Pity trades?

An update - I still haven't gotten the computer monitor that I have mentioned previously, so the train track is still on my desk at work and still up for trade. I have had some offers / interest, but nothing concrete has gone down just yet (you know, if you've been waiting for just the right moment before offering up your car, or something).

I did want to put out the question of pity trades. I know that way back in the day (my first post I believe) I mentioned that I was against pity trades. I still kind of am. But let me just explain why I'm feeling the need to revisit the issue. My mother-in-law is soon moving out of state. As part of the moving process, she is buying new appliances (stove, refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher) so as to aid in the selling of her house.

So, the last time we were over there (a week or so ago), she asked if we knew anyone that wanted them, or she also offered them to me as part of my trading. I think that this would clearly be a pity trade, at least from the standpoint that it seems that a train set does not have the same intrinsic value as a major appliance, and my MIL doesn't really want the train set (at least as far as I know). On the other hand, she doesn't really want these appliances either, and probably just wants them out of her house so she can get the new ones.

And of course, I certainly won't feel bad about this trade when I'm sitting back and watching my big ol' TV....

Train update

Just thought I'd write a quick post to keep people in the loop. My friend Jeff has said that he will be here in the Nati next Tuesday for work, actually only 5-10 minutes from where I work. So it looks like the trade for the computer monitor will go down then, that is, if he verifies that said monitor actually works. There's nothing I want less than a defective monitor. Well, probably a few things but anyways.

With Jeff coming down here, that means I won't have to actually drive anywhere to get this monitor. We had made plans to have some lunch in Washington CH, which is located about midways between here and there. So in some ways, it's a bummer that I won't be going to Washington CH, because hey, bonus trip to Washington CH. As a side note, as you are reading this post, please be pronouncing the name of that city not as Washington C. H. nor as Washington Court House, but as Washington "Ch" like choo choo train (which I coincidentally have on my desk!). I don't care who tells you otherwise, it's Washington "Ch". Of course, in other ways, it's not a bummer that I won't drive to Washington CH, IYKWIM.

Someone at work was commenting on my train set and said "You can't trade this - it's so awesome". I suggested that she then make an offer for it, but she said she had nothing to offer. I suggested that maybe she had a car or perhaps an HDTV, but she didn't seem to be willing to trade those things, though I'm not sure.

I will keep you updated, as always. I've had some talks with Kyle from one red paperclip, and I may even more of an Internet rock star than I already am.

Famous-osity

Yes I continue to be an Internet rock-star. I was mentioned once again over at One Red Paperclip. The quote was:

"There is currently a guy named Dan Miller who is trying to turn a bottle of barbeque sauce into a TV. Dan Miller is exactly the kind of guy I want to see on the new oneredpaperclip.com."

In trading news, my friend Jeff has offered a 19" HP computer monitor for the train set. In the absence of any better offers, I think I'm likely to take him up on that within the next few days. It seems like a good trade for me.