Welcome To The Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market Adventures

Are we having fun yet? I sure am. Please follow me as I learn to blog and share with you my adventures at the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market. Every post will not always be funny,but I will try to make them interesting. Thanks

Big Bad Brad

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Changing Gears For The Month Of June

Hi! Guys
As some of you know, I retired in September 2010 as a professional with the Boy Scouts of America. It was a great 37 years. During that time one of the things I did was serve as an administrator for JROTC Summer Camps. It is with great pleasure that I will again be working with the JROTC this June at Camp Miles in Punta Gorda, Florida. The groups I am working with have great adult leadership and the teenagers that are participating are very culturally diversified and have varied social economic backgrounds. The neat thing about their time at camp is the end results. They arrive as a group of teenagers. They leave as a very efficient team filled with enthusiam. Did I mention they say yes sir, yes mam, and no sir and no mam.  I am a bit ole fashion, and being brought up in Georgia in the 1950's it is nice to hear young men and women using yes sir to address me. Having been an officer in the Army, I know they are expected to do this to their officers that are in uniform, but they also address me and the members of the camp staff as sir or mam, which ever is appropriate. It does not matter how many 90 degree days, mud, mosquitoes, or rain, they give a 100% effort all the time. It is truly a great honor to help assure they have a awesome experience while at Camp Miles. The Shell Factory Flea Market will continue to take place during the summer, and as always you can find some great deals there for everyone. I know that not everyone can make it to the Shell Factory Flea Market to shop for graduation gifts, or those special Fathers Day gifts. I have included a couple of links to visit some of our friends that can help you with gifts for the special people in your lives. Barnes & Noble http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036062648&pubid=21000000000369531,http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000035934358&pubid=21000000000369531,Cabelas
http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000000399487&pubid=21000000000369531, Kohl's http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000000342669&pubid=21000000000369531 These are good folks and it would help them and me if you would shop online with them. Have A Great Day!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

It Is Not Always About The Money

Hi! Guys,

This Tuesday at the Shell Factory Flea Market made me really proud to be associated with the vendors and visitors that I have come to consider friends. Every Tuesday I see a multitude of personalities portrayed. There is always someone that makes me want to whop them. On these occasions, I have to look at my sign inviting everyone to attend Calvary Connection Ministries church services and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Most of the time I see goodness portrayed in the form of human kindness. Things like Martin walking by with a box of corn and asking if I would like to have some for Kathy and me, like Susan giving baby clothes to the lady with the tiny baby, or like Phylis, Mr. Hank's wife paying for an old beat up pair of boots after I tried to give them to her, and saying just put it in the offering plate. I am sure these are insignificant acts to a lot of people, but as I write this Blog I have tears in my eyes from the memories. As I said earlier I see a lot of people that I want to whop, but I see a whole lot more that I want to hug and say Thank You and God Bless You. I will be going out to the Shell Factory Flea Market again this Saturday. I have a JROTC camp meeting at the Camp Miles Boy Scout Camp on Tuesday, so don't look for me at the Shell Factory Flea Market.  I will be serving as the administrator for the JROTC camps during June. I will continue writing the Blog, but I will include a few stories about the happenings going on at Camp Miles. If you can, come out to the Flea Market and visit us Saturday. I have special lapel pins to give to our veterans. As a veteran, it is a great honor to say Thank You to the men, women and their families that served and those currently serving our country. Freedom is not free.  Although we would love for everyone to be able to do all their shopping at the Shell Factory Flea Market, we know that is not possible.  For those of you who cannot make it on Saturday, several of your favorite stores are having fantastic Memorial Weekend Sales. For those of you who like to shop online please try the following links Kohl's Gold Star Clearance or Cabelas http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000000399487&pubid=21000000000369531

Have a great day!


