"In Small Things Forgotten".

I found this at Bookman's.  I think it was in the Sociology section, hidden unobtrusively amidst the mostly hardcover books.  I think that's partly what drew me to it.  There's something interesting about small, paperback books; they can pack a punch without taking up much space.

According to what I've read about the late Dr. James Deetz, he was known to be the world's leading expect on historical archaeology, as well as a colorful person and professor.  This little, humble, paperback book that I found for $2 is considered to be one of the main works on historical archaeology.

http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/ioa/backdirt/Spr01/deetz.html

Above is a link for an article: "Remembering James Deetz" written by Merrick Posnansky.

This is another link about his publications: http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/jdeetzmem3.html.

I have an interest in the subjects of Environmental Psychology, Anthropology, and Archaeology and any subject that extends from that.  I think there's something symbolic about this lightweight paperback, less than 200 pages (including indexes), being a small item itself and yet it digs deep into early American history to find out how items relate to our culture and behavior.  What a vast subject, including so many different topics and themes, but not needing to be the biggest, baddest, most expensive hardcover textbook on the market.

As a former college student, I would have loved to find this on the school bookstore shelf, even at retail of $4, it wouldn't have broken the bank, and it wouldn't have been so intimidating to avoid cracking it open for as long as I could. I may have been able to read this in one sitting and then some while gaining a deep insight into American culture and history.

I appreciate this college textbook on many levels.  I have gotten into the first chapter and the material is fascinating.  I plan to carry it in my purse and read it during lunch.

Currently, on Amazon it's going for under $13:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385483996/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385483996&linkCode=as2&tag=crifoyo-20&linkId=KXOBDXUBUDJIBDTP.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall....Who snagged you first from Goodwill: Vintage Pantry Queen 4 Tier Dispenser.

 This super cool mirror was standing patiently on the edge of one of the knick knack shelves at Goodwill.  Somehow I missed it on my first two pass-throughs.  My arms were already almost full of Goodwill treasures and when I snagged this awesome vintage thing I headed straight towards the check-out.  My arms couldn't hold anything else anyway and I was running out of time.  I had a slight fear that someone would see it in my arms and try to steal it, but I think that's a common phenomenon when one finds a treasure one is ecstatic about or "Cranked" as they would say in the 50's, and catastrophizes that before one gets it safely home, it will be stolen, dropped, broken, or abducted by aliens.  I need to come up with a name for this phenomenon because I'm sure I'll refer to it again in the future...I shall call it: Cashe-astrophizing.  
"Cashe" being a synonym for "Treasure" and "Astrophizing" being the verb root of Catastrophizing.  Now that that's settled....

Obviously this awesome metal box, made by Pantry Queen is much more than a mirror.  It makes no bones about its original design as each of the four compartments is labeled: Saran Wrap, Alumnium Foil, Waxed Paper, and Paper Towels. Each edge is perforated and the compartments gradually get larger from top to bottom.

Okay, lets get to the fun stuff. On Ebay, currently, that's my disclaimer: Currently; one similar, but not as cool, because the labeling is off to the side is going for $55.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-Kitchen-Chrome-Pantry-Queen-4-item-Dispenser-Saran-Foil-Wax-paper-t-/261502863666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce2c90932.

Pantry Queen offered this same model in Copper as well; they also offered it in a 2 tiered version.  They seem to have all kinds of goodies on Ebay including trash cans and fun canisters, mostly metal.

I never really entertained the idea of using the coolest mirror in the world, as its original design.
Using things intended for their original design is about as in style as is wearing the same color head to toe...at least that's what I tell myself to justify never having to match.  Hey, I'm in style now.

I did entertain the idea of using it to hold dish towels or other light-weight, non-abrasive kitchen junk.   In the end, I decided that if old enough, functional art can retire and say: "I'm done working but I will gladly grace your walls as artwork of old times gone by." So, I've allowed it to retire and it's hanging only slightly off-level in the kitchen, where it looks awesome!

I paid $3.99 for it at Goodwill...and now I shall show it my goodwill by letting it "Hang Out" on my walls with no expectations.  Now, that's the life.  

Thanks to this "Cool" 50's Slang website: http://www.citrus.k12.fl.us/staffdev/social%20studies/pdf/slang%20of%20the%201950s.pdf

Frames with Attitude: Rolodex Style

I guess you can call this Saver's steal, a frame.  It was in the general frame area if I remember correctly.  Since I love office supplies and cool frames I thought it would be ludicrous to not snag it.  I removed the price tag, but don't worry if it was more than $3 I would be greatly surprised.  I didn't see any other identifying marks on it and thought for a brief second that I might have stumbled upon something vintage-y, something rare.

When I got home I continued to look for anything identifying and eventually found it...yes, this Mid-Century Modern, functional art, cleverly mimicking classic office supply staple...is from Pottery Barn.

Don't get me wrong, I love Pottery Barn and I love the FRIENDS episode where Rachel tries to convince Phoebe that she buys all her cool stuff and furniture from flea markets, when really they all hail from...Pottery Barn.  Let's face it, Pottery Barn rocks and so does their non-flea market, paraphernalia.

I quickly went to Pottery Barn's website and tried to find how much this relic was going for retail.  To make a boring long story, a boring short story...my search turned up nada.

