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 @ 11:19 am
Love this post and how it came to be……….beautiful furniture finds, im so jealous…………..Paul, what a guy…. (I would have to figure out how to either hide such a piece or make up some story that would keep my critiquing husband quiet!) the video was so amusing, i thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
April 1, 2015 @ 11:21 am
Is it just me, or does Paul bear a strong resemblance to Don Draper? Freeze the video at 00:03, 00:06 and 00:24. Paul smiles; DD, not so much with the smiles. And no way would DD haul furniture in his minivan. Keep Paul. (That would make a great t-shirt, ala “Save Ferris”.)
April 1, 2015 @ 1:17 pm
Totally like DD specially at 00:24. Luckiest girl in the world. gorgeous furniture she paid far less than full retail for and married to DD…well… he got a bargain TOO now didn’t he?
April 4, 2015 @ 12:50 am
Loving the DD references and the bargain talk. But I suspect Paul will come out on the short end of the bargain train, as he is greatly (save the dreaded budget maxim) outmatched with our Ms VEB! Lol! 😉
April 1, 2015 @ 11:31 am
I couldn’t make the video run smoothly and since I’m at work I have to wait until I get home to watch it. I love the new piece. Why don’t you consider opening a store where you can buy to stock the store, and keep the finds you love? Makes sense to me! 🙂 I saw enough of the video to know that Elvis was helping with the move.
xo,
Karen
April 1, 2015 @ 11:34 am
This was awesome. thank-you for sharing. You are very strong for such a tiny lady.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:34 am
No wonder you love this bookcase, it has a CROWN!
Also, I think Paul should get a dolly for his next birthday/anniversary. I’m pretty sure it is actually what he wants.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:35 am
You have every skill I desire! The ability to search and find, trade out, convince husband it is the best, ready auto and supplies for new piece, tag along to pick up said item, able to lift the item with him out of auto and carry up the stairs,all while recording a video, put music into video, actually put the new item into the house, remove the old, fill up the new item. Smile, look darling, and cheer one another on in video. In spare time read and keep the house clean. Yep…pretty darn near perfection going on there in my estimation. Oh..the humor… The best!
Good for you, thanks for the inspiration! Happy Easter week. jody
April 1, 2015 @ 11:43 am
Must say, your posts I will run and hide in the bathroom to read upon receipt! (at home business with the Big Guy and I can’t be seen not pulling my own weight) Anyhoo, I’ve had to rachet down the CL passion for work as a big, big order came thru. I must say, I am sooo upset that I missed this beyond amazing, beyond gorgeous, most wonderful bookcase…like the bed from Hagerstown, for which I waffled one day too long, you got that most coveted (well would have been had I been surfing CL) item to be had. Well, congrats on a most wonderful score, thanks for the added video and don’t give up the van! from a reader who is in awe of your wit and chutzpah
April 1, 2015 @ 11:46 am
I so needed to watch your video!! In the background here, the Guy-who-thinks-he’s-the-boss-of-me aka my husband, was having a video conference with his colleagues and even though I was many rooms away from him, I had to have my headphones on! I love your financial strategies for important purchases!
April 1, 2015 @ 11:47 am
Whatever did we do for fun before Craigslist??!! I loved the first bookcase, but this one is stunning and fits that space perfectly. I cannot believe you helped carry that heavy thing up all those steps! But I did all of that too when I was as young as you are. That man of yours is def a keeper!
April 1, 2015 @ 11:53 am
I sit here mortified that you were the buyer of this most excellent bookcase in the history of books. I could have been the buyer, had I been more diligent with my Craigslist stalking. UGH! On another note, your video was quite amusing. Definitely better than working.
April 1, 2015 @ 11:53 am
Now, I know I’m missing the point, which is how stunning (SERIOUSLY) that new bookcase is. But I want to assure you that I have gotten it (although I, too, briefly hoped that the new bookcase was destined to be part of the kitchen. Maybe a surprise twist is coming?).
But I am most stuck on the loophole you found. I am a lawyer, and fascinated by loopholes. Also, from what I understand of forensic accounting, your reasoning is flawless. But it doesn’t sound to me as though you actually USED the loophole. You just sold on Craigslist a bookcase you bought at auction; that wouldn’t add to the Fund because it wasn’t purchased on Craigslist. Then, you bought something else on Craigslist, which it appears you haven’t sold, but rather, have put in the guest room. That’s obviously an excellent choice, but I’m still seeing depletion of the Fund with no replenishment. Perhaps that will be explained in the next post?
But the suspense is killing me. I’m not sure I can wait that long.
April 1, 2015 @ 12:03 pm
Funny! I noticed your husband makes you walk backwards when lifting and moving heavy furniture. My husband does the same thing. You have the best “finds” ever. Love your blog.
April 1, 2015 @ 12:07 pm
Perfect black and white striped shirt for the background music in the video and the video. Love the new bigger and better bookcase and thanks for the thump on the head that “it’s all just stuff.” Happy Easter
April 1, 2015 @ 12:14 pm
You are the greatest! All bookshelves should have glass doors. Why don’t they???
April 1, 2015 @ 12:18 pm
Love the bookcase, love the video, LOVE the hat! But am not sharing a link to this post with a friend in the States because she too will love the hat, be instantly disappointed with the one I just made her (and have already shipped to the US, Pam, if you’re somehow reading this!), and insist I keep trying until hers looks just like yours. (Which looks like the crochet pattern I used, btw, it’s just too bad my crocheting didn’t manage to get that smart roll thingie as well as yours does).
Seriously, it must have been a difficult decision to give up the auction bookcase. But wow-wow-wow does the new one work!
April 1, 2015 @ 12:29 pm
Def more interesting than what I am SUPPOSEDLY to be doing.
April 1, 2015 @ 12:48 pm
Neither you nor me are hoarders, because the house is clean and there are lots of spaces yet to fill, and there isn’t crud all over all the floors. My spare bedroom may be up to the ceiling with heaped furniture but occasionally some of it leaves the building. I think I actually have doll’s house syndrome, where all the rooms are rearranged and played with, daily.
April 1, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
It looks like plenty of room to move up to an even larger size when the occasion arises. Always a good thing.
April 1, 2015 @ 1:44 pm
I agree with Cynthia’s comment. I’m so jealous of your ability to find fantastic CL things that quietly proclaim BEHOLD. I’m in the Houston area. I’ve tried search terms like “fantastic”, “ornate”, “gorgeous”, “fancy”, “lovely”, “huge”. I’ve tried those terms by themselves, and combined with others such as “antique”, “classic”, “old”, “traditional”, “architectural”. I’ve never struck the jackpot with anything so gotta-have-it as the Kingdom Mirror, or your newest lovely bookcase. So please consider a future post on your techniques, your mantras, your magic castings… clue us in on whatever it takes. Just think, you could have Acolytes!
April 1, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
Okay, so when are you going to sign up for “Antiques Roadshow?” I always love the stories about how some of the priceless old treasures were acquired (“my mother bought this painting for 25 cents at a garage sale”), and I imagine you would be able to provide one of the best back stories yet!