Thing #223: Societal Books

I read Moby-Dick for my junior English class in high school, though I may have skimmed through some of the narrator's extended descriptions of whale anatomy.

I read Utopia for a freshman intro course in college, though I may have skipped some or all of the pages.

I didn't plan to read either of these in the near future, and they're both in fine shape, so I gave them to my sister to bolster her literature collection.

Thing #193: Bass Grooves

Some months ago, I loaned this to a music student friend who was learning bass. I don't really expect to get it back, because I don't really want it back, because I don't currently own a bass. So, I'm going to just go ahead and mark it as gone.

Thing #192: Bass Amp

Some months ago, I loaned this to a music teacher friend who was learning bass. I don't really expect to get it back, because I don't really want it back, because I don't currently own a bass. So, I'm going to just go ahead and mark it as gone.

Thing #189: Silverware

Same story as the plates. It's like camping, but in your own apartment!

Thing #188: Plates

I had these two cheap WalMart plates from college, which I kept in storage until Megh moved in for awhile and we needed a couple extras. Since she doesn't have all her kitchen stuff out here yet, I gave her these two when she moved out.

Thing #172: Nutmeg Guitar Strap

Like the other suede-like strap, I gave this to Becky. Even though she didn't use it for her project, she has to keep it or re-gift it because I don't want it back. Ha!

One way or another, I ended up with two similar-looking guitar straps that I didn't want, as I've found that I prefer thinner nylon straps. This is a nice win-win situation, because if I can reduce my own junk supply while simultaneously helping somebody else craft a better purse, well then -- look, I'm not saying I'm a hero, but I would certainly excuse you for making that mistake.

Thing #171: Cayenne Guitar Strap

A suede-like material, which I'm calling "cayenne" because cayenne pepper was the closest color match that I could find in my spice cabinet.

You see, my friend Becky was looking for an old guitar strap to fashion into a purse strap, so I offered her this one and the next one. I believe she ended up using this one. I saw the purse later and it looked nice, although I should remind you that I am not a purse expert, so take that for what it's worth.

Thing #168: Washington T-shirt

Unlike many other t-shirts, I'm giving this one a special eulogy because I liked it so much. Sadly, it was getting too beat up to wear, so I gave it to Christine because she wanted an old t-shirt to clean the grease off her bike.

As I write this now, it occurs to me that cleaning a bicycle is the most Washington thing you could ever do with an old t-shirt. Rest in peace, old friend.

Thing #167: Snowman Gift Bag

When you give somebody paint and brushes right around Christmas, you can also give away an old gift bag you found in the same storage bin, and it counts double!

Thing #166: Acrylic Paint

True story: in 2006, I constructed a do-it-yourself Seattle Seahawks beer helmet to bring to a Super Bowl party. Needless to say, my friends were impressed. I built it using parts from a hardware store and a few additional supplies from a craft store. The helmet itself is long gone, but I found these leftover (2oz) acrylic paints:

• 2 True Blue
• 1 Metallic Sequin Black
• 1 Spring Green

They've been in a storage bin ever since that classic game, so I decided to put out a "who wants these?" call on a major social network. To my mild surprise, multiple people offered to take them. I guess I have artsy friends! Becky was fastest, so she and Jeff get to paint something. Maybe their own beer helmet?

I threw in the brushes, too, because without paint I don't need brushes. I do art like once a decade.

Thing #144: Tilting Lamp

This lamp was tilting because the weighted base crumbled and fell out. Yeah, it was made of some kind of clay or something. It's still a perfectly functional area lamp.

Or, you can use it as a reading lamp, because it has that little adjustable spotlight-looking thing, like what goes on the side of police cars. Have a good book to read? Have a perp in your apartment? Either way, this'll do.

It's just a little wobbly, in need of some reinforcement (aren't we all?). I rarely used it (a common refrain) so I thought I'd donate it to the same gals who hauled away my love seat.

They decided they didn't want it, but as luck would have it, their truck driver did. Her name is Esther and we just met today and now she has a new lamp.

Thing #143: Love Seat

I bought this when I first moved into this apartment. It's incredibly comfortable, but I just don't sit on it that much, so I'd been considering getting rid of it if an opportunity came along.

Two weeks ago, I discovered that two friends who were moving into a new apartment were looking for something just like this. Today, they borrowed a truck and hauled it away.

I may miss reading napping on this love seat, but I'll still be able to visit it once in awhile. This helps out friends and clears up a significant amount of space in my dining room, so already it feels like a great move.

Thing #98: Two Dollar Bill

I received this bill at my college graduation, as a reminder to give back to the university; the point was to send this back the following year, then continue to give something (more) each additional year.

Clearly I didn't send it back, because here it was, seven years later. But the instructions were still attached to the bill, so I went ahead and mailed it in.

I'm already getting alumni mail, so so there's no risk of tipping them off to my whereabouts. They know where I live. They always know where you live.

Thing #56: Wild Thing

Found this in a box full of random stuff; I think (although I may be wrong) that my mom got it for me for Valentine's Day one year. Anyway, if you squeeze its hand, it plays "Wild Thing" and dances around and such. It has a bunch of fuzzy white hair that's hard to see; I should have put it against a different background.

But it's too late now, because I wrapped it up for my office's holiday white elephant gift exchange. I thought it made for a pretty good white elephant gift (makes noise, wrong holiday, etc.) but somebody's year-old kid was there, and he thought it was pretty cool. It's all a matter of taste, I suppose!

Thing #54: Guitar Tuner

A pickup in my acoustic-electric guitar died, so being the thrifty guy that I am, I just went out and bought a whole new guitar. (Hey, I had to play that weekend.)

A few weeks later, I donated my old guitar to Paul, because an acoustic-electric guitar without working electronics is still a perfectly useful acoustic guitar.

Anyway, I can't count the guitar here (because it was already replaced with an equivalent item) but I also gave Paul this extra tuner that I found, because for some reason I had extra tuners, as if I was prepared to simultaneously tune multiple guitars for some reason.

Thing #35: Mr. Coffee

It lived under my sink for years, a hand-me-down that I don't think I ever used.

Then I got a bigger/better coffee pot from Sarah for Christmas 2009, so when her coffee pot opted for retirement, I remembered I had this and paid it forward. Or, kind of backward I guess. Anyway, it's gone now! To a better place.

Thing #33: Bag of Salt

I bought this last winter to be a nice guy and clear out Sarah's back path, which was solid ice. But then I found a significant salt stash in her basement, so I didn't need to use the bag I brought.

I didn't need it for myself, either, since my apartment building already has snow removal service. So, this lived in my storage space for about a year until I gave it to Nate, who rents a house and is therefore responsible for his own snow removal.