The all-powerful KITSCHMASTER has struck again! Worship at his junk-strewn altar!
I've written here before of the mysterious, powerful fascination that rummage sales hold for me. The great bazaars of the ancient Middle East could only strive to evoke the sheer giddiness I feel everytime I walk into a dark, detritus-laden garage or (better still) barn. Let's make a deal!
I haven't always felt this way. I used to view rummage sales as the equivalent of paying money to dig through people's garbage bags. Wait a day or two, and all that meticulously-priced crap was gonna end up at the curb.
This changed after realizing that, for an underemployed father of two active young boys, these sales often represent an opportunity to outfit my frequently mud-caked charges in decent clothes for pennies on the dollar; and that, if you learn the art of looking behind the standard selection of used sweatpants, cutesy knick knacks and dog-eared romance novels, you often find PURE GOLD (or pure velvet) staring back at you.
Consider this haul from last Friday: 'The Essential Waylon Jennings" on CD, a leather basketball, and a pristine-dare I say, groovy-disco ball, all for.....wait for it......50 cents. And yes, you better believe I hung that disco ball proudly in the curio-laden Vista workspace.
Add that to Velvet Elvis, the 6 inch 'Big Boy' ceramic figurine, the classic 1970's "Dad" coffee mug and the sturdy vintage pitchfork that I've already grabbed for a combined $3 this summer, and it becomes clear that I am a man who truly enjoys the finer things in life, and all at a fair price.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
I myself would have paid more for the velvet Elvis and the Big Boy.
I had the Big Boy coin bank as a kid. I slept with it.
AND NO PICTURE OF THE DISCO BALL?! Areyoufuckingkiddingme?
Wanna come shopping in my basement?
(Dirt cheap prices - come on!)
Um, hello?!? You mention items the likes of which haven't been seen in thirty years, and NO PICTURES???
Amateur.
We have a Big Boy bobble head. That can't be authentic old school, can it? Anyway, it's a treasure!
The Waylon alone is worth $3.50. Are you one of those garage sale hagglers? When we were leaving the U.S. and selling most of our worldly posessions, I had people arguing with me on the nickel scale. Tight fuckers.
You are aren't you?
some of my best fashion statements from middle and high school came from rummage sales. oh, good times, but i haven't been to one in a long time now. clearly, it's time to get out again.
(i came from blog nosh - thanks for helping us launch the site!)
I share your love of thrift! I once bought a bright purple corner of a sectional for $2. Delivery was $5 and it was beautiful. I also found a Jesus lamp and a creepy cherub picture, both of which went into my roommates room until she came home and started screaming.
You already have the pitchfork? So with just a few more special garage sale finds, you can recreate "American Gothic"!!
God, I love rummage sales and junk shops! Of course, I enjoy picking through the trash of elderly people as well (don't judge me - its not that different), so I'm on the downward spiral anyway.
I am in awe of your delicate sense of aesthetics - who doesn't love "one of those really good paintings, the velvet kind"? (I stole that quote from an obscure old film, "Eating Raoul".
Post a Comment