collecting & 4 things

i received a lovely prize in the mail this weekend
from ms.pea…
there is nothing better than packages in the mail
(one of the reasons i got so addicted to ebay)…
hooray for sushi stationary!

oh f.pea, you made my day.
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i am a collector.
the first step is admitting you have a problem.
but why do we collect?
why are some people prone to collecting?

collect |'kä-likt| also |'kä-"lekt|
- to systematically seek and acquire (items of a particular kind) as a hobby : I've started collecting stamps. [ intrans. ] | the urge to collect, to have the full set, is in us all.
but it also means
(to collect oneself) regain control of oneself, typically after a shock.
- to bring together and concentrate (one's thoughts).

those 2 definitions encompass
my reason for why i collect.
i find some peace in seeing similar objects
with slight differences all lined up in a row…

this may be due to my obsessive compulsive nature.
it helps me concentrate my thoughts…
it calms the asthetic lobe of my brain.

i don’t like figurines-
well, unless they are from japan.
i am obsessed with old things
that somehow remind me
of my childhood
or old pictures i saw in my mom’s photo albums.

things i collect:
1. suitcases
2. traincases
3. vintage coats
4. pyrex and glasbake bowls
5. old cameras
6. cardigans
7. vintage wrap skirts
8. old portable typewriters
9. artwork
10. bakelite insects
11. lists… that people have lost or thrown away, e.g. grocery lists, things to do

what do you collect and why?
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i love making lists…
The "4 Things" meme
(tagged by f.pea)

Four jobs in my life:
1. Ice cream scooper at the Village Ice Cream Parlour at Port’s O’ Call
2. Lifeguard and swimming coach – YMCA & LA County Pools/Beaches
3. Customer Account Representative at Kinkos
(most depressing 10 months of my life)
4. “Butterfly Attendent” – (i kid you not) at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Monty Python – Any of them…starting with the Life of Brian
2. Gattaca
3. Brazil
4. Keiner Leibt Mich (Doris Dörrie) …
i could go on and on…

Four places I have lived:
1. San Pedro, CA
2. Seattle, WA
3. Chapel Hill, NC
4. Washington, DC

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Sonoma Valley, CA
2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Amsterdam, NL
4. Prague, CZ

Four websites I visit daily:
1. web of science
2. bbc news
3. f.pea
4. post secret

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Crepes with ratatouille
2. Stuffed Cabbage (veggie version)
3. Labneh (Lebanese soft fresh cheese) with pita – creamy goodness
4. Tea, a food for me – strong black tea (PG Tips) with whole milk and sugar

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. Seattle - hanging out with my siblings and west coast pony
2. Sea Ranch, CA - on the beach with grub.
3. Knitting - anywhere with ms. pea.
4. Drinking tea with my mom.

tag, you're it:
1. rooster
…& the following-
who should just get blogs if they don’t have one:
2. curious badger
3. west coast pony
4. beth

What are your four things?