My husband flew to North Carolina last month. He traveled solo as the reason for the trip was a Marine Corps reunion of sorts…. and sorry, but I’ve been there, done that, have no desire to do it every two years. I certainly don’t begrudge him the time with his fellow Devil Dogs but we both know he has a better time without me standing around looking bored and checking my watch every 20 minutes.
Anyhoo… he spent a week there and it should come as no surprise to any of my loyal readers that some of that time was spent antique shopping.
What did surprise me was the fact he found the one particular item I’ve been searching for since we turned our barn into a man cave extraordinaire five years ago.
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An antique wall phone!
Oh, I’ve seen them up here, but they’re either in terrible shape, ridiculously expensive or remodeled to modern standards.
The one he found in Wilmington, N,C. was perfect.
From the early 1900’s, in amazing shape with original hardware, a cord that wasn’t frayed and operational crank and ringer.
Score!
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The husband called me immediately, texted pictures and said he’d talked the owner down from $295 to $265… a decent price. Naturally I wanted it and knowing he’d have to ship it home, he bought it quickly and headed to the Fed Ex down the road before they closed.
It was late Friday afternoon and he was flying home the next day. We knew it would be pricey to pack and ship, but figured paying another hundred or so was worth it.
Needless to say we miscalculated slightly.
Packing was $66. Understandable as it was an awkward and fragile item and the husband happily agreed. But when the clerk rang up the shipping cost at $610? My guy almost had a heart attack.
$610 to mail a box! Is it me, or is that completely insane?
Husband took the packed box and vowed he’d bring it on the plane with him the next day even if he had to buy it a separate seat. Which ironically, would be cheaper.
Oh, and here’s another question – have any of you run into the “convenience fee” stores are charging now if you use a credit card instead of cash?
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We haven’t seen it in Maine yet, but North Carolina is clearly on board.
You never know what you’ll find when you go antique shopping. Suffering from a nervous disorder?
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Plug in for instant relief. Or electrocution …
Searching for a few taxidermied squirrel asses?
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Look no more.
I actually wanted to buy the smaller one of these for the man cave… ( it’s the closest I’ll ever get to killing that little red bitch who chews through our walls ) but the husband wouldn’t let me.
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Need to give multiple fingers at once? They have that too.
And finally, if you want to suck out the souls of your grandchildren this Christmas?
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Vintage Santa is waiting with open arms.
😳
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 