Ah, gentle reader. I had thought that I was going to go to Relics to see if they have any booths available in the back portion of the facility, the “flea market” part where things don’t have to be old.
I plotted a course taking me past the Target so I could return the faulty soap dispenser pump albeit in a different bottle since the bottle that I bought attached to the pump was full of soap and had a replacement, albeit differently colored, pump in it. And, believe it if you can, gentle reader, but I felt a little guilty and conflicted about it because, as I mentioned, the pump from this bottle (and this bottle) were differently colored because they did not have the clear/chrome combination when I was last up there, so I was not returning the actual thing I bought, and I was not even returning a properly matched item since I was returning a green bottle with a chrome pump instead of the, what, brushed nickel pump that worked? You know, I would feel a little less like I was committing some sort of fraud if the pump was matched to a bottle with which it sold. Also if I were a little less Catholic in my guilt setting. But I got my $14 back and blew it all on media.
Well, not exactly; I thought I would go to thrift stores looking for some dress clothing since a lot of mine is getting worn and broken (and bound, soon, for a thrift store). My path took me to the Salvation Army Super Store on Campbell; the Thunder Thrift store benefiting the high school which is almost across the street from the Salvation Army Super Store; and Red Racks on Battlefield which is almost just across the street from Relics. But when I was finished with the larger Red Racks location, I was about done with people and things, and Relics looked to be having an event that filled its parking lot (according to its calendar it’s the Higher Minds Metaphysical Fair).
So, at the thrift stores, I got some things.
At Thunder Thrift, I got several DVDs:
- The Bourne Ultimatum and The Bourne Supremacy. I got The Bourne Identity from Thunder Thrift in August. I did not pick them up at the time because I already had bought The Bourne Supremacy and wasn’t sure whether I had them all. Well, I know now, ainna? And I guess I can put this copy of The Bourne Supremacy on the free books cart at church since the post about my previous visit indicates I’d already bought a DVD copy in 2025. The other one is under a blanket along with the entertainment center and the related cabinets. So, rest assured, I will watch none of these any time soon. But, hopefully, I will be able to light a fire when watching them someday.
- Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever. A movie based on the Grumpy Cat Internet meme. I expect I will watch this first.
- Neil Simon’s Murder by Death. I like Neil Simon plays. Do you remember when his name was above the title on major motion pictures? It is true. I was there. Not at the films because I was just a kid. But I remember.
At Red Racks, I got some records and a videocassette:
- Heaven Can Wait, a film about a football player who dies before he was supposed to, so he’s returned in a couple of bodies to try to correct the issue. It was not on Showtime back in the day; it was on HBO when we were spending a lot of time with the family friends who had HBO, so I’ve seen it several times. But probably not in almost 45 years. I wasn’t actually looking through the videos even though I’d like to find a copy of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House or, basically, many other things I want to buy but forget I want. But the title of this film, on the wider spine of a videocassette, caught my eye.
- Three George Shearing records: Blue Chiffon, I Hear Music, and The Shearing Touch. Any Shearing record is a steal.
- Mr. Trumpet by Henry James, a Longines Symphettes collection.
- Music from Ben-Hur. It will be out of season when we spin Easter music in November at Nogglestead, but it’s always new-to-me record season.
- Dancing on a Cloud by the Three Suns. Which, apparently, I also just bought in May. I really need to get my collection shopping list app built.
- Keep the Customer Satisfied by the Buddy Rich Big Band. A live recording. My first Buddy Rich record.
I did, however, pass on any of the 3 copies of the Doctor Zhivago soundtrack they had. Because I am not a completist.
I assure you I did buy a pair of trousers ($6) and two blazers ($22) total. And right before I got home, I filled the tank and spent more on gas than I did on clothing and media.
At any rate, I will have to hit Relics sometime soon for Christmas shopping. Brian J., you say, why do you insist on buying secondhand things for Christmas gifts at an antique mall when you could by secondhand things cheaper at thrift stores for Christmas gifts? An arbitrary rule, I suppose, but you find different kinds of things at the different types of venues. More quirky and decorative things at the antique malls and more useful staples at thrift stores. Both sell videos and records, though, which is where I get my blog content.
