Budget for hoarding.
As punishment for allowing someone else to walk away with my heart’s desire, I must now go to all auctions, at all times, regardless of whether I even WANT to… it feels like a vendetta. Against myself.
I told Paul that I will now approach auctions like a military assignment; there will be no excuses for poor performance.
Paul said – I will mark the calendar: three months, bankruptcy.
I said – I doubt it will take that long.
On Saturday I reported for duty at 1100 hrs.
We were headed to an auction preview, and on the way I started explaining for the 87,496th time, how I have been unable to detach from the awareness that if not for the demon phone-bidder, I would have won those urns for a respectable price… and that this knowledge is going to drive me to attend all auctions in a 900 mile radius. No matter snow, rain, sleet, or armageddon.
Because if the person who will pay the most does not SHOW UP, they will not win. And if they do not win? It might be me.
Paul said – that sounds interesting. Is there a budget for this new undertaking?
And I made the mistake of saying – no budget. If something is good, I will just try to get it.
Turns out this is akin to telling Stalin that you are not sure if you can make the young communist’s rally— likely to generate an investigation.
We wandered around the auction and I found 47 broken things/items of gloriousness that I should bid on… none of which convinced Paul that I was not in need of guidelines or structure, because on the way home, he suggested a new policy: a monthly cap for craigslist/ auctions/ nonessential crap demanded by the acquisition troll.
Otherwise known as a budget.
UNTIL THE KITCHEN IS FINISHED.
For reasons I cannot explain, I thought that sounded reasonable… At the time.
I mean, doesn’t that SOUND reasonable?
So I agreed.
But after I thought about it for a few hours, I began to feel itchy and restricted… I wasn’t PLANNING on buying anything right at that moment, but now that I knew I was being monitored, I felt deprived.
So I went back to Paul… I explained how I do not deal well with limitations and it is always better to go on a case-by-case basis rather than placing blanket restrictions because I respond to any kind of constraints by hoarding whatever supplies I think I will need.
Paul said – well, let’s just try it this way and see how it goes… when the kitchen is finished we can go back to pure anarchy.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:04 am
I love the way your mind works. You obviously borrowed it from me!
February 18, 2015 @ 10:11 am
Pure anarchy…hilarious! Also, gorgeous dark wood bookcase find, I think it will look glorious after you’ve cleaned it up!
February 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
You really do need Paul. 🙂
February 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
Paul is a treasure. You guys are well matched.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:16 am
BUDGET? You cannot budget giant fancy awesomeness! Paul knows better. He was testing you. The kitchen cannot ever be finished without a unique and glorious piece of furniture turned island plopped in the middle of it declaring your keen eye and creative flare. (Eye roll). So, when is the next auction, trip to a Craigslist find, or other venture into the kingdom of miraculous finds sans the Acquisition Grinch? Just hire a mover to tag along.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:17 am
Hey there Vic, YOU ARE A HOOT!! I`m in the Phila area also, near Rittenhouse Sq. we MUST do lunch sometime! What do you do for a living besides restore old findings,antiquing and auctions? have a BEAUTIFUL DAY VIC! <3
February 18, 2015 @ 10:18 am
Budget ! Men! Really do they think that word will stop us!??
I adore your posts and always read more then once to catch all of your ,let’s call ambition!
Lead on friend lead on!
February 18, 2015 @ 10:25 am
How in the *bleep* did you agree to this? Was your blood sugar low? Was it right before lunch?
I am completely non-plussed.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:14 am
I really have no idea what I SHOULD have said. Aside from screaming – nooooooo… and jumping from the moving car to demonstrate the degree of my resistance.
February 18, 2015 @ 12:31 pm
Hmmm… Given the circumstances, I think that would have been a viable option.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:26 am
Slap some paint on those kitchen cabinets, state that you have decided the current “island” is fine for now, and declare the kitchen as “finished”. THEN, you will meet Paul’s restrictions and can shop Craigslist and auctions with pure abandon and no limits! When you have accumulated the items that you really wanted for your kitchen or any other fabulous things you need… you are ready to “remodel” that kitchen.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:29 am
I ONLY use the “B” word when I play Scrabble!!!
February 18, 2015 @ 10:32 am
Not sure who I like more….Paul or your commenters to funny
February 18, 2015 @ 11:01 am
$350.00…………………………for that mirror!Lets NOT go there……..
YOU did great on the small bookcase for $200.00.
I like your PLAN!!!!!!!
February 18, 2015 @ 11:11 am
We may suffer from the same genetic defect…but I think you are quite a few years behind me. I too was on the ultimate “hunt” for decades…and then you clean out an aging parent’s place (twice now) and you take pause. BUT only briefly, as there is always a “new” project. My latest was designing/building a new barn to look old and a great place for really cool barn stuff. So you see, this disease does ebb and flow. This weekend is the fabulous Renningers Antique Extravaganza (over 1500 dealers, many escaping the frozen north, spread out under acres of live oaks in lovely and warm Mt. Dora, Florida). I called one of my antiquing buddies to join me, and she told me after cleaning out her parents house this month she didn’t want to see one more old thing! Ouch. I told her I was going to get my FitBit walking steps in and just “look”.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:13 am
When my husband annoys me – I go trolling for junk. Just to spite him 🙂 If I’m really mad, I will be sure to buy something with drawers that need to be fixed.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:16 am
“””If I’m really mad, I will be sure to buy something with drawers that need to be fixed.”””” lol x 10,000
February 18, 2015 @ 11:16 am
The book case is elegant and would work in any room. Score!
February 18, 2015 @ 11:19 am
Because of the frenzy and love of excess the auctions inspire, I told my wife, “Hey, if you get in the business of selling some of this stuff, it gives you more money to buy more stuff!!” Hence, we have a warehouse full of stuff now that hasn’t been sold. The purchases continue unabated!
February 18, 2015 @ 11:45 am
apparently our porch roof and next bathroom could have been finished 1,000x if I didn’t buy two ancient plaster curly mirrors for $10 each and 30 old gas heater bricks for our heaters for $10. the idea is the same “let’s save up and get the work done” but the man in the equation always sees that savings as “let’s get a new car” or “now we can buy the whiskey collection I’ve always wanted.” nevermind. I wanted to comment, but now I think a few therapy sessions and a secret savings account would be a good way to get the porch roof finished without either of us being entirely conscious of spare thousands. cheers to safe books in your new cases.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:51 am
LOVE THE BOOKCASE!!! Anything with columns is a winner in my book – auction or otherwise.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:59 am
Paul sure is picking up on treating his darling…. But of course you’re obviously always half a step ahead. Maybe you wanna take note of some of the comments made above???? THAT wd be your ‘excuse’ if questionned later on, when said cuisine needs ‘another’ update? Good vibes coming from your devoted readers….
February 18, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
Hi Victoria,
I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re Wallis Simpson incarnate. Grand, determined, stylish, and able to turn your man into following your whim whatever the cost. Don’t pay any attention to his silly budget nonsense. We all know how this game will end.