SecondMoonshot

I know some people go all out with light boxes and making perfect pictures for their listings. Not sure why, but I like the raw, almost a amateur look to my photos, but want them to be clear and properly represent the item for sale. I never do the masking of the background which eBay app can do. In most pictures, I keep a folded bed sheet with a light pattern for the background and as that gets dirty I simply fold it over and over to a clean section until I have to wash it. Clothing and pictures I usually just put on the sleeper sofa in my office and point the lights there. Anything large hanging goes on a door hinge to a closet and just take the pictures there…making sure to shut the door as my other half is working from home across the hall. I broke the light I have been using…one of those high end (over priced) crafting lights (Ott or something) and found some new LED-based lights with built in diffusers which were under $75 for two and work great. Probably last years model, but the...

A key value of Zabrina and myself is to buy things we like. This goes no different for music, and we both love ABBA. Perhaps I haven’t really been listening to the words over the years (most likely) or maybe I am too focused on Amanda Seyfriend in Momma Mia to whom (or for whom..whatever) I have a huge crush at 57 years of age.  Getting off topic, anyway, Voyage came out by ABBA in 2021 and I really enjoyed pretty much all the tracks. Not only did I listen, but I really listened, to a point I came up that this album must be a ode to the life of Angetha Faltskog. Now, I am not clear on who wrote most of the lyrics on Voyage and for some reason my mind is made up and the album is a tribute or ode or memory of Angetha’s life.  Think of this as an interpretive review, not based on fact or inside knowledge of the inner sanctum of ABBA (of which I have none) and provide the author a great deal of latitude. I figure while the songs may not be in chronological order, the meanings go s...

Sometimes I am an irrational, emotional, blubbering, competitive, vengeful, stupid auction bidder…or that’s how Zabrina put it to me during our Friday drive and hike SecondMoonshot retreat and reflection. That’s how it sounded to me at the time anyway. It all started when I had the bright idea to give thoughts and feedback on our (ok…her) lot selection flaws and how we (ok…she) were picking too many low value boxes producing low profit listings. She clearly had no room for feedback and instead turned the tables on me and gave me three (just the first three) opportunities that I had to improve my (not “our”) bidding, lot selection, emotional state and restraint. She broke this down as follows (he words, not mine)..I can’t recall what the gas pumping reference was about, but sure it wasn’t good and probably just something I have blocked from memory, but subconsciously knew it was important to include…guessing it was moments of excessive flatulation on my part. So, to prove my intelligenc...

My first YouTube video review… I had to return due to a defective battery which lost its charge after 5 minutes. New one is better but still only lasts for 30 minutes, I will get an extra battery at some point. A variety of different tips are also available. John

From Brevard, NC. Waning Super Moon of June.  John

Decided to take a drive up to Brevard where my wife and daughter are doing a girls week getaway in Brevard, NC. Also meeting a friend on Sunday to go do a few hours of driving around. I had one SecondMoonshot sticker left in my wallet, so added it to the wall. Cool place. Guess I should be prepared for a spike in sales on Sunday! John

I just ordered new business cards from GotPrint.com.  They have a business card sized sticker which I can use as a business card or as a sticker for applying to back of my framing work. I have been using Avery labels but those won’t stand the test of time and the new ones are glossy UV coated. Should get them in in a week or two. Got them in and used the first on on my first paying framing job (well, I assume they will pay). John

Some minor upgrades to warehouse (storage unit) courtesy of One Man’s Treasure (OMT).  Cool vintage toolbox for my framing tools.  Nice Modelo wall decor. Need to find a mini fridge next I guess. Tape moistener not from OMT, but from Amazon (cheapest one they had, not cheap), so I can use the branded moisten and stick reinforced tape that my VP of Branding and Marketing got. That’s water, not Vodka (any more)…Burnett’s rules.  Got these little stackable metal shelves for simple storage. Got the table for $1 and with some reinforcement underneath and hardboard covering, will do nicely and like the added height over the folding table. Some recent overall pictures: I go through a lot of bubble wrap. Each shelving unit gets a letter assigned and combined with shelf number, becomes the location I store at the end of the item description, I.e. “C3”. Notice everything is lightly wrapped to prevent damaged costs a little more, but worth it to me. I don’t have WiFi at the unit, bu...

If you have been reading some of my blog entries regarding shipping, you will have recognized I am very cost conscious. Today, Z and I went to Costco for a few weekly groceries and I got heavily distracted by the large blank cardboard sheets between the product layers on the pallets. I ended up with 17 sheets only to realize that we had driven the Porsche 911 and had no way to get them home without folding. So folding we proceeded to do, and of course I had a great up front parking spot so attracted a few chuckles from the peanut crowdI’m sure. I will use these for backing boards and when I need a custom box, mat board backing sheets for the Logan cutter, or book backing blanks. Again, these were free. The Costco clerk told me as we approached the register they were $1 a piece…yeah, funny lady…she got me.  Ok, I kind of look homeless. Sorry, this is me, for better or for worse…currently for worse. An even more extreme example, fortunately we had the SUV this time, probably 20+ shee...

I am going to use this to document damaged shipments going forward. I went back and found a few other damaged shipping items and added them to cover all of 2022 and 2023. Almost all damage is via UPS Ground. Considering moving to FedEx. Roughly my damage rate is 0.5% as I ship about 200 packages a month and have less than 1 damage a month. #8 - Feb 17, 2024 Well, went ALMOST a year with no damaged pictures, but got this one today that was shipped via UPS Ground and was approx 33" x 40" x 5". It was a large signed and numbered Tom Darro print, "Woman Who Dreamed of White Wolf". Honestly, don't think there was much more I could have practically done, it almost looks like it was just dropped flat pretty hard from the shatter pattern. Of course will do anything necessary to compensate customer and discussing options they would like to take. #7 - Mar 16, 2023 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic XIII Ice Figure Skating Poster 20” X 30” #SH This was a poster shipped U...