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, February 02, 2017

Pulling My Head Out

I have had a really bad case of down in the dumps, midlife crisis, fuckitall.  I haven't been sleeping well. My brain is full of what could have been's and what will be's. Things I could have changed in the past and things I certainly cannot prevent from happening in the future. Things have seemed overwhelming to me.  Projects, plans.  All of it.  Just overwhelming. I get so down when I read Facebook posts from friends and family saying awful things about politics and fighting with family and friends.  Life is too short for that stuff. Instead of surfing Facebook at night, I have fallen into the YouTube pit.  Oh, it's a hard one to crawl out of - I have always avoided the time suck of You Tube. But, it has been just what the doctor ordered lately.  I have watched people dumpster diving, people thrifting, little girls dancing, soldiers coming home to their kids and their dogs, road rage, good deeds and on and on.  Oh, such a time suck.  But, such a mental holiday.   

But, today a cloud lifted for no apparent reason and I am feeling like ME again.  Woot!  Someone is sure to say it is Winter Blues, but we have had little to no winter at all this year.  It was 76 degrees yesterday!  Today it was only in the 40's and seemed much more like Winter.  Winter is my JAM. Who knows if this will stay or my fuckitall will kick back in. Hopefully I will get some stuff done and start on my new booth prep and the upcoming Junk Ranch stuff soon.  I ordered a ton of new jewelry making supplies.  I have ideas for new stuff to make.  I think I am coming out of my funk.

Today I snuck out all by myself and hit up a few thrift stores.  I saw on Craigslist that one of my old standby thrifts was 1/2 off all week.  That just does not happen around here.  So, off I went.  I prowled around that thrift for almost an hour.  I spent $13, which means I bought $26 worth of things. I never find that much there, so I am happy that I went.  I found a couple baby afghans, some old beer steins and mugs, a sweet Paint By Number, a cool lucite display rack and a few other things.  All to sell, thank heavens.  

When I left there, I went to the Salvation Army across the road.  They have an "Antiques Corner" where they put all the older stuff, but it isn't priced any higher than the regular stuff.  In fact, it's usually pretty cheap.  Today I found a game called Snap Bowling from the 1970's.  The box was almost as tall as me! It was only $2.00 so I thought it might be missing something.  But it wasn't! Yay!  As I carried it around the store, this guy that was looking at all the games and puzzles spotted that huge box I was carrying.  He read the box and his eyes got big and HE WANTED IT.  But, it was mine.  He followed me all around the store just hoping that I would put it down.  I have done that to people (in a far less creepy way. I hope.) but have never had anyone stalk me in the thrift store. After I paid, I hightailed it to the car and got out of there!  I would hate to get mugged for a $2.00 game.  

*You'll notice there aren't any photos in this post. I can't remember my icloud password and I will be DAMNED if I am going to change it again.  It'll come to me soon. I hope!  :)

Oh, that new booth? It is actually the booth that Lara and I share.  She closed her big booth out at Daisies and Olives and wants her own booth at the store we share.  Which is sort of crazy because I want booth at Daisies and Olives and I'm not over excited about the store where we share the booth. Don't get me wrong, I sell quite a bit there and make decent money.  But, it's not the sort of place where I feel like I can set up a lovely booth with lovely things.  It's more about selling stuff  - household stuff, decor, ugly Christmas sweaters, funny mugs, silly hats and cute things that the college kids can use for a year and re-donate.  It's not about a cohesive look and a theme.  Now, Lara will be able to set up a lovely booth with her pretty and quirky theme and it will look great.  But for what I sell there, I just don't want to make it all my style.  I want to do that in a different store.  I will put some personality into it, but I won't go all out. My stepdad has a big inventory of old military surplus like coats and bags.  I was at the Mall the other day and saw that thin cheaply made look a like Military items are in now.  So, he is going to bring me a bunch of that sort of ting to put in the booth.  The college kids will freak.  Plus, we still have a storage unit full of my Grandmother's things that really needs to go.  So, there will be room for that now too.

Here's to a new month and less fuckitall and more doitall!  Can I get a hellzya?

14 comments:

  1. Wonder Twins activate! OMG - we are SO on the same wavelength. This time of year I try to plan for the rest of the year - objectives, plans, keeping good records, what if, blah blah blah. And every year it goes to sh!t. I'm constantly second guessing myself, going in different directions, and asking WHY I don't have the business that I dreamt about years ago. I have a full time job so money is not the first goal - it's the journey to a successful and satisfying business you built from the ground up. I have a spreadsheet of ideas, which are a dime a dozen. I just have to choose or at least pare down to two. So I feel your pain!

    My time suck is mother freaking Pinterest with some iphone Sudoku thrown in. I did go on youtube (way to much) to remember George Michael in January.

    I have a TON of jewelry findings in a cart and I'm ready to push the button to place the order. The thing is, I'm going to really try and MAKE something this year instead of collecting a bunch of beautiful bits and bobs. I have a variety of stock and I took a few years off from craft shows and I miss it. There is nothing like getting feedback in person from your customer (good and bad). We'll see how it goes - I'm collecting the applications now.

    That is so funny about that game stalker!!! It would have been funny if you teased him by putting the game down by your side to see if he would have the nerve to reach for it. On the other hand, I have been that stalker! I think it was for Pyrex. I've made piles at estate sales before but it does no good. I've had to defend and protect them from poachers (they have NO shame and will pilfer and pillage) so much that I usually end up putting everything in a box and dragging it around with me.

