I don’t know how to explain Axman surplus. It’s a surplus store that knows what it offers is potentially useless crap, that somehow through a magical combination of shameless hilarity and complete randomness manages to become this treasure trove, somehow always having exactly one thing you actually need. Rarely does it exceed that single item - and Eros knows I’ve done much to purge my life of bewildering excess crap - but there’s something strange and delightful about packing up a box of the weird shit I find there and sending it to my sister to see if she can even possibly find something to say about it. I don’t think she said anything to me last year. It’s too bad, I was really hoping for a “What the hell?” Especially at the harmonizer.
This year the item I really wanted to send her was this:
But, fearing the possibility she might use it on a co-worker as a direct result her promotion, I thought it would be better to show her and consider it as something she might request.
This I could swear was a direct quote from the last time I was in the store:
I had taken my friend Joel, and of course Joel brings the mani-comic out in me. People I feel comfortable around do.
Personally, here, I think aiming for Oprah’s a bit mean. It’s not her, it’s her damn followers that are obnoxious. Like Jesus.
And this - the anti-wisdom:
I wish I were better at building flickr badges. Any help and guidance in that area would be welcome.
One Response to “My Artist’s Date”
Okay, this store looks like oodles of fun (a little like American Science & Surplus, which I understand has a physical store in Chicago) — but as you pointed out, can bring out the urge to buy now and figure out later. I had already browsed through your Flickr photostream prior to this post, and the signs really add a level of comedy (& perhaps even your comedy!) to the enterprise. :D
(Re: Flickr badges — what are you trying to do? I don’t know that I can be helpful, but I can always amuse myself trying…)