Monday, September 17, 2007

Albion Normal School and Twin

Our adventure to another Master's auction started early (6:45 am) which I've heard referred to as the B-crack of dawn by Reagan's Mom and others. I particularly like early mornings and the Misses was more than willing to go along with this line of thinkin. She's a real peach!

We headed to Albion, which is south of Burley and about 3 hours away, and arrived at 10 am to get a pretty decent parking spot and plenty of time to preview the goods. The sale was held at the Senior Citizen Center which use to be a training center building for the old Albion Normal School.

My limited understanding is that this school use to be like a university and Vo-Tech program all rolled into one. It looks like its been closed for many years and heard tell that the State recently sold it, so maybe something will fill the boarded up and empty buildings.

The sale started promptly as usual at 11 am with the customary announcements, but unfortunately there wasn't much stuff and many of the good items listed on the handbill were simply not there.

But we were not deterred and soon had a few odds and ends loaded in the truck.

How can she buy anything with her hands in her pockets an standing behind Lyle?

When they started selling the few furniture items and a small pickup, we took this opportunity to get a burger and chicken taco from Al and Debbie's lunch wagon (and both darn good - and I'm talking about the food and the folks). We had the usual "tailgate" dining venue and it was a pleasant day to be outside.

We then rejoined the sale, picked up a few jewelry items, silver pieces, and artwork and paid the billed by 4pm. We were soon headed to Jackpot and arrived at the West Coast Resort Hotel about 6 pm. It's not the best place in town but "Big and Rich" were playing and all the better rooms were taken. We caught the shuttle bus to Cactus Pete's and soon were at the buffet enjoying shrimp, crab, prime rib and such. We hit the gaming tables and I was soon puttin the big hurt on a bottle of the Grand Marnier.

The Misses was over at the craps table and as per her usual was having a great time gambling someone else's money. Not sure how she does it but it's become so common that I think she'd be disappointed if it didn't happen.

We caught the shuttle back to the room at about 11:30 and headed to bed.

The next morning we grabbed breakfast at Barton's and played a few hands of 21 before heading to Twin Falls by 9 am. We arrived at the sale on Main Street at about 10 am and the parking was a bit limited. The house and yard were small and not much area to work in, but the quality and quantity of stuff was much better than the day before. We soon staked out a place in the shade and picked up a couple items by noon.

Prices were crazy high and I got tired of getting shoved and stepped on by tattooed and pierced goons. The crowed was big, and so were many of the locals, and they were only outnumbered by the million or so houseflies swarming around.

We grabbed a burger from Kathy when the furniture started to sell at about 12:30 and enjoyed another lunch on the tailgate down the street a bit and away from the buzzing crowd.

The sale moved quickly and the Masters boys were surprised at some of the high prices, with several items going for more than retail. They finally got to the garage area about 3pm where all the tools were laid out and we scored a few choice items and some inventory junk for Main.

The sale wrapped up at 5 pm and we chatted for a few minutes with the boys as they had a burger in the shade.

I also poked my head into the trailer to say goodbye to the girls.

I'm not sure they were ready for the photo op but they're pleasant folks all the same.

And by 6 we were headed to Sizzler in Twin for dinner before heading home. The drive seemed to take forever and it sure seemed like we had been gone a week instead of a night, but we arrived home safe and sound at about 8:30pm and were soon headed to bed.

All in all, it was a fun time and we're looking forward to the next trip, so stay tuned and remember what the Misses says - "if you can't get it for cheap - biddem to the Moon!"

ART