Back on the Road Again

The fur will really be flying soon--overseas. Stephen, the pooches, and I are packing our things and heading to Manila, Philippines. I have a new job back on the international teaching circuit starting in August, and Stephen will be building the family farm. Yep, you got it. Farm. Look up permaculture...he's way into it. He promises there will be mango trees and foo-foo drinks, which are all enough to get me excited. Throw in some frisbee and a natural swimming pool, and I think we have the dogs on board, too.

Now the question is what to sell. Is it finally time for me to get rid of the rock'n'roll chicken alarm clock that croons "Wow, yeah, hey baby wake up, come and dance with me" every flippin' time it goes off? I would have never parted with it before, but now I wonder. I just searched for a picture of the damn thing to publish here and found someone selling theirs on eBay. The auction is still almost a day away from closing and the price has gone up to $112.50. I had to briefly pull Stephen out of his one-millionth telecommuting game of Memoir 44 with Steve Watkins to see it for himself. Now when he threatens to throw it across the room, I can remind him that it may be one of the more valuable items in the house. Ethical question: if I sell it, do I owe a cut to my Aunt Patty who gave the obscene thing to me in the first place over 17 years ago? I think she'd just like to know that she didn't just give me an alarm clock; she gave me an investment. (Though she may be horrified to hear that I still use it, but you know how good battery powered alarm clocks are hard to find.)

So, the great sell-off begins. It is cathartic to get rid of all the crap I've accumulated over the years, including two full garment racks of clothes. Maybe if I get rid of enough sweaters, the chicken will make it after all!

(Photo published on eBay, but no authorship given.)