I used to do this back in 1998/1999 when the Internet was smaller (book arbitrage, not scanning, although I'm sure I have a CueCat around here somewhere). This was when I could buy nearly-new trade paperbacks at the public library sale shelf for TEN CENTS, and sell them online for four or five dollars, plus shipping.

Once I bought an early Dean Koontz paperback at a thrift store for fifteen cents and sold it (on eBay) for $150. That was my biggest score.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 7:53 PM on February 12, 2006

I'd go visit a city where you know no one. Preferably one where you don't speak the language. Walk around all day (the best exercise), eat things you aren't familiar with, speak only when spoken to (but be friendly).

I think that any kind of "spa" or "getaway" vacation always has a lot of pressure behind it -- what if you can't relax right away? You're wasting a day! OMG! But just visiting a city -- being there is the point, so there's less pressure.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 6:35 AM on July 12, 2005

Nobody's mentioned comic book stores yet? That's where all my single geeky male friends go.

And the great thing is that you know they'll be there every Wednesday, like clockwork, so if you see one you like you can "run into" them again, no problem.
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 1:14 PM on April 29, 2005

We had a Peg Perego and a couple of Gracos, and a couple of cheapie umbrellas, too. We bought the cheapie umbrellas when the airlines lost/damaged our more expensive strollers (always on the way out, never on the way home ...). I didn't really care for any of them more than any other, but if I'd spent a lot on one I'd have been even more pissed when it was destroyed (and gate-checked items are less likely to be replaced by the airlines).

unixrat, are you really saying... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 9:02 AM on April 29, 2005

You might want to try Seattle Fabrics. If you're near a good bookstore, grab a copy of Threads Magazine and check out the ads. That's the place where all the serious (i.e., non-JoAnn's) fabric stores advertise.

Do you have a pattern? I think Folkwear used to have a good trench coat pattern, very Casablanca.
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 8:55 AM on April 29, 2005

There was an excellent article about the difficulty people often have making friends as adults in the Chicago Tribune a year or so ago, and the woman who wrote it turned it into a book. It is directed at older women, but I think it's applicable for anyone.

However, as a working mom, I have to say -- LiveJournal has saved my life. I can keep up with my friends(list) whenever I have ten minutes, instead of arranging babysitting or doing the complicated time-tradeoff with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by esperluette at 4:54 PM on February 8, 2005