Entertainment, Part Ten: My Computer, My Playground

How did I ever live without a computer?

Living just beyond civilization without radio or television or even a telephone, my computer is my only contact with the real world. It's how I communicate with people, pay bills, balance my checkbook, keep up on news, get weather updates and all manner of general day-to-day life management and business. It also keeps me from going insane with isolation and boredom. Here are some of the ways I entertain myself using my computer:

Email  Who needs a phone? No one writes letters anymore. This is my primary mode of correspondence with friends, relatives, business associates and even complete strangers. The greatest thing about email for someone who is chemically sensitive is it's communication without human contact! I can't imagine having MCS twenty years ago without the technology that makes our lives easier. I would have found ways to survive, but not as efficiently as I am able with all this assistance at my fingertips (literally!).

Writing Remember typewriters? White out? Mimeograph copies? Carbon copies? Wow. Times have changed. I love to write. Journal entries, letters, short stories, magazine articles, websites, discussion groups, comment sections, online activism, and blogs. Attach the document to an email and who needs snail mail?

Reading  I read blogs, websites, short stories, magazine articles, comment sections, discussions on lists, recipes, and research information on various subjects. I could download a fictional ebook on my computer, but I still love holding a book in my hands and curling up in a comfy chair. Well, as long as it doesn't stink of print dye or someone else's perfume.

Library  I can do all my library business online, order through interlibrary loans, see what's available, put items on hold. Before I even check out the item, watching my hold numbers is fun for me. Strange, I know.

Art by Danny Roberts

Art  There are all kinds of art software for computers like Sketchpad, iPaint, Photoshop, etc. Lately I've been having a blast using my scanner to scan pictures and my digital camera to download photographs. Incredibly fun. There are many artist websites, videos, and galleries for viewing as well as museum and gallery sites. My latest favorite artist: http://dannyroberts.com/

http://dannyrobertsartstore.blogspot.com/

Games  I have to admit, I'm not a game player, but I know they are available to those who enjoy this type of entertainment. Also, virtual worlds and other fantasy games are in abundance.

Music Music may be downloaded for listening or purchase and your favorite CDs may be played right on your computer. Nearly any song you've ever heard is now available on YouTube often accompanied by photo montages or video clips created by music fans. Radio stations are even online.


Videos  YouTube is spectacular. Unfortunately, I can sit around all day watching footage of concerts, music videos, movie trailers, clips from movies, clips from television shows, animals doing cute things, animals doing not so cute things, people doing really stupid things, babies laughing, memorial montages, news briefs, comedy routines, people talking about anything or nothing, etc. You name it, there is a video out there for you to watch.



Movies  Hulu.com is the best website for free movies, old and new. I have also watched old movies through YouTube, one scene at a time. Many local libraries have movie downloads for patron home use and most computers now accept DVDs to be watched right on the computer screen. Every now and then I consider buying a big-screen TV so I can hook it up to my computer. Maybe someday. 

Warning:  I once had a friend tell me about a movie site you could download recently released movies for free. Yeah, it sounded fishy, but this was the same friend who told me about Hulu so I thought he knew what he was talking about. It was an illegal site, and I got my first virus. Do be careful and unless you know the site, don't be downloading anything.



Television  Hulu.com, again. Before Hulu came on the scene, I never watched TV. Now I'm a television junkie. My current favorite shows are: Smash and Once Upon a Time, although I'm growing fond of New Girl, Touch and Missing. And yes, on occasion I watch The Vampire Diaries. It's my guilty pleasure. Ian Somerhalder is dreamy. I am rather fond of checking out whole seasons of television shows from the library and watching them on the computer. No commercials! The only thing missing is awards shows like the American Music Awards, Academy Awards, Tony Awards or Grammy Awards are never online. Darn.



Stalking & Lurking  I love reading Facebook and Twitter posts.  There is something sleazy and stalker-ish about reading someone's inner thoughts and seeing their private photos without them knowing. Celebrity stalking is really fun and it keeps me updated on pop culture. I really hate it when people make their social networking accounts private.  Social media is like going to a party without the stink.

Although I am a huge fan of computer technology, I do worry about EMFs (electromagnetic fields) and radiation with all the electronic devices available these days. Those of us chemically sensitive are susceptible to becoming overloaded with EMF exposure creating many symptoms we already experience plus a few other health concerns: chronic fatigue, joint pain, nausea, brain function issues, heart problems and cancer. I can't imagine what I would do if ever I became sensitive to my computer!

