Sometimes people on eBay are assholes

 

Out of the blue today I got a message from a guy on eBay about this ice axe I have listed for sale. I'd picked it up on sale at an antique mall for a reasonable price and did my research and priced it accordingly. It is a vintage Stubai ice axe made in Austria.  Normally people just message you on eBay to ask random questions about something you are selling. This guy doesn't say hi, or how is your mother. He just tells me the postage I'm charging to ship the ice axe when it is sold is "ridiculous." 

My response was very polite. I don't control how much is charged for postage. It is based on the size, weight and destination of what you sell. I tell him this and suggest that if he can find a cheaper way of shipping it, let me know. 

His response is that I do control the postage cost and I should look at other ice axes for sale to see how much shipping should be. 

This pisses me off because there is nothing polite about this asshole. He is basically accusing me of trying to make a profit off from postage.

So I check the listing and I do discover that I've made a mistake in the dimensions of the ice axe which have probably inflated the shipping cost estimate. But I can't correct the mistake because I have made offers to some potential buyers for the the thing and once you've made an offer, you can't change details like the size of the item in the shipping area. 

So I do the rational thing. I take the ice axe off the market temporarily. And then I block the asshole who was accusing me of postage gouging so he can't buy it anyway once I fix the size and reduce the postage. If he had been polite about it I would have tried bargaining with him and lowering the item price to make up of the postage. But I'm not going to reward a rude asshole.

Pittamiglio Castle

 

I found this plaster bas relief sculpture at...guess...yes Goodwill. I paid more than I usually like to pay at a thrift store, but I figured it should attract some buyers. 

But turns out it is an odd piece that can't really be traced to an ancient Greek or Roman original sculpture. I kept searching and then I found this.

It is a larger version of the exact same sculpture and it is at a place called Pittamiglio Castle, or Castillo Pittamiglio.  I'll let ChatGPT give you an overview.

Pittamiglio Castle, or Castillo Pittamiglio, is an architectural curiosity nestled along the Rambla in the Punta Carretas neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. With its unusual design and deeply symbolic features, it stands out not only as a local landmark but as a window into the mind of its eccentric creator, Humberto Pittamiglio. Construction of the castle began in 1910, and Pittamiglio continued modifying it until his death in 1966. An engineer, politician, and devoted alchemist, Pittamiglio infused the castle with elements of mysticism, spiritual symbolism, and esoteric philosophy.

One of the most striking features of the castle is its façade, which juts out over the seaside road in the form of a ship’s prow. Atop it stands a replica of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a symbol of triumph and transcendence. This ship-like structure is more than ornamental; it represents the vessel of spiritual transformation—a central idea in alchemical and mystical traditions. Inside, the castle is a labyrinth of narrow corridors, concealed rooms, abrupt dead ends, and sudden turns. The design is intentionally disorienting, reflecting Pittamiglio’s fascination with transformation and the quest for enlightenment.

Throughout the structure, visitors encounter numerous alchemical and mystical symbols, alongside references to various spiritual traditions including theosophy, Eastern philosophy, and Christian mysticism. The overall effect is that of a physical manifestation of a philosophical journey, as if the building itself is a metaphor for the human path toward higher understanding.

Humberto Pittamiglio was a deeply private man, though he briefly served as Uruguay’s Minister of Public Works. He lived in the castle sporadically, using it more as a spiritual retreat and alchemical sanctuary than a residence. His life, shrouded in mystery, continues to fuel speculation and legend. He had no direct heirs and left the property to the city upon his death, ensuring that the strange and symbolic world he created would endure.

Today, Pittamiglio Castle functions as a museum and cultural center. Guided tours are offered to visitors, who can explore the winding passages and learn about the life and philosophies of its creator. The building’s mysterious ambiance has also made it a subject of paranormal lore, with some believing it to be haunted. Whether approached as a work of visionary architecture, a house of symbols, or a spiritual riddle, Pittamiglio Castle continues to intrigue and inspire all who step inside.

Sounds like Castillo Pittamiglio is Uruguay's answer to the Winchester Mansion. Ironically I found this coffee cup around the same time I found the bas relief sculpture that also adorns Castillo Pittamiglio.

How cool is that? The Pittamiglio Castle, not the Winchester Mystery House coffee mug (which BTW has the history written on the other side of the cup)

I doubt if you can buy a souvenir coffee cup from Pittamiglio Castle. Though that would be pretty cool and now I have this strong desire to visit Uruguay and go there. Because I've been to San Jose, but I never went to the Winchester House. I regret that.

Regardless, I have this bas relief sculpture that is now one of those thrift store finds that I want to keep. But I am rapidly running out of room.

If someone buys it though, I will be sad.

Saints and sinners

 

I am sad that Pope Francis has died. Ironically, it was 20 years ago just before I got married that Pope John Paul II died. We were on a cruise that we would we would be married on. The Pope died on April 2 and we got married on April 3. 

April is apparently not a good month for Popes.  Perhaps Easter is traumatic for them

But speaking of Saint Joseph, I found this amazing figurine at Goodwill today. Just bury it in your front yard (feet up and facing your house) and it will help you sell your house despite high interest rates and a tanking world economy. All you have to do is ensure your house is staged appropriately and priced reasonably and St. Joseph will close the deal. But then you have to pay him a commission and dig him up and put him in your new home.

It all seems rational to me in these troubled times. I am selling St. Joseph on eBay if you are interested. Only $18. That's pretty cheap to ensure a miracle.

Something tells me that this will also ensure that I go to hell.

