on buying stuff

There is something about moving that seems to result in the acquisition of more stuff. I get rid of stuff, then I move, then I buy more stuff right after the move. It doesn't even necessarily have anything to do with the new house. It did in New York, since that was the first place I lived after I sold all my housing accoutrements and went bopping about the planet, but not really in North Platte, or here. I guess I have reached the limit of house-necessities for a place this size (except for maybe a couple of sawhorses and a door for an adjustable work table, which maybe I can get on freecycle or craigslist. oh and a frame for my diploma). In North Platte, I was externally limited by the fact that all the stores there suck. However, that didn't seem to stop me from buying plenty o' Wal-Parts crap or lots and lots of garage sale shopping.

This time around, I have been trying to limit this phenomenon, to pretty much no avail. All the stores in Omaha do not suck. With the exception of two slip-ups, however, I am keeping a good lid on buying stuff I don't need (or so I reassure myself) (except for cloth).

Weirdly and wonderfully, the most expensive thing I have been wanting for the longest time (other than a car and a house), a digital SLR, just fell in to my lap in the form of a long-term borrow--so I feel good about the temporary freeness of that. This also frees up my mental purchasing power for a sewing machine (not yet, but soon, soon, my precious) and a (I am so excited about this) digital-radio-ipod-alarm-clock. I can wake to the dulcet tones of NPR and put away clothes (a task that seems to haunt me) and sew on my future machine to the dulcet tones of whatever I want. I hope once I get the sewing machine there won't be anything else that pops up as a critical purchase.

If anybody has any sewing machine recommendations, or pos/neg opinions regarding particular features of her own machine, I'd be glad to hear them. I have an antique sewing machine now, which works ok but is very heavy and not particularly versatile. It is fine if all I want to do is sew straight seams. If I want to learn to do any fancy quilting or sew zig zag lines, as all the patterns seem to call for these days, it is not fine. I think I am going to put off the SM purchase for a while, but I'm going to work out which one it'll be in the meantime.

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test drive

Taking a bite out of JR's bagel, I took a Honda Fit out for a test drive yesterday. It was all right. It (like every other car I've ever driven, actually) can't compare to my current Honda for good-time driving, and the thing is so small that every bit of it is pretty much all in your face. Also, the car lot man insisted on going with me, and he was 6'3" (he told me), had a pretty severe limp, and looked rather uncomfortable squished into the car, which wasn't probably the best advertising. But that said, it's got ok pick-up, it'd fit me and my dog, and it'd be easy to put in small spaces. Plus maybe I could get one in this color:



I almost got out of the dealership w/o the hard-sell--but then 6'3" man's boss came over to do what needed to be done. We agreed to disagree and I'm still driving my trusty '91 civic. Maybe next time, manager man, maybe next time.

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BOGO

Mark Bent is sending one solar-charged flashlight to Ghana for every one bought through his website. (There are lots of other charities too.) The batteries have to be replaced only every two years. Here's the page for the one that's connected to Saboba's Hope in Northern Ghana. Props to G.S.T. for finding these.



. . .

gooood morning greenpoint

There's nothing like the prospect of leaving to spur anticipatory nostalgia. Greenpoint was good to me this morning. It was everything-but-the-pink-tags-half-off at the thrift store, additional success at radio shack and payless, plus I even remembered to buy thread, which I've been needing for months. All plus a tasty cappuccino and bagel+cream cheese = capitalist happiness galore.

my first airwalks since high school.


no more with the on-and-off fussy volume problems. Bert, a wee bit fussy himself, will be happy.


said thread.


$7! (a pink tag)



$2 each! for felting


$2! j. crew! for wearing



$2! banana republic! for wearing



and $2! old navy, for wearing.

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