As it is I have two computers and two screens on my desk in an office located away from my sleeping area. In hopes of alleviating some exposure and more importantly, because I'm a bit of a non-materialistic minimalist, I'm way behind with most technological advances (other than computers) and getting farther behind with every passing year, sorry to say. I don't use cell phones or smartphones, Kindles, microwave ovens, electric blankets, hair dryers, answering machines, or cordless appliances. I do have home wiring, an electric clock and a digital camera, but I'm not living under power lines and I avoid getting radiated at the doctor's and dentist's offices.

Does this help? I doubt it. With all the EMFs created by all the technological junkies, I don't think my minimalist approach matters. We are doomed!!  I think in time society will pay with technology-related health issues we have not yet imagined, and as the canaries, we will be the first in line.

What have I forgotten? How do you use your computer for entertainment?

Ocean Adventures, Part Four: Snoozing

Today was my fourth ocean adventure. I didn't want to go. I was tired. Although it's been my intention to try to visit a different beach with each visit, it takes time to drive further and further up the coast in search of a new one. Today I just felt like being a couch potato and forgetting the beach. But it was the end of the month and there is nothing like public guilt in the form of a blog to keep one motivated toward keeping a New Year's Resolution.

In addition to not being enthusiastic, I was afraid it would be another beach much like the last and the one before. Sand, water, dunes....beautiful, fresh air, but maybe this time I wouldn't find an adventure?

I went to the beach my grandparents claimed was the best clam digging on the coast. Along the shoreline there were holes in the sand filled with water from recent diggings. I had to watch where I walked as not to fall in one. The beach was actually much cleaner than others and no traffic access which was nice.

Birds are migrating home so I thought I'd expand on my bird theme of the previous week as a back up to no adventure. YAWN.

Not a very exciting theme even with thousands of birds on the beach. YAWN.

Lots of broken shells, but few whole ones.  The tide was way out, but coming back in.

I walked down the beach, circled around looking for shells. Out of the corner of my eye I kept seeing a lump on the sand, but didn't think anything of it. I wandered toward it slowly thinking it would give me something to explore. A piece of driftwood, a log, a dead seagull. And then I got closer...

A SEAL BABY!!!!!!

I froze, staring, dumbfounded. There are warning signs on some beaches (not this one) about the baby seals, but I've never seen a real baby seal all the years I have been beach combing. The warnings say to stay away from them, at least 100 feet. Their mothers have dropped them off to rest while they go hunting. You can see her tracks in the above photo. Unfortunately, I was already within 20 feet. I was in such shock I almost forgot I had a camera with me. Then it dawned on me, maybe it was hurt or dead? He looked dead, laying on his side all stretched out. As I stood contemplating the situation, the little baby stretched, yawned, wiggled his fins, then went back to sleep. OH MY GOD! Nope, just snoozing on the beach.

I took this picture with my close up. I was really too afraid to get much closer.  So pretty - silky white fur and a big, fat tummy. Then I felt incredibly protective, not sure if I should guard the baby or just leave be. I looked around for people or dogs running loose, but only a few people around and far away so I headed back to my vehicle.

On the way back I did run into a couple with dogs on leashes. They told me they came across a baby seal that started crying and trying to follow them. They were horrified. The woman said she was so upset that she started crying. They didn't realize they weren't supposed to touch them so they drug the baby by its fins to the water and it swam off. Hmmm...that gives me nightmares. Like dragging a toddler to the street and letting him loose to run free in traffic. Anything could come by and eat the baby in one gulp. Hopefully, the mother was just off shore watching.

So I left the baby right where he was, hoped mama seal would be back soon, and that everyone would leave him alone.  I can't stop thinking about him and hope he is alright.

Hooray for a really awesome ocean adventure!

The Fall of Saint Evelyn

St. Christopher, St. Philomena, and St. Ursula...what do they have in common?

 

Stripped of their holy titles and removed from the Calendar of Saints forever to be casted into saintless obscurity, they were desaintified.

No more feast days, no more statues, no more prayers. Cursed to wander aimlessly among mortals. Destined to be worshipped by some secret, cultish society in some dark, underground cavern wearing some really ugly robes. 

