Announcing the First Ever Gavin-Farquhar-Harrington-Hewitt-Huizenga-Luzer Yard (free) (non) Sale.

The idea came to me last night as I was skimming through one of my all time favorite books, “The Tightwad Gazette”. It described a woman who writes a quarterly newsletter to her large, extended family and who started including a section that listed items that either she or other family members would like to give away.

That got me to thinking: I have crap too. Is it possible that someone else wants it? And are things that other people have in their attics, basements, garages and couch cushions that I could use? With that concept in mind, I am proposing an online answer to our clutter problem. Let’s ship to someone else! This is not like that time a few years ago when New Jersey piled all of its garbage on a barge and sent it to another state, only to have the other states, amazingly, turn it away. I think that barge is still out there somewhere…

Do you have a quesadilla maker you swore you’d use all the time, only to find out that actually, Mexican gives you heartburn? How about that costume jewelry that you bought to go with that one dress, which has since become a condominium for moths, and the jewelry doesn’t match another thing in your wardrobe? Or a hand tool that still works wonderfully, but has since been replaced with a fancier, motorized version that you use instead? Work with me, people.

So here’s the deal. If you’re interested in participating in the online Yard (free) (non) sale, send me list of items you’d like to post by Monday, November 28, 2005. Be as descriptive as you can, and supplementing with pictures if you’re feeling especially techie. You can email me the list or post the list in the comment section. Just click on “comments” below. You don’t have to give to get and you don’t have to get to give. I will post all of the items up for grabs on Saturday, December 3rd. Then it’s up to you to check back with the list for any items you’d like. Think of it as free Christmas shopping.

To make this fair, I have a few rules.

1. If you offer something, it must be free and clear. E-bay is just a click away and they know how to take credit cards.
   
2. If you see something you want, let me know right away. Stuff will be given away on a first come, first served basis.
   
3. The recipient pays any shipping costs. If you want Aunt Fran’s thingamawhopper, it’s only fair that you pay to get it your place.
   
4. Be creative (“Hey, I don’t think that thing on the website is useful for this activity, but it would work great as a fill-in-the-blank”.)
   
5. Be realistic (“Am I REALLY ever going to use that second bread machine ever again? If I gave it away, would I ever miss it?”).
   
6. Be generous.
   
7. And be sure that what you’re giving away is really yours to give away (once I gave away two very, very heavy boxes of Chris’ “Every Man’s Library” books to Goodwill. Come to find out they weren’t boxed because he was tired of them, they were boxed because we were moving in a couple of weeks, and he was thinking ahead, because he wanted to make sure that they were as safe and protected as possible. Whoops!)

Some ideas to get your mental juices flowing:

• Kitchen gadgets
  
• Furniture
  
• Books
  
• Clothing
  
• Hardware
  
• Craft items (yarn, rick-rack, buttons, whatevers)
  
• Linens
  
• Artwork
  
• Miscellaneous household items
  
• Baby stuff (Ahem.)

Remember, in order for this to work, I need you. There is no cost to give and only a few minutes of your time is required. Two dates to remember. Monday, November 28th, 2005 to get a list of items to me you’d like to see put to better use, and Saturday, December 3rd, to look at the list of things up for grabs and do a little Christmas shopping. Now get out there and visualize an organized garage!