What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

The One Where She Rambles

Just popping in to say Hello and I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  I mean, I know it's not like you guys are just sitting at home saying, "Geez, I wish Shara would post on her blog."  But, I haven't blogged in awhile and the "Are you okay?" emails and texts have started.  So, here I am saying I am okay.

The Junk Ranch is in fifteen days (minus a day for loading and a day for setting up, so that is really thirteen days) plus I am trying to do all my regular chores around here plus keep up with two booths, manage my ebay sales (slow, but picking up), hunt and gather Junk Ranch merchandise, get it organized and priced plus figure out the layout of the booth.  Lara and I have been in the back yard facing out into the parking lot for the past events, but this time we are up front - the second and third booth right by the gate with 248 booths out past ours.  Every single person will have to walk past our booth.  So, figuring out a new layout, what you want people to notice and all that is hard.  I can only guess and figure it out when I get there.  Luckily, Lara and I are together so we will make it work.  I am getting excited - still SO much to do make, organize, find, price and prepare.  But, it always gets done.  


Here is an article about The Junk Ranch on the State of Arkansas Website.  I saw the article and then I noticed that the ONLY photo for the entire Junk Ranch is MY BOOTH.  Eh gads.  I sent Lara a text  - "Look!  What were they thinking?"  To which she replied - "Who do you think wrote the article?"  I forgot she was doing the press for the event!  "I got your back," she said.  :)  SO between being featured on the STATE PAGE and the new gate side booth - the pressure for perfection is BIG TIME.

In between each Junk Ranch, I swear that I will get more organized here at home and have a designated area for all incoming merchandise that will be delegated to the Junk Ranch.  But, every time, I have things in my office, the living room (projects I am making), the garage, the driveway, the backyard and in both sheds.  Plus I always go pull things from both booths.  I have a lot of stuff scattered around between the house and the booths.  Sometimes during the Junk Ranch, when I am trying to go to sleep, I think about all the things I have in my house, plus both the booths and an entire tent full of things sitting out in a field and I start to get a little overwhelmed with my "stuff". But, it is how I contribute and make the money that I make, so it is what it is.  And, I LOVE doing it. I really, really do.  I will never complain about any of it except to say that I am exhausted by the time the show starts and that's when the work really begins!  

In my spare time, I am on the computer looking for jobs for The Breadman and filling out applications for him.  (I am the one looking on the computer because he works nights and has to sleep during the day when the jobs are being posted). His job is deplorable and I will find him a better job.  He just had his third pay cut in as many months.  I honestly don't understand how a job can cut your pay while you are still doing the very same job the entire time.  Plus, they will not pay him for more than a certain amount of hours, even if he works over that (which he does).  Then to add insult to injury - the first week of the last HUGE pay cut (a 35% weekly cut) they didn't even bother to pay him!  Oh, we forgot to turn in your hours.  Seriously.  This is not a Mom and Pop place - this is a huge nationwide company.  I don't understand it.  Having said that - this was not said to make you worry about us or feel sorry for us. But, damn, it's not right.  I'm sure you will agree!  So, a new job MUST happen.   *On a funny note - I get emails from all the job sites whenever a position comes in that he is qualified for so I can apply.  We get emails for Route, Sales and Delivery.  So  he gets job postings for truck driver routes, sales of everything from insurance to propane and delivery of everything from furniture to babies.  Yes, I said babies.  He gets all sorts of job openings delivering babies at the hospital!  So, if you ever go have a baby - I strongly recommend that you ask to see their credentials!  

Last night it stormed all night long.  The power went off at 3:00 and didn't come back on until after 10:00.  I am a bad sleeper already - I sleep with a fan to drown out sounds.  But with no power, I had no fan which meant I heard every single noise.  Including the husband (it was his night off) snoring like a freight train.  I kicked him in the shin to make him turn over and then he was quiet at least.  But it was windy and pouring rain and in the incredibly dark and quiet house, it was SO loud out there. Needless to say, I was up most of the night.  Honestly, I don't know why I am still up at nearly midnight tonight.  I am TIRED!

I will be back when I am less tired and less whiny.

That could take awhile.  

:)

12 comments:

  1. Every year when Junk Ranch rolls around you get super busy my friend. Hang in there and I hope it goes well for you. I mean you do have the BEST JUNK EVER! I hope you find a new job for the Breadman, that is just not right what they are doing to him. So try to get some rest in between the work and know I'm excited about Junk Ranch for you and wish I could visit!
    hugs,
    Linda

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  2. Good luck with the Junk Ranch, but you know that you and Lara will rock it. It is a ton of work, but once that junk disappears into the hands of others and $$$....YES! My house is full right now too..garage sale bound and it can't get here soon enough. I need my house back. The breadman definitely needs a new job. Pay cut? That is just not right.

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  3. I feel your pain regarding your husband's job. We went through something similar, my husband's position was eliminated but he at least got a severance package. We live in a very oil-dependent area and there are a lot of people out of work but not too many actual openings. It's a bad time.

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  4. Oh Shara, all that work for Junk Ranch (I know how much work a show is) and looking for a job for the Breadman as well, plus the stress of him being in a crappy job, I feel for you!! I really think you and Lara will have your best year ever being right in front! Plus I love how she put up your pic, of course she has your back, thats what good friends do. But its a good picture and should be on there! I hope your hubby finds a better job soon, that company sounds horrible!

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  5. Also, its been storming like crazy here too! Lets hope it gets it all out in May and June is nice and dry!

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  6. As a matter of fact, I am sitting around waiting for you to post - I keep refreshing the page and it's happy joy joy when there's a new post! And I'm not being sarcastic sister. I remember you talking about the lines waiting for entrance to the Junk Ranch. With your new location, I'm sure you'll be telling us about the sales you made whilst people waited. I imagine you handing junk over the fence before the show starts! I know it's hard to predict but do you have a financial goal when you go or do you bring in as much as you can pack in the car and hope for the best? It sounds like so much fun - it might have to go on my bucket list. And what a great friend in Lara - what a sweetheart for posting your booth pic!

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    Replies
    1. I try to set a goal in my head and I usually surpass it a little bit. I never know how much my merchandise adds up to - so I just take a ton and hope for the best! I take one load with the set up stuff and as much merchandise as I can pack in, then one more load of merchandise. Then the next morning I take the bigger stuff like blowmolds and the jewelry flats. I bring home a lot, but that's because I have so many boxes, tins and baskets full of bulk things like flash cards, blocks, keys, crystals, and on and on. I usually get it all back home in one load though!

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    2. PS Thanks for always commenting on my posts. And refreshing! :D

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  7. I hear ya Shara! I always think I'll be more prepared for Randolph (set up tonight) but I just pitch goodies in my garage office all winter then there's a giant pile to deal with. It'll all work out, it always does. At least that's what I tell myself. I hope you find BM a job soon, that kind of thing can grind on ya.

    Chanelle

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  8. Booths up front is HUGE!!! I'm so excited for you guys (girls, but we say guys here in Ohio). Hope you are able to take time to enjoy the holiday weekend. DO NOT let The Breadman sit in any chairs though. There are only so many vintage motel chairs out there, we can't lose another one :)

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  9. Anonymous7:17 PM

    Actually, I was also waiting for you to post, just like Rae Cee! I'm hoping I can make it down for Saturday...

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  10. Dang! You sure have a lot on your plate right now. I feel for you and the breadman, companies have no mercy. I hope a new job comes through for him soon. Certainly would take the stress away. Good luck with Junk Ranch; I know you'll do great!

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