Well shoot -- I must have forgotten to blog

I just realized that although I read blogs on a regular basis, I can't seem to do it myself -- write one, that is. So here I am trying to get in the habit again.

So, what's happened since my last blog? Hmmmmm.

Hmmmmm.


Hmmmmm.


Hmmmmm.


Maybe -- maybe that's why I don't blog regularly -- I live an unbelievably boring life. It seems complicated to me -- work & finances & dogs and stuff. But apparently I'm just fooling myself.

I sell on eBay and life there sure has become complicated -- they've jacked up the fees for us sellers, they've added some other 'features' that only serve to make life difficult for sellers. I know they're trying to keep buyers coming back, but my mother's expression comes to mind -- cutting of one's nose to spite your face.

Let me tell you -- should you ever buy something on eBay -- please give your sellers FIVE STARS when you leave feedback. eBay gives you 1-5 and describe 4 as very good and 5 as exceptional (or some such verbiage) but they don't tell you that sellers are 'punished' if all they are is very good. The placement of our ads in searches is based on those star ratings (called DSRs on eBay), they determine our fees -- if you are under 4.8 on any category you don't qualify for a fees discount, and heaven forbid you are below 4.5 they don't even let you become a powerseller. Which isn't the worst thing in the world, but in the small little narrow universe that is eBay, it's important to us.

So, sermon almost over -- please keep those things in mind when rating with those stars. They seem of small importance to buyers, but are of humongous stress & anxiety to sellers.

Okay, so I did do one weird thing -- I became a magazine salesperson. Now how weird is that? A good friend was telling me about it, and it sounded like a great idea to earn some extra money. And these days I don't need extra money -- I need rent money and gas money, and dog food money, and --- well I'm sure it's the same for everybody.

I'm building a website for them very slowly -- well I have a name, but haven't gotten too far. I do have photos:

Mandy's Mags

If you see any you'd like to order, let me know and I'll send you the details -- until I have the website ready.

So that's it for my grumble with eBay and my sales pitch (I am NOT doing magazine sales door to door -- I don't think I could take the rejection) and let's see if I can actually blog something tomorrow -- one day at a time!

In the meantime -- Happy President's Day

As the dust settles

It's been a long week, but we're at the end of it, thankfully. The skies are blue here, the wind has died down -- and although the temperatures are up, the sun sets early so the heat dissipates quickly. Thank the Good Lord!

We started cleaning up from the winds. DH and the landlord made quick work of dismantling the dog kennels from the trees where they landed. We don't use them much, but they have to be back up for the kennel inspection early next year. Then they leveled the ground a bit -- we had sand dunes that would have made Laurence of Arabia weep!

I ladled out the washing machine tub, and washed it out a few hundred times. Finally did some laundry, hung it on the line, and it dried quickly in this heat. Nice to have clean clothes again.

There is so much more to do -- but I started by cleaning the kitchen. Washed dishes, washed down counters, put the curtains in the washing machine. Made crockpot beef stroganoff in our new slow cooker -- yummy.

My boss surprised me by volunteering to work tomorrow -- and offering me first choice to work or take the day off. I chose the latter, of course. So now I have the next three days to try and accomplish all that I had planned for last week.

We've really felt Serena's absence this week. DH has had trouble adjusting to food preparation - she was such a big eater that he keeps making up too much dog food. Lexie seems much more anxious - in our house Coco and Quincy sit in the office with me, Lucy in her crate, Nellie goes back and forth between rooms - and Serena and Lexie together in the living room with DH. Without Serena, Lexie seems a bit lost. They weren't particularly close, but greyhounds seem to be comforted by other greyhounds. And, at least with my greyhounds, they NEVER seem happy alone. When Lexie is alone in the living room -- she just doesn't seem comfortable. Hopefully she'll adapt -- and we need to concentrate on paying more attention to her.
So all in all, calmness has descended.

It's time for the nightly news -- and then to bed. Have lots of eBaying to do tomorrow -- need a good night's sleep.

Well, I just can't seem to get the hang of this, can I?

I want to do this every day or every other day. Either I just live such a boring life that I can't figure out what to say, or it's too exciting to find the time to sit and write about. Okay . . . that's not true. Makes me laugh out loud just to type that last part.

So, since my last has anything earthbreaking happened? I still love my computer. I still absolutely love my monitor!

Nope, nothing has changed.

Now for the commercial . . . I've taken on two new consignment customers. A friend just closed her gift store, so she asked me to liquidate the inventory. It's been fun to have a bunch of brand new 'stuff' to list -- Willow Tree, Precious Moments, Winnie The Pooh & Friends, etc.

And another friend asked me to sell her Ford Expedition -- that isn't going to well. Nice car but only two wheel drive -- doesn't attract the buyers like a 4WD would.

And yet another person asked to sell some things for her. I love doing consignments because I learn so much about different things that I would never have contact with otherwise. Actually that's true of eBay in general -- it's amazing how much I've learned doing eBay. Things I've never even heard of.

However, specifically in this case is a surprise item. Barbie & Francie Magic Color Designer Set from 1965. When I saw it I just sort of put it in the 'do later' stack, but once I researched it a little, I moved it over into the do it today stack. It's already had tons of hits and more than a couple of bids. I was 10 in 1965, and I did have Barbie dolls -- and those black cases. But sure don't remember this one at all -

BMX Bike Track anyone?

Now here is a deal -- a great BMX track in Perris, CA for sale on eBay for a measly $80,000.

Now I'd like someone to buy this from me -- for two reasons. One, I would become an instant powerseller (so sue me, I like that little icon next to my name) and Two, it's my boss's track and she'd be downright impressed. And earning points with the boss is always good.

If I can't convince you to buy the track, how about a Hummer H2, it's only $33,000. And it really is a lovely vehicle.

This would get me points as well as that pesky power seller status.

And if those are too rich for you, then there is one more 'boss consignment' item, a green iPod -- brand new, still in box. You can pick this one up today for $75

That's it for my blatant eBay plugs for the week.

Tomorrow -- Have you finished reading Harry Potter yet?

Grand Reopening

Well I started this journeling thing in May and made two whole posts, and then stopped. I'm determined today will be the start of my regular blogging habit.

It's Monday --- one of my favorite days of the week because it's the one day I almost never have to work at the store (UPS STORE). I hate Mondays at the store, so unless it's Christmas or someone has died, I just don't work them. So Mondays are the day I try to do stuff around the house. But when it's 80+ degress in the house, it's sorta hard to be motivated. But dishes are almost all washed, and laundry is hanging from the line (love air drying laundry during the summer), so I'm counting my chores as completed.

I should be listing my wares on eBay, but so far I'm under-motivated for that. Need the money, but can't make it if I don't list. So, I'm talking myself into it.

I list a variety of things on eBay -- key blanks, keychains, books, and much more. I bought a collection of LIFE Magazines some time ago and have been slowly -- very slowly --- listing them. Interesting items -- I like to read the stories, look at the advertisements, but sitting and typing all the information into eBay is not as easy as it sounds. That along with all the other STUFF here that needs to be listed sooner rather than later makes for a crowded house needing some relief.


I hope you will check my blog again -- especially the next few which will feature my furkids -- my favorite subjects of all.