Ebay, Google, Amazon...nada, zippo, goose egg.

My husband told me it's made from Aluminum.  My first obvious question: And the street value of Aluminum these days would be....??

This website:
 http://www.vincentmetals.com/Daily_Aluminum_Prices.html

Says its $.82/lb.  My husband estimates this frame to be about 3 lbs which is $2.46. "Hello early retirement" to quote Paul Blart in "Mall Cop". http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024SQZRS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0024SQZRS&linkCode=as2&tag=crifoyo-20

I know from watching Pawn Stars: http://www.gspawn.com that if you don't know the real price of an item, then it could be worth millions...or zilch.  Since, this is the only Aluminum, Pottery Barn, Rolodex Picture Frame out there on the net that I can find...I'm going to price it at somewhere in-between zilch and a million and make it an even $500k...or let's make it an even $3...actually I think I'll just keep it for now because it's doing its job holding several dozen pictures, that you don't flip like a book, you roll...and when it does its classic somersault, you don't have to immediately get on the phone and act busy, you can just relax and do nothing...

And who knows...tomorrow the price of Aluminum may be an even $1.00...and if I've learned anything from this Recession it's the value of a $1.00.

Mini-Me

 I found this miniature log outside in the backyard.  I believe it's part of the Orange Tree that needed to be removed from our back porch.  It had deceased already so there was no guilt, other than the sadness of not having bought the house in time to save it...oh well.

It all worked out for the good of this miniature toy doll.  Her doll house is nowhere to be found, unless you look in Saver's...most of our unused treasures incarnate there.  I think she was fine hanging out with the CD's, picture frames, and games, but now that she has a slice of nature she seems much happier.

In therapy terms I believe I am projecting my own emotions and thoughts onto her...and by her I'm obviously referring to the inanimate, plastic, miniature, toy doll, who through no fault of her own has found herself homeless and living a lonely, vagrant life on the tough streets of the Arizona Room.

My point is...my Point is...Oh God I've forgotten the point: "What's Up Doc."
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WECAZ8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004WECAZ8&linkCode=as2&tag=crifoyo-20

My point, is that this Mini-Me represents myself sitting outside on our life-sized deceased Orange Tree stump.  Lucky for you, I didn't take a selfie, so you'll just have to imagine me sitting there, sipping some coffee in the early morning air, pensive, quiet, thoughts swirling around and around...Our back yard is far from the oasis we imagine it could be someday (at least, thanks to bulk trash, the toilet is no longer part of the scenery of our oasis-in-the-making).  But just having a small fragment of nature, where one can be still for a small moment out of the day, can do wonders.  In therapy world, we call this "Self-care".

Self-care is something that, like most, therapy concepts, is extremely, extremely, complex and cerebral...you probably wouldn't understand it...I'm just pulling your chain...it's COMMON SENSE and I have the school loans to prove it.

However, just because something is common sense doesn't mean that we as intelligent human beings are wont to abide by it.  In fact, many times, we take common sense and throw it out with the bulk trash (Like we did the other day with the truck tailgate).  Either that, or we go to school for higher education and after years and money invested, we emerge with a fancy piece of paper confirming that we are experts in common sense, and we'll hold ya to it!

I started this post intending on discussing the endearing qualities of miniature things and what makes them so darn cute and desirable...especially in a culture of super-sized-edness...Does this craving of extremes...either miniature or super-sized analogize the disappearing of the middle-class in America?

I'll leave that to the experts.

The Toothbrush Dilemma

 I found this small vase-like knick-knack in a box of my Grandmother's things in my husband's closet...one of his closets...he gets two closets; I get one...that's another story.

I was looking specifically for a home for my daughter's toothbri (plural for toothbrush).  Although Wiktionary disagrees and says "Toothbrushes" are the plural; I think Toothbri is much more fun:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/toothbrush.

That aside, my daughters toothbri needed a home.  I'm sure many of us have heard the studies where toothbri are vulnerable to fecal matter in the atmosphere as they share the same airspace. I found an article which basically says, "Don't worry about it; fecal matter is everywhere." What a relief!

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/fecal-matter-on-toothbrush.htm

The Toohbrush Dilemma is an interesting one.  Or maybe it's not; maybe it's the most boring dilemma to ever come down the pike in 500 years. Nevertheless I make things "Waaaayyy too complicated" as my husband tells me.  So, maybe this was one of those times.  Why couldn't I keep her toothbri in the same spot.  Well, for one there's something about toothbri holders than even the "Clutter-Cozy" stylist such as myself says "Ewww, that's just gross...even my semi-annual cleaning won't be able to remove that grime."   I thought that a trip to Target or Fry's was needed to find the perfect toothbrush holder since the suction cup head things are lacking in suction-icity, but at least they provide some kind of barrier to the fecal infested air, we seem to all be breathing, all the time.

If there's anything  that www.Houzz.com has taught me, it's that just because products are made for something specifically doesn't mean you have to use it that way.  This vase-like knick-knack, hand-painted by me, herself, though probably intentioned for my Grandmother to use as a back-up hot sauce dish, or maybe something within to hold small wildflowers, is now being used as a toothbri holder, so sue me! But, I saved at least $10, reusing this piece of original art-work, which probably could have been sold on E-bay at a competitive price.