Thrifting, etc.

I have been scouring thrift stores for years and years (and for less years, estate sales), refining my taste in design, establishing my likes and dislikes and indulging my tightwad nature. It turns out I'm a mid-century modern kind of gal, with trips into the late 1960s and early 1970s. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find anything from these eras at thrift stores, though estate sales still deliver. It's somewhat frightening to find that thrift stores are now full of items from the 1980s and on.

I drive past four thrift stores nearly every day on the way to and from work and I rarely stop. In fact, while I've been to the stores on numerous occasions, I've only stopped once after work. Today, however, I got what I call my Thrift Store Feeling and I was compelled to stop at the Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul stores. I wasn't disappointed. At Goodwill I found these three glasses. I wish there had been more. I love their classic gold and black designs.


That was it for Goodwill so I headed across Forest Park Parkway to hit St. Vincent de Paul. I soon came across not one, not two, but THREE vintage tablecloths at only $2 each. They were folded and bound so I couldn't check for damage, but I figured the cheap price made it okay. Turns out all three are nearly perfect. First, the Iris one:


Then the bandana-like, medallion cloth:


Finally, the tulip tablecloth. I love the heavy black accents on this one.


And then I found something that may lead to an obsession of searching. This adorable little sugar bowl in the Calico Leaves pattern is by Peter Terris. I now feel I MUST find the sweet wooden lid that should go with it, not to mention the matching cream pitcher. This design is so beautifully natural and yet so modern/abstract that it epitomizes what I love about mid-century design. A little research told me that this pattern was retired in 1957.


As for as anything else goes, I had a rather uneventful weekend. When I wasn't working I was mostly just hanging out doing a lot of nothing. After work yesterday I convinced Steve to attempt some laptop assholery with me. Frustrated by the apparent Sunday afternoon off that independent coffee shops take, we ended up at Soulard Coffee Garden. I had asked Michael to join us, but after a couple calls and some texts, he declined. Unfortunately, at SCG, the free wi-fi did not extend to their back patio, which was the precise reason I wanted to go to a coffee house -- the weather was gorgeous. We stayed for a little while (should've brought a book like Steve) until I became so sleepy I needed to go home (attributed both to my early work day and this sugar filled goodness called a millionaire bar that I ate) . After a very short nap I woke up hankering for a movie and we decided on "Hancock" at the Moolah. Again, I invited Michael, but he didn't show after texting that he would probably come. I also extended an invitation to Dana and Roy but they were preparing to head to the Fox to see Al Green. So on the leather couch it was just me, Steve, our giant bag of popcorn and a delightful bottle of pinot grigio. Who knew I loved Will Smith so much?

Tomorrow we have our store meeting with HR and district folks. Who knows if we'll hear about our individual fates...

No clever lyrics. Just "Hooray for Roy!"

Today Roy delivered my next wave of laptop action: a darling little pre-loved iBook G4. I was only a little sad about giving up my blueberry; she was just too slow for my needs and my Xtube habit could only be indulged on Steve's laptop (and, fine, I couldn't even watch cute cats on Youtube with it). And while cute and behandled, the blueberry was really heavy and a little unwieldy. This G4 is so white and compact and the apple on the lid glows! I think I'm going to love it. In fact, I probably already do. I can watch video now and, so far, it doesn't take minutes to do things that should take seconds.

So, again, Hooray for Roy!

One of these mornings/You're going to rise up singing/Then you'll spread your wings/And you'll take to the sky

Laptop Assholery, Part 3

Another Thursday has dawned with both Steve and I sharing a day off so I suggested we have another day (or at least morning) of laptop assholery. Since Michael is unavailable and working, we are ensconced at Park Avenue Coffee in Lafayette Square. You see, we can't come here with Michael because he has slept with someone who works here. One supposes it didn't turn out well, or perhaps he neglected to offer the poor fellow the obligatory slice of get-lost pizza upon parting. Whatever the reason, we're here at the home of 700 different flavors of gooey butter cake. They also have a Help Wanted sign posted. More on that later...

Walking up Park Avenue, we passed the house right next door to Arcelia's. I don't often have house or property envy (what's the point?) but we heard voices and laughter coming from the lush sideyard patio of the house and peeked in. Already absolutely envious of party sounds at 9:30 in the a.m., I seethed at the sight of a giant, gorgeous scarlet macaw perched on the elevated deck. At least it wasn't a hyacinth macaw -- I might have staged a coup...or at least invited ourselves in.

A celebrity of sorts came in for an Americano while we've sat here. Although not as glamorous as the Cardinal who frequents our store, a local TV reporter has some cache. By the way, both of these guys look better in person.

A week or so ago, my [very big corporate] employer announced the impending closing of 600 of its stores in the US. Steve shared the bad news that the newspaper reported 70% of the doomed stores were opened in the last year and were in close proximity to another location. So we held our breath, hoping for the best. On Tuesday, we got the bad news -- our beautiful, comfy, brand new, built to order store is closing. At this point we have only a vague idea when we're closing (sometime between August and March), and no idea whether or not we will have jobs. Of course, if we are offered another job it will be at a different location and will separate us. While I know that my paycheck and the cheap insurance are very important aspects of my job, all I could think of is that I won't have Michael by my side, getting me through my work days. We have a meeting with HR on Tuesday, so I suppose we'll know more after that. Or not. Having gone through this whole sort of thing too recently at May Company, I can only be pessimistic about the Man's dedication to the ground level workforce. Honestly, I can't believe I'm going through this again. I really don't want to think about it. But because I don't want to lose what little seniority I have, plus my insurance, I do need to wait and see what's offered before I look elsewhere.

