I have a ton of unframed prints I haven’t posted up at the house. Those that come with frames, I lug down to the shack and put up on the many bare walls. Which is where I am, and where my digital camera is, so ….

Eichii Kotozuka. I’m not a huge fan, with the exception of a couple of prints. She looks so young and tense, and the way her kimono is depicted is lovely. That said, if this hadn’t been dirt cheap, I probably wouldn’t have bought it:

Another one I wouldn’t have bought if it hadn’t been dirt cheap. But I have another print with a girl and rabbit, and it appealed to my whimsy to have two. The frame and glass are terrible, but the print itself is in good shape, notwithstanding the fact that someone folded the margins to make it fit in the frame. It looks much better outside the frame–but I have other prints I would rather spend money on framing, so back in it went.
Oh yes, this is Shuzo Ikeda.

Sometimes, one (that is the royal one, one understands) does not pay very close attention to the size of what one is bidding on–and one ends up paying a lot for two little “nothing” prints rather than not very much for two prints one knows nothing about but likes.

Sigh. I love Toshi Yoshida’s less representational stuff. Pencil titled, signed, and dated 1954. It needs to be reframed at some point, but I rather like it as is:

(I hope not, but it seemed a fitting end.)

This white thing is the official Chez Munshi Shack:

Admittedly, every time I come to the front door, I feel like I’m being incarcerated:

But it’s not so bad when you walk in:

Hard at work:

I’ve had such fun saying that with a pregnant pause and watching the perplexity on people’s faces because I sound so happy about it.

He’s been making this push for a couple of months, and I’ve been resisting. About a month ago, we were sitting in the hot tub, and he brought it up again. I, as usual, resisted. But he was getting more and more frustrated. First, our house is small and he feels cramped, because he really doesn’t have a place of his own. Which is completely fair. Second, his Mr. Demo-ness has been thwarted, because more than anything, he wants to start tearing into the walls in the bedrooms–and he can’t when one is a bedroom and one is my office.

The thing is, 90 percent about what I like about working for myself is being here–being able to work, then futz around the house, work some more, run errands, go to the gym, whatever. He kept on saying that I need to get over that … and drive somewhere. That was a complete non-negotiable for me. If I had to drive somewhere, I’d still end up working from home–only much less comfortably.

What to do?

I was driving home one day and passed the shack right around the corner that’s been for rent for ages. A light bulb went off.

Long story short, the owner has rented it to me. He’s thrilled to get someone with good credit who won’t deface the walls. I’m thrilled that my commute now consists of walking down the alley. It’s a great solution all the way around. And while the house is nothing on the outside, it’s perfectly functional on the inside. Nothing special, but I’m feeling pretty spoiled that I’ve managed to get a 770 square foot house for about the cost of renting a decent office somewhere (if not less). It’s a great solution on a variety of fronts. First, it’s an office space. Second, it has two bedrooms. I can sublet one if I want, and anyone who comes to stay with us can stay down there. Third, it has a kitchen that I can devote to soaping.

I’m in the process of moving this week; should be completely set up next. Will post pix soon.

Fast forward fifty years. Now, people have been on their own for a while before they get hitched. Most have decent-paying jobs, and have stuff to eat off and cook with. Yet the whole wedding registry is still here. Well, the wedding registry upgrade–since it’s about trading in the crappy Ikea stuff for Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel. Basically, it seems to me to be about the STUFF, since some other schmuck is paying for it.

I know an engaged couple who is registered at Home Depot, and in the interests of getting them something useful for their wedding, searched for their registration. Didn’t find it. I did, however, manage to plumb the depths of avariciousness, and find some pretty interesting stuff, like this “housewarming registry” created by one couple:

–Sanyo 1.7 Cu. Ft. White Compact Refrigerator ($99.00)
–2 ResQ Ladder 25 Ft. Emergency Escape Ladders with Sleeves ($150.00 each)
–PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System ($279.00)
–Rubbermaid Taupe/Green Deck Storage Box ($69.00)
–Mosquito Magnet 1 Acre, Corded Liberty Mosquito Trap ($495.00)
–Beckett Classic Cistern Fountain ($99.00)
–2 Safety 1st Safe Keeper Security Gates ($29.98 each)
–3 Maytag® White 6,000 Btu Electronic Air Conditioners with Remote ($124.00 each)
–2 Maytag® 65 Pt. Cameo White Portable Electronic Dehumidifier (239.00 each)
–Hampton Bay Pooh Disney Lamp ($39.97)
–2 Progress Lighting 1-Light Weathered Bronze Wall Lantern ($119.00 each)
–Timber-Bilt Highland Kit ($149.00)
–Film-Gard 10 ft. X 100 ft. Clear 6 Mil Construction Sheeting ($26.96)
–DeWalt 3/8 In. 9.6 Volt Cordless Drill Kit ($99.00)
–2 ClosetMaid 4 Ft. ShelfTrack™ Double Hang Organizer (60.97 each)

Total: $3,311.83

Wow, this is sure easier than working and saving up, isn’t it?