    My antique mall booth is a joke. I'm surprised the owner hasn't kicked me out for neglect. But I'm getting excited about it again. I put everything on sale for 40% off and hope it clears out a lot of old stock. I literally have more than 100X worth of stock I could put in there. Mug sales surprised me last month - I sold 5 for an average price of $24 each. On eBay that's average - I just didn't think they would sell for more than $8-$12 in the booth. Vintage greeting cards always do well, even without the envelopes.

    I dig the cooler weather too - as long as it's above freezing. My favorite day is sunny but crisp - around 40-50 degrees. We've had quite a few days in the 60s, which is great for the heating bill. But I'm not ready for Spring dammit.

    So I'm hear to tell you that you are not alone Boo! Sometimes we just have to talk it out among me, myself, and I and wait for our inner Boo to come out, kick us in the butt and get us back into the groove - whatever that groove might be. Sometimes we don't know how lucky we are.

    With all the above said, hellzya to a new month, Shara Boo, hellzya!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I think you and I could be best friends. We are very similar! Or, we would hate each other. HAHAHA I think we would be buddies! Oh wait, we ARE buddies! I'd love to see what you do make and sell. I have very few NEW ideas, not that I would steal yours - but I just seem to improvise on the same old, same old. Hang in there BOO!

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    2. Yes Boo - I guess we are Boodies! We wouldn't hate each other, we probably just couldn't go junking together mwahahahaha! No one wants to see two women rolling on the floor fighting over pink crinoline dishes :) Naaah - there is so much out there for everyone!

      What I really want to do from an artistic point of view is to deconstruct and reconstruct jewelry pieces and make wild mixed media over the top necklaces. I've been collecting bits and bobs for years - just need to find the time and a thousand o-rings to make them. When cupcakes were all the rage a few years ago, I sold my line of "no calorie" treats - cupcake necklaces and earrings. I've also been collecting metal bits and bobs to make fun little robot sculptures. Now I would be surprised if I ever make one but I still keep buying those bits and bobs. I have TONS of vintage items I bought to repurpose. I never worry about anyone stealing ideas because we all get our inspiration from everywhere and I love to see what twists other people do. It would be awesome to have a craft day with you!!!!

      It was "sort of" a new year resolution to do two hours of Christmas crafts (of any kind) on the 25th of every month to get ready for the Fall/Winter shows this year. January 25th came and went - I totally forgot! So now I have to play catch up this month!

      I love love love your domino candy necklaces! Now I might just steal your idea! But only to make one for myself. At the rate I'm going, I'll never actually do it! Besides, it would take me forever to pick a candy. Years ago, I decorated dominoes using alcohol ink and gold, silver and copper paint pens intending to make them into pendants for necklaces. This was waaay before Tim Holtz. They are around here somewhere along with the Rummikub tiles that were also decorated the same way.

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  2. I have no idea how old you are but I can tell you mid life hits you in the face at some point. It is a good night when I fall into bed and my head is not going a million miles an hour. some type of exercise will help a bit if only to make you so tired you have to sleep. I have hid or unfriended a lot of people on facebook. I don't want to see it or hear it. Good luck
    Cathy

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    Replies
    1. I just turned the big 5-0 and yes, mid life is sucking at my soul. My brain won't stop sometimes. I am hiding so many FB friends it is crazy. hang in there!!!!!

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  3. Anonymous8:20 AM

    Hellzya! Been there! I am modifying my diet and that seems to help, next to go is sugar-- yeah, right. I can get pretty anxious worrying about all the what-ifs. Adjusting my brain is easier said than done.
    I do like a nice amble thru an antique mall, though.

    Joyce

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  4. Hellzya!! It's been a rough start to the year and it's not the weather! I have also been sick with this cold that my family has passed back and forth. I want to be well and feel good!! Glad you are getting your mojo back. I know how much you like Junk Ranch.

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  5. H.E.L.L.Z.Y.A.!!!
    I zoned into my favorite You-Tube YOGA this morning to help get my mojo back...
    ...had a g.y.n. appt. this week, and Doc told me "Everything is fine, but you need to lose some weight. 30-35lbs would be a good goal".
    As if 'those' appointments aren't bad enough?!?

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  6. Wrap up in a blankie and regroup! It will pass. Frankly I think everyone is in a funk about all of the political ho ha. Hate it that I have considered ditching some friends (on facebook and real life) who are foaming at the mouth crazies about all of this. Do something crafty that makes you feel happy. Please DON'T stop blogging. I'd be bummed and have to resort to going back to reading political rants! HA!

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  7. Wrap up in a blankie and regroup! It will pass. Frankly I think everyone is in a funk about all of the political ho ha. Hate it that I have considered ditching some friends (on facebook and real life) who are foaming at the mouth crazies about all of this. Do something crafty that makes you feel happy. Please DON'T stop blogging. I'd be bummed and have to resort to going back to reading political rants! HA!

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  8. hellzya!
    OMG you sound just like I have felt for 2 weeks or more LOL
    I just need some sunshine then I can get motivated

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  9. I have been having a blues week, too. Between the politics thing and having a horrible cold, I haven't been sleeping well either. Today we had a water main break and have been without water. It just adds to the mood. Here's hoping things pick up! Maybe it's an August 15 birthday thing?

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  10. Anonymous4:45 PM

    Well Miss Sahara, bless your heart! I know the world seems unbalanced right now but hopefully things will right themselves if we just avoid overdoing the news and stay busy. Please don't stop blogging. You are my motivation alot of times when I see what you have been doing. You have a way with words and creative ideas and would be missed HTH Janet

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  11. I feel just like you. Too much bad in my life and the world along with the winter blahs and I just want to hibernate! Hopefully things will get better for all of us soon! Mary

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