This is what happens when one falls from grace. Decanonization is a bitch.

This last week, Evelyn, Patron Saint of Those Who Can Not Grow Parsley, has joined the ranks of rankless saints and has submitted herself to the Dark Side.

The Former Saint Evelyn in Transition

Incriminating Evidence

The Former Saint Evelyn is growing parsley. Gasp! We all know only the wicked can grow parsley. No more halo. No more wings. The Dark Side will never be the same, but they will definitely have a good supply of parsley.

The Former Saint Evelyn Showing Off Her Parsley
with a Happy Dance on the Dark Side with her New Friends.

Entertainment, Part Nine: Museums

Museums are a wonderful form of entertainment for chemically sensitive people because the interior air quality is constantly monitored to control air pollution. That means incredibly sterilized air to breathe!

Air quality is a museum priority because air pollution from the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cause corrosion, discoloration, surface instability, dust, distortion, and cracking of historical artifacts. Sources of VOCs are outdoor pollutants such as auto emissions and industrial contaminates or indoor pollutants such as interior decorations, display materials, artifacts and visitors. Plastics, wood, adhesives, polyurethane foams, carpeting, and paint can contaminate the air by offgassing peroxide, chlorine, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, carboxylic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, sulphur and plasticizers. Even breath vapor and perfumes from visitors are considered volatile organic compounds! We already knew that.

To reduce the rate of emissions of volatile organic compounds, museums control temperature, lighting, ventilation and humidity with high tech HVAC and air filtration systems. The J. Paul Getty Museum's air is exchanged and re-filtered six times per hour. Most museums also monitor the VOC levels of materials used for displays, lighting and other interior design elements. Even historical artifacts are tested for VOC offgassing and rejected by some museums if they don't meet air quality standards as these emissions may contaminate and corrode other artifacts.  

Air filtration and air quality control is good news for chemically sensitive people.  Museums, however, welcome all visitors and do not restricting the wearing of perfumes and scents (YET!) so take precautions. Go during off hours and less-popular days to avoid crowds. Don't be tempted by art openings or special events when perfume-wearing high society may attend. Avoid days offering free admission or school visiting days when smelly classroom groups will contaminate the galleries. Many museums are in urban areas so be cautious about traffic exhaust.

Museums to avoid at all costs:

Annette Green Perfume Museum (Los Angeles)

Museum of Fragrance (New York City)

Fragonard Perfume Museum (Paris)

Farina Fragrance Museum (Cologne)

Perfume Museum (Barcelona)

Dutch Museum of Perfume Bottles (Netherlands)

I love being in art museums alone. Wandering through the large galleries without distraction, having the artworks to myself without having to wait for someone to move out of the way, and not having to share the wonderful, clean air with stinky people is a treat. Museums are one of the few indoor entertainment venues with quality indoor air suitable  for someone with multiple chemical sensitivity.

The Birds: Gardening Hell

Did you ever see Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds? Scared the beejeebies out of me when I was a kid. Who would have thought sweet birds would be such a nightmare? It gave me a whole new appreciation for our feathered foes.

Birds are eating my garden! Sparrows and goldcrests, to be specific. They are really enjoying snacking on the little lettuce sprouts. It's so horrifying to helplessly watch my children being eaten just as they are sprouting to life! Gardening is not so entertaining any more!

Lettuce in foreground, half eaten!
Onions behind. Beets next. Carrots not up yet.

In the winter when the crimson clover cover crop was sprouting I noticed birds were eating it, too, but I assumed they were hungry. It was winter. And they are back. Damn freeloaders. ARGH! So frustrating.

I'm a bird-friendly gardener. I encourage birds because they eat bugs, especially mosquitoes, and where I live it is damp and humid during the summer. I do everything possible to discourage cats with all the chicken wire and deer netting on the fences. I don't feed the birds because it invites rats to move into my house, but I do provide bird baths.

It's delightful to watch birds bathe, flapping around in the water, and shaking off on a post. The blue jays squawk loudly when they bathe. Not sure why. It seems to me they are announcing to the cats what they are doing.

Maybe the birds are mad at me because I haven't cleaned this bath in the last week? I didn't think they were so picky. The camillias are a mess dropping into the water, but Peter eats them so I don't clean up regularly. Camillias are high in vitamin C.

