Junk of the Week #14

Picture Frame - $0.25
"20th Century Ghosts" Hardcover by Joe Hill - $3.00
"Heart-Shaped Box" Hardcover by Joe Hill - $1.00


Not much in the way of yard sales this week, it looked like rain all day. All I bought was the pop-out picture frame for a quarter. I bought it at an "estate sale" that was really just an indoor yard sale but was really starting to run out of stuff. It was this older house in town in Mechanicsburg, but it was kind of creepy in a weird way I can't quite describe. Maybe just because it was older. Like it had a fireplace in the kitchen kind of old. I went upstairs to see the bed they had for sale, mostly as an excuse to look around. The place didn't look like it was broken into apartments, but there was a whole separate kitchen upstairs, and that really freaked me out, again for some reason I can't quite explain.

Anyway, somehow this experience led me to realize I never included these books by Joe Hill I bought on eBay about two weeks ago, so I thought I'd add them here to make this entry a little more interesting. To me, anyway, and since I'm probably the only one who reads this stuff my interest is all that matters.

I already had these books in paperback, but after organizing my shelves I decided I wanted them in hardback for my horror library, and I found them both on eBay for very reasonable prices, even including the shipping. Both ended up costing less than their paperback editions did new at Borders.

For anyone who doesn't know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son and a fantastic horror author. "Twentieth Century Ghosts" is a very nicely mixed short story compilation, and his first novel, "Heart-Shaped Box" is a great read, creepy and chilling with great pacing and very strong characterization. I believe his next novel, "Horns" is to be released in February of next year. Can't wait. Check out his website... www.joehillfiction.com

There is a back issue sale coming up at Comix Connection next month where I'm hoping I can pick up some issues of his comic series, "Lock & Key" which is supposed to be very good.

So I guess I have a Joe Hill collection now, too. I hope it has as many books as my collection of his dad's work someday, he's pretty awesome.

That's really all I've got this week.

Junk of the Week #13

Ceramic Christmas Candle Holder - Free
Bamboo Patio Lights - Free
Blue Sketch Book - Free
Stamp Brush Markers - Free
Glue Stick - Free
Mardi Gras Mask - Free
Marvin the Martian Frame - Free
Red Glass Candle Plate - Free
Vintage Baron Poker Chips - Free
Poker Bucket and Accessories - Free
Coke Tin w. Two Playing Card Decks - Free
Jack Daniels Flask - Free

"Dark Hollow" Paperback by Brian Keene - $0.25
Plate Holder - $0.75
Camp Blanket - $0.25

Find of the Week:
1957 Polaroid 800 Land Camera with Original Case and Accessories - $4.00


Hell yeah, now that's more like it. I was starting to think about not going out this week but I'm definitely glad that I did. What a nice haul.

Came across a great batch of free boxes early on, obviously. It looks like stuff that didn't move at a previous sale. A lot still has price tags on. A lot of neat little stuff. That's a really nice sketch book, I don't think it was used at all, there are a lot of pages left. I'm not sure where the patio lights are going to go, but they're so neat. I was gonna buy some of these new at Target last summer but then didn't. I'm not sure why I picked up the poker stuff, I don't play, don't care to play, but it's neat stuff. Maybe I'll find someone to give it to at Christmas time.

The blanket and plate holder I bought from a lady with a pet chicken who gave me both for a dollar. I had just said three days ago I needed another camp blanket for, well, camping. In the meantime it will cover up the ugly office chair at my craft table in the office quite nicely.

"Dark Hollow" is an excellent horror novel (originally published as "The Rutting Season" I believe) by Brian Keene, a local author that my cousin is a huge fan of. I borrowed her copy of the book back at Christmas time and really liked it, though it has a bit more sex and gore than I'm used to. Anyway, for a quarter I now have my own copy for my library. Next time he's at Comix Connection I have something to get signed.

And finally, holy crap. Look at that Polaroid camera. That thing is huge. And unbelievably awesome. I think somebody bought this camera in the late 1950's, messed with it a little, and than never touched it again. The books are all there, the registration card is there and was never completed, plus two rolls of film and other stuff. I just cannot believe I only paid $4 for this. If this had been at flea market it would've been $50 at least. I have a Polaroid Highlander camera that is smaller than this that I paid $25 for at an antiques shop in Reno, and while it's a more attractive camera it's barely half the size of this one. Four damn dollars. It boggles the mind.

