runnage heroines

Nancy, as usual, posted some great material! She and Lolly were the true unsung heroines of the day. The spirit was high, the crowds were thick, and the air cold (who the heck kept leaving the darn outside door open in 20-odd degree weather?!)
So this morning started for me carrying a very heavy donated doctor's scale to the sale, through 4 inch? 2inch? deep snow (I walked). Excellent on the biceps, by the way. Only to be almost bludgeoned to death by a large falling tree limb. But I made it to be helped by super-strong Nancy. We already had 2 people waiting in the parking lot at 7am (advertised start time was 8am). These people were hungry for bargains after yard-less-saling all cold long winter (and really, it is freakishly cold here).
I am one of those people who still have to pony up for my treasures, but as it has already been widely spread, I am undeinably miserly. I know Nancy and family have paid more than their fair share (was anyone else alarmed by Paul's request of gas money?!?! Who ponied up for that? Nancy and Matt, that's who! Generous gal and guy.)
Oh-one should definitely not try to hold a rummage sale in the cold, having slept poorly the night before, with just coffee in one's system, especially when one is prone to acting a wee bit flightly during low blood sugar episodes. I am talking about my penchant for falling over without food in me. It is pathetic really. Thanks goodness for Lolly and Nancy being there to hold me up.

Ahhh...

Listen to this sound... ... it is the sound of silent satisfaction after having busted ass at this school rummage sale. It was a symphony of volunteerism. Parents, teachers, and children pulling together to haul, sort, fold, sell, bag, schlep, load, pack, and toss. Our enthusiasm never waned. We encouraged customers to "Round up for a Kiss". If, for example, a customer's total came to nine dollars but he agreed to pay us a ten spot, he got a Hershey's kiss, loud cheers, and applause. This was an effective fundraising strategy! Very few people refused to round up. (Only the grumps.) At noon we began the $5 bag sale. At 1pm a bag-full was only $1. At 1:30 everything was FREE! At 1:45, Paul, assistant to Elmer, arrived with his truck and trailer and hauled all the leftovers away.

There are a few people who have left to pay for their loot, but we can confidently forecast earnings close to $1700.

Ahhh. Sleep well, yardsalers.

Rummage our Rack - Support our Track

Good news, Blog Followers! There's a big rummage sale at school this Saturday!

Stacey Henke, who is the unofficial Chancellor of the Neighborhood and Prime Minister of Signal Hill School, wanted to have a rummage sale to raise money for the track. We have a new track, thanks to previous fundraising efforts, but now we need other stuff like a long jump pit, hurdles, and whatever else track-and-fielders need to do their sport.

And as we know, if you want to have a rummage/yard/garage sale in this neck of the woods you need to involve Nancy and Laura! She roped us in as helpers and somehow we rose to the top and are now in charge. Luckily, we freakin' love it!

After a few emails, a backpack flyer, and a sentence on the school marquee (the standard marketing tools of any PTO operative) we have a gym stage FULL of crap. Big, black garbage bags full of clothes. Boxes of books. A pet cage. Two vinyl bean bags. Seasonal wreaths. Old Tupperware. Bikes. Probably some owl figurines and a Gail Sheehy self-help book. The usual stuff.

But what lies beneath the usual stuff? What treasure waits to be discovered under cardboard and dust? Will we uncover a taxidermied animal? Some rustic wooden objects? A round metal circle with holes?!

Tune in Saturday...