They could go to the front yard and use this bath, recently cleaned and inviting.

I have bird houses all over the place for them to nest.

I have bird house trees!

Summer vacation homes.

And the whole yard is organic and healthy. You'd think they'd appreciate such a bird-friendly haven instead of getting greedy and taking advantage of the situation.

I spent the morning chasing birds out of the garden, throwing gravel at them as they mock me from the trees. In my pajamas, no less. I'm not normally a violent person, but I'm fantasizing about bb guns. Maybe I could rent a neighbor's violent, young son who I could let loose on my yard with a sling-shot or bb gun.  (It's a fantasy. In reality that would last about one second before I'd start begging for their birdy lives.)

Netting. Not a bird in sight! Yet...

Instead, I've taken the high road, be the non-violent gardener and do the organic thing...netting. I've used netting to keep Peter out of gardens, but I don't like it because the little birds often find their way under it, get stuck and I go out the next morning seeing feathers all over because the neighbor's cat had some fun.

The war has begun! Wish me luck!

Update:  Nasty little birds keep dive-bombing the netting...that's after I put little stakes around the edge so they couldn't crawl under it, which is what they were doing!!! ARGH!!!

Entertainment, Part Eight: Painting

Rembrandt Peale, Raphael, Vincent van Gogh are the most notable chemically sensitive painters in art history. I've already included information about Peale in my post titled, "The Weirdness Awards". In the 1700s, his family and friends did not understanding chemical sensitivity and thought his weird behavior was due to excessive drinking. Raphael died from lead poisoning. Before anyone had any understanding of the ramifications of chemical exposures, it was common practice to put a paint brush dipped in lead-based paint in your mouth to sharpen the tip for detail painting. I think most people have heard of Vincent van Gogh cutting off his ear. There are several medical theories behind his behavior: schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and/or depression, all conditions with connections to chemicals.  Lead-based paint was incredibly poisonous, and paints these days although slightly less deadly, are still made with toxic chemicals that reek havoc not only on the health of MCSers, but also non-sensitive artists as well.

What to do if you love to paint? I've tried giving it up. It calls to me. Since giving it up doesn't work, I've found alternatives and safety precautions that work for me.

Pillows
(Low VOC House Paint)

My safety practices include:

1.) Whiff testing. To find out if any paint will kill you, you'll need to sample it to see if it'll cause a reaction. I know that sounds absolutely insane so this level of courage (stupidity?) is only for those not willing to give up their love of painting.  I research what I'm considering in advance, ask experts, read documentation, ask other painters, and make sure my toxic load is low before I start the whiffing. With this backup information, I feel fairly confident I can tolerate one half whiff, but I know I'll only get one chance if I react. On many occasion I've paid for it with an afternoon of illness or an excruciating migraine. Many of you won't be able to do this at all.

Walls, Chair, Mirror
(Low VOC House Paint)

2.)  I try to paint mostly during the summer for optimum ventilation and faster drying, however, during the winter when it gets cold and I get bored (no gardening!) I'll paint an interior wall, or a ceiling, or a floor.

3.)  I limit how much I paint as my tolerance is dependent on my toxic load at the time. I can usually expose myself for one to two weeks, maybe an hour a day, before I must stop.

4.) Ventilation is extremely important so when possible I paint moveable objects in my garage which has doors on each end and use a fan on high to help the air move the smell away from me.

 

 

Painted Quilts
(Low VOC House Paint)

5.)  I avoid painting near any high-use living space.  When I paint interior rooms I seal them off with tarps and sheets, open windows, use fans and do not return for days until the paint is dried and cured. (I did, unfortunately, use an extra toxic paint on my upstairs floors and couldn't use the whole upstairs for nine months.)

Desk (Low VOC House Paint)
Painting (Acrylic Paint)

6.)  I use body protection devices: respirators or masks, aprons, gloves and goggles. I read a study that concluded our eyes inhale fumes and you really don't want to be touching the paint.

I've tried several different types of breathing protection devices. The first was $100 high tech respirator with fancy filters, but because it was made of plastic, it offgassed plastic fumes. I also found a mask specifically for fumes at the local hardware store. Oddly enough, it smelled, too. I wondered if it was treated with some kind of masking chemical? Lately I've been using a 3M 8577 Particulate Respirator with an air valve. Although it's not for fumes, it seems to work fine. Still, it helps to have a fan on high blowing the fumes away from me at all times.

