Goodwill, Badwill, Questionable-will -- Almost All Badwill!
Today's blog post shines a light on the random things that come along my path as a regular Goodwill shopper.
Like this framed "Eddie's a Freak" cross stitch piece. Perhaps Eddie wasn't a fan of this unflattering gift?
Is this . . . Eddie? If so, then I agree.
This painting caught my eye. Not because of the trees and sunset vista.
It was this character peeking out from behind the distant trees. I knew he looked familiar from somewhere . . .
Nailed it! The alien character that got Lieutenant Riker hooked on a mind control game in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that featured a young Ashley Judd.
I guess she's a muse for the very best artists.
This Betty White sock was kind of horrifying with her stretched out face. I supposed it could be less disturbing on a 3D ankle, but the 2D version is a straight up hate crime.
Seriously, what's with the double chin? SO mean.
These leftover Goodwill bins"ember" characters numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands. (There were more in another bin.) I assume they were leftover from some marketing campaign. So effing wasteful!
I was tempted to buy this vintage Laurel Burch umbrella, but I actually have a terrific umbrella that' I also picked up at that's also from a Goodwill bin, from maybe ten years ago. It's a Elizabeth Taylor perfume piece and is the best quality umbrella I've ever owned. By far.
Nice and big, never flips inside out.
I'll be so sad if I ever lose it!
I believe the weird stuffie/plush in the picture is Red Huggy Wuggy..... a very popular character with the elementary aged kids. The things I learn as a school bus driver... 🙂
Did you see President Obama on Colbert last night? For once, some uplifting TV watching!
My frugals:
-- Scrambled some of the 89 cents a dozen eggs I bought at our store, and had scrambled eggs and toast for lunch.
-- Took some mini story books I gleaned from the used bookstore freebie bin to the LFL outside the Mom and Pop breakfast place. The bookstore trashes everything after a day, but the LFL doesn't. Figure some little tykes can read their book waiting for their pancakes. Saved the books from the landfill!
-- Our city does not let us wash our cars outside except 2x a week, which does not fit my work or church attendance schedule. And also raises my water bill. Took my car to a very cheap drive-through car wash that allows you a free vacuum afterwards. While vacuuming the interior, I came into some free money -- a penny, to be exact. (I'm rich!) It was on the ground. Along with a nice-sized pencil that was still good, just needed some sharpening.
-- Got on the city government website to complain about a proposed law that would require us to buy large paper bags for yard waste instead of using the 96 gallon trash cans already provided by the city. We cannot use the former very well since, among other problems, they tear in the rain. Unsustainable and un-economical!
-- Read my bank statement and found out I have earned 3 whole cents of interest. Not 3 dollars, 3 cents. How generous of them!
True confessions time: I probably would have bought the "Eddie's a Freak" sampler as a gag gift for my own dear Eddie, aka my late DH. He'd have laughed fit to split and hung it in his bailiwick in the basement. I'd have been with you on turning thumbs down on everything else; the umbrella was actually quite nice, but the first thing I do with any umbrella is lose it. I'd rather just wear a raincoat with a hood.
And I've just come back from my first visit to my Salvation Army superstore (where all tag colors except one are 50% off on Wednesdays) in over a month. I came away with a pair of Skechers Step-Ins in excellent condition; two new pairs of black Hanes socks; a lovely Catherine 1X top for the very few formal occasions I still attend (a dressy top, a pair of black slacks, and a pair of comfy shoes are as dressed up as I get these days); six packets of seeds with a 2025 sell-by date (and I've described previously how long I can keep seeds going in the freezer); and a small lidded basket made by the Rindge basket company in NH, on which the young previous owner had scrawled his name in black crayon. (The scrawl certainly lowered the price, and I'll see what I can do about the crayon. Suggestions are welcome.) Total = $26.07.