Thursday, May 19, 2011

FREE is my favorite price

I don't like to be the bearer of bad news.  To bring sadness into your lives.  To tell you about the loss of a loved one.  But today I have no choice.  At 4:27 p.m. EST on Wednesday, May 18 2011, my beloved camera left this earthly realm.  Oh tiny Canon Powershot that I bought used off of Ebay 6 years ago, I miss you already!  After your passing, I reached for you instinctively so many times only to discover an empty, desolate pocket with nary a camera to be found.

Tiny Canon Powershot that I bought used off of Ebay 6 years ago is survived by his sister iPod mini that I also bought used off of Ebay 6 years ago.  Respects can be paid on the kitchen counter next to the pen holder until Sunday.  Or more likely next week.  Meh, who am I kidding?  It'll probably still be sitting there in October, seeing the way things go around here.

Anyway, I was going to bore regale you with pictures of all my real live plants that are growing in our totally functioning garden, but I couldn't take all the requisite life-altering photos due to the aforementioned camera demise.  But I have been inspired (by looking back through recent pictures trying to wrack my brain for something to talk to you about) to expound on how cheap I am.

Specimen #1: Who needs to buy "trellises" for their plants to grow on when you can just grab three FREE sticks from behind your house and rubber-band them together to make Pea Support Teepees?

Specimen #2: And remember the hat that tells lies?  Well here it is!  Claims I ran some insane distance through a desert without sleeping or something.  Whatevs, dude.  It was FREE at the running store one day when they were doing a special clearance sale.  Yes please!
Specimen #3: Also note the sunglasses, which I stole borrowed from my husband who, it turns out, found them in a random field or parking lot somewhere many years ago.  So, also FREE!

Specimen #4: And oh yes, I do have a picture of iPod, sister of Canon (may he rest in peace).  As I mentioned, she was purchased off of Ebay six years ago and that "fancy" armband was included in the auction- for FREE.  Nevermind the fact that I have to wrap it twice around my arm even though it's going over two layers of shirt.  It was FREE, people!

Specimen #5: Take a gander at these beauties.  They were a gift to my children from a generous family member.  I stole them.  FREE. Winning! (What?  I have crazy cold hands that are always cold.  And you know you like my mime action!).

Specimen #6: That white high-tech fabric top was also FREE.  Seriously!  Some kind of promotional item from back when I was a buyer and vendors would leave free stuff all over our desks in an attempt to get us to purchase more things.  Yes please again!

And here's the rest of the ensemble, which I'm sure you remember from Tuesday's post.  I'm bringin' it back so you can appreciate the full effect of the FREE leggings (a gift) and the FREE Athleta running shorts (hand me down from a friend) and the not quite FREE but purchased for next to nothing off of Ebay New Balance trail running shoes.

Hey, if you guys know of any cities or states or um, ahem... countries that could use a little help balancing their budgets, will you kindly pass along my name?  Thanks bunches!
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33 comments :

  1. I am sorry for your loss. You have many memories of your time together though. And I also love free! But who doesn't?

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  2. Hahaha!! Still laughing! But not about the camera and ipod...because that is just sad!! I hope you'll find some replacements.

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  3. Pea support branches ... the newest thing in medical supply stores nationwide ... oh that is...legen ... wait for it.... DARY!

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  4. Oh, we should REALLY get together, m'dear! "Free" just may be my middle name (not in a hippie "Freedom" sort of way. No, as in "I am cheaper than cheap" sort of way.) I cannot seem to pass up anything that says "Free", and in Feb I took a super-couponing class that has enabled me to not only get things for free (legitimately, mind you. I am NOT the TLC Extreme Couponing frauds), but, at times, the store has actually paid me to take things from them! Free is awesome. Now, let's work on couponing you a new free camera! (Me, too, come to think of it!)

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  5. Yes! There are only so many posts I'm going to be able to do using old pictures, so we need to find a camera...stat.

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  6. Dweej for President! Seriously. I would vote for you to balance our budget. I'm pretty sure everyone else on Capital Hill thinks "free" means "stuff we get that taxpayers pay for."

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  7. I have sticker shock about everything. Every. Thing.