Paints:

The strong smells associated with oil paints and the methods of using turpentine or mineral spirits for thinning or clean up is enough to make any MCSer unable to be in the same room with a canvas. Many artists not chemically sensitive can't tolerate oil paints either.

Pillow (Acrylic Paint)

I switched to acrylic paints early, long before I became chemically sensitive. As a water-based medium, clean up was much easier and it was thought to be a safe, scent-free medium. Unfortunately, if you are chemically sensitive, even acrylic paints stink. I was always restricted to how long I could paint and when my toxic load had reached its limit, I'd have to stop. It didn't seem to matter how many precautions I took, it always made me slightly ill. On occasion I still use acrylics for small items that need a hardy surface like lamps, boxes, light switch plates, etc., but I make sure there is a lot of ventilation.

Having moved into a house that needed rooms painted, I began researching low VOC interior house paints. What this means is the paint base has little toxic chemicals. Adding color adds more chemicals creating more toxicity. Some brands offer nearly no VOC, but you are limited to whites and very light pastels. Unfortunately, I love color so I've been willing to sacrifice a little safety in order to get it.

Switch Plates
(Low VOC House Paint)

Currently there are many brands of low VOC house paint on the market. Some are good and clearly less hazardous; others are just as bad as regular paint. With the popularity of low VOC paints, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and some brands are obviously using "low VOC" as some kind of marketing ploy yet they still stink so I'm not sure what makes them less toxic. The typical paint store employee will regurgitate the latest sales propaganda on why they are supposed to be non-toxic, but few really know what they are talking about. I found the Rodda paint Horizon to be adequate. I still practice all my safety precautions and it still has a bit of a smell, but within two hours the smell is gone. 

Table & Chairs
(Low VOC House Paint)

I recently discovered Martha Stewart Living low VOC paint just as they discontinued the brand when they were closing out and bought nearly every color in small, seven ounce containers. I don't notice a smell while using it and hardly need a mask.  Glidden low VOC paint is what Martha Steward Living is recommending as a replacement for the colors, but I don't find it nearly as non-toxic as Horizon.

Using my safety precautions listed above, I have painted walls, furniture, canvases, paper and fabric with low VOC interior house paint. I doubt if it is washable so painting fabric has it's limitations.

Painted Quilt on Ceiling
(Low VOC House Paint
& Acrylic Paint)

Due to the limited amount of chemicals used, low VOC paint is recommended only for vertical surfaces. Paint on horizontal surfaces leaves a tacky texture and everything sticks to the surface. Durability is dependent on the number of chemicals used in the paint formula so low VOC is a bit of a sacrifice in quality. Technology is improving quickly so some of the newer brands might be better. For furniture that needs a durable surface, I use Miniwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish. It does stink so wear a mask and use a fan with open doors or windows. It also dries fast and after a few hours I can't smell it.

Currently, I'm still trying to give up painting so now I'm trying my hand at watercolor. It doesn't have any noticeable smell, but based on what I've read if you plan to use any color with cadmium and expect to touch it, wear gloves. It's that toxic! Who would have known? Still, this style of painting is the lesser of evils. Now if I can only get the hang of it so I can give up the other media for good!

I have also heard milk paint is relatively safe although I have not tried it.

Any other alternatives? Suggestions?

Entertainment, Part Seven: Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts can be very problematic for anyone who is chemically sensitive. The book Artist Beware, by Michael McCann, is 591 pages of nearly every art material and process and their associated toxicities, listing chemicals, health hazards, and suggesting safety precautions. Warning: After reading about your favorite art activity, you may never want to do it again!

Dye-Stamped Fabric

Years ago, I used to design and print fabric using professional dyes requiring proper ventilation and body protection. I was constantly warned about the health hazards of these materials and the ramifications of not taking proper precautions. Did I listen? No. And I couldn't afford the fancy ventilation systems or respirators. Did this contribute to my fall into MCS hell? Probably.

One summer I signed on to  demonstrate and sell hand-stamped fabrics at a medieval faire. In the Middle Ages dyers didn't use respirators, electric fans or plastic gloves, and many of them didn't live long either. To work at this faire, I was required to be historically authentic so no safety precautions were allowed. I can do that! Funny how we always think we are immortal and impervious to danger. It didn't take too long before I would work with dyes for three hours, and be sick unable to get out of bed for three days. Needless to say, my career as a medieval dyer didn't last long.  

