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Thrift Shop, Progress...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
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Michael, my partner (thrift shop) has been off the past 2 days. We had made a big dent in the back, and with him gone I make it a full court press. I get 2/3's of the back clear. I mean, it's heads down, don't look up, box after box after mind-numbing box.
The delivery boys, they're having a laugh, saying I got more done in 2 days than Michael in 18 months. This is somewhat true, but bear in mind that for the people that work there this is as much a socialization as it is a job, much like me in the restaurant. I'm dedicated, head down, hands free. Michael can't go onto the floor without being accosted by locals - with whom he is a bit of a celebrity, being a thespian and all, and having a long history in the town. This eats into his time. And he's forever being accosted. People that want to chat, catch up, place orders, harridans of a certain age that still believe he's an eligible bachelor, etc, etc.
Anyways, a few photos of the finds of the day and other miscellaneous observations:
Little glass trays. I've suggested to the thrift shop that we should "Stage them" - meaning display them with rolling papers and a bit of sprinkled pot, or mirror them with the mirror paint (apply on the backside), then "Stage them" with a few lines of baking soda and a razor blade, straw.
The charity is a Christian organization, they don't approve, but they'd sell like gangbusters out here if people knew what they could be used for...
A charming bit of vintage kitsch, well done, and I've a mind to throw it into the "Gold Recycle" bin that I haven't laid out.
Which I should lay out. As you will see why shortly.
Some porcelain, "Made in China" "Collectible" figurines of old-west/Outlaw types playing poker. "Collectible". Not. $20 each.
"Collectible" Resin figurines, also from China, letter of authenticity included, regular retail $30, now yours for a mere $10. Or less. Just fucking take them for Pete's sake.
A pair of "Love" and "Hope" Coffee (??) mugs. With inscribed quote. Or embossed. With real gold leaf. Or real gold.
Vintage "Love Grandma" "Love Grandpa" mugs, Grandpa got the flowers, Grandma the mushrooms. Mushrooms and Frogs were the theme of the day, I found a mushroom patch (to be sewn onto clothing), pendant, black velvet "Doodle Art", people out here, they love their mushrooms.
Unboxing, a porcelain flower arrangement, vintage, of the day, nightmare dust accumulator. Small Raku rolling tray. Cardboard bowl filled with "Made in Japan" ceramic porcelain figurines. A fabric wrapped coat hanger, a dirty cloth to wipe the dust off with, a basket, clean, with liner. A metal juice press.
A beautiful gilt gold bowl with butterfly, with 2 gilt cocktail glasses, vintage.
A blown-glass gilt hummingbird ornament, as-is, one hummingbird has managed to break free...
A nicely gilt ice bowl with a wheat motif.
A jigsaw puzzle, only one piece missing. They show you where. Into the garbage...
A standard box. Throw away the trash, what do you end up with? A ceramic "rock" that reads "Believe". Did they stop believing I wonder? A dirty bottle topper, frog. 2 porcelain/ceramic angels. A frisbee and two worthless baskets.
A "Live, Laugh, Love" picture frame, never used. They never are. 2/3rds of a "Salad Spinner". Other Tat.
Hand Painted wine glasses and a festive beer glass. These will never sell. I put them out nonetheless.
A full box of shit that must be edited before the remainder is thrown in the 25 Cent Bin.
So, anyways you get the idea. The "Signal to Noise" ratio is pretty low - an awful lot of rubbish, very little quality. Like 99.3% rubbish. And - Oh, I didn't show you any of the coffee mugs, pots, pans, baking (all unwashed), coffee mugs, ....
So. Getting through it. And all this gilt-edged nonsense - I mean, surely there has to be an ounce per ton? And I'm finding tons...
World health experts now say COVID 'lab leak' theory needs further investigation
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Via CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/who-covid-pandemic-china-data-1.6483210
Not saying I told you so, BUT...
Prospecting the Broken Pottery & China
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And this I find offensive, all the gilt edged crockery, china, ornamented glasses, that we throw out, surely there must be a way to recover it? Refine it, rescue the gold?
So a little bit of researching and I find out that it's not considered worthwhile. At all.
And I'm a bit disappointed, then I reconsider, this advice is for the person trying to save a few pennies of gold off a single china set, but I'm talking hundreds a month, crush 'em all up, melt it all down...
Still not viable. And so for now I'm just shovelling gold into the ground...rather against my better instincts, as you might well understand...
The Economy of Good Intentions
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A long day but I made great progress. Perhaps cleared a third of the kitchenware/knick-knacks area. And - with luck, tomorrow the next third.
Anyways, the usual - a few dozen kitschy Salt N Pepper Shakers, coffee mugs, dishes, picture frames, etc, etc. The high point was discovering a 3-size pack of Spartacus Cock Rings.
Anyways, picture frames, by and largely absolute rubbish, but you notice the unboxed baby picture frames - "Sterling Plate" - ornamented with teddy bears, babies, etc, most still in the original box, unopened, I've found so far hundreds of these and have yet to see a picture of a baby in a single one.
They fall into the class of "Obligatory Rubbish" - that stuff we buy people when they get married, have a kid, anniversary, etc, etc. "Obligatory Rubbish". Nobody knows what to get them, nobody wants to look cheap, and so they buy them this tat that is just costs them money in storage before it finds it's way to the landfill.
Weddings, Anniversaries, with their customized engraved wine glasses, champagne flutes, nobody every uses them again, they're as disposable as a paper cup, only not as environmentally friendly. "Happy Mothers/Grandmothers/Fathers/Grandfathers" Day mugs and picture frames are the same. Single use to prove you thought of them, they appreciated it, then on their way to the dump. Don't donate them, nobody wants them.
Anything with "Eat, Pray, Laugh, Love, Grow, Hope, Charity, Etc." - be it plaque, coffee mug, picture - dump, dump dump. What an idiotic fashion that was.
Brand names, unless they're on the product they are selling - eg: Starbucks on a Coffee Mug, Nike Swoosh on Nike Sneaker, Louis Vuitton Logo on Louis Vuitton Bag or wallet - it's all bound for the dump. Companies that pin their brand on promotional gear - T-Shirts, Coffee Mugs, Travel Mugs, Key Chains, etc. - off to the dump with it. It would be kinder to the planet if you just burned your money.
And don't get me started on Easter, Valentines Day, Halloween & Christmas. So much rubbish manufactured for a single use only.
My rant for the day. Don't buy into this commercialism. If they can't eat/drink/consume it in the next 24 hours they don't need it. And that applies to everything. And we have to get away from gift giving because EVERYONE is getting it wrong...
Final Note - the previous rant on the resin angel child with bunny. I was having a laugh with a volunteer about it in the back when an employee came in, overheard us and told us some woman had discovered it and it moved her to tears. She loved it and bought it. And I know this to be true because I looked for it on the shelf today and it was gone.
Bloody hell. There's something for everybody, I guess.
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