The Free Section on Craigslist

Brett and I recently acquired the coolest thing on Craigslist, for FREE!

If you haven't looked around Craiglist.org you need to get around to doing that. I have heard of people getting some great things through the website, but this better. If you go through the free section you'll usually find strange things or gross nasty dirty sofas, but none the less it's all free.

Brett got on the free section and found a piano that was listed as free. There was a picture of the piano on the page and it look wonderful, old, but wonderful. I was so excited and had to have it! It had only been posted for about six hours so it was likely it was still available. I immediately called the guy, named Darren, and he still had it. So him and I set up a time for the following day to come and pick it up.

In.

Litchfield.

Park.

That means way West Phoenix.

He proceeded to tell me how big and heavy this piano was and made suggestions like, "Bring a truck. Better yet a trailer. And you'll also need a few big guys to move it." Kay no big deal, it's free right.

So Brett and I talked a few friends into coming along for the ride to get this piano, that according to Darren was about 50 years old.

We easily got the piano into Brett's little S10 and drove away. I was so happy and so excited.

We got home and called a few more friends, about seven people to help us get the piano in the apartment.

Upstairs.

I have no clue how it actually made it up into my little apartment and through the narrow stairway, so I can't explain any of that. But it did happen.

Later that night I found a serial number on the piano and did a bit of research. I was extremely curious as to how old the thing really was. I eventually found an antique piano restorer, took a few photos, told him about the research I did, and sent him my serial number.

I got an email the next morning.

"Let me start by saying that 'The Concord Piano Company' built exceptionally well made instruments... According to the serial number you provided, your piano was built in 1904, a prime era for piano building in America... I can tell from your photos that your piano is made of quarter sawn oak wood which has been painted black by a previous owner. Your piano is made in the 'Mission' or 'Craftsman' style, a style which is in huge demand today... I can tell from your photos that your piano has the original worn strings and felts. The piano is a large, full size 'upright grand' which would have the sound of a grand piano if it was restored... We routinely sell these restored upright pianos for $9,000-$12,000 in our shop after restoration. This is not an inflated figure, but an actual figure that these pianos really are selling for after restoration..."

Um, my jaw dropped.

I got a 105 year old piano that is worth up to $12,00 for FREE!

Um.

Anyways. I love it! It sounds so beautiful! It is beautiful and I LOVE it!

California with Brett

In cosmetology school there is no such thing as Spring Break, nor is there any such thing as a break. You go eleven months of straight school, Monday through Friday 9AM to 4:30 PM. Occasionally you get a Friday off and occasionally a nation holiday rolls around. So if you don't want to be at school, well, you end up behind in hours. I have a story about being behind 170 hours, but I'll share that some other day.

After eleven months of school Brett and I decided that we needed a trip out of town before he started school. Honestly, I could never get sick of California.

Have you even gone on vacation with out a set plan? Like, you know what you want to do, but you don't really care when you get around to doing it?

We didn't care when we left and we weren't too concerned with coming home.

We had absolutely no schedule, and for someone who runs on one, I loved it!

We visited parts of Los Angeles. Looked at fancy cars driving by. We cruised through Beverly Hills, might I add we also listened to the Green Day song while cruising. We stopped by Malibu. We went to Six Flags, the new Terminator ride was a disappointment. On the flip side, Goliath is my favorite ride and became so after riding in the front seat. After visiting the greater Los Angeles area we drove down to San Diego. Have you been to Coronado Island? I love it!

I totally found a sand dollar on the beach. It was still living so I wasn't allowed to keep it. So I took a picture of it. Following my pictures I tossed it back into the water. However, I am horrible at softball, and so am horrible at throwing and almost hit a little girl in the face with it. So I went over to her and decided to show her what I threw. So I found the little sand dollar and showed it to her. She thought it was cool and wanted to show her mom, so I explained to her that she had to put it back in the water when she was done. The little punk kept him and killed it! No I am an accomplice to sand dollar murder. Anyways, there is a picture of the sand dollar still alive below.

Seriously vacations with out schedules are the best.