Last weekend my bride and I saw the movie “What Happens in Vegas” (a chick flick if ever there was one, but love makes a man do some crazy things). In it, Carmen Diaz cancelled her wedding and took off her $35,000 engagement ring, but didn’t give it back to her ex-fiancé. That got me to wondering where jewelry like this ends up. Perhaps on Ebay? So I Googled it, and found this website. Wish I had thought of that. J
Archive for May, 2008
What Good is a $35,000 Engagement Ring After You Cancel the Wedding?
Saturday, May 31st, 2008Update on My Gamble on Ebay
Friday, May 30th, 2008Yesterday the sales rep from one of the local equipment dealers brought by the proposal for a new envelope inserter. It was even more expensive than I thought. Total cost of the five year lease: $38,560 plus an additional $18,720 for the maintenance option, bringing the total cost to $57,280. While we have yet to see if I made the right move, I have to say that I’m feeling a lot more confident about the gamble I took in buying a used for $999 on Ebay.
So Far, So Good
Thursday, May 29th, 2008The envelope inserter I bought off of Ebay shipped out of Denver via freight carrier today. The bill of lading shows that it weighs 200 pounds, so at least I’ll have a big honkin’ paperweight if nothing else.
Risky Business, or a Shrewd Dude?
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
For those of you who’ve ever wanted to buy something on Ebay but were nervous about it, I just took the plunge for you. Yesterday I bought a machine that folds brochures, inserts them in envelopes, and seals the envelopes, sight unseen, from an equipment broker in Denver. I bought it immediately after being outbid on similar machines. So why take such a gamble? Because I only paid $999 for it (plus $350 shipping), and most used units sell for around $5000 – $10,000. For years we printed, folded, and mailed millions of self mailer brochures from within our office. But when we went to enveloped mail this year, we had to use an outside service, for which I’m paying about $2000 a month. It’s time to buy a machine.
Every sales rep gave me a different story on why I need to buy this machine or that one, and all were in the $10,000 to $20,000 range. Yet most of them don’t return my phone calls, or want to write up proposal and take a week to get back to me. I’d rather gamble $1349 on a machine and pay one of the local dealers $95 an hour to replace any worn parts. Even if we still need to buy a new machine, at least we’ll know for sure exactly what we need before dropping up to $20 K on the wrong one. But if this one does do the job, I just saved thousands. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Feedback on 5/27/08 Issue of Work Is Not for Sissies
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Who’s That Celebrity Standing Next to You?
Monday, May 26th, 2008
This morning while my wife and I were lining up at the start line of the Memorial Day Dash, a 5K road race in Nashville, I asked the woman next to us about her GPS running watch. She was quite cordial, and I thought I knew her, but mentioned nothing about it. When the race began and the first song that came up on my iPod was “Heads Carolina, Tails California”, I realized the woman I had been talking to was country music star Jo Dee Messina, who sings that song, as well as “Somebody’s Gonna Give You a Lesson in Leaving”, “Bring On The Rain”, “I’m Just Going Through a Little Down Time”, and “My Give-a-Damn Is Busted”.
Jo Dee is a far more serious runner than I, and ran the Boston Marathon (26.2 miles) year before last. So as she left me in her dust today, I skipped my iPod to her #1 hit, “Bye Bye”, and listened to these lyrics as she ran ahead of me:
“Bye bye love, I’ll catch you later
Got a lead foot down on my accelerator and the rearview mirror torn off
I ain’t never lookin’ back. And that’s a fact.”
Just seemed appropriate 
Welcome Home Daddy
Sunday, May 25th, 2008
Columbus is also home to Fort Benning, which is the home of the United States Army Infantry. I asked my sister-in-law to take us by North Highland Assembly of God, which planted 4,561 flags to commemorate the 4,561 members of our military who have died in Iraq. It seemed appropriate to recognize them and the sacrifice they made, for Memorial Day. It was chilling to see these.
Then on our way back to the house, we drove by the home of a soldier who just returned. The sign on the door reminded me that the soldiers are not the only ones who sacrifice.
Graduation Day
Saturday, May 24th, 2008I’m in Columbus, Georgia, to attend my nephew’s high school graduation. Congratulations to Paul Crouch, who graduated from Hardaway High School today. Way to go Mr. Paul. I’m so very proud of you.
How the Other Half Lives
Friday, May 23rd, 2008[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Y0U10XHIE&hl=en]
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be outrageously rich, so famous that everyone knows you wherever you go, women are throwing themselves at you, and you can pretty much do anything you want, anytime you want, there’s a reality show you should watch. It’s called Gene Simmons Family Jewels, and I’m addicted. The KISS front man has gone from breathing fire and spitting blood to dealing with all the perils of parenthood, problem employees, and even fighting with his laser printer that won’t print.
In an episode we TIVO’d and watched last night, Gene had “the talk” with his daughter, about the importance of having a strong work ethic. I almost thought at one point he was going to tell her Work Is Not for Sissies.
Speaking of New Year’s Resolutions
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008Check this out too. It’s impressive: http://www.glennshepard.com/nyr/2008.htm