Acrylic-Stamped Fabric
(background dyed with rose water)

Eventually I did go back to printing fabric, but unable to use dyes I replaced them with acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint doesn't feel like dyed fabric as the texture is stiff making it somewhat unsuitable for clothing. And acrylic paint, although washable, is not as permanent. However, it still afforded me the luxury of doing what I loved without the poisoning. For a while, anyway.

For many, art calls to us, serves as a form of expression, and even gives meaning to life.  People always ask me, "Should you really be doing that? Isn't that as bad as perfume or any other toxic chemical?" Well, yeah, sometimes it is, but it's perfume wearers who are usually asking the question and believe it or not, perfume is more toxic to me than any art supply. Even so, giving up our artistic drive isn't always an easy option, so we need to find ways to practice what we love to do without killing ourselves. 

I tend to judge the toxicity of art supplies and processes based on smell because for me smell is a clear indication of chemical offgassing. My burning nostrils and constricting throat don't lie. However, I understand many chemicals don't smell.  Then I ask, is it making me sick? Nausea? Headaches? Dizziness? Joint Pain? Fatigue?

Here are my choices for relatively safe creative expression media:

Pencil

Drawing  Materials used for drawing such as graphite, pencils, charcoal, Conté crayons, wax crayons, pastels, and ink are often less toxic than other art media due to lack of fumes. However, many of them are made with toxic chemicals such as lead chromate, cadmium, and manganese. Felt-tip markers and some inks often contain toluene and xylene, both cancer-causing agents. Toluene is found in all perfumes. Even relatively non-toxic drawing materials still may produce lung-irritating dust.  Graphite and pencils are the least problematic.

Rose Bead Bracelets

Beading  Beads may be made with nearly any type of material so non-toxic options are plentiful. Glass, wood, and ceramic beads have been around for centuries and are relatively non-toxic. I used to make rose beads from mashed up rose petals. Rose beads have a long tradition and a fascinating symbolic and religious history. They have been found in 4,000 year old Egyptian tombs (still smelling like roses!) and are associated with religions from all over the world. Catholic rosaries were once made from rose beads as roses and the rosary were thought to represent the Virgin Mary. Today, many rosaries are still made with carved rosewood beads. I've made rose beads from dried rose hips as well. These beads stink to high heaven, but I don't have any issues with them probably because they aren't made with chemicals. I'd be concerned with beads made from plastic or made in China.

Fiber Arts  Get some nice sheep, maybe a friendly angora goat or extra hairy rabbit and make your own yarns and threads for weaving, knitting, and crocheting. Use natural dyes for colors if desire. This is an art form I've always wanted to learn and think it might be a suitable substitute for fabric design printing. Some day. Another substitute for dyed fabric design is quilting. All you need is a sewing kit, a sewing machine, and massive amounts of organic fabric! With fiber arts, there are many creative options.

Painting  I'm not going to exclude painting although it's fairly toxic. I do it anyway...bad, bad, me!  Too much information so it gets its own post!

What art alternatives have you found to be suitable?

Entertainment, Part Six: Junk vs. Treasure

One woman's junk is another woman's treasure.

Or something like that.

Add caption

I have to admit I was trained at an early age to partake in garage, yard, estate, rummage or moving sales and swap meets. My dad used to wake us up early on the weekend, "Grab the toys you don't want, we are getting ourselves a booth at the swap meet!" We were expected to sell our junk and bargain like our lives depended on it. My dad was a pro at sales. He'd have the swap meet loud-speaker announcers advertise gimmicks like half price hours for red heads (in my honor) and he was a master at bargaining. He made it an art form. It did have its disadvantages: I took off my sandals at the swap meet because my feet were hot, got distracted for a moment, and my dad sold them! We also frequented neighborhood junk sales and even had our own from time to time. Finding ways to make money from junk was my dad's hobby.

The great thing about junk shopping and selling for someone who is chemically sensitive is it's often outside and outside means air circulation. Being able to breathe is a requirement for any form of entertainment. Although my entertainment venues are limited these days, this is one I can still enjoy even with my health restrictions.

Buying or selling?

