The thrift shop finished for the week. Progress has been made, I've managed to clear the entire floor - meaning the donations can now be taken to the back. So - on schedule, or thereabouts, to be unemployed. In the meantime I've set up a box in the back for "my things" - stuff I don't want to be carrying with me that will eventually find it's way to the locker - and - hopefully - a studio. SO far, a broken old fiddle and cuckoo clock. 

Now the back end - and this is no trivial task, as it is filled with things that everyone has picked up, looked at, second guessed, set down. This is the problem - watch the veterans walk around the floor, comparing finds they've unboxed, laying them aside until they have time to do "more research", this - "more research", it becomes unending, get rid of it already, if it sells for a few dollars less than it could have that's a great thing, it brings people back, and it's out the door, room for more donations - and there's always more donations.

After work, a cheap meal in town, stock up on booze and cigarettes, carrying - laundry, sleeping bag, computer and writing stuff, too much shit. And the weather is turning for the weekend so a bus to Balfour so I can sleep inside the next few days. Fully employed and entirely homeless. 

And - just when I'm thinking I might be making some money it's time to make a dentist appointment. Not time, overdue, and whatever I'm earning isn't going to be enough - not by a long shot, this will be one of a series of regular trips to misery and discomfort, death on the installment plan, but - fucking hell, it's overdue and sometimes you just have to suck it up and resign yourself. 

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Category: Blog

The other night, at the restaurant, an ursine visitor. Senior describes it, a clatter in back, on the loading dock, comes down to confront a black bear on it's hind legs. Somehow, cozy on the sofa inside the restaurant, I missed it. 

Last night, a comfortable bench by the Prestige on lakefront. Homelessness I'm used to, but without a vehicle it sucks. That should resolve itself in a month or so. In the meantime I'm carrying my bag, laundry with me, light sleeping bag, as well as a notebook and laptop and chargers, etc. 40 lbs of "essentials". It gets a little old walking around with all this shit, but - what are you going to do?

Anyways, eat in town yesterday, 3 squares, a vegan wrap and side at "Sprouts", a Pho at Yom Sum, and then again later a Yogi Burger at the Yellow Deli. 

These weekends at the restaurant - I eat there as well, but a lot less, the food bores me (after 5 years, yeah, of course). And so I'm trying to catch up, balance my diet while I have a chance.

8:00, I'm down on the waterfront, watching the blue-bottomed (swifts? swallows?) comb the water for insects. There are dozens. Watch the people. A couple fighting, she's going off for an extended stay at a "Hot-Tub" party, he wants to break up, she's pleading with him that it's just a "Hot Tub Party" and it's more work than it sounds like. Joggers, Dog walkers. Later, after the sun sets, an Eagle in a nest across the lake makes it's appearance. When the sun goes down I spread out my sleeping bag on the bench and go to sleep.

1:00 AM I'm woken by a drunken asshole swearing into his phone, he's surprised to find me there, he came down to the waterfront looking for privacy. 

Eventually he wanders off and I drift off again. 

2:00 I'm woken by a large splashing in the water. A lot of noise. I strain my eyes against the darkness. Nada. About a minute later more splashing, then I see it - a very large black bear has swum to a pier about 30 yards away. I sit up and light a cigarette. I don't want him swimming over to me and finding me in surprise. He's a big one, maybe 400, 500 pounds, larger even. He cuts a big silhouette against the stars on the water. I watch him pacing, before eventually jumping in the water and swimming to shore. I watch to make sure he's not heading my way, he's not. Back to sleep. 

By 3:00 AM it's getting cold. Curl in and cover up. 

6:00 AM and I'm awake, shivering, waiting for Oso to open so I can get a coffee, warm up, charge my phone...

And - for the moment, this is life. Coffee, 7:00 until 8:00, then off to work at the thrift shop. 

Finish at 4:00, find somewhere to eat and kill time until the sun goes down...

 

 

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It goes. From this:

The foreground mess is unsorted donations. This was 2 weeks ago. Now, the area is largely clear. 

Finds along the way (and I should be taking more pictures, really) include an "electric paring knife", like - wtf? And this:

Now, nothing extraordinary about this - we get dozens of "similar" as seen on TV "labor saving" K-Tel or Ronco devices every day. Mostly they don't sell. We give about half of them a week on the shelf before they're culled for the dump. What I found - haunting - about this one - look at the woman's face:

I mean, that smile, those eyes, it's like she thinks she can win back some marital affection by making all these sweets and devilled eggs. Clearly from the "Isn't Princess Diana Beautiful" days, there's just something a little off about it all. Anyways....

Real finds: a 50 year old Chinese Alarm Clock, with a party slogan and (?? Chairman Mao ??) on the face. Many new pots and pans, a pretty crystal necklace, various items of clothing, old clock, treasures too many to list and now that I'm on the turtle carrying my possessions on my back I'm ill inclined to add to the weight...so it's just look and don't touch.

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An Instagram Account devoted to nothing but thrift shop art treasures (there seems to be a bit of crossover - bad coffee mugs, DVD's, etc. - but the focus is on the Art.).

There's something about Jesus and Princess Diana that - well, it brings out the worst in artists. Or the best. Anyways - a veritable gold mine, and I find much the same DAILY.

Noteworthy: Drag Jesus, Darth Vader & Jesus, Freddie Mercury, The Book on "Setting Realistic Expectations", Kenny Rogers, David Bowie, Jimmie Hendrix, Clowns & Children, I could go on forever. 

Link: Thrift Store Art on Instagram

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Category: Found
  1. The Universe 25 Experiment
  2. Thrifting, Locker
  3. 2004 Ford Econoline Van
  4. Nick Cave and the Trials of Job