a table of paper items with books pamphlets, postcards and other things. I find one entitled “ The Strange Case of Jacob Javits” another “ Moscow’s Master Plan for Sovietizing America” The latter is a 1948 publication of the Lutheran Research Society that links Langston Hughes and Eleanor Roosevelt to the Communist International in a plan to mongrelize America among other things. It is not every day that I encounter such things at a sale and I think it is quite bold that the estate sellers place this stuff right at the door so one can see at one that you are picking through the leftover goods of an old right wing bigot and anti semite. Last year I had the fortune to go through the former home, filled with all sorts of wonderful stuff, of George Bright one of the men indicted in the temple bombing. In that sale there was no bold presentation as you entered telling you what you for in for. There you discovered it bit by bit as you searched through the the reamins of one man's life. When I finally asked questions to the new owners of that property they told me the story behind the home and its contents. They did sadly admit that some of Mr. Bright’s old cronies had broken into the house after he died and made off with who knows what.
But at today’s sale we have what is left of a radical right wing Lutheran’s life. Some of the other publications include “The Cross and the Flag” a German language newsletter entitled “ Klutter Blatter”(does this translate to blathering about clutter?) There are also a few postcards of Glacier National Park.
Past the literature I find a number of unusual items, a plastic device that resembles a shoe horn that says “ Chiropractic Back Problems” a desk top statue of the See, hear, speak no evil monkeys and a mug with a confederate flag on it.
In the basement I find a few dozen old VHS tapes among them are episodes of Brides Head Revisited, Treasure Island, David Duke and a Brinks Home Security Guide. There are also three commemorative plates with Presbyterian churches on them (why not Lutheran?) an empty container of Lincoln Logs, about a half dozen ribbons awarded from a men’s gardening society, a poster for Herman Cain, a black man who lost a Republican bid to the senate, this year, and a black velvet painting of a puppy. In a glass case (I presume these are considered rare and valuable items by the sellers) are a old matchbook cover advertising an Elvis Presley belt buckle, some Wallace for President buttons and a credential badge for the 1969 Republican convention as well as a button that says “I milked Rosebud”
This Rosebud was not Citizen Kane’s sled but a famous cow in a local dairy that school children could milk.
I buy “Moscow’s Master Plan” for $3.00
Monday, September 06, 2004
Sept. 5, 2004, Sunday
Chambee, Off New Peachtree
It’s Sunday and I’m out of my normal range but I see this sale at a small ranch home, Lots of, if not mostly children’s items such as radios shaped like the heads of superheros. They have an old washing machine; a box springs an assortment of hip hop Cds and a DVD of David Lynch’s “Mullholand Drive”. There is a large bin of used women’s shoes with a crutch stuck in the bin.
I buy nothing.
It’s Sunday and I’m out of my normal range but I see this sale at a small ranch home, Lots of, if not mostly children’s items such as radios shaped like the heads of superheros. They have an old washing machine; a box springs an assortment of hip hop Cds and a DVD of David Lynch’s “Mullholand Drive”. There is a large bin of used women’s shoes with a crutch stuck in the bin.
I buy nothing.
Sept. 4, 2004 Saturday
Lake Claire, Howard Circle
No one else is at this first sale perhaps its because some of the signs are facing the wrong direction. A small sale with a few things in the driveway and the garage. A crystal chandelier is priced at $100. An original painting, that I thought was by someone I know. But it was not. The owner says she purchased it at an art fund raiser after she had a few too many drinks. She wants to part with it because it has dogs on it and she is a cat person.. The seller has a ceramic Mexican fire pot for $20. I buy a bicycle pump for $2. After leaving the sale I call my wife she says to go back and buy the firepot. I return later but it’s sold.
Decatur, Scott Blvd.
