recent rummage: smocks, wig instruction and more...

Ok. So this is an overdue post, by a week or two.  I haven't been doing as much thrifting or cruising of yard sales as of late.  I've been feeling a need to purge the house of excess crap, and not shopping makes sense.  But every now and then a really good estate sale still makes me awfully happy.

This one was about a mile from my house. Run by professionals, so most of the really good stuff was priced a bit high ($8 for a photo of a 1950s lady sitting on a rabbits lap...almost worth it, but not quite, very used KitchenAid - $55 - ug).

But I did find things I could enjoy:

* 5 incredibly bright, cheerful, and ugly smocks.  I love this sort of material, and had been looking for a new apron.  But once I tried these on, I realized smocks were what I really had been needing all this time.  I'm messy enough a cook that aprons doing protect enough (I'm always getting sauce on or down my cleavage.  Ow.)  Maybe this will stop me from looking at terrible mumus in these prints now.  Or not.  Believe it or not, there were even more of these, and I like to think I used great self control in not buying them.  But that is a lie.  They just weren't as good.  Buried in middle of pile: avocado green and orange mushroom smock.

* The Complete Guide to Wigs and Hairpieces - FREE!  I'm not as into wigs now as I was a few years ago.  But it would probably be good if I cleaned and styled the ones I do have before they turning into something scary.

* metal mallet for beating meat.  There was all kinds of great kitchen stuff here, but not much I actually needed.  But I have myself short of this item (ok, once), and hope to need it again.

* small cookie sheet.  Needed, as my old one has be converted into a stray litter/urine catcher for the catbox...never to be used for food again.

* digging tool for planting bulbs.  I like the idea of planting bulbs and have done it before.  In my flowerbed, however, one must remove things to plant things.   A real pain in the neck.  But I'll think about it.

* three small gold picture frames.  As if I need more frames.  I still haven't completed my 101 list item of filling the ones I have.  But one came with this enchanting portrait.

* 1 unused dropcloth.  Yes...someday I will finish the bathroom.

* one lovely lavender hanky.  Perhaps I will wear it with my smocks, for that true Cooking Mama look. 

Blackwater, outsoucing and greed

I've been just lousy about keeping up with news lately. I found this Salon article to be very useful for understanding the Blackwater situation: The Dark Truth About Blackwater.

What is it with Americans? Why are scandals more interesting if they have the word water in them? I wouldn't be surprised if that is what it takes to get people's attention anymore. Can't get publicity for your cause? Find something related ending with -water.

Seriously though, the issue of outsource government has been something that has troubled me deeply for a long time. Libraries have begun doing this, too, with the idea on the surface that you are saving money for the community, but I believe there are always hidden costs that the public can't imagine, and by the time people figure it out, it is often too late to fix.

I'm sick of the attitude that "big government" needs to be ended, but that it is ok to turn around and give the money "saved" to companies that screw over the environment, treat their employees like shit, and make huge profits doing it.

Why does no one ever talk about the benefits of good government jobs on a community? That well run libraries, police forces, fire departments, etc, not only are a good investment for any community, but also create hundreds of jobs that pay a living wage, have medical benefits, and create invested participants in neighborhoods.

Not that I think this really applies to Iraq. Though the article does imply the military personnel are doing a better job of community building. But I think the whole mess has been profit motivated from the start, and has nothing to do with creating peace, freedom, or much anything good at all.