15 Year Blogiversary

Fifteen years ago I started this blog posting my thrift shop finds. Over the years, I joined in numerous blog hops, writing and photo challenges. There was a stint where I linked up with other bloggers who highlighted their thrifted outfits. Those are some of my most popular posts. It was time to include one for this blog anniversary. 

Outfit photo shoots really are fun. I would set the camera on a 10-second timer and hobble back in stilleto heels for each shot. For this one, my iPhone only allowed a 3 second timer so it meant running back and forth to the tent. Outfit details: thrifted black wig and Hell Bunny black velvet dress. Retail - Hidden leopard print vest, Pokemon socks, and Doc Marten shoes. 

The reason for the indoor camping - it has been a brutal season for insects. My delicate system reacts to each and every bite. Because we had such a mild winter in Northern California, all the bugs overwintered to wreck havoc on us. I've gone to extreme measures to avoid being bit. 

My page views really took off when I branded myself a "Grandfluencer" and ran my posts through Facebook. 

An additional audience joined me when I started playing the online game Final Fantasy XIV. 

Thrifting continues to be a true love💖💙💚 activity. Since I am back to selling on eBay, that means I can source for product. Having taken a six-month hiatus from selling, I am still sourcing from my own collectible inventory. 

Then there are the collectibles that will be with me until I leave this realm - Monster High Dolls. 

The three dolls to the left are years-old thrift shop rescues. The remaining four were found at hospice thrift on August 1st for $1 each. 

Here's to another 15 years! 

Final Fantasy Flash #11

I completed the Hero quest in Final Fantasy XIV and joined a company - Twin Adders. That emblem shown on the Chocobo saddlebag. No more running around! Trying for the unicorn now🦄

I switch back and forth between the character's costumes. This pink Thanalian one (my fav) and the battle-gear gray one. 

The creators of this game have quite the sense of humor. One of the new realms is called Hringhorni. Of course, comments and reactions exploded. 

"Hoping for a horni housing district"

"They knew"

On another subject, your character can hire a "retainer," a customizable non-player character to essentially do your bidding while you play the game or not. The retainer is summoned by ringing the bell. 

There is also player on player conflict PVP. I have not entered that realm, and probably will avoid it. As a lowly conjurer, I would be an easy kill target. 

Summer Hot Fits

Using my grammasonacid logo for this lead-off image. 

It is a thing - the Summer Hot Fits. Seems I just missed a fight that broke out at the local recycle center. Here in Amerika we pay a deposit for our plastic bottles and aluminum cans. A month's worth of recycle redemption for our family is around $20. 

Back to the fight story. The recycle center gates open at 9:00 a.m. More cars than there were spaces tried to fit in the miniscule parking lot. People started yelling at each other. One woman left. This all told to me by the recycle center guy. I arrived at 9:06 a.m. and missed the entire conflagration. Damn. 

Tamisplaining (like mansplaining only better) the Summer Hot Fits. It is the mental and sometimes physical condition you get in when it is way too hot outside. I get them. I get cranky. I get hangry (hungry and angry). I get downright mean. 

Best thing to do blah blah blah cool off, hydrate, etc. I think the only REAL solution is to be somewhere WHERE IT IS NOT HOT.🔥

My preference is the North Coast of California, somewhere near Mendocino and the like. 

Final Fantasy Flash #10

Grandfluencer sprout player present! Danced in front of Copperbell Mines before I made it through with NPCs earning about five treasure chests. 

On another quest I earned an emerald by dying numerous times. What cracks me up is each time you "die" you make a sighing sound. Like WTF just happened? 

Seems you can engage in Light Duty. 

• Light duty refers to lower-level content designed for casual players.
• It typically includes dungeons, trials, and raids that are less challenging.
• Players can queue for light duty content using the Duty Finder.
• Light duty is ideal for leveling up and gaining experience points.
• It often features simpler mechanics and shorter completion times.
• Engaging in light duty can help players prepare for more difficult content.