Posters proclaim this to be “ The Yard sale of Death”. Isn’t that really what an estate sale is? The sale is on Scott, a busy four lane street. I at first believe the death part to be the risk you take pulling your car off the road to park then pulling or backing onto Scott Blvd. Down a long driveway and past a large water garden, while a radio blares a Rod Stewart song, two men have a large yard full of items. Normally gay men are a good source of used clothes for me. They are more apt to sell clothes when they are out of style instead of when they are simply falling apart as is the case with straight men. On of my mottos is “Never buy used shoes from a straight man” But here there is very little that fits me. I do find a water garden fountain pump. We attempt to test it but it doesn’t work. Latter the seller says he’s gotten it working and I look in the pond to see a jet of water shooting from the pump. I tell him I need to talk to my wife first since she said she really wanted one with a filter. There are some souvenir dolls from Bulgaria that seem out of place. I see a box of lice treatment. I start thinking maybe its good I didn’t find any clothes. They are selling a Dish Network receiver (a new tech item I’m seeing more of). I realize latter that one of the sellers is in hair care. But then the books give me an indication that perhaps the yard sale of death was aptly named, there are books of Coping with Aids, and on Death and Dying (Not Kubler Ross but some pop imitator.) Was this yard sale partially an estate sale? Is it perhaps a sort of money making wake, celebrating the death of a friend or lover by getting rid of a lot of old clothes, books and CDs. I did not ask. There were also two books on sex one gay one straight and a book on personal references.
Lake Claire, Ridgecrest Ct.
This is an inside the house sale, that had a newspaper ad stating that early birds would be charged double. While I believe nothing is too harsh for those annoying early birds, this seller just could not get the sale together on time or even this weekend. Mostly it’s a lot of unsorted stuff scattered around the living room. The seller takes me aside and asked me what I’m looking for; when I tell her old paper items and documents she looks at me puzzled. I tell here like postcards and brochures, especially from businesses that are no longer around. She tells me there’s a menu for Mammy’s Shanty some where around here but she can’t find it this week, but she will be having another sale next week. When I try to take a box of glue sticks and a scissors from a box of office supplies she tells me she’s not selling them. I browse and find s a video of “ Inside the Playboy Mansion” as well as “Buns of Steel”, a copy of Death in Venice among a lot of old pop novels. Under a box s is a Web TV receiver. Outside in the yard is a pile of baskets and a broken looking telescope. A car parked in the drive way has a Yard Sale Today sign on it proclaiming "inside house". On the car’s doors in block letters is written “Palm and Psychic Readings” along with a telephone number .
I bought nothing
Inman Park Waverly Way
This sale at two big Inman park homes is announced as a multi family sale but its mostly one sale in a yard with the guy next store putting a few things in his own yard. The smaller sale has mostly children’s clothes and some old Lonely Planets including Costa Rica and Nepal.
The main sale included books such as How to Aggravate a Man, The Warren Buffet Way as well as two books on mastiffs. Two boxes contained old copies of Wine Spectator. There were two books on wedding planning as well as some never used paper wedding decorations. Also unused are some oversized BBQ tongs and spatulas (perhaps wedding gifts. if the wedding ever took place). There was also one of those old corner sinks, a basket of tennis rackets, and one of those highly touted but questionable ionic breeze air filters. (Perhaps to remove the odors and dander caused by the mastiffs) I bought nothing.
Poncy Highlands, Street unknown
This was a very small sale. But the sign in front of the house was on a very nice vintage yellow Austin Healy, the kind with the little flip up windows. There was hardly anything here. A strange nude wood sculpture, and old glass door and a large industrial coffee maker. The seller did have an old framed Railroad map but it was priced at $30. I bought nothing.
Poncy Highlands- Bonaventure Ave.
It’s strange to go to sales at homes of people you know who no longer reside there. Larry Tee , NYC DJ and former Now Explosion member lived in this house with a number of other people I once knew. I think Romeo Cologne latter lived here. There is no evidence of them living here now. Lots of kid’s things including a box of Berenstain Bears books, an interactive Nancy Drew CD Rom, clip on cat ears, a box of LPs including Johnny Winter and Mountain. I buy nothing.
At the end of the day I have purchased three cds from the yards sale of death. One by an Italian pop singer, one of 50's jazz and another of 30's and 40's French accordian music.
No one else is at this first sale perhaps its because some of the signs are facing the wrong direction. A small sale with a few things in the driveway and the garage. A crystal chandelier is priced at $100. An original painting, that I thought was by someone I know. But it was not. The owner says she purchased it at an art fund raiser after she had a few too many drinks. She wants to part with it because it has dogs on it and she is a cat person.. The seller has a ceramic Mexican fire pot for $20. I buy a bicycle pump for $2. After leaving the sale I call my wife she says to go back and buy the firepot. I return later but it’s sold.
Decatur, Scott Blvd.
