We did some more painting today, and before we got started I went for a walk to the shop to get some masking tape. I went into one of the discount variety shops to get some, and of course I had a look around at the other stuff. I love looking in those shops - they’ve got so much cheap, yet strangely attractive, crap. If something crappy costs $2, then it’s not really crappy, because it’s only $2, right? What do you expect for $2?
I’ve noticed quite often that when I’m shopping (especially in supermarkets), and I pay by credit card, the pen the person gives me to sign with is quite cool. Not that it’s made by Cross or anything. It could be a cool-looking design, or it’s nice and chunky (I like chunky pens), or the colours on the barrel are nice. Whatever it is, I find myself wanting one of those cool-looking Supermarket Pens. And then, in this discount variety store, here they were, right in front of me, in a pack of 5 Supermarket Pens for less than $3! Absolute bargain! Sure, I don’t need them, but it’s not like I’m not going to use them - pens are always useful. And because there are 5 of them, I can distribute them amongst my belongings as I see fit. So I’ve got a purple one sitting on my keyboard, a blue one in my bag, a red one in my tafe bag, and the orange and green ones are spares in my drawer. I love stationery!
I also bought a box of orange thins, a bag of mixed lollies and two chocolate bars - they were all cheap, ok! Mmmm cheap. Oh yeah, and the masking tape.
October 17th, 2004 at 11:24 pm | [ Quote ]
You sound like me going into one of those stores! I never walk out without a little something just for fun.
October 17th, 2004 at 11:32 pm | [ Quote ]
remember those pens that had, like, four different colored inks in them and you had to press the lever of the color you wanted to write with… ah, the salad days…
October 17th, 2004 at 11:58 pm | [ Quote ]
Gosh you sound like me. I go in for one thing and come back out with three others.
October 18th, 2004 at 12:53 am | [ Quote ]
cheap lollies, you just can’t go wrong, hope the d.i.y is still vaguely enjoyable
October 18th, 2004 at 6:00 am | [ Quote ]
Ha! I have a sick obsession with the Dollar store and the Dollar tree. I go in and go up and down each and every isle, and usually spend at least 10 bucks. And more likely than not, some of what I get is pens. I collect them and have hundreds laying about the house.
Happy painting.
October 18th, 2004 at 8:45 am | [ Quote ]
I have fun in those kind of stores. I usually don’t buy much, though.
October 18th, 2004 at 9:02 am | [ Quote ]
Why do women do that????when I go shopping with my aunt, she says its for ONE thing only…….and we spend 2 hours going through every other shop..getting stuff not required, before we get what we actually came for.
October 18th, 2004 at 9:20 am | [ Quote ]
Yaya: Exactly - it’s fun to see what’s there!
Ken: Yes, I remember those! They still sell those exact ones - they look so dated now.
JaG: Well, I was going to buy some snacks anyway, but they had so many yummy cheap ones that I had to get more than one
Missfee: Damn straight. The mixed lollies were yummy. Ummm… only very slightly vaguely enjoyable - I’m looking forward to it being over
Jessica: Pens are always good! I brought my green one to work with me
Dawn: I don’t usually buy much either, but when I saw those pens I couldn’t help myself
Kunaal: So don’t go shopping with your aunt! But I’m sure you happily eat/use the stuff that’s ‘not required’, so quit whinging
October 18th, 2004 at 9:34 am | [ Quote ]
Congratulations on actually getting the masking tape too! Whenever I get sidetracked in *that* kind of shop (I feel all dirty now), I come out with everything BUT what I went in for.
p.s. No mention of being sick today? does that mean you are feeling better?
October 18th, 2004 at 10:01 am | [ Quote ]
Heh - thanks, Sam!
I made sure I picked up the tape first, so I wouldn’t forget! I am feeling better today, thanks for asking. I’m now back to where I was when I was sick the first time - trying to shake the cough and the stuffed up nose. I just thought it might be refreshing if I talked about something other than feeling sick 
October 19th, 2004 at 1:52 am | [ Quote ]
My older sister is a pen freak! lol She would buy pens just to have pens and she doesnt even use them all! But yeah, buying cheap pens once in while is worth it cuz well, we always need pens!
October 19th, 2004 at 2:58 am | [ Quote ]
Ken reminded me of my old four-color pen I had in 5th grade. It wrote in pink, purple, blue and green! I thought it was the bomb.
October 19th, 2004 at 3:48 am | [ Quote ]
Ok, here’s what you do. After you sign the receipt, you distract the cashier with some question about your receipt. Ask silly questions and slowly inser the pen in your pocket.
I’M SO KIDDING!! I think I know what you’re talking about, I believe you can find them in Japanese stores here.
October 19th, 2004 at 7:08 am | [ Quote ]
I find that the Japanese have the knack for producing some cheap things thqat look GOOD- here, most stuff at dollar stores looks depressing. But lots of the discount stores in Chinatown, or ones run by Koreans have really cool houseware and stationary stores where the most expensive thing in the whole store is 4 dollars, most things being sbout $1.99
October 19th, 2004 at 8:49 am | [ Quote ]
I’m glad you agree, QM
Now that’s a cool 4-colour pen, Dawn! Way better than those other ancient ones. What colours were they? Red, blue, green and black? Boring.
Ha ha, suuure you’re kidding, Groove!
So how many pens have you snaffled using this method?
You’re right, JR! There’s an Asian grocery across the road from my work, and they’ve also got houseware and stuff - a lot of it looks really cool, and it’s so cheap.
October 19th, 2004 at 3:06 pm | [ Quote ]
:D……well, if its bags/shoes/clothes that she buys for herself…..then I most certainly do not use it……not happily anyway
……but I get your point, so I’ll stop whinging.