They're Back Again, Here They Come

Cripes, it's March 1st and we're barely catching up with the ten days we spent in Arizona back in January. Oof! We swear we'll get back on track someday. 

We always end up having a great time visiting my old haunts—and this year we even made it to Sierra Vista, which is where Valery spent a year or two while her Dad was stationed at Ft. Huachuca in the late 70s. Weird to think that my future wife lived 1.5 hrs away when we were kids, but it'd take 2,000 miles and 33 years before I'd actually meet her. Awww!

Anyway, here're some pics Valery snapped while we were wandering through the desert visiting our friends and family. Enjoy!

It should be noted that the above building is for sale and Valery would consider a move back home if I could swing the purchase price.

...oh yeah, we also found a tasty slew while we were out of town!

Such as the vintage, Bargello pillow we scored in Bisbee for $8—this would've been around $200 if it was a Jonathan Adler original. We found the other two vintage mod pillows in Athens a week or so before we left on vacation, so we figured we'd toss 'em in, too. Our ruddy companion was picked up in Phoenix right before we flew back.

We also found an original Thing bank while we were visiting Bisbee—the condition of the bank and its box could not be denied. We got the call that I'd landed my first salaried archivist job the day we arrived in Tucson. Outta pure coincidence, we found an original Secticon clock by Angelo Mangiarotti stuffed inside a display case in a local antique store that same day! We'd turn the abacus and the thermometer up in Phoenix a few days later. Also, before we forget, our friends Mary and Jeremy gave us that handsome tray as part of our wedding gift! A belated thank you is definitely in order!

After I bought myself that clock for a job well done, I decided that I needed to buy Valery something special for being so loving and supportive while I (started and) finished up grad school. Luckily, I found this signed woodblock print by Kaoru Kawano, entitled Doves and Girl (ca. 1950), hidden inside a Tucson antique store later that day. It couldn't have appeared at a more perfect time, as it reminds me so much of my beautiful bride.

Valery lucked out and found a few cheap Metlox Poppytrail Aztec pieces while we were in Phoenix. She also found a creamer and a sugar bowl made by Winterling. Is anyone familiar with this line? We'd certainly like to know more. 

Phoenix yielded some nice plastic scores this time out. We found two Crayonne items: a (spare) white ice bucket and a slender yellow container. My older brother also had a rare Gedy piece designed by Makio Hasuike languishing in his office. Yoink! Thank's again, Chapo!

Lastly, we made out pretty well with records, too. We ended up finding minty copies of the Gun Club's Fire of Love (true first press) and the rarest Milkshakes LP, The Men With the Golden Guitars—sadly, my downgrades were claimed almost immediately, so don't bother. We found a stone mint first pressing of the first Die Kreuzen record (still in the shrink) and the live Human Switchboard LP. We also got a sealed original copy of the Pagans' Pink Album (since opened) and the third Dogs LP before we split town, but we (rightly) figured they'd look good in this spread, regardless.