giving has never felt this ridiculous

Jaffray has a Victoria Day celebration every year - we call it "family fun day". This year church members donated things that we would auction off today that would go towards subsidizing kids who wanted to go to our summer camp. But because of the earthquake in China the church decided to absorb the camp fees and instead have all the proceeds go towards the earthquake victims (which is quite noble, i must say) (unfortunately, Burma wasn't included in this for obvious reasons.)

The auction took all afternoon and some of the items donated caused people to bid rather intensely against each other. For example, a bathroom fan went for some four hundred dollars and some home-stitched artwork went for close to seventy dollars a piece. I think people paid more than they would have normally been willing to pay because of where the proceeds were going. But of course, there are always things that are donated that people just don't even think twice about bidding - I mean, even though you're giving to a good cause, it IS an auction and people still want to get something that they'd actually appreciate. Otherwise it's like picking up junk.

Luckily for me, i didn't really have too much competition when it came to the items that i bid for. *AHAHAHAHHA. deep breath...recomposed =) Okay, i spent the most ridiculous seven dollars ever. Caving into peer pressure I bid on and won two lots. I had to hide them from my mother when i got home because i definitely would've received a slap upside the head if she saw what i came home with. HERE THEY ARE:

ITEM #1 STATIC DUSTER. Cost: $6

Hmmm....at least I'll be more motivated to clean? This set of dusters promises to "clean like magic" by utilizing static properties that traps dust and forces it to stick to the specialized fibres. It's like the precursor to the swiffer cloth. But seriously, I'm convinced that the dusters are at least ten years old. Technically, my mom should be proud that I'm taking the initiative to tidy up. The other day when she prayed for dinner she asked God to encourage me to look after my personal hygiene. Are you friggin kidding me? Of course I didn't say anything, and I'm not sure what she meant by "personal hygiene" exactly...it's not like i don't shower on a regular basis. I know I'm kind of a bum right now, but I'm certainly not cultivating disease. Anyway, this purchase was ridiculous simply because I paid six dollars for a set of glorified feather dusters.

Lot #2 A PAIR OF PICTURES DATING TO THE 1970s. Cost: $1

Ridiculous because....duh!!!! 'Nuff said. AHAHAH...."Be. Do. Have." Yes, i know it's supposed to be an inspirational message, but what sort of consumeristic attitude is this plaque trying to deliver? Good thing I took it...it certainly won't be falling into the hands of any impressionable youth anytime soon (...maybe my parents' next garage sale).

Despite the stuff that I acquired from the church auction that i'll a) never in my life use and b) never EVER in my life hang up on my wall, it was a good day. The English congregation and the Chinese are often so segregated that having these events and being able to mingle with the other brothers and sisters in our church is always a plus. Having fellowship together...as a WHOLE church is really important to me, and at least today we were able to come together and pool our resources for such an important and critical cause. Still....ridiculousness....