Aunt Shirley and Uncle Joe

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Joe are both in nursing care, unfortunately in two different homes, this is a summary of today's telephone conversations.

5:40am
UJ Dave, call me when you get a chance

7:45
AS. Dave call me.

8:00
Me. Called Joe, Joe said he had not spoken to AS

8:10
Me. Called AS, she said that she had not spoken to UJ.

9:00
UJ. Called to say that he could not remember AS's number. Asked me to tell her to call him.

9:10
Me. Called AS and asked her to call UJ.

9:15
9:16
9:20
10:30
11:00
11:10
12:00 pm
12:30
1:00
2:00
AS. Tried to call UJ

2:02
AS. Called me to tell me that UJ was not answering his phone.

2:10
Me. Called UJ to tell himAS was trying to call him. He said OK.

2:15
Me. Called AS to tell her that UJ was in his room.

2:20
2:25
3:00
3:15
3:30
AS. Tried to call UJ

3:35
AS called me to tell me UJ would not answer his phone. Asked me to call UJ to tell him to call her.

3:40
Me. Called UJ to tell him to call Shirley. Said he could not. Told me to have her call him.

3:45
Me. Called AS to tell her to call UJ.

3:50
AS. Called ...

As of 8:49 this evening each of them have called me over a dozen times each. They have not spoken to each other. I'm on my way to the nursing home to dial the phone for them.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hankies

In the category of "What????" and "Why????" are hankies. I can say that outside of the 80 plus year old's, that I have never seen anyone use one of these. The very idea of carrying a snot laden rag around in my pocket all day, just seems a little gross. After all who can ever forget Grandma taking her stiff and crunchy hanky out of her pocket book, spitting on it, and then using the now moist rag to wipe cookie crumbs off of your face.

So, who in the world is buying them now? I'm just not sure. All I know is that they do. Pretty, flowery, feminine type hankies sell for a couple of dollars to a couple of hundred dollars. Men's hankies sell for quite a bit less, but still do sell. Unused, or at least clean hankies are normally the way to go. I just can't imagine selling Aunt Millies used crusty hankie for very much, but then again you never really know.

Sell them on EBay or Etsy. I normally sell mine across the auction block. It usually doesn't maximize your cash, but then again I'm a little lazy and the auction can be the quickest and easiest way to sell. The hanky with the dog on it sold for $175 on ebay!

Rookwood Vase

Rookwood production pieces like this one used to bring strong prices. A vase like this one would have sold in the $250-300 range just a few short month's ago. Right now I would suggest Stashing items like this. The tough economy, high shipping costs and just plain lack of enthusiasm from buyers has resulted in a drastic drop in value on items like this.

We recently sold this piece for $125.oo, less than 1/2 of its previous selling price. Hold off if you can, if not be careful when buying. You can still make money, even in a down market if you adjust your purchase prices to the appropriate levels.