Sunday, August 30, 2009
I hate scrolling
The registry isn't working the way I wanted. I wanted an online catalog of sorts. Then I discovered I have to put each item up separately so people don't have to scroll down so much. My memory sticks are full, my hard drive is full, and I can't find the camera cable. So, I'll put more stuff up soon! Check in, sign up, scroll down. Peace.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Vernal and Bernie--make love not war
Reading between the lines, I pick up some tension between Vernal and Bernie. In their enthusiasm to malign each other, they have sunk to taking swipes at me, each claiming to have met me through unsavory connections having to do with sex in public toilets, cross dressing, and online dating. I have never done any of those things, and I have only cross-dressed paper dolls. Some of my best friends once were transvestites, drag kings, and cross dressers, it's true. After all, some of my best friends are undercover cops. But, in the name of world peace, I would like to see Vernal and Bernie kiss and make up on the Divestiture Tour. This event will be recorded and posted on the blog and on youtube. Now, I'd like to hear from each of you that you are willing to make peace.
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ASK SANDY!
Ask Sandy! Ask me anything--I have the answer to your problems, your mysteries, and I give top drawer advice. Evidence for that is that nobody ever took my advice, and look how it turned out!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Secrets and Lyes
Here's a secret--read the comments. They're funnier than my posts. Please add to the comments! You don't have to ask for something. Say whatever you want. Anonymous asked me for something I don't even have.
Monday, August 24, 2009
New Registry Item
New Registry Item
My papers, notes, and general thoughts about things so far. Not for the faint-at-heart. No bills, canceled checks, or receipts. Guaranteed.Sunday, August 23, 2009
Why am I doing this?
Beloved friends all,
When I was in art school (1966 I think), my mother began giving me boxes of my childhood possessions that she intended to get out of her life.
I didn't much appreciate her attempts to divest herself of these last vestiges of my youth. Just because I wasn't living there didn't mean our house was no longer my primary storage space. The place where my things would always belong if I ever got so desperate as to move back home.
Now, I know how she felt. From this end of the age continuum, I get it that you can't take things with you, and sometimes people won't take 'em back. But, I want to divest myself of my overload by giving from my poor possessions to my friends. I also want people to ask for things, and I will give those things to the people who make the best case for them, in my opinion. I will post things that I want to get rid of on a reverse registry. I post what's available, you ask for what you want, and I give it to you (or a competitor with a better story or reason) during my 2010 Divestiture Tour. I'll drive it to your house, give it to you, and we'll have tea and chat.
I plan to blog about this experience while I drive around the country, divesting myself of all my excess belongings, and visiting with the lucky recipients. This will simplify my life, give me a chance to see my far flung friends, and think about the meaning of possessions, the meaning of giving them to others, and the meaning of friends.
I've never been a creative gift giver. I have a hard time figuring out what people would like to have, and at the same time I've become more aware of the importance of material things. Marx knew that material conditions dictate how well we live our lives. Most people in this world are unable to hang on to material things. Many are constrained by poverty, homelessness, wars or famine to what they can carry. The ability to keep things is a marker of class. The working classes once kept things, but commodification has devalued our possessions, making us think of them as disposable, instead of things to be taken care of, fixed, and added to the family's acquisitions. I have enough, and I'd like to redress my shabby past gift-giving ways.
So if you've read this far, I hope you will become a pin on a map, and that you will ask for something you want or let me give you something I want you to have.
Against all odds, I've held it together pretty well so far. I have my things, and my pets and friends, a place to live, a car to drive. I don't have as many of my things as I wish I had. Over the years I've gotten rid of so much by virtue of moves, and stupidly throwing good stuff away. I've lost things that can't be recovered. I eat my heart out over some of those things. I don't feel whole without them. Things like the butter dish I gave someone who asked for it because every time she saw it, it reminded her of my mother. I can't even remember who it was, only that it was someone I couldn't say no to. I wanted the dish for the same reason. But, when do I plan to be finished with the butter dish, or my other possession? I have too many things that I simply don't need anymore.
These are household things that I need less and less as time goes on. There is no one to benefit from a garage sale of my things after I'm dead, or really, to suffer the ordeal of organizing it and getting rid of a house full of my junk. I have no heirs to sick that burden on. So, I'll do as much getting rid of it as I can myself while I'm still alive to enjoy giving people stuff.
But, the best thing is that if you participate in this blog, and let me give you something and visit with you, and you write something, this is something we will all do together--me and a whole bunch of people who are mostly strangers to each other.
Your correspondent from the 2010 Divestiture Tour,
When I was in art school (1966 I think), my mother began giving me boxes of my childhood possessions that she intended to get out of her life.
I didn't much appreciate her attempts to divest herself of these last vestiges of my youth. Just because I wasn't living there didn't mean our house was no longer my primary storage space. The place where my things would always belong if I ever got so desperate as to move back home.
Now, I know how she felt. From this end of the age continuum, I get it that you can't take things with you, and sometimes people won't take 'em back. But, I want to divest myself of my overload by giving from my poor possessions to my friends. I also want people to ask for things, and I will give those things to the people who make the best case for them, in my opinion. I will post things that I want to get rid of on a reverse registry. I post what's available, you ask for what you want, and I give it to you (or a competitor with a better story or reason) during my 2010 Divestiture Tour. I'll drive it to your house, give it to you, and we'll have tea and chat.
