Me and Graz

     Meandgraz, means Me and Graz. I find these About Me pages interesting and I wanted to create a little something about Us. The best way to define us is 'two eccentric packrats'.

    An update as of August 11, 2006

     Graz decided we are going to sell books along with everything else we have. We now have about 500 listed on half.com and have about 10,000 more to list. I finally found some room in the house and I am loaded to the gills in boxes of books. I believe we are true addicts at finding bargains or glutens for punishment.

 We both have been ill here lately, it seems that we are always at the doctors office. I had a stint with tennis elbow and had to stay away from the puter for a bit, and Graz has been quite ill and I have been taking care of him, so we have not been listing anything for a while. I am just getting started back. Graz decided he is going to remodel the bathroom, please pray for me. It is in shambles as we speak. ( it finally got finished.

My recent auto accident has really done me in.   I realize that 9 out of 10 doctors do not read all of your medical reports. I just had a chiropractor tell me that I was unfixable and could only recommend pain management. I already have gone that route.

I am listing books slowly...but have in my mind that there are some things I want to do before I die. One is to learn how to play the guitar and I want to play 'Me and Bobby Magee' the way Janice sang it. I sound just like her and I think I could play that song on a guitar if I picked one up.

I was told today that my health issues are as good as it gets and I did not like what I heard because 'it' is not good now at all.

     I, a couple decades ago, was a flea market vendor and I sold "junk". Mostly at flea markets folks do not want to spend more than a dollar, so I profited on my inventory being of things people actually needed. I did well. I did not know anything about anything. I learned about pottery, glass and collectables from winning mixed lots at  auctions and hanging out at auctions and flea markets. I then began my stint of being a collector. I had a very large Victorian house in a quiet town. I had it full of antiques and my collections of everything. My heart loves roses. If it had a rose on it, it was coming home with me. I have a large capodimonte collection, among other things. I am also a craftaholic, along with being a yard sale nut.

     Then I met Graz. A true eccentric to the letter. He throws nothing away. I cannot wait to find out what he is going to do with all the VCR's and stereo equipment in the basement. He has 15 shovels and 12 handsaws. We wont go there.

     I sold my house and moved into a rancher last year when Graz and I got married. I brought only my furniture and non replaceable collectables, my clothes and craft supplies. We are finally getting able to move around in here. The bedrooms and half the basement are filled with my treasures.

     I had this great idea to get rid of my treasures on Ebay. I am ill and cannot hold down a real job. I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia.( I was a credit card bill collector and this is so much better). Selling treasures on Ebay has gave me reason to get up in the morning. It may sound stupid, I get great enjoyment from the whole aspect. I am not allowed in the sun, so the flea market vendor idea for myself is out. My life consists of being indoors at the computer. I can handle only a couple hours a week in the sun, and only in the morning.

     Mr. Graz is learning as we go. Now if I could teach him to list, Wouldn't that be something! He is the hauler, the packer, the sounding and idea board. It is an asset that he loves yard sales as much as I do. Mr. Graz collects shot glasses and Patriots Memorabilia. He is a true football fanatic. I have never seen anyone who can watch all the games at the same time. I don' know how that remote control holds up. I am just glad they invented Tivo or I would never see my shows!!

     Before I decided to actually sell, I decided I needed to learn to buy. Boy did I buy!! I have learned how not to pack stuff, after receiving bent, chipped up stuff, and things in bad condition.

     I treat people the way that I would like to be treated. Do unto others is my golden rule.

     I pride myself on my packing. I learned from watching others. I learned by how not to pack. I actually received something wrapped in a brown paper bag, it was not in the bag!!  that was smooshed over and taped wrapped around it. I think I have seen just about everything. I reached into a box and the glass shavings got me. I try to pack my goods so that in the event the post office plays 'let's toss mrs graz's boxes', what is inside will survive. I don't like receiving something that is bent when it is not suppose to be. When I send out paper goods, there is cardboard inside the envelope so it can't bend. I am a firm believer in learning to buy so one can learn to sell.

     It does not matter how much you paid for it, It is going to be packed as if it were worth a million dollars. I do not spare on the bubble wrap, the peanuts or the tape. I hate tape. Me and tape do not get along. I tried so many different kinds, until I got the idea that those package sending stores, they do this for a living, must use good tape, so I went to one and bought tape from expert packers.

     I take pride in everything that I do. I am not an expert in anything that I sell, I enjoy meeting people thru Ebay, even if we never meet in person. I have met some very nice folks, some I communicate with everyday.

     If you win one of my auctions, you can expect to be communicated with as far as being acknowledged and thanked for your payment, you will know when your package is sent and what the delivery confirmation number is. I like to know when the package arrived and that it is okay. Feedback is always welcomed.

     If you win an auction and when you get your treasure, If something is wrong, please, please contact me, either thru email or the contact seller message route, let me know something is not right. I will stand behind anything that I do or say or sell. There is nothing that cannot be worked out. Give me a chance to make it right before leaving nagative feedback. I would do the same for you.

     I want the winners of my auctions to feel as though they are important, because they are. I see some people who have sold so much stuff, they forget how they got there. If I ever get to the 1000 mark, I will still be treating people the same as I do now. I am the nimrod who will refund money if I find that I made an error in shipping calculations.

     I love Ebay and all that comes with it. This has put alot of meaning back into my life. I want your experience with me and graz to be a good one. I do go to the post office EVERY DAY that it is open. If I have your payment by 9am, your package is going out that day, if not it will go out the next day,and any payment received after 9am unless it is something I can throw in an envelope. If you pay when the auction ends I guarentee it will be at the post office before noon the next morning on any given day that the post office is open. I don't understand when I read that people only ship once a week, or on certain days, I don't get it. I read once where the item would be shipped within 6 days, what is that about? I bought something once and it was almost 2 months before I received it. And no I did not leave negative feedback, these people have to live with themselves. I cannot repeat enough that I treat people the way I would expect to be treated, not they way I am treated.

     I am always on the look out for odd, interesting things. I sell alot of things with roses on them, Even if I can't keep it, and I sell it, I at least had the thrill of buying it and being able to look at it for a while. I am learning to live with that, as I do not have the room in this house as I freely did in my old house. I miss that house...

          Now as I update this page, Graz is turning into a real yard sale nut! Now it is he who has the newspaper list of sales. We sure are having fun at this!

     We have decided to do more with books and paper goods. I have been collecting books now and am going to focus more on paper goods, and plates.

     I am thrilled if you even took the time to read this. I am always finding different stuff, I try to list almost daily, Different treasures every week. Thanks for Looking. God Bless you and yours.