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

I Got Lazy, Sorry I Am Late

Hi! Guys,

I got lazy last night and watched The Biggest Loser on TV. I do not watch a lot of the reality shows, but this one does provide motivation. Kathy and I are participating in a program called Naturally Slim and I need all the motivation I can get. We drink a mixture of orange juice and water called H2Orange. It is supposed to help speed up your metabolism. All I know is that it makes me urinate a lot, or as they would say at my house " go pee a lot ". Speaking of pee, let me tell you about one of the things that happened at the Shell Factory Flea Market yesterday. Most of the dogs that come out to the Flea Market are very well behaved and their owners keep a close eye on them. Yesterday we had a owner who did not do such a good job of watching her dog. The little dog stopped in front of one of the vendors space and preceded to pee all over a real nice wicker laundry hamper, the man had for sale. Instead of the woman jerking on the dogs leash and making him stop or pulling him away, she actually slowed down and let him finish. This woman did not  offer to apologize or even make up and excuse. She just kept walking. The vendor handled the situation a lot better than I would have, he calmly picked up the hamper and set it down by a garbage barrel. It happened so quick and everybody  that saw it was so flabergasted nobody reacted in time to have a conversation with the woman. I hope you noticed I have not called her a lady once. The morale of this story, please take responsibility for the actions of yourself, children, and yes your pets. I am sorry would have been nice. Last week I told you guys about Junk Man Dan and his wife Cindy. I am going to try and put their picture and one of Attack Dog Reese in this weeks Blog. I hope I do it correctly. Well I still need a little practice to make them go were I want. Yesterday the vendors sure had a lot of quality items for sale. Martin had some of the best deals in three counties on plants. The vendors had fresh baked goods, honey, all kind of vegetables and fruits (did I tell you about Naturally Slim). One man's stuff looked like he had anything you could need to maintain a home or even a small farm. I picked up 20 Hardy Boys Mysteries for the grandchildren. Oh by the way, I had my physical last week. I had lost 14 pounds and my blood pressure was 112 over 65. I was real proud of myself and I am looking forward to being around to aggravate Kathy Lou for at least another 20 years. Have a great day!







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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Not A Lot Of Money Made, Still A Awesome Day In Paradise

Hi! Guys,
The tan on my legs is coming along fine. They are getting nice brown and leathery. We had several vendors at the Shell Factory Flea Market today, that I do not remember seeing before. Two of these new vendors made a very painful bad decision. These guys where from up north and did not understand how our southwest Florida sun works at 10:30 AM.. They decided to take off their shirts and try to get their upper bodies nice brown and leathery. This was the bad decision. They did not put on sunscreen and by 11:00 AM they looked like half cooked lobsters. Needless to say their shirts came back on pretty quick, but it was too late, the damage had been done. If they do not peel they can show folks what a great experience they had at the beach. Today was another great day for the dogs. I met a little dog whose owner called him Attack Dog Reese. He had a special ID that identified him as and alert dog. He was trained to help his owners know when the phone was ringing, people at the door, fire alarms and all kinds of helpful assistance. This little dog had a special baby stroller with a canopy that he was riding own. The attack dog part was funny because this little dog would have been lucky if he weighed five pounds and was very friendly with everyone around him. His owner had trained him to become very ferocious acting on command. He was very friendly to strangers, but when his owner would give him a secret signal he would growl, snarl, and show his mighty fangs to him. It was evident King Reesee (his registered name) was very well trained. Even for a little dog he was pretty intimidating when he started growling and showing his mighty fangs. We also had a cute Doberman Pincer puppy. Dobermans sometimes get a bad reputation, but they can be great pets and protectors if trained right. As a puppy he was very cute, but as an adult dog he probably will be very intimidating. Susan, the young lady that sells clothes at my space always keeps treats and water for the pets. Mr. Al and his dog Sandy are regular guests. Today, I also met Junk Man Dan and his wife Cindy. Dan is a big tall guy and his wife Cindy only comes up to his shoulder. Dan and Cindy sell a wide assortment of items. Anything from computers to a fifty year old bride and groom porcelain wedding cake topper. Dan and Cindy set up across from me today and I must say Dan was right entertaining. They had a couple of guitars they where trying to sell and he would strum on the acousital guitar and make up songs about the visitors and the other vendors around them. One time I heard him doing a B J Thomas song and the Green Green Grass of Home. He did not sound like the next American Idol, but he was entertaining. The song he made up about me or rather the stuff I was selling was titled Dollar A Bag, Dollar A Bag, Get Your Dollar A Bag. He would make up a song right there on the spot and sing it loud enough for everyone walking by to hear. It was great for attracting customers. I took pictures, but I have not been able to find my cable to download them to the computer. As soon as I get a new cable I will show you guys pictures of Attack Dog Reese and Junk Man Dan and his wife Cindy. If you like Shell Factory Flea Market Adventures blog please tell your friends. If you do not like the blog, please do not tell anyone, just say a prayer that I get better. Have a great week.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Twenty Four Hours After Arriving Home From The Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market