Buying  The advantages of shopping junk sales:

Seeing what people have for sale. I find it fascinating to see what people have amassed in their lifetimes. Collections, unusual or one-of-a-kind items, and personal art I find intriguing and it is an opportunity to know someone in a different way. I even enjoy seeing the garbage people have collected, the state of their homes and their level of organization.  It's a study in the human experience.

Getting bargains. Especially with yard or garage sales, people are trying to get rid of things so at times it's as if they are making it cheap so you will take it away. With this economic depression, finding inexpensive items you need (or don't need) is a gift. And then there are the dream-deal purchases. I heard about a woman who bought a can of old buttons at a yard sale in my area about a year ago. She found these odd little discs, discolored brown. After cleaning them up and getting them appraised, they were gold coins worth $10,000! Whoa! I bought a metal frame at a yard sale from a neighbor for 25 cents. I quite like ornate, metal frames. I noticed a symbol embossed into the back and thought I'd get online to find out what it meant. There was an antique dealer in England trying to sell the same frame for $150! I've seen several like it on eBay for about $25.00. Still, this was a 25 cent purchase!

Meeting interesting people. I stood in line at an estate sale over the weekend conversing with two women who collect antique pottery. At another sale a woman near me said, "Can you feel it? This house has spirits. I can sense them."

Seeing the insides of houses normally off limits. I find architecture fascinating. Some of the estate sales I go to are in old homes I've always seen from the outside and never from the inside. There have been two houses in my town, both build in the late 1800s, three stories plus a basement and an attic. One had a split staircase that went from between the first and second floor to the kitchen, the back way. The other had all kinds of hidden rooms and levels with stained glass work and ornate detailing. I go to the sales just to see the architecture or the layout of the house.

Bargaining practice. Many people don't like to bargain, but I really think this is the tradition of junk sales and this is the opportunity to practice your skills. And it definitely is a skill! It's expected the prices are just a little higher than what they want to leave a little room for negotiation. I especially like gathering a lot of stuff and offering a flat rate.

My collection of yellow bowls. I don't get it either.

Collections development. I see a lot of shoppers at junk sales searching for specific pieces for their collection. And it can be anything from turtles to antique jewelry to beer cans. For some odd reason, I started collecting bowls. Yeah, leave it to me to collect something NOT of value. I have a weird passion for large yellow Pyrex bowls and large pottery bowls with blue to match my kitchen.

Freedom of movement. It's a movement activity so if you need to leave fast, you are able. Any detection of perfume or scents and I am gone!

Warnings for Buyers:

Like any other situation, beware of poisonous stink on people and products. Learn to sample the air safely and have an exit plan.

Take multiple small bills so you are able to bargain.

Spending too much money! All those little, inexpensive items can add up quickly!

Take care not to get ripped off. Know what you are buying, how much it's worth, and if it works

Acquiring too much junk. Oops...time to have your own sale!

Selling  The advantages to having your own junk sale:

Getting rid of stuff.  It creates space and more air circulation which is always healthy. Clearing away old stuff feels like a release and renewal is always regenerating.

People. Have a garage/yard sale and you'll meet people you would have never otherwise encountered. Some people frequent sales as their primary form of social interaction. They will sit and talk to you for hours about their collections and their experiences. It's a sharing experience. This is part of the tradition.

Money! Hooray for the green!

Warnings for Sellers:

Every time I drove by this sign it was blown over.
Kids were running this yard sale. Cool.

Stinky shoppers. It helps to partner up with another person so if you come face to face with stinky people, you may exit quickly. Still, don't let doing it alone dissuade you. My last garage sale I did alone, and encountered few who were stinky. I don't know if junk shoppers are inclined to get all fancy with perfumes. Those who were stinky, I stepped outside the garage in the air, but not too far away so I could still watch. My garage doors were open to provide air flow as well.

Sticky fingers. When times are tough, people become desperate. Yard/garage sales are prime targets for easy shoplifting if there is enough distraction. Besides the merchandise being pocketed, watch your placement of cell phones and money. I usually wear a little fanny pack around me so these tempting items are on me at all times.

