On top of the Scrap Heap!

Much thanks to Paul McCrone for escorting me through Northeast PA's premiere scrapyards last weekend. One in particular inspired me to make this declaration: I'm in love with scrap yards and have finally found a purpose in life. I only dream of digging through mountains of rusted metal. Next visit will include some photos of the bleak landscape of twisted metal half-covered in frozen snow. Perhaps a new lamp or two from the wreckage of a dumped machine will have been crafted by then too, completing the new life cycle from scrap-heap to my living room. And, with any luck, your living room! Look at my lamps at ilampe.com!

As I was returning by bus, I couldn't carry much back to NYC, so I limited myself to two oddly shaped, hole-pocked metal pieces. When I lifted them on the scale, the scrap man, by no means old but certainly past middle age, scratched his head while surveying the weight, muttered, "3 bucks." I quickly pulled out a few crumpled bills and assured him I would return soon. "Don't worry `bout me, I'll be here for the next 20 or 30 years." I nodded, and started putting my purchased junk in my shoulder bag. He then barked, "Do you know how long I've been here?" .... "No, I don't." Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything because, reflecting on it now, it's really a rhetorical question. Unless I had some prior knowledge or was psychic or really lucky at guessing I could've ventured an answer. He replied, "51 years." There was no way this guy was in his 70's. Reading my facial response, he muttered, " I've been working here since the age of 9." I found it strangely reassuring that child labor laws were still broken in the now-defunct seat of the anthracite coal empire.

New Year, New Studio (well, sorta)

Here's a prime example of what happens when your parts invade your living space.

After the usual new year's eve celebration it was time to return to work on our beloved lamps. From the recent, modest success we decided to turn our small room (the den in real estate listings of 1 br w/ den) into a working studio. Measuring at a spacious 6.5' x 11' in which we accommodate our paper file, work table, tools, and found parts it will be a work in progress as well as another fine meditation in balancing chaos and space. An even larger challenge is to ensure our collective clutter doesn't upset the fine harmony of the rest of the apt. And if it does? Oh well, it was a good effort all around. I'll make certain to upload some pics when completed.

In other fine news, and on a more personal note, Kirsten and I have bought some new pieces of furniture for the living room and a new kitchen table. Our old set is still here and hopefully will leave by the weekend.

Look at the lamps at ilampe.com!

Test Blog

More about our weekly adventures lamping with the first of the new year!