Oh, and to add to Bad News Tuesday, I have apparently overestimated my value (and/or my DJ skills) to the community radio station with which I've been involved for many years. I'm ready to resume my radio show (which I've had for more years than not since 1989 or so) and have been standing by for some changes to open up a slot. But rather than being offered the prime, high profile slot I thought (and I was not alone in this thinking) I was getting, it was just mentioned as a possibility, though not as strong a possibility as two other slots, one of which was just plain insulting to even consider. The other is too conflicting with my work schedule (assuming I have a work schedule), but that didn't seem to make an impression. Again, more wait and see.

Doesn't anyone understand just how much I hate wait and see situations? *Sigh*

Now I have to figure out how to spend the rest of my day. Steve's going to lunch with his mom and I'm heading to Trader Joe's for cheap wine and whatever else strikes my fancy. Maybe a detour to Target for something cute to wear. After that, who knows? I have work early early tomorrow (but with Michael, so, yay!) so it won't be a late night. Gotta figure out something good to cook...

Cause I heard it in the wind/And I saw it in the sky/And I thought it was the end/And I thought it was the 4th of July

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Laptop Assholes

I can't believe I forgot to mention that the previous post was written in the lovely confines of 6 North again. Steve and I shared another day off today and I had initially suggested a trip to the pool. Since the day dawned cloudy with threats of storms, we decided not to waste the money on pool admission. I suggested a day of laptop assholery at the coffee shop instead and he agreed. We got there around 10am and I got my croissant, iced latte and Steve's chai from a rather stupid and unhelpful girl. Quite unlike the baristas on my first trip with Michael. We got ourselves nice and comfy and I took a chance and called Michael to see if he wanted to be an asshole with us. Happily, he agreed and showed up about 45 minutes later. We ended up staying for almost five hours and it was a lot of fun. Steve watched baseball on his computer, I wrote, Michael wrote and we surfed a while, checking out a curious assortment of penis bondage gear and chastity equipment for both sexes. Michael also sent me to a gay D/s online store and we shall not speak of that again. In the course of our conversation we discussed something in St. Louis called The Club, which turns out to be a gay bath house/sauna/gym. I had never heard of it, but Steve was quite familiar and Michael also knew of the place. I was outraged to find out that women are not allowed. Not surprised, but outraged nonetheless. I insisted on driving past its midtown location on our way home. It's fairly unassuming building but I want in! There's an outdoor pool! A dry sauna! And, seriously, I don't mind if there are guys blowing each other around me. Nay! I'd really enjoy that! Let me in, Club!

On our way around town we stopped at the kind of icky thrift store on Delmar at Grand. I got a couple of things I'm rather happy with. These shoes (hey, I'm thrifty; and cute shoes are cute shoes):


And this vintage silk scarf with this tag:


Then we stopped at Home Depot for a new fan. We have a mighty powerful fan at work that I generally hate -- it's noisy and fucking cold. But I'm generally out voted and the damn thing is always on. At home though, with no air conditioning we need a fan with some muscle. So we got this:


Last but not least, here's Michael from the first trip we took to 6 North, and me just a few minutes ago...




See y'all later.

Tell me that you want me/Tell me that you need me/Tell me 'cause I'd like to know/Now!

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Forget your fancy manners/forget your English grammar/'cause you don't really give a damn/about this year's girl

Yesterday evening I got the idea that it would be fun to spend my Tuesday off in a coffeehouse, drinking, eating, and browsing the Intarnet with Michael. I called him early in the a.m. and he sleepily agreed, though his diva nature and morning habits made it another hour before he was even ready to leave home. I couldn't wait any longer and I headed to 6 North to await his arrival.

Is it traitorous to patronize a rival, independent coffeehouse? Or just traitorous to enjoy it so much? The espresso is good, the pastries are good, the free wifi is a bonus and the B.L.T. featuring slices of avocado and chipotle mayo is outstanding. I am definitely coming back here.

It's been a few days since I last wrote. Is it too late to chronicle the drunken debauchery (yeah, I wish) of our (me, Steve, Michael and Michael's friend Chaste Matt) night out last Friday? Perhaps I'll just hit the high (and low points): 1. A bachelorette party at the Loading Zone. Really? Low point, though the bride-to-be did score when she got Steve to pose with her as "a tall guy" for her scavenger hunt. 2. The beautiful emo boys who, alas, left too early. 3. The sadly, pathetically, beautiful rent boy who louched around the joint making eyes at anyone and everyone. The boys in my party were much less sympathetic to this poor child than I. I felt for him and his spoiled fruit beauty. 4. $4 cosmopolitans. High and low. Sugar sweet drinks make me suffer the next day, and I had more than enough of them to cause suffering. 5. The Metro Station,Fall Out Boy and FloRida videos. 6. The man equivalent of Candice Bergen. You'd think maybe high, but definitely low. 7. Heading to Novak's when LZ closed. High. 8. Five dollar cover charge at Novak's. Low. 9. Huge crowd, dancing, and a consistently short line for the ladies room. 10. The girl of my dreams is an employee of Novak's. Sigh. 11. Being felt up and asked repeatedly, "Baby? Vagina? Baby? Vagina?" by a friend of a customer (not even one I like), in the street, at 3 a.m. 12. The killer 12 hour hangover the next day.

Eh, I'm tired of writing and am hankering for shoe shopping.

I firmly believed that I didn't need anyone but me/I sincerely thought I was so complete/Look how wrong you can be

Steve, Michael and I made the Novak's Myspace page! I was pretty excited that they decided to post our photo until I checked and saw that they posted all 4,000 photos they took that night. Ah well, fame is fickle and fleeting, but aren't we fabulous?