Bargaining professionals. Some people are really good at bargaining and will wheel-and-deal you until your head spins. If you aren't on your toes, you won't know what hit you until it's too late. If you've ever been to Mexico, you may have encountered the sales people on the street. Bargaining is a tradition and a fine art. At my last garage sale I had a Mexican family shopping. The woman kept offering me $1. Didn't matter what it was. Her son eventually found something he wanted and he asked me how much. I met him with, "How much do you want to pay?" His mother immediately said, $1. I could tell he hadn't been trained in the family bargaining tradition so I resisted the counteroffer $10 to get her up to $5. He ignored her. He offered me $10! She scowled and walked away. I said, "I'll take $5.00."

Work and preparation. It's not easy to look over all your belongings trying to decide what stays and what you are willing to give up. Then figure out where to have it, yard or garage with worry about the weather. Organizing and even cleaning your junk takes time, too. If you don't have signs you'll need to make or buy them.

Public humiliation. Putting your junk out for everyone to see can feel very invasive and embarrassing. I had an African American friend who heard about my impending yard sale and he said, "What? Why do you white people want to display all your junk on the lawn for everyone to see? Aren't you embarrassed? You don't see black people doing that kind of thing!" I'll never forget that. At the time I thought he was teasing me, even though he kept saying he was dead serious. There is something very vulnerable about displaying your junk. Especially if it's ugly junk. People who seek treasures don't care!

Bargain backfires. Selling something worth much more than you accepted, but finding out about it later! It's the opposite of finding a dream-deal bargain. You may under price an item and live to regret it. I sold a collector Marilyn Monroe doll for $5 only to find out later it was worth $150. I didn't know! I'm still haunted by the Elton John concert program  from one of his first concert tours I let go for free when the shopper bought one of my Elton John albums and found it tucked inside the cover. I was surprise the buyer was so honest, but have no idea what I was thinking. Win and lose. It all evens out in the end.

Overselling.  With every garage sale I have, a week later I'm looking for something and can't find it. Oops. I sold it.

Advice for Sellers:

Day. Have it the first weekend after the first of the month. Lots of people are paid at the beginning of the month and feel like they have money to burn. End of the month, people feel poor.

This sign is ten years old and borrowed by many.

Signs. Make great signs and make enough so the route is easy to follow. I always see neon signs with fancy printing and lots of information: address, time, date and even what is for sale. For optimum distance and legibility, go with sturdy, white illustration board with black, block print. No tiny print extras. Your shoppers will be in cars driving. Most won't have time to read the tiny print. If they aren't familiar with your neighborhood, they will have no idea where the address is. Shoppers will see plain, bold, black and white miles away. Make enough to guide your shoppers so your sale is easy to find. There is nothing more frustrating than following a sign and the signs stop with no sale in sight. I don't have enough patience to search and wonder.

Nice sign, but I drove
up the road for blocks and
never encountered another!?

Stock. Have enough merchandise to attract and stop the drive-bys. Get some friends to join and make it a multi-family sale. If you have few items and no furniture, you'll get a lot of drive-bys who don't think it's worth the effort to stop.

Neighborhood sale. Organize a neighborhood yard sale for camaraderie and support. My last garage sale was timed with my neighbor's estate sale. The whole neighborhood found out about it and nearly every house on my block had their own sale. One of my neighbors didn't want to participate but they wanted to get rid of junk so they put a pile out in front with a sign "FREE". All of it was gone by 8am! It was like an outdoor mall...people walking from house to house. Huge sales. Lots of fun.

Marketing and presentation. Clean, organize and display your junk in a desirable space so it's inviting and saleable. This is basic Marketing 101. Junk sells better if it's pretty and presentable and you'll make more money.

Cashier supplies. Have lots of coinage so you can give change. If you don't have change for the big bills, the bargaining pros will come back with, but I only have a $5 - will you take a $5? Not enough change can put you at a bargaining disadvantage.

Pricing. Price your junk a little higher than you expect so you can allow the shopper to bargain and feel like they are getting a good price. If you are comfortable bargaining, don't use price tags. Instead, fix the price in your head and when they ask how much it is constantly ask, "What would you like to pay." You'd be surprised what people are willing to pay especially for little junk. Those little stick-on price tags are a whole lot of extra work.

My new treasures.
See my new bowl? It's big!

Junk sales are great entertainment, whether buying or selling. They provide a much needed alternative to stinky stores or malls and promote recycle, reuse, and reduce.

Have you ever gotten a great deal at a junk sale?

*Photos courtesy of all the junk entrepreneurs in business yesterday!