July 26, 2009, new epier listings

These are the two items I placed on epier on Sunday, July 26:

December 1992 Betsy McCall paper dolls
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1941794

Mattel Hot Looks Polka Dot Party Dress
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1941792

July 19, 2009, new epier listings

These are the two items I placed on epier this morning, July 19:

1994 Surf Style jacket one size
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1939621

1961 #931 Barbie Garden Party dress one shoe
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1939620

saturday night television

This summer, for the first time in I-don't-know-how-many years, I am watching all new network programming from 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturday nights. What a novelty!

How nice it is to see something on OTA TV on Saturday besides procedurals reruns and movies I've already seen!

Since June, I've been watching Kings on NBC at 8, Harper's Island at 9 on CBS and Pushing Daisies/Eli Stone/(and Dirty Sexy Money beginning July 1 at 10 on ABC. I watch the more quirky series, the ones that are inevitably short-lived. I don't watch procedurals or reality TV.

All of the above programs bombed at their original airtimes and got relegated to the dead zone on Saturday night, but it's been only in the past seven or eight years that Saturday night got turned into a dead zone. There used to be new series that night--it was that way for 50 years!

I have to wonder if the more quirky series would do better on Saturdays to begin with. Several reasons: One is that ANYTHING has to be better than what is being shown currently. Secondly, the odder, less mainstream shows wouldn't be up against their more popular competition--the drivel that is on the other six nights on the OTA networks. Also, since these shows are taped/recorded for later viewing so much more often than other types of shows, and because I suspect the persons taping them on watching them on Saturday night anyway, wouldn't it make sense for them to be there all the time? And, yes, viewers like myself who like these types of shows are often home on Saturday nights.*

As for the shows themselves, Kings was much more enjoyable than its first few episodes, and I didn't care for Pushing Daisies. I loved Eli and am glad the remaining episodes were shown, rather than leaving viewers hanging forever wondering what happened. Harper's Island was interesting, but way too violent.

*You're probably thinking that only geeks and losers who watch odder series are home alone because they have nothing better to do on Saturday night. Did it ever occur to you that we're out other nights of the week, and that maybe it's our choice to stay home sometimes?

July 12, 2009, new epier listings

1989 Kenner Always Sisters #1937542 stretch pants MIB
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1937542

May June 1989 Barbie Bazaar
http://www.epier.com/biddingform.asp?1937551

2001 Polaroid catalog
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm.asp?1937563

What if you have money--and there's nothing to buy?

What if you have some extra money and time--you want to spend it, and keep the economy moving--but businesses don't have what you want? Yes, I'm saving my money, but not for the reasons everyone else is. I was even on vacation and out of town for several days!
In the past two weeks, this is what I've observed/had happened to me.
Saturday, June 27. In the evening, I drove to Springfield, Ohio, to spend two nights at a hotel there.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, June 28, 29 and 30. I went to the antique show at the Clark County Fairgrounds, and then to the three antique malls east of Springfield. THOSE places WEREN'T the problem. I found plenty to spend my money on at all four locations, and in fact wish I had had more money than I owned (and the space to put stuff). Wanted to eat at least one meal at Cracker Barrel next door to the hotel, but the restaurant was packed and I didn't want to wait!
Tuesday, June 30. Drove to Washington Court House to spend the day at the outlet mall, plus overnight at a nearby hotel. My disgust at my second trip up there this year and the lack of wearable clothing for sale (not just there, but every mall) has been written about elsewhere.
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 30 and July 1. On the way down we stopped at the little outlet mall in Carrollton, Ky. No shoes or slacks of any interest there, although I did buy two pairs of shorts. Mom and I went to Horseshoe Casino in New Albany, Indiana. No trouble blowing money there! In fact, the hotel didn't charge us for our night because of some special deal my mom found!
Thursday, July 2. Took a late afternoon bus to downtown Cincinnati planning to stay late because I figured lots of people would be in town, and I could enjoy the Thursday night band that plays on Fountain Square. I wanted to go CVS, the library, Macy's, Saxony Imports and the shoe store in Tower Place. Discovered that the library closes at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Discovered that Saxony is closed indefinitely, and probably going out of business. Discovered that because of the holiday weekend, there was no Thursday night music. Discovered that no one came into town for the weekend, because by 6:30 p.m. the city was getting deserted. None of the shoes fit right*. Bought some jewelry at Macy's, but have purchased no clothing there for months.
Saturday, July 4. A friend and I did our annual trip to the movies that night. In past years, we've gone to the early evening show, then went to to a mid-price-range restaurant after the movie, because lots of people are out late that evening. After the movie (after 9:30 p.m.), Pizza Hut in Dent was open only for carryout, Buffalo Mike's was closed, and Dent Skyline was closed. Dent Wendy's Drive-Thru was open, but that was it. We didn't want that, so we left and went home. I noticed a lot of cars pulling into the parking lots, following us, whose drivers had the same idea as we did, and driving away as we did.
Sunday, July 5. Normally I love the antique show at Dearborn County Fairgrounds, but there was little to buy there that weekend, even though a lot of dealers were set up.
Thursday, July 9. Tried to go to a movie at Danbarry Western Hills, but something happened to the movie I wanted to see, so the theater wasn't showing it. Went home.
*I've tried on shoes at Western Hills Dillard's, downtown Macy's and the Tower Place shoe store. I'm looking for a pair to match a dress I bought two months ago. Either they don't have any black strappy low heeled sandals to match the dress, or if they do, they're out of the size I need. I've seen a ton of black strappy sandals with 5-inch spike heels, but unless you're a masochist wanting to break both ankles and knees, no one wears those things.
I DID finally find a pair of lightweight light-colored, semi-dressy, larger sized women's slack at Kenwood Dillard's. Even though they were exorbitantly priced, I bought them, because they were probably the only such pair in existence.
So that's been my two weeks of shopping, and I won't go any more. Not necessary to wait for end-of-season clearance sales, because there will be nothing to buy then.
And because there wasn't anything decent to buy last fall or winter, I suspect there won't be again this year. It's pretty obvious by now that not only are clothing manucturers producing less product, and stores stocking less product, the other way that they are cutting costs is by producing/selling merchandise that turns out to be unwearable.

July 5, 2009, new epier listings

I placed two items for sale on epier today, one of them kind of unusual:

Kenner Strawberry Shortcake friend Raspberry Tart unpainted face, plus two pairs hose:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?1935553

1989 Barbie friend Cool Times Teresa NRFB:
http://www.epier.com/BiddingForm_edit.asp?1935554