Necessary Mutilation

Weight: 196.5 lbs.

OMG - what a weekend! It is raining this morning, but after a very bleak forecast for all of Sunday, the weather actually was beautiful with only a sprinkle or two, which means that we had 3 nearly perfect weather and sale days!

However, no work day could be more exhausting than what we did. From lugging to unpackaging to setting up canopies to running after customers to moving the inventory to cleaning up, I am so stiff and achey that I can barely move. This was way better exercise for me than any old basement bike or treadmill, apparently, as I also  managed to LOSE weight, despite eating poorly and often. Nibbles were available everywhere, and were liberally enjoyed throughout the long and exhausting sale days. I had set up a friendly little coffee clatch station for friends who were joining us to talk and visit and relax and munch, and although the first day in particular was so crazy busy that we all barely had time to sit, we did manage to gather as we could, and enjoy the festivities, including whatever food was available. I broke every bariatric rule, but especially the one about “protein first.” Just how I was supposed to eat protein rich foods in my driveway is beyond me, although at one point I did squeeze a turkey sandwich into the occasion. And yesterday, a cheese stick and some peanuts. Otherwise, popcorn and pretzels and grapes and  finger foods that kept in the sun were my staple, and grabbed between sales. I am not proud of my choices, but must acknowledge that they are an aberation, and it is unlikely that I will be this off track again. I certainly do not expect to have a garage sale of this caliber again in my lifetime (or at least until next year, ha ha!), and remember, you have my permission to bludgeon me on the spot if I even consider it.

Last night, after dropping Pete’s 5 borrowed tables back to him in the city, Tom and I also treated ourselves to a relaxing dinner out. I did get right back to good, I am pleased to say, as I ordered broiled fish and steamed veggies, and had a bowl of salad bar salad…but nothing bad. In fact, I was craving something substantial and healthy, as could feel the junk food coarsing through my veins, wreaking havoc on my energy, mood and blood sugar levels. I have good leftovers for today now too, and will be ok, I believe.

The other thing noteworthy, is that I must have sold about $200 in “fat” clothes! I did advertise that I had them, and at 3 items for $2, they went like hotcakes to some very appreciative heavy ladies. One bought like 50 items, but only after she spent like an hour in our bathroom trying them all on. My friends thought that I was way too trusting and nice to allow such a thing, and kept after me to “check on her alone in your house!”, but I thought it was all too funny and couldn’t imagine a 50 year old heavy lady doing much harm. And she turned out to be my best customer!

It is funny that my skinnier friends who also had clothes to sell barely sold any…and the irony of this isn’t lost on me. I guess that this is the first time that being fat has really paid off!

I even met a woman who said that she was going to send her sister to look, as her sister was very big, but about to have “you know, that surgery.” I revealed that I had surgery too, answered some questions, and asked her to see if her sister did come, to reveal herself so we could talk, if she felt comfortable doing so. I must admit that I looked forward to this, but she never did either come, or identify herself as such.

All told, I must admit that other than when it rained and created complete havoc for perhaps an hour, it was quite fun and an interesting experience in every way. We had our usual assortment of characters come shopping, including a few thieves, jerks and one lady who was so rude to all of us, it still makes my toes curl. But, we also had some delightful and appreciative customers who made our day, and people who came simply to say “hi.” All told, we made over $900 during the sale, and possibly another $100 in pre-sale activity. This includes Barb and her mother who came Thursday night and shopped without competition. Plus, I hope to advertise the expensive racing bike we didn’t sell, and expect that we will get the $150 we are asking for it, on craigslist. After this, Tom and I plan to box up all that is left (and there still is a lot!), and drive it to the sale that our cat charity is having in two weekends, that I am helping out with. So I will get another opportunity to sit with my same crap and do this again - whoopie!

But, back to the money. If we count the money my various friends made, we are well past $1500. And, if we add in the money Zoe made from selling her pop-up off our property beforehand, the total nearly doubles.

And, so you aren’t left wondering just what it all looked like, here are some shots of things. I hope to move on to other things and other subjects soon as I am pooped even thinking about all this entailed and the sleep deprivation and manual labor associated with it, and I promise to never speak of it again once you’ve humored me and looked at my labor of love and stupidity.

So, here goes! (Please hover your mouse over the pics to read their titles, so I don’t have to label them again here and risk having them load all squigley, as they tend to when I attempt to do this).