Auction Fever Continues

After an auction-free week, RJ and I made our way to Gallery 63 this weekend for some more treasure hunting. On Saturday, we went with CJ to preview the items up for auction. We weren't expecting the TV crew for "Auction Kings" to be there. To our surprise, they were filming on the preview day.

I tried my best to keep out of the view of the cameras. However, the gallery is really packed with items and somewhat hard to maneuver. It was difficult to keep out of camera range. When RJ and CJ went to look at a display filled with baseball cards, the camerman wanted to capture them together. RJ, not realizing that he was being filmed, asked me to join them. I reluctantly agreed (thankful that I had put on makeup that morning) and bent down beside them.

Thinking I had gotten through that easily, I breathed a sigh of relief and headed to the back of the store. A couple of minutes later, one of the crew members asked if shecould ask us a couple of questions. The three of us stood together with a camera less than 5 feet away. I felt a perspiration mustache forming on my face. I tried to wipe it off nonchalantly as I thought about how the camera adds 10 pounds -- not something that I need.

The interviewer asked us about our auction experience. What we were looking for at the preview, she asked. I hope that we gave her something she can use. It's terrifying to try to sound intelligent in a sound bite.

On Sunday, we left CJ with the grandparents and headed to Gallery 63 an hour before the auction start time. Cars already packed the parking lot when we arrived. We staked out our seats on the bleachers and waited. It was standing room only when the auction started.

We mentally picked out a few items that we were interested in buying, if the price was low enough. Unfortunately, only one item we wanted came up for bid during our three hour stay. We threw out an opening bid, but didn't win. The auction runs until around 7 p.m, but after four hours on the bleachers, I called it quits. I can't wait until month for the next auction. I'm determined to get an auction treasure, no matter how long I have to wait.

Auction Fever

The object of my auction desire.

The past three days auction fever has hit my family. We've been inspired by the reality TV series "Auction Hunters" and "Auction Kings." On Friday, RJ, CJ and I went to a storage rental building that had five units up for auction. Turns out we aren't the only ones watching these reality TV shows. The place was packed -- we counted about 80 people.

The rules are simple. Once the unit door is opened, you can look in to check out the contents. No touching anything inside the unit, no crossing the threshold of the unit. You bid on what you see: "As Is." An auctioneer keeps things on track. Our auctioneer was a young, 20-something who informed everyone that we could throw our cigarette butts in the back of his pickup truck if we needed. Let the auction begin!

I hung back for the first two auctions with CJ and didn't get to look inside the units. The crowds were intimidating. But for the third unit, I let RJ carry CJ and I made it to the front of the unit. This one had children's toys (how sad that someone was unable to come back and claim their stuff) and some four-wheelers. The four-wheelers made the bidding too rich for us.

As we headed to the last unit, the owner of the storage facility offered CJ a ride on his golf cart. I jumped at the chance. CJ and I whizzed past the other auction goers and headed to the final treasure hunt. Unfortunately, the last unit only had a couple of pieces of rolling luggage. Our adventure at the storage units was done.

But, the thrill of auction hunting had just begun. Next, we dropped CJ off at the grandparents and then headed to a large auction gallery. I figured that hours of sitting still looking at old things that aren't toys wouldn't be CJ's idea of a good time. RJ and I staked out our seats and went to look at the items up for sale. It was just a few minutes before I spotted a crystal penguin that needed to be mine. Unfortunately the penguin was a Lalique. RJ said that Lalique makes Waterford look like K-Mart crystal. I'll take his word for it. While I loved the penguin, I hate paying more for something just because it has a name brand attached to it.

It took awhile for the penguin to come up for bid. RJ and I had decided on a low price we were willing to offer. We didn't even get a chance to bid. The opening bid was $50. The penguin went for $700. I think I could get a real one from the aquarium for that money. Guess I'll have to wait for the next auction to get a treasure.