Out with the old, in with the older — Eastlake bookcase & a video.
Even though I know that the budget is run by a sock puppet government with no real power… for some reason, rather than getting on with the overthrow, I’ve just paced back and forth in front of the embassy, muttering to myself and shaking my fists.
YOU CANNOT STOP ME FROM ACQUIRING MY THINGS.
Additionally, Paul has taken a bizarre and inflexible stance on a technicality: stating that there is no way to acquire outside funding to apply to the Craigslist Discretionary Fund (CDF).
This offends my sense of reason and acceptable-world-operation-protocol.
For weeks, I have been mulling over this affront and reminding myself that when God closes a door, he opens a window… Or at the very least gives you a small package of explosives and a crowbar.
And eventually, it came to me:
What if I sold something that I BOUGHT on Craigslist?
If it came OUT, of the realm of the CDF… MUST it then not REVERT to the realm of the CDF? Anything less would offend the laws of physics and realm-jumping!
I love science!
I went and presented my findings to Paul. He considered my Nobel Prize application, finally decreeing that indeed: I had contributed greatly to the advancement of humanity.
I think his exact words were— congratulations. If there is a loophole, you will find it.
I already sold the auction bookcase. (It sold for twice what I paid, so the auction olympics were not for nothing.) I was sad to see it go! But after measuring every spare nook in the house, I could not find another spot for it.
Plus, I JUST finished reading Stuff – compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things. (I enjoy any kind of memoir or documentation about the multitude of things that are wrong with me.) And I felt like I had a little bit of clarity that I should seize.
The clarity went like this:
It’s just STUFF… You can get rid of it.
Also, don’t worry! Soon there will be MORE STUFF.
Even if you cannot relate to an attachment to things, the Stuff book is worth reading just for the fascinating description of the Collyer twins– enormously wealthy brothers in 1890 New York City— who filled their magnificent 4-story brownstone mansion with trash. They died inside, barricaded in debris.
In just the first two days alone, the city removed 19 TONS of garbage… They had to start on the very top floor because the trash underneath was supporting the trash above.
And now I am compelled to continue the unexpected book-club-for-hoarders element of this post: I also enjoyed Kimberly Rae Miller’s account of growing up with parents who were hoarders. She writes very subtly about the experience, and without the rage that I would be flinging around if that were MY childhood.
Anyway. This is our back bedroom. The recessed area is next to a double-door closet we put in… the original closets in an old house like ours are suitable for about one pair of shoes and a handkerchief.
I replaced two smaller bookcases… this one fit all the books from both, with a shelf to spare. PLUS, it fits the space SO PERFECTLY. It’s much wider and a little taller than what I had there previously.
The old bookcases said– yeah, sure, I can hold your books… This one says BEHOLD, I am at BOOKCASE of seriousness and magnitude.
Now! I made you a video! Is it as exciting as the bed video? No. Is it more interesting than whatever you are SUPPOSED to be doing? Possibly.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:08 am
You amuse me! And, yes, the video was better than whatever I was suppose to be doing. 🙂
April 1, 2015 @ 10:10 am
I tell everybody I know to read Stuff. I thought it was fascinating!
April 1, 2015 @ 10:23 am
Yes! It was so fascinating!! I also loved the story of the modern day Collyer brothers… The guys who hoard priceless antiques/furniture/art… The descriptions of their beaux arts penthouse filled with so much priceless STUFF that you literally cannot enter pretty much summed up my entire design motto.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:11 am
I love you and just am always jaw dropped at what you find. If this was a three stooges movie, you would have fallen through the window on the stair landing, thank goodness you didn’t. Keep balling up those fists and put on a good pout and stand your need it now ground. Big hugs, Di
April 1, 2015 @ 10:11 am
I really really really love it. You did the right thing.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:12 am
That is a fabulous bookcase! I think…no, I KNOW that I am jealous! Great job!
April 1, 2015 @ 10:18 am
I had no idea those books existed! Love the video 🙂
April 1, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Okay, enough. I want to know your secrets for shopping on CL. I never see such interesting pieces on CL, and certainly not for the super bargain price of $300. I lurve eastlake. I live, sort of, in your neck of the woods, but outside your catchment area- noncompete: Baltimore, Maryland. So, please clue me in.
Love and frequently share your blog posts. You validate my perspective. always.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:23 am
SCORE! What a steal you found. I just giggle reading your blog. Love you, love your stuff. Perhaps that was the disclosure when your married Paul? lol. God bless him.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:29 am
We love reading your blog. It reminds us that there are other “crazy” folks out there. Our collection and store prove it. 🙂
Keep looking for treasures.
