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 @ 12:05 pm
I like the piece you bought, will that go in the kitchen? I could see if filled with kitchen stuff. Auctions look like fun, dangerous fun, but fun all the same.
xo,
Karen
February 18, 2015 @ 1:04 pm
I can hardly wait for the updates. The real joy (and laughter) is definitely in the journey!
February 18, 2015 @ 1:19 pm
Hi Victoria,
I asked my husband to read your posts so he could understand me, as I am a kindred spirit to you in thought and deed. Well, he did read one post, and I watched his expression as he read so I could see the knowledge seep into his brain. Alas, no knowledge was forthcoming; the only expression on his face was blank incomprehension. Is this how Paul looks when you explain things to him? And, by the way, could you stop posting your adventures until I recover from asthma? So difficult to laugh hysterically and breathe at the same time.
February 18, 2015 @ 1:24 pm
Bookcase looks intriguing and can’t wait to see how it turns out. I am inspired to look around for auctions in my area now too.
February 18, 2015 @ 1:34 pm
You are a breath of sunshine! Your posts brighten my day and Paul must be one in a million.
Sherry
February 18, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
If you don’t understand anarchy, you are part of the problem.
February 18, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
“Pure anarchy” that is how I should describe my budgeting.
February 18, 2015 @ 3:48 pm
I love your post. It nice to know there’s another person who thinks like me!
It’s’ a joy to read your blog.
February 18, 2015 @ 4:29 pm
I know you know this, but your husband is in the Epic Win category.
February 18, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
I enjoy this blog so much. Your writing style seems to be matching my patterns of thinking most of the time nowadays. Especially the desire to hoard large, shiny objects like a pixie. I love the cabinet that you bought and I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
February 18, 2015 @ 8:52 pm
Paul needs his version of this blog. A he said-she said type, with the topic of each one the same. Would be so hysterical.
February 18, 2015 @ 11:45 pm
Brilliant Suggestion! I can’t believe Virginia would have paired with anyone not equal to her in Wit and Repartee so his debate skills must be awe inspiring, of course I have a suspicion that Victoria thinks of herself more as “She who must be obeyed” or at least placated rather than someone who tolerates debate when the various Trolls that skulk through the endless corridors of her imagination are afoot with dreams of gilded Palaces and Huge Victorian Mansions. P.S. to Paul, I have googled many of the finds of your lovely Wife and I can assure you she has decorated your Home with treasures that list for tens of thousands of dollars so Budget wise she maybe the “Secretariat” of the decorating world.
February 18, 2015 @ 9:10 pm
In all seriousness, one thing you have to watch for in auctions is the possibility you are bidding against no one. The possibility exists the person on the phone wasn’t a real bidder. Auction houses are not always, ahem, honest. Just saying.
February 19, 2015 @ 2:39 pm
Plus, the auction I attend most weeks has an “in-house” bidder that sits in the front. Many folks don’t know this, and he bids up items that are owned by the auction house. At some auctions, there are pickers that bit up their own items. Seen this going on for 30 years.
February 18, 2015 @ 10:44 pm
Hi all, here’s an auction I like in Bucks County, PA!
JPandurAuction.com
February 18, 2015 @ 11:20 pm
There was a heavy, antique linen tablecloth which I came upon in Budapest, maybe fifteen years ago, that I can still feel the weight of in my hands. I held back on spending a hundred dollars for it, but remember it well. Haven’t seen anything like it since…
February 19, 2015 @ 6:13 am
Your budget seems completely sane to me…your auction purchase looks fabulous and I can’t wait to see what you do with it…
February 19, 2015 @ 7:05 am
As it relates to budget restrictions imposed… In the heat of the moment at the time of really wanting a fancy thing you could gently remind Paul that when wallets get slammed shut that sometimes vaginas do the same thing in recourse… I can’t explain it… It’s biological.
February 19, 2015 @ 11:23 am
Budget? Does that mean if you don’t find any treasures this month, you get double the budget next month? Sounds fair to me! Of course, there is always the “I know it is over the budget, but where in the world could we find another (fill in the blank) like this for THAT price?”
Sometimes I go months and don’t find anything on Craigslist. Last month I found three fabulous listings. One, a 2 hour drive away, was a gorgeous Victorian hutch ($100.00) with very minor damage for the age (and you really have to search for it), Two, 6 pieces of vintage metal lawn furniture ($100.00) and Three, 2 five foot tall pedestals that need work, but they were only $25.00….for both!
February 19, 2015 @ 11:25 am
Oops…sorry, that was TEN pieces of vintage metal lawn furniture. I forgot the side tables!
Also found an awesome Venetian mirror, but someone beat me to it!
February 23, 2015 @ 5:13 pm
My favorite kitchen island/bar: http://easternshore.craigslist.org/fud/4890886603.html
Sadly it’s painted and distressed, but it is still a great piece to work around. It’s in Delaware, but I guess awesome furniture is worth the drive (like your awesome bed).
February 24, 2015 @ 3:21 pm
I second its awesomeness. Great find!
February 24, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
If raccoon brain and glitter trolls aren’t fed on a regular basis, they get feral, just sayin’.
August 21, 2015 @ 8:24 pm
It’s always the stuff you did not buy that you regret, not what you did. You can always get rid of stuff. Selling stuff is a myth. Even some really cool stuff, to you, sometimes won’t budge.
What are the deep childhood issues? I may have them too but I am too busy hunting for great loot! Can you say obsession?