Hi! Guys,
Man that is a long title. I am quite certain that Mrs Palmer would find something wrong with much of what I write. Mrs.Palmer was my senior English teacher at good ole Harris County High in Hamilton, Georgia. Mrs Palmer must of done a pretty good job. I did fairly well in English when I got to good ole Livingston University in Livingston, Alabama. I sure would appreciate it, if everyone would say some special prayers for all the families that have suffered due to the tornadoes. Well almost twenty four hours ago I got home from the Flea Market. Yesterday was another beautiful day in paradise. It was a great day for working on my tan. If you remember, I told you Monday I was going to wear shorts and let my legs start getting nice leathery and brown like my face and arms. Well I succeeded. Some of you may not believe it, but  a lot of young men and women think the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market is a great place too work on their tans. It is not uncommon to see several young women walking around in bikini tops and young men with no shirts. When I tell Mrs.Walden about the young women she  gives me a funny look. Yesterday a lot of the visitors where younger than what we usually get on Tuesday. I believe we had several families with us who where on vacation. One of the vendors did real well selling women clothes and men shorts. We have a great watch repair man at the Flea Market and yesterday he replaced the crystal and put a new battery in a old Citizen watch I have. He did a great job and the price fit my budget. I am sorta famous for a dollar a bag sales and yesterday I ran a pretty good one. Unlike most vendors, who run dollar a bag sells at the end of the day. I run my dollar a bag sells from the beginning to the end. I am very fortunate the members, family's, and friends of  my church Calvary Connection Ministries provide me with a lot of items that make it possible to do the dollar a bag sells. Mr. Hank and his wife Phylis came by for a little while. Mr. Hank says he is going to Nashville and record some songs he has written about Hank Williams Sr., I will let you know how that works out. Please do not forget about the special prayers.

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Shell Factory Flea Market Is Hot

Hi! Guys,
Well I went out to the Shell Factory Flea Market Saturday and it sure was hot. I do not mean hot like a good looking woman. I mean hot weather wise. I often have friends and family comment " Boy Brad you have a great tan." Well ( a deep subject ) my secret is 2 things. Being Creek Indian helps and sitting directly in the sun every Tuesday at the Shell Factory Flea Market since October. This has turned my exposed skin  nice brown and leathery. I use sunscreen, but it only seems to help make me darker. Saturday I did take pictures and make notes on some of the guests. I took pictures of Al and his dog Sandy, but I did not do such a good job, so I will try again tomorrow. Al and Sandy come to the Flea Market almost every Tuesday. I do not remember ever seeing Al buy anything, but he may be buying stuff after he gets where I can not see him. The Shell Factory Flea Market is dog friendly. A lot of visitors bring their dogs. Some of the dogs ride around like royalty in their covered strollers. With some of the others it is hard to tell who is walking who, the dog or the human. Most of the dogs are very well behaved and a lot of the vendors keep treats for them. One of the vendors has a little tiny dog that seems to attract visitors. The vendor swears the dog has helped him to make several sales. The little dog gets a cheeseburger on the way home from the Flea Market. This is the same vendor that told me that the first words out of my mouth on the first day of the month should be " rabbit rabbit " and it would bring me good luck and money. On Sunday 12:06 AM May 1, 2011 I said "rabbit rabbit". I know I will be a wealthy man this month. Thank goodness I do not always measure wealth in dollars and cents. Well all this being said, do not forget tomorrow is Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market day. I believe I will wear shorts and see if I can expand that great tan to other parts of my body. I almost forgot Congratulations to the Navy Seals " Hoo Ahh".  

Friday, April 29, 2011

New Material For The Shell Factory Flea Market Adventures Blog

Last Tuesday at the Shell Factory Flea Market was not very profitable ( did I tell you that the vendors are trying to make a little money) or entertaining. I am going out tomorrow to talk to the folks that come out on Saturday and take pictures. I was told how to put pictures on the blog. I hope I am smart enough to figure it out. Saturday's are not the busy day at the Shell Factory Flea Market. Tuesdays is the day that has the most traffic as the experienced vendors say. The Shell Factory Flea Market does not operate on Sunday. My church Calvary Connection Ministries actually has Sunday services in the Party House at the Shell Factory