June 08, 2004
Discontinued
I have noticed that one of the big problems with getting old is that favorite consumable items are discontinued. Yesterday I went to a stationary store--one of two left in this world, sadly. I stopped in to buy a load of my favorite felt point pens Espresso Fine Points, which are, of course, not carried by the Giants . The Espresso Company has been purchased by Sanford. I was told that my model had been discontinued because the ink faded in the sun. Okay. The only Espressos left were red and green, which were just not what I had in mind; those colors don't show up on my favorite neon post-its. Anyway, the clerk (there are clerks in independent stores, usually somewhere within twenty feet of where you are formulating your question), commiserated with me-- Espressos were his fave too -- and showed me the replacement model. The pen point was fine, but the body of the pen, oh my. It felt like one of those special handles for people who have arthritis and cannot fully close their fingers. Bulky beyond belief. Who is designing these things? Perhaps they thought we Espresso Afficionatos were aging, and they'd help us out. Did I mention that the dignified, simple black case was replaced by silver and Fonzi pinstripes .
Things I can't get anymore:
. Espresso Fine Point Felt Tip Pens
. Rainbath , Neutrogena dry oil spray (guess what, I found it on the net!)
. Brown bath mats (I've been waiting for ten years, and I'm desperate)
. Taster's Choice French Roast Instant Coffee - excellent for iced coffee -gone
. Norma Kamali face tint
I just have to have the faith that something better will come along, OR that if I use my virtual resources, I will find it.
Recently reissued:
. Revlon blush in tawny peach
. Tangee Natural Lipstick (It used to be 50 cents at the dime store , affordable, and our mothers would let us wear it in sixth grade, pre Britney Spears )
. wooden stalked Q tips
. sunny yellow bath mats (thank you Calvin Klein)
Photo note: This is to remind us (me) of what's really important, apologies for an unforgivable fact dump.
Posted by Dakota at June 8, 2004 08:58 PMSpeaking of pens being discontiued, Danny Gregory talks about the loss of the Rotring Rapidoliner. See his beautiful illustrations.
http://www.dannygregory.com/weblog/archives/2004_03.html#000119
and
http://www.dannygregory.com/weblog/archives/2004_05.html#000170
Posted by: underlyingreality at June 9, 2004 07:55 PMYes, and my favorite soap, Caress Peach Body Bar, is nowhere to be found. Just nowhere. They must have stopped making it. This soap was so sensuous, it was virtually edible. It made my skin feel like velvet, and the scent was both delicate and luscious, remeniscent of biting into a real peach. And it's GONE, damn it. I'm using this wretched pink stuff now that smells like Cathouse No. 5.
Posted by: Margaret Gunning at June 9, 2004 10:47 PMReally, what a scrumptious blog. If I knew how to keep it in my bootie, I would. Thanks for the link.
Margaret, I never knew the joy of the Caress Peach Body Bar, but the way you describe it, I miss it terribly.
Yours in loss, Dakota
Posted by: dakota at June 10, 2004 06:11 AMHey Dakota -- just realized I put a comment on a May entry and have no idea if you will read it. It was a day that you were wilting -- and since I just read it I responded, posted it, and then realized I was late.
Well, one of the things I miss is the personal crafting of objects. I just returned from a trip to Italy and was sad to see that the wonderful Florentine tradition of hand crafted goods is in less prominance. 20 years ago, the last time I had been to Florence (and how I wish I had bought a bunch more then!! The dollar was strong, and the Lira was low, and the shopping was divine.....) the handmade, hand sewn leather goods were beautiful, the stationary stores and the marbled papers were gorgeous. Now, the markets have stuff I would see in Thailand or Bali. It's the downside of a globalized market.
Ah, well, there is my material goods dump.
Posted by: Deirdre at June 10, 2004 11:20 AMHey Deirdre- Welcome back, darling. Am I to assume from your comment that you will not be laden with Florentine gold, the next time we meet? I cherish you just as much unadorned.
I have a secret method of knowing what goes on deep within the blogbowels at all times, so I got your lovely comment dropped into May, and of course I thank you. I shall respond in May. TaTa D
Posted by: Dakota at June 11, 2004 04:33 PM