Remember the Titanic

 

The Titanic struck an ice berg and sank 113 years ago today. About 1500 people died making it one of the worst disasters in maritime history. And for whatever reason people (including me) are fascinated with the story.

Last summer I went to an exhibit in Seattle that showcased items and photos from the Titanic.

It was sobering, to say the least.  One thing I am struck with is that I kind of look like the captain of the Titanic.

He was a flashier dresser than I am. And he came out of retirement to captain the Titanic on its maiden voyage.

That sucks.

But one of the things I have always found amazing was the story of the musicians on board the ship playing right up until the ship sank. Pretty amazing and pretty sad. 

Here's to the memory of the souls who lost their lives on that fateful day in 1912.

Help, I'm trapped in the body of an old man

 

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that just because someone looks old, it doesn't mean they feel old.  Other than occasional lapses of memory and wearing mismatched socks, I don't feel anywhere near as old as I look. And my decision to grow out my predominantly gray beard doesn't help. 

But still, at times I forget how old I am an how old I'm getting until I look in the mirror and see the old stranger looking back at me. And I gasp and ask myself, "Who the fuck is that?" 

Oh, I know I'm old. I am relieved in some ways because much of the garbage you surround yourself with when you are young wears away with age. I don't give a shit about how I look most of the time for one thing. For the most part I am invisible and no one cares.  But on the other hand, I accept I just am and no one is going to be impressed with me one way or the other.

No one is ever going to be impressed with me. That is a hard lesson to learn. Because the young me wanted desperately for someone to see how very special I was. I wanted them to know how creative and clever I was. I wanted them to be surprised at how deep and quirky I was. And if they weren't, I just chalked it off to them not seeing the real me.

It was only in my old age that I realized no one cared about how clever I was or wasn't. It was a hard lesson to learn. But at the same time, it has been cathartic. I realize that my memoirs would be of no interest to anyone. I used to think my children would be fascinated about my life before they were born.  But they too barely know I'm in the room let alone have any curiosity about who I was or am. 

I wonder if this is true with everyone as they age?

They might be giants...

 One of the things I really enjoy about haunting thrift stores and finding abandoned objects and researching what they are and their history is learning new things. For example, I found the carved bust pictured above on Saturday and a super thrifty thrift store. I almost didn't buy it because it was $5 and I thought it was an African wood carving.  And I haven't had the greatest luck selling African wood carvings because there are a ton of them out their brought back by tourists. But there was something about this carving that I thought was special so I bought it.

I went through the first phase of research by running the image through Google lenses and discovered a few similar carvings. But most seemed to be listed as probably being from this place or that because the seller couldn't figure out exactly where they were from.  I had my doubts that it was actually from Africa because of the beard and the hairstyle. It definitely didn't look African.

So I ran the image through Gemini and it went off on a tangent about it looking like Pacific Northwest Coastal Native carvings. I wasn't buying that B.S. Finally I found an image that looked almost identical and it said it was purchased from a woman in Guam who said it was a carved in Chuuk (formerly Truk Lagoon) in Micronesia and was supposed to depict giants who lived on Earth before humans. 

Gemini seemed pissed when I suggest that and still insisted that it was a Coastal Native carving.  ChatGPT was a bit more cooperative, especially when I shared the listing showing the carving from Chuuk.  So I listed it on eBay for much more than I think an African carved bust would be worth.

But part of me really doesn't want to sell it because how many people own a carving of pre-human inhabitants of the earth. Here's what AI says about them:

The wood carvings from Chuuk (formerly Truk Lagoon) in Micronesia that are said to depict giants who lived on Earth before humans are fascinating and deeply rooted in the local oral traditions and mythology. Here's what is generally understood about them:

Legends of the Ekerebü (or similar names):

• Pre-Human Inhabitants: Chuukese legends speak of a race of beings called the Ekerebü (the name might vary slightly depending on the specific island or dialect within Chuuk). These beings are described as giants who inhabited the islands before the arrival of humans.
• Supernatural Powers: The Ekerebü are often attributed with immense strength, supernatural abilities, and a different way of life compared to humans. They are sometimes depicted as the original shapers of the islands or possessors of knowledge lost to humankind.
• Disappearance: The legends usually tell of the Ekerebü eventually disappearing or leaving the islands. The reasons for their departure vary in different stories – some say they left for other lands, others that they were transformed, or that they faded away as the human world came into being.

 Carvings like mine are traditionally made from local woods, and the techniques passed down through generations reflect the resources and artistic practices of Chuuk. They represent powerful beings from a time before human settlement, embodying strength, supernatural elements, and a connection to the ancient past as understood in Chuukese traditions.

How cool is that?

Well, that takes the coffee cake

 

It is National Coffee Cake Day. Which makes me think how frivol of a thing to celebrate when the Orange Menace is destroying the world economy while he golfs. We should buy him a violin so he can fiddle while the world economy burns. 

Not that the idiot could play it.

Bit of a pickle

 

Irony of irony, I spent all of this time loading designs on Red Bubble and all of a sudden I start selling t-shirts on Zazzle. 

Go figure.

Today was a banner day

 

I made my first sale on Red Bubble (though it was a coffee cup and not a t-shirt)!  And that's not all! I ate at a Chinese restaurant and got two fortunes in one fortune cookie.

So despite the Orange Menace in D.C. the stars have aligned for some things.

Cheese...

 

It's National Cheesesteak Day! And before you think that concept is all wet, here's a real Sub Sandwich that is served in (and on) all the best dives.

Near miss...

 

It's National Near Miss Day. Go ahead and take a shot. What do you have to lose?

Spring has sprung

 

Ahhh...spring is in the air!