April 1, 2015 @ 10:32 am
Love,love,the bookcase. Love your adorable-ness. How you can make a hat and striped shirt look chic is beyond me–but most of all I love the smile and look of loving collaboration on Pauls’ face when exquisite bookcase is positioned into its predestined place. Any signs of Spring or Dalia’s yet? We have had some lovely warm dry days here in VA. and am I Happy,happy,happy! Bring on the Sunshine…………………………..
April 1, 2015 @ 10:34 am
It’s nice but it seems an unusual height like it used to have legs or more drawers?
April 1, 2015 @ 10:50 am
I’ve actually found a few identical, while searching for info about what the original hardware would have been (the one I have has drawer pulls that are clearly not original.)… there was one on eBay, has what appears to be the original hardware.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mid-1800-039-s-Eastlake-Period-2-Piece-Walnut-Bookcase-with-Burled-Walnut-Accents-/190836745363?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item2c6ec1a493&nma=true&si=trkL9np0nUBaawk1SH5XbBr%252FAQo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
April 1, 2015 @ 11:46 am
Ah ha it’s described as Eastlake Movement which is why I suppose it looks odd to me as an Englishman as I’ve never seen anything similar here.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:48 am
UK ones tend to be variations on this kind of set up http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Victorian-Oak-Bookcase-Glass-Door-Library-Bookcase-Two-Door-Bookcase-/281616472891?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4191a65b3b
April 1, 2015 @ 1:09 pm
*nods affirmative* Joe, I have an Eastlake secretary and it looked short to me too. But I have only found ones like she has in all of Google.
April 1, 2015 @ 2:04 pm
WOW! You really did get it for a bargain price!
April 1, 2015 @ 10:36 am
I love reading your posts! I also love that you shove honking huge pieces of furniture into a mini van! Maybe I could actually do that with our Subaru?…if I eliminate three cars seats and flatten out the seats? Will it work? I’m gonna try it. Your video was darling! You matched the music perfectly in your striped shirt and little hat. Your team hand shake was too funny!!
April 1, 2015 @ 10:42 am
I’m still chuckling over this post. Love the book case and the video. I will be using “sock puppet government with no real power,” as situations warrant it, as well as the ‘BEHOLD” starement. I need to read the books so I can maintain that, “I do not hoard; I collect,” so I can see if corrective action/therapy is needed. Your posts are always infinitely more interesting than what I should be doing– they are my perfect way to get some procrastination and humor into my day. Carry on…
April 1, 2015 @ 10:48 am
Glorious bookcase, and excellent way to Trade Up. The new bookcase is the coolest!
April 1, 2015 @ 10:59 am
Your sheer mass of adorableness never ceases to overwhelm me. Truly. (also madly and deeply – of course!)
Paul and his Hitlarian concepts about the Craigslist fund are creating ripples across the world. Please put a stop to it before husbands all over start clamping down on things like this. I need to purchase mass quantities of things unhindered.
Third, and most important, is how clever it is of the two of you to not show your His/Hers Jaguar convertibles on the blog, but drive an older model minivan to go pick up these astonishing purchases. It probably does save you from the price gouging you would otherwise face.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:02 am
I thought for sure you were going to add a large base to it and use it in the kitchen!
April 1, 2015 @ 11:03 am
Victoria you crack me UP every time! You have such a way with words. Are you a writer by profession (outside of your blog, of course)?
Love the new bookcase, and your video is perfect!
April 1, 2015 @ 11:08 am
I love it AND I love Elvis, not seen him for a while. I was thinking ‘How DARE she make a video showing a white cat when all I want to see is ELVIS!’ Then – there he was ! xxx He should be in every blog post please, or people (and me) will complain xxxxx
April 4, 2015 @ 12:44 am
While it may seem that Elvis is a BOY cat, because some may think Elvis is a BOY name, we are talking about VICTORIA ELIZABETH BARNES! Elvis, is, in fact, a GIRL cat, so it comes as a surprise to new readers, and followers who may have missed the comments regarding such feline femaleness, usually in reply to another comment.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:08 am
My Mother In Law is a Hoarder. Honest to goodness was on Hoarders Season 1.
I remember that my husband’s bedroom was the cleanest room in the house when he was a teenager. And his room was like a normal teenage boys bedroom. There were trails throughout the house going from room to room.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:10 am
Boy oh Boy did I need this today!!!! We are in the process of downsizing …it is not bad though, trading 1/2 of my square footage to be in a small house on the intercostal waterway in Florida. But, having a hard time figuring out what must ‘go’ of my old re-painted furniture and my never-ending projects. It is just so very wrong that I have not won the lottery so I can keep everything, oh and buy a barn. I would be allowed to hoard in there…oh that would be heaven :-)))…and Hubby and I are married 28 years, been through so much…yeah, I am not thinking we will survive this move LOL!!!!