I plan to blog about this experience while I drive around the country, divesting myself of all my excess belongings, and visiting with the lucky recipients. This will simplify my life, give me a chance to see my far flung friends, and think about the meaning of possessions, the meaning of giving them to others, and the meaning of friends.
I've never been a creative gift giver. I have a hard time figuring out what people would like to have, and at the same time I've become more aware of the importance of material things. Marx knew that material conditions dictate how well we live our lives. Most people in this world are unable to hang on to material things. Many are constrained by poverty, homelessness, wars or famine to what they can carry. The ability to keep things is a marker of class. The working classes once kept things, but commodification has devalued our possessions, making us think of them as disposable, instead of things to be taken care of, fixed, and added to the family's acquisitions. I have enough, and I'd like to redress my shabby past gift-giving ways.
So if you've read this far, I hope you will become a pin on a map, and that you will ask for something you want or let me give you something I want you to have.
Against all odds, I've held it together pretty well so far. I have my things, and my pets and friends, a place to live, a car to drive. I don't have as many of my things as I wish I had. Over the years I've gotten rid of so much by virtue of moves, and stupidly throwing good stuff away. I've lost things that can't be recovered. I eat my heart out over some of those things. I don't feel whole without them. Things like the butter dish I gave someone who asked for it because every time she saw it, it reminded her of my mother. I can't even remember who it was, only that it was someone I couldn't say no to. I wanted the dish for the same reason. But, when do I plan to be finished with the butter dish, or my other possession? I have too many things that I simply don't need anymore.
These are household things that I need less and less as time goes on. There is no one to benefit from a garage sale of my things after I'm dead, or really, to suffer the ordeal of organizing it and getting rid of a house full of my junk. I have no heirs to sick that burden on. So, I'll do as much getting rid of it as I can myself while I'm still alive to enjoy giving people stuff.
But, the best thing is that if you participate in this blog, and let me give you something and visit with you, and you write something, this is something we will all do together--me and a whole bunch of people who are mostly strangers to each other.
Your correspondent from the 2010 Divestiture Tour,
DIVESTITURE REGISTRY
ITEMS AVAILABLE
COACH BAG (or knock-off Coach Bag). I bought this bag as a Coach bag on E-bay for a Coach bag price, and sold it several years later on E-bay to a woman who claimed it was faux. I refunded her money and got it back. I don't know whether it's a real Coach bag or not. I only used it once in 2005 for Amber's wedding. If you want this bag, please post your name in the comments section and explain why you want it, and what you will do with it.
14k Gold Earrings. These belonged to Mother.
Bolo Tie. Really. Enamel with braided leather string-thing. Silver pointy things on the ends. Probably Mom bought this for Dad. Probably, he didn't use it.
Silver Jewelery Box. About 5" wide. Black velvet lining. I don't remember if I bought this, or it was a gift.
Butter churn. See the featured item section. Belonged to my mother.
Very fine 14k Gold chain. I bought it for Mom, but she didn't want it because it was too fine and she was afraid she'd break it. I guess this is for delicate people who want a subtle, spotty glimmer of gold sometimes. Not for the kind of person who thinks gold incisors look good. 
Not suitable to put a trinket, charm, or dead husband's tooth on.
COACH BAG (or knock-off Coach Bag). I bought this bag as a Coach bag on E-bay for a Coach bag price, and sold it several years later on E-bay to a woman who claimed it was faux. I refunded her money and got it back. I don't know whether it's a real Coach bag or not. I only used it once in 2005 for Amber's wedding. If you want this bag, please post your name in the comments section and explain why you want it, and what you will do with it.
14k Gold Earrings. These belonged to Mother.
Bolo Tie. Really. Enamel with braided leather string-thing. Silver pointy things on the ends. Probably Mom bought this for Dad. Probably, he didn't use it.
Silver Jewelery Box. About 5" wide. Black velvet lining. I don't remember if I bought this, or it was a gift.
Butter churn. See the featured item section. Belonged to my mother.
Very fine 14k Gold chain. I bought it for Mom, but she didn't want it because it was too fine and she was afraid she'd break it. I guess this is for delicate people who want a subtle, spotty glimmer of gold sometimes. Not for the kind of person who thinks gold incisors look good. 
Not suitable to put a trinket, charm, or dead husband's tooth on.To Start With
During the summer break in 2010 I plan a 50-state tour. The purpose is to get rid of a lifetime of things I've acquired that I won't need in old age. Rather than trust the fates to give people what I want them to have, I will do it before I die. Best yet--it's all junk, but junk with stories.
Get With It
Okay, some of you seem to be missing the point here. I expect to at least outlive the dogs, who are old and middle-aged. On that note, it surprises me that no one spoke for Jack, who is the best of the lot. I don't plan to give away things I need and use in everyday life, either. I'm going to give away the things that clutter my life and that I don't NEED to do my job and function. I need the dogs. However, should I die before the dogs do, Lillie and Eddie will go to their respective soul mates. It also does little practical good to ask for things I only wish I had. To be fair, though, I'm so glad no one has asked for my car so far.
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