It's happened again. Every now and then I swing by eBay to check and see if something obscure and/or from Japan that I want is available. Usually it's not, and most of the time when it is it's too expensive for me to even consider purchasing unless I really really desire it (oh, how I lusted after that Turtle Saint action figure -- don't laugh; that thing is beautiful), but occasionally I find the object of my affections for sale and at a price I can afford. But that's never the only thing I find, because then I decide to check for something else that has eluded me in the past. And yes, it's there too, and for a price that I just can't pass up. And then, invariably, the seller of one or both of those two items is a merchant, and has other things in his/her ebay store that, while I may not have desired before I'd heard of them, I now must have as well... and since shipping is cheaper when one buys multiple items, it's not like I can just buy one item now and buy the other one later, because that would cost me more in the long run! And besides, given that these auctions will have ended by then -- for example, at the time of this writing, I only have eighteen hours left to purchase some of these items, and that's assuming someone else doesn't do it first! -- there is no guarantee that these products will even be around when I decide to stop by eBay again in search of these highly coveted pieces of plastic. Therefore, my window of opportunity is limited. If I want these wonderful figurines and DVDs -- and I do want them -- I must act quickly. I must act soon. I must act now. I must spend all of the money I earned working during the last two weeks without the slightest moment of hesitation. I must be mad! There must be a medical term for this.

These eBay sellers must be plotting to destroy me.

Hey, Reporter folks -- how would something like that do for a back page essay? Hmm??

And attention Gnu Yawkahs and residents of the surrounding areas -- assuming he doesn't bankrupt himself in the next few hours during my eBay exploits and that everything else works out okay, the crayontastic Wes will be coming to your town from February 4th - 9th! I'm covered for the first two nights, but I need a place to crash on the nights of the 6th, 7th, and 8th. So if you're interested in hosting your pal Wes for one or more of those nights (or know of some really cheap hotels that don't require registration months in advance), send an e-mail and let 'im know! Thanks!

Until next time, ja!