Another term is Dailies. Repeating a quest daily to get the most out of the game. I don't have the patience for that. 

From time to time, you need to review your battle gear. I started out with a stick. Pretty sure that was ineffective on bigger monsters. I upgraded to some stolen walking cane or something like that. When you look at each weapon's description, it will list it's level of power. 

Surprised by another sprout player that assisted me in critter battle. The critters are getting bigger and more complex as I progress through the game. I thanked the other player through chat but couldn’t talk to him since we were in trial version.

Catching screenshots of the interesting mounts in the game. This one is quite the TANK! 

Home Office Arrangement and Where Did that Money Come From?

My office setup has changed so much over time. The comfortable orange leather chair is from my remote working days. The touchscreen laptop well worth the money spent. I am already up to 27 active listings on eBay. 

Deathpile books have been listed. Christmas CDs are next. For those in the know, Christmas sells year around. 

Hold UP! I would think anyone who blogs would be interested in their stats. Daily page views hover around one thousand per day. As of the writing around 7 a.m. on 7/24, page views were 5,000+ by day's end 10,000. 

Weird and wacky sometimes show up at thrift. There was this lamp duo at hospice thrift in Cameron Park, California. Slightly out of focus because of the iPhone 12 camera. 

Upgraded my iPhone from a 12 to a 17e. It is pale pink with a pink Otter box on its way. Back to taking in-focus images. 

One good thing about retirement accounts, you forget about them until ... you are retired. I opted for a Savings Plus account while I worked for the State of California. This is an account I made 100% contributions. Thought there might be a couple of hundred, turns out it was $16,000. Took out some to pay off moving debt but left most of it in there for a rainy day.☔

Until next time,

Tami

Delighted to be Back

Who says you can't go way-old analog to weigh packages? My postal scale died awhile ago and this adorable kitchen collectible was just waiting to get back into action. 

I am so jazzed! Made my first sale the next day - who could resist this publication? 

A trip to the post office meant a new box put in place for the business. I don't like to use my home address listed as the return. 

My first active listing.  

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188667184370

My other two recent book purchases, now listed.😁

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188667189846

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188667191599

I am unsure how well cookbooks are selling. I don't think restaurants have totally recovered, some even continue to go out of business. Pulling from my personal collection, I do have some amazing cookbooks. The three I use most often and will keep forevers are Joy of Cooking, The New York Times Cookbook, and The Family Circle Cookbook. 

Tarot and new age cards have always been good products for me to sell. I had gathered a couple of new ones this past six months. A couple more were flagged for listing some months ago (deathpile Tarot😈) 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188671942532

I may even return to art classes through the community college. I have had so many calamities over the past six months: Injuries, surgery, physical therapy, insect allergies.

Delighted to be Back means more than just selling on eBay. It is a healing in our family after a long, difficult time. Only positive things allowed in my life now. 

Final Fantasy Flash #9

Re-geared to the Conjurer set. While I loved the Thanalian costume, this is the recommended one to survive critter battles. The pink detail in my white hair is the remnant Thanalian headdress. Love the thigh-high boots.💛Pretty sure I have earned those somewhere along the way. The detail of the untucked shirt, I approve.👍

Seems I got diverted by all of the stepping and fetching side quests. Good thing long-time player son stepped in and got me back to the main quests. The icons to look for appear like there is fire on the top. The main ones unlock all sorts of goodness. It appears you progress faster in the game if you stick to the main quests. 

Then there is jumping. I had been jumping to avoid monster attacks. Seems you can jump off cliffs and survive. Who knew? 

Here is an image of one of the more interesting characters I have run across in the game.  This mount made all sorts of electronic noises. I have also seen land cruisers (Cadillacs and such), and guinea pigs. Dungeons drop mounts as rewards by defeating specific bosses. I must obtain one of these rarities!👾

My Final Fantasy play is going to suffer while I re-list some of my eBay inventory.