We won the bid!!

Thanks to Lit's willingness to watch Oyster recently, Chill and I were able to attend the local Artists Against AIDS Auction. I was amazed at the large number of merchants represented along with the local artists. The many paintings, sculptures, jewelry items, blown glass, pottery, one afghan, and one quilt were displayed throughout a large room--that really could have been a lot larger. What a fantastic problem! Too many donations!

If I have figured this out, here is a photo of the quilted wall hanging I donated this year. Thanks to Oyster to holding it up to be photographed. Sorry for the bad quality of the photo--I used the cell phone and this was the better of the two tries.

Anyway, tucked amongst the original art were services from local businesses, such as clarinet and saxophone lessons, spa weekends, YMCA membership, dinner at local restaurants, and decorating consultations. Dinner for six with the mayor went for $750. Of course, he egged it on by bidding up to $500 himself. A framed autographed Thriller album went for around $2500. A 1970 autographed Sonny and Cher album and a Rolling Stones album signed by the entire band were also up for grabs.

Airline tickets, hotel, and show tickets to several places were auctioned off--Ellen Degenres tickets went for over $3000. A NASCAR event was also on the list. I admit I didn't pay much attention to that bid.

Because the ballroom at the El Dorado, the refreshments, and the printing of the tickets were all donated, this particular auction came pretty darn close to being 100% profit. I'm guessing the cash bar provided a hefty amount.

As for us, I just got off the phone with someone calling to tell me how to deliver my money and pick up my treasure. Life is good.

Observations

Over the summer I have noticed an increased number of odd items on the side of the road as I drive a short distance on the interstate to and from work. Now, I know I have expressed dismay at the number of shoes on the roadside before, but in addition to those there have been some bigger and more disturbing items.

I would hope that if a recliner fell off the back of a truck I was driving that I would notice. Same goes for a very large metal desk. However, these two items each spent almost a week in the median of the interstate this summer--spaced about two days apart. To me the most disturbing part of this is the danger to other motorists as items this large and heavy are heaved from the back of a moving vehicle at interstate speeds. And I have to wonder, did they originally land in the median, or did they block the road until someone later moved them out of traffic?

There have been several days when it appeared someone was making an effort to pick up trash, as there were somewhat evenly spaced trash bags tied up on the shoulder. But other days there have been what was more likely someone's bags of trash spilled at the roadside. There have even been a couple of suitcases, popped open with clothing strewn for a half mile or so. Fast food waste paper, drink bottles and cans, and other assorted trash can be viewed daily. Occasionally large numbers of beer cans are clustered together. Makes me glad I was not on the road alongside the car that dumped them.

The items I have found the most interesting for long-term observation are the pair of sandals that I have been watching all summer long. As I whiz past I get the impression they are expensive leather, much like Birkenstocks. And, as they have held up through some rough weather (and probably some heavy tires), my impression is reinforced. They are on a bridge, and are slowly being forced further and further apart, but both are still visible on 3132 as I am exiting onto I49. Although assorted other shoes have put in appearances, they seem to disappear from view within a few days. I guess they are falling off into the grass or being picked up along with the trash. (Trash retrieval does not appear to happen on the bridge where the shoulder is much more narrow).

Today was less exciting. All I saw of note was a push broom. And, of course, the Birkenstocks.