The Bargain Basement

“Money can’t buy love, but it sure improves your bargaining position.”
-Anonymous

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I’ve started making a lot of mental notes lately, like “Oh… I should share this on the blog.” Silly things. Worthless information. But hey, who am I to judge?!

My mother and I went to a couple of thrift stores on Friday. I donated 3 or 4 boxes of stuff, and then I brought home 2 bags (spending about $40?). Not the best trade off, but I came home happy.

I’m not addicted to shopping per se, but I have a hard time turning down a bargain. I use some of the things I buy, but other stuff just sits around for months (or even years) until I’m ready to surrender to their uselessness (and return them to the thrift store).

What I do enjoy is the bragging rights these bargains offer me. “Hey, check this out… I got these jeans at the thrift store for seven bucks. These things go for like $50 brand new!”

Do they fit? Kinda sorta. Will I ever wear them? Maybe. Perhaps I can use the fabric to make a bag (another pile of stuff I have that is slowly growing).

Anyway, I find a lot of inspiration in my mental notes. Stories, illustrations, humorous anecdotes. I thought I’d start with an illustration because I wanted to do something different. Something simple.

I lost patience before I could add the table and racks outside, full of old used stuff. I’m still hurrying these days – but I’m working on that. If I ever go back to it… maybe I’ll add a Sorry We’re Closed sign on the door.

There’s a story in all of this somewhere… hidden among the things you find in a thrift store… and I may get back to that someday. Which leads me to my next – dare I say – project.

As if I didn’t have enough half-finished ideas…

Anyway. I think my story ideas usually start off pretty good (imho). They have good bones and some interesting characters.

Once the beginning is out there, however, my mind and body react like I’ve just heard the starting pistol. I feel the rush to wrap it up… and the stories never end the way I’d planned – or would have liked them to end.

So… I’m going to try something new. I’m going to start a collection of story beginnings. Maybe I’ll finish them one day, maybe I won’t. But there will be no rush. No “to be continued” clause. I’ll just let them simmer.

Kind of like my thrift store bargains, they may get some use… or they may sit around for months (or even years) until I surrender to their uselessness. Either way, I won’t be hurrying.

I think that’s all for now. I’m working on Story I of my new Beginnings collection, and an illustration to go along with it… so I’ll be back when that is done.

As always, thanks for reading/viewing.

Until next time,
Peace & Love!