It Started with a Journal

My experience over the years with eBay, from both sides of the fence, have been generally positive. I've been using it nearly since it came out, and these days it's even safer than it was before, especially as a buyer. There are lots of protections a buyer has. But every once in awhile, I'm reminded that eBay is still a risk, that less-than-upstanding people can screw you over in small ways.

I had one such experience recently, with the Le Creuset spatulas I was so excited about getting. I used Buy It Now and paid $11 + ~$4 for shipping. The auction itself said "two large Le Creuset spatulas" and nothing more specific than that. However, it also had a photo.

( Photo and details. )

Also, I've read some more of A Game of Thrones. I'm nearly 3/4 of the way through right now, and would have finished last night if I didn't have to get up early this morning. Grrr. As it was I had to force myself to put it down.

( More spoilery comments. )

Amy Acker's going to be on Dollhouse!! As is Olivia Williams, who is a lesser-known actress I've always liked. The list of producers has a lot of familiar names. I haven't found a ton of info on who the writers are -- apparently Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain (from Angel) are the showrunners. Tim Minear's written a couple of eps, and so has Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen (of Dr. Horrible fame).

You might have noticed that I haven't yet shared Le Creuset pictures/news yet. I'm waiting on one last piece to arrive (technically two, as the lid counted as a piece), as it was mistakenly left off the initial order. I haven't yet used any of the ones I've gotten so far, and I want to wait until I've got the complete set before I take a group photo. :D However, this does mean that I have like, no space for anything. I already packed up a box of kitchen stuff, and I have 5 cast iron pans of varying sizes sitting out because I don't have cupboard space for them anymore.

I also mentioned awhile back that I was going to pick up my mom's designer handbags in December and sell them on eBay. I have the handbags, but given the current economic climate I'm not sure it's wise to list them now. Some are decades old; it's not going to hurt to wait a year or two to try and sell them. My theory is that the last thing people are going to spend their money on right now are frivolous items such as handbags, when so many people are struggling just to put food on the table. (Yet if that is the situation, would such people have been looking to buy designer handbags in the first place, ever?) My mom's theory is that since money's so tight now, people are going to be wanting second-hand goods more than in times of prosperity. Which may be true, and yet ... people who buy second hand on eBay are unlikely to have ever bought it new in the first place -- they would always buy on eBay, imho, except now they might not have the discretionary cash to do so. I don't know; it just keeps going around in circles in my head. What do you think??

Also, don't you hate it when you're lazy and don't do laundry in weeks, then wake up one morning and find that you don't have any underwear to put on except granny panties or thongs?