Current Mood : Sleepy and happy. And surrounded by clean laundry !
Sorry this one's late, too. I was literally too busy to write - and a lot happened. Some of it is actually interesting...
Promised to take Dearest Son out for a bit of a prowl - he'd earned five bucks from housework and a big toy give-up, and already had three, so he was more than ready to go ! He was hunting for a particular Bakugon figure ($5.), but after that, he was eager to see what was out there.
So we hit Mal-Wart first. I got some more water bottles filled. For some reason, I'm real hyper about getting all our empty ones topped off. Probably so they'll be useful and used, instead of empties in the way. He soon found his Bakugon, and we were looking idly at other offerings. I'd noticed an endcap of new Hot Wheels cars, and after finding nothing in the regular 'toy cars' section, we had a quick peek - and Dearest found a Delorean ! I'd heard that Hot Wheels had the license to do them, and a buncha folk had decided to do the evil toy thing and snap 'em all up, try to get big bucks for 'em on eBay.
Too bad Delorean Motor Company got wind of it. They bought thousands of the cars, and sold 'em for a buck plus shipping to whoever wanted 'em. Pretty soon, the eBay speculators were stuck, because no one was buying 'em. Personally, I loved it. The ones Dearest found (note the plural, there) were a second version, of a gold car. But fully licensed as a classic gull-wing door Delorean. The end cap must've had a dozen of 'em. Like any good collector - hey, he learns from me, both good and bad ! - he lined up six and chose two. He wanted to get one for his Daddy ! How sweet.
I snagged a few groceries and we were off to the nearby thrift. She had some new dolls, but I still hate to pay $4. for what is essentially two nude dolls, one dress I like, and one I don't. So I didn't get anything, and Dearest wanted to save his remaining cash for the flea market.
On the way there, we hit a yard sale, and he found a cute Beanie Baby plush cat for a quarter. Man, the second-hand market is choked with those things, and dirt cheap. You'd be proud of me - I turned down a $5. My Size Barbie in great shape. Has the new face, not much like the three I already have, so it wasn't too hard to say 'no' for once. The new face is pretty, but somehow not as sweet as the older ones.
On to the Flea ! I had hopes of getting out of there Scott-free, but it wasn't gonna happen. I was poking through the new dolls Brenda - of the car sets - had while Dearest fell in love with a Barbie red Mustang convertible. With a crack in the windshield and a missing front fender. (sigh) Brenda offered to sell it to him for $8. instead of the $12. on the sticker...arrgh. Well, we combined funds and were still a couple bucks short, but he got his car. He was happily bearing it off, back to Molly for home and lunch - when he suddenly got sick.
I cleaned it and him up as best as possible, asking him to tell me what was wrong. Clearly his stomach hurt, and he was pale and shaking a bit. He said he had the worst headace ever, so we hustled out and I put him on the sofa for a lie-down. He slept for two hours, then woke refreshed and hungry. I think he had a flash allergy. I get those too. While she doesn't usually wear perfume, Brenda's booth was heavily scented, a sort of old-fashioned powdery scent that's sort of floral - and almost fog-like in its density. He'd been fine and happy all day, until he hugged her, and then was nearly instantly ill.
Even though he ate most of his lunch, I insisted that he hang out on the sofa until it was time for DFIL to pick him up for his weekend visit at his grandparents'. He felt much better, but I still worried. I took the couple bucks we still owed Brenda up to the Flea, and reassured her that Dearest was doing much better.
She then had a surprise for me. While I was gone, she'd made a trade for some dolls, and didn't need this one - would I like to try to restore her ? Wow. I knew instantly that the poor dismembered, broken doll in the bag was an authentic Ideal Patti Playpal. A few weeks ago, I was reading how someone'd found one in a Dumpster, filthy but intact, and so she cleaned it up and gave it to her daughter. Idly, I wished for that sort of luck - they're very pretty, and really expensive. Well, here was my luck ! Not quite as amazing, but the Universe knows I love a challenge, and the Universe loves me. I didn't know how much until I really got a good look at this little love note...
The head was sunken into the chest, leaving her a literal no-neck monster. While the arms were intact, the elastic cording that originally strung them was long gone, and the substitute loop of twine was doing a less than adequate job. Her plastic had split right at the crotch, which detached both legs, but one had a flange torn so thoroughly, that even if I managed to fix the crotch, I'm not sure if the torn flange would allow the doll to just stand, much less sit or move at all. Covering the entire waist area was tape residue from cloth, masking, duct, and paper tapes, and she was both filthy and scalped. Whoo. Lotta work here, but her face was lovely, her eyes and face paint were bright. Brenda said she wouldn't blame me if I trashed the whole project, but if there was a chance for her, it was with me.
So. Guess what my Summer '10 project is ? (grin) I'm doing some legwork for restoration tips, because I really would like to see her pretty again.
Once Beloved Hubby was home, he declared Patti 'Chucky', and was a bit weirded out that she was in sections. But it's not like we were home long. Friend was moving and needed help, so off we went. Sometimes it's a pain to be the only one in the family with a large truck. After that, we had an invitation to go through the stuff up for Uncle's yard sale next weekend, and grab whatever we wanted for free. Beloved selected some tools, and I scored several small pieces of fabric. I was offered the whole box, but that's the last thing I need ! I only got the three prints and two solids I liked.
It was rather late when we got in, so we had a quick dinner and hit the sack. Not sure what'll happen Saturday, but today was certainly memorable !