    So I went to buy tomato cages at the local home supply store, and was SHOCKED (told you) at their asking price.

    Fortunately, my 'maters are dying. I think I may rig them up to #2 pencils (which I have an abundance of) and see if they begin to thrive. They're going to have to earn those cages.

    As for free? Those couponing shows every one is so intrigued by...when those ladies get all their "free" stuff, guess who is paying for it? Us! Do we not get that?

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  8. Hey, I like that your comment button is at the bottom now :) Free is also my favorite price, right next to 99cents! And like you, I ain't afraid to flaunt it!
    Where can I send flowers and condolences for your beloved camera?!? Poor little thing, but he lived a good life!

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  9. I will be holding a moment of silence for your camera. I will be clutching our camera a bit tighter tonight. *long sigh*

    Being a buyer I bet you had free stuff coming out of your ears. Wow!

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  10. Good eye, Tex! Glad you approve :)

    Bernie, whoever decided to make me a buyer was a smart, smart man. Smart! I know how to make them pennies stretch.

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  11. Running shorts and tights... tre chic...

    And I love the pea teepee! (boy, THAT'S fun to say!)

    Sorry about the camera death. But a 6 year old camera? The resolution was probably horrible...

    pea teepee! pea teepee!

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  12. used 1 ft picket fence for the peas. Because I could (condolences on the camera).

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  13. VERY impressive. I usually find some way to spend money on whatever I get, even if it's supposed to be free. I think I just like the exchange of money. I mean, how fun!

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  14. Oh, if I *had* any money, I probably would too. We bought a $27K house for a reason... ;)

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  15. I love the sticks idea! It's such a no duh, but I am not super creative so thanks for the tip. Not that I have a pea garden, yet. But someday, when we finally have a house....

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  16. hahaha - once again you have me laughing - :) Love all the free things. :)

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  17. Oh, poor little camera. It sounds like he/she/it(?) had a good life. I'm sure he felt very loved.

    Hahaha, love your crazy "free-ness." Especially the pea trellises. I need to get me some of those. Oh wait . . . I totally can! :D

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  18. Ha! we know frugal here. We have a GINORMO TV in our family room and a new "designer" dog. A kid just stopped by for a ride and said "How much did that TV cost you?" "Nothing. We had friends who moved and gave it to us." They paid $2,000 for the puppy and gave her to us too when they moved away. (THough my gf jokes the TV was to pay US for taking the puppy.) One time, my dh and the two boys did a weeklong trip for less than $250. Camping, drove to Ohio from NJ, saw Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water, bike rides, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame etc. etc.

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  19. p.s. To be clear: I was on the trip, too. I vividly remember the car loaded so full that I ate my pasta dinner on a paper plate on my lap, which was full of suitcases.

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  20. Allison, that is awesome and hilarious. Pasta on paper plate in lap full of suitcases during car ride to Ohio. Priceless!

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  21. Love your little pea trellises! I've always been intrigued by things made with sticks. True story. :)

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  22. Poor camera! It will be sorely missed! And you could come and fix MY budget, which is more or less nonexistent!

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  23. Booo to the demise of your camera. But excuse for online shopping seeing as you saved a bunch of money, having got so much for free? Tee hee

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  24. If they gave the national budget to a mom, there would be no more debt!

    And I do love free too, free is awesome.

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  25. Was there a funeral for the dearly departed camera? We want to have one for our dearly departed laptop, but I can't seem to let go. Oh, and don't forget you also have a "Free" Spirit, so you definitely have the free thing down to a science!

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  26. Those running shorts tell me you played in the ABA with Dr J in the 1970's....
    Just kidding. Love your stories.

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  27. Looks like you've brought some fashion to Michigan! Free!

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  28. LOVED this post! And your kick A$$ FREE running outfit.

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  29. love the stick trellises. I will save my Sunflower stalks to use as trellises. Once they are dry they are remarkably sturdy. Sorta like bamboo.

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  30. I take all of my pics with my phone now. And free is awesome. My husband likes to go dumpster-diving all the time. Most of my clothes are from his scores :)

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  31. As a garbage picker from way back, I can appreciate the "value" of FREE!! Some of my favorite treasures came out of someone else's "garbage"...just sayin!

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