Ok, so with all of the new free time I have - being unemployed and in major economic drama crisis and all for those who might need a recap - I feel rather smug because I have discovered the wild and woolly world of e-bay.

See, it started with the idea, "I wonder why I have been toting around a bunch of silver I'll never use?" That is grandma's silver...no, specifically: three grandmothers' silver. Oh, be real. I need money, period. Then one thing led to another and now, I am listing it...a LOT of it...on e-bay. And it's selling. It's the damndest thing I have ever seen.

At first I didn't get how e-bay worked. I needed money for December mortgage, and I priced the silver accordingly and well below even the "discount" prices of huge-volume websites. I thought I was rather clever. Boy did I ever get the anonymous comeuppances...lots of them. One disgruntled person even wrote that if I was going to sell things for prices "like that" I should go retail. Ha! "Retail? Sophie, surely you jest."

I laughed pretty hard after reading that message, believe me. the nerve, accusing me of selling retail...queen of..I don't know. Drama's about all I can come up with so far. 

And the funny things was, by strategizing these listings, I found myself laughing more. Smiling a lot. And wondering why I had got myself into such a blue cloud mode to begin with. Seriously. There was no reason for it.

And then, yes, I was sucked into the vortex. It just happens. I swear, it does...and it could happen to anyone. Because I realized that there are people out there who definitely will treasure what has become a burden to me, while helping me pay the bills for part of the month...then the month...who knows? It's just so refreshing to have that possibility of selling something to someone you've never met and never see. It's bizarre but strangely attractive at the same time. I honestly cannot explain it.

Then I start brainstorming the possibilities after I have sold all the silver I can, and should, bear to part with. It's emotionally draining to fight the moronic former mortgage company and it's successor day in and day out while hoping the people you did work for will pay you. It really is. I have begun to wonder whether people in either mortgage company can even read given the obvious errors extant in what the new mortgage company is doing. Oh yeah, and I'll file a complaint with the federal OCC. But that's a federal agency and, well, you know how they roll. right? A few years from now, the complaint might hit a desk before entering the recycle bin.     

So now, I am thinking about sending the postcard collection also inherited into the webosphere. Hey, you know what? I even shipped something to Moscow today. No, not Moscow Idaho, goof, Moscow, Russia. Russia. Man, that is so neat. Been to Europe, been to Africa, never been to Russia. Always wanted to visit, too. St. Petersburg is beautiful and parts of Moscow would be flash to see.

So here I sat today, casually addressing this package to someone in Russia. This caused quite a stir in the local post office. And hell, the whole line of people loved that I was actually selling on e-bay. Again, I smiled, laughed and now probably am considered a cuter version of the village idiot. I haven't decided yet.

And I must admit I took a certain pride in polishing these beautiful things so that whoever opens the box will see this shimmering thing beneath a veil of bubble wrap; gently pull apart the bubbles; and reveal a work of art. Oh sheesh, yes, enviro-girl used bubble wrap. Call the EPA. I confess. But I know this stuff will, as I said, be treasured by the recipient. Or resold on e-bay.

Ok, ok, so once I bought a bag of...er, rocks, on e-bay. I still have them. Polished them up real pretty and look at them often. I am an avowed rock hound, big time. Perhaps I should have become a geologist.

But now I am thinking I have all kinds of weird little things I will sell, including jewelry I never wear anymore; the post cards...and then I had the epiphany. I figured if someone can sell "absolutely nothing" and actually win bids, perhaps I will put...a piece of wood on e-bay just to see what happens. Or a box of cornflakes and certify they are haunted because I saw one levitate out of the box while uttering, "You stink, you stinky stinker," in a guttural and menacing voice.

Like I said, e-bay makes you start thinking some weird things, especially when you list something for nine-dollars and a bunch of people scrap it out and it sells for over $90. Yep, that happened to me today. Amazing, yet so odd. But I have also made a fast friend from e-bay. Oh gee, do I like this person a lot. Very polite, kind, and so neat. This person lives in New York City...sigh...and despite many differences, this person is awesome. I have already learned so much just from talking on the telephone. And again, I laughed, smiled...and forgot the nonsense for a while.

E-bay...some people become addicted to it and make e-baying a full time job. I will run out of silver and excess stuff eventually. And that will feel so good. I hate lots of stuff anyway. But somehow, when I am printing out a "thank you" note that is a print of one of my paintings (I put it at the top of this article), and place a name with purblebinky62 or the like; then send them what is really more like a present, because you really never do know what you're gonna get, it just feels good. And I feel good. And it has been a long time coming. So cheers to you, e-bay. Auction on, all you righteous rock bidders out there. And look for the silver. You'll find me and my stuff there, waiting for the next bid. Just don't look too long...you, too, might have village idiot potential, too.