I can't wait till I have a large enough home to better display my cameras. This one is really too big to go anywhere I have available now, but at least I have the case to keep it safe.

Well, that's it. I feel much better after this week's haul, I guess I'll stick it out the rest of the season.

Junk of the Week #12

$1.00 Rummage Sale Bag (that my uncle paid for):
Sunflower Shelf Paper
Sunflower Wallpaper Border
Mini Picture Frame
Stand-up Plastic Page Holder
Christmas Mouse Stoking Holder
Mini Whisk
"Firestarter" Paperback by Stephen King
"The New Good Housekeeping Cook Book"
Vintage 1960's Diana-F "Toy" Camera w. Box


Blah. Another sad, slow week. If not for the rummage sale on the way home I wouldn't have ended up with anything at all. Though there's some good stuff here. That's one big ass cookbook, and when I can afford to buy food again I'm gonna take it on. That's my fourth copy of "Firestarter" if anyone was wondering. I just picked the Diana camera up on a whim, it's not particularly attractive but, you know, I've got a collection. Turns out after doing some research on eBay these so-called "toy" cameras have a cult following and tend to sell for $40 to $50 or so. Which means that I got a really good deal and that makes me happy.

Besides the books, everything else is just stuff I thought I might be able to use at some point. It was basically free, so whatever. There really wasn't much left, we happened by about half an hour before they were shutting down.

Not much else to say about this.

Junk of the Week #11

Ceramic Ghost - $.50
Mouse in Apple Basket - Paid for by my uncle
Ceramic Fox - $.50
Corning Ware Baking Dish - Paid for by my mom


I'm surprised I ended up with anything at all for this week's Junk entry. I'm even more surprised by how nice the things I ended up with are.

I had my own yard sale at my sister's house Friday and Saturday, and it turns out the people two houses down were having one, too. They had so much nice stuff. If I had any actual income right now I probably would've bought more. They had a lot of these ceramic Halloween decorations that I just love, and some nice kitchenware and tons of ceramic animals. Everything here came from that one sale and it's a better haul than the last couple weeks of spending hours running all over looking for junk.

We really didn't get much in the way of yard sale traffic, I only made about $17 between the two days, though my stuff is priced pretty low. The objective was more getting it gone than raking it in. If that makes sense. I should have advertised, but I'm cheap. I really thought we'd see more people, the mall is right around the corner. I'll make more signs next time. I'm trying again at my mom's house in about two weeks or so. My mom was cool enough to let me leave the rest of my stuff in her dining room till then.

Anyway. I love Halloween decorations, especially ones that you can put lights/candles in like this ghost. I can't believe it was only fifty cents. It's about nine inches tall and is instantly my favorite Halloween piece. Only problem is that my Halloween/Fall decoration tote is as full as it can get, so I'll have to find somewhere else to keep it that will be safe and still accessible. I can't wait for October.

The mouse is one my uncle picked out for me while my back was turned for a nicely progressing collection. I started out just collecting Christmas mice, but I like these little regular ones, too. The only problem with this collection is that it really doesn't fit with much else in my apartment so eventually they're going to need their own shelf somewhere. ::sigh:: I need a bigger place.

The Corning Ware casserole dish is about half the size of the other one like it that I already have, which should make it easier for me to make things in smaller portions. I always get sick of the leftovers before I finish them off, and this is not a good time to be wasteful with anything like that.

Finally, there's the adorable little fox. I tried not to buy it, I really did. I saw it Friday but passed it over and ended up thinking about it all day. The next day I walked back down with my mom and uncle, and passed it over again. I really wanted it but I've been trying so hard to get rid of things and make space, I don't want to fill it all back up again so soon. But they started packing up and at the last second I totally cracked and went back for it. If I hadn't bought the thing it would've haunted me. It's happened before. Last time it was a vintage fondue set. Ah, the road not traveled...

Well, that's it for this week. I don't know if I'm going out much next week, I have to dog-sit most of the day Saturday, so we'll see if I find anything on my way. Later.