Happy Birthday... Friend.

I turn to you when I have trouble finding what I need elsewhere.

You always have something to cheer me up.

You get me money when I need it.

You help me clean out some of my inevitable-brought on by an opshopping addiction- clutter.

You bring me souvenirs from across the globe.

I can't help but get excited when I see a congratulatory email from you in my inbox.

...

You are eBay... and you're 10!

Can you believe that eBay is 10?! I certainly can't.

I remember boasting to people about some goodie or other recently purchased on this magical auction site, and them wondering what on earth I was on about. "e.... what now?" "Which Bay...?!" "Who are you & why do you think I care about your roller skates?"

Now it is officially a household name, almost a beloved family member in this house - hardly a day goes by when it isn't mentioned in some context "Sell it on eBay!" (...usually uttered by the boy in response to "Look what I bought!"), "Look what I bought on eBay!" (...usually uttered by me to The Punk because I don't want to advertise to The Boy that I've been buying things on eBay), "How much are they on eBay?", "I saw one on eBay", etc etc.

I prefer to find things I love for myself, at oppies & garage sales & auctions & the like, I love the story that goes with the item, but when there is something I really, really, really want, sometimes eBay is the best & only way to go. These pictures are all things I have "won" one eBay (even the fact that you "win" an auction instead of "buy" a product has pleasant connotations...) & wouldn't be without.

I've sold a few things on eBay too - had fantasies of becoming "that woman" you see on telly & hear on the radio who makes millions from her eBay business by buying things for $2 & selling them for $200 - but that just isn't me. If I find something fantastic I want to keep it - and if I don't like it, I don't even notice it, let alone want to buy it. That & I don't have the patience to endlessly measure, describe & list things I have no interest in (because if I were selling it, I wouldn't be interested in it...!).

Anywho - like I said, it's eBay's birthday & I'm posting about it 'cause you can win stuff! Yeah! Winning stuff (and not having to pay for it later lol) is grand, is it not?

Today you can win a party! I'm not entering because I still don't know anyone here & sitting amongst $1500 worth of food & party supplies on my ownsome would be, quite frankly, depressing. ;)