Posters proclaim this to be “ The Yard sale of Death”. Isn’t that really what an estate sale is? The sale is on Scott, a busy four lane street. I at first believe the death part to be the risk you take pulling your car off the road to park then pulling or backing onto Scott Blvd. Down a long driveway and past a large water garden, while a radio blares a Rod Stewart song, two men have a large yard full of items. Normally gay men are a good source of used clothes for me. They are more apt to sell clothes when they are out of style instead of when they are simply falling apart as is the case with straight men. On of my mottos is “Never buy used shoes from a straight man” But here there is very little that fits me. I do find a water garden fountain pump. We attempt to test it but it doesn’t work. Latter the seller says he’s gotten it working and I look in the pond to see a jet of water shooting from the pump. I tell him I need to talk to my wife first since she said she really wanted one with a filter. There are some souvenir dolls from Bulgaria that seem out of place. I see a box of lice treatment. I start thinking maybe its good I didn’t find any clothes. They are selling a Dish Network receiver (a new tech item I’m seeing more of). I realize latter that one of the sellers is in hair care. But then the books give me an indication that perhaps the yard sale of death was aptly named, there are books of Coping with Aids, and on Death and Dying (Not Kubler Ross but some pop imitator.) Was this yard sale partially an estate sale? Is it perhaps a sort of money making wake, celebrating the death of a friend or lover by getting rid of a lot of old clothes, books and CDs. I did not ask. There were also two books on sex one gay one straight and a book on personal references.
Lake Claire, Ridgecrest Ct.
This is an inside the house sale, that had a newspaper ad stating that early birds would be charged double. While I believe nothing is too harsh for those annoying early birds, this seller just could not get the sale together on time or even this weekend. Mostly it’s a lot of unsorted stuff scattered around the living room. The seller takes me aside and asked me what I’m looking for; when I tell her old paper items and documents she looks at me puzzled. I tell here like postcards and brochures, especially from businesses that are no longer around. She tells me there’s a menu for Mammy’s Shanty some where around here but she can’t find it this week, but she will be having another sale next week. When I try to take a box of glue sticks and a scissors from a box of office supplies she tells me she’s not selling them. I browse and find s a video of “ Inside the Playboy Mansion” as well as “Buns of Steel”, a copy of Death in Venice among a lot of old pop novels. Under a box s is a Web TV receiver. Outside in the yard is a pile of baskets and a broken looking telescope. A car parked in the drive way has a Yard Sale Today sign on it proclaiming "inside house". On the car’s doors in block letters is written “Palm and Psychic Readings” along with a telephone number .
I bought nothing
Inman Park Waverly Way
This sale at two big Inman park homes is announced as a multi family sale but its mostly one sale in a yard with the guy next store putting a few things in his own yard. The smaller sale has mostly children’s clothes and some old Lonely Planets including Costa Rica and Nepal.
The main sale included books such as How to Aggravate a Man, The Warren Buffet Way as well as two books on mastiffs. Two boxes contained old copies of Wine Spectator. There were two books on wedding planning as well as some never used paper wedding decorations. Also unused are some oversized BBQ tongs and spatulas (perhaps wedding gifts. if the wedding ever took place). There was also one of those old corner sinks, a basket of tennis rackets, and one of those highly touted but questionable ionic breeze air filters. (Perhaps to remove the odors and dander caused by the mastiffs) I bought nothing.
Poncy Highlands, Street unknown
This was a very small sale. But the sign in front of the house was on a very nice vintage yellow Austin Healy, the kind with the little flip up windows. There was hardly anything here. A strange nude wood sculpture, and old glass door and a large industrial coffee maker. The seller did have an old framed Railroad map but it was priced at $30. I bought nothing.
Poncy Highlands- Bonaventure Ave.
It’s strange to go to sales at homes of people you know who no longer reside there. Larry Tee , NYC DJ and former Now Explosion member lived in this house with a number of other people I once knew. I think Romeo Cologne latter lived here. There is no evidence of them living here now. Lots of kid’s things including a box of Berenstain Bears books, an interactive Nancy Drew CD Rom, clip on cat ears, a box of LPs including Johnny Winter and Mountain. I buy nothing.
At the end of the day I have purchased three cds from the yards sale of death. One by an Italian pop singer, one of 50's jazz and another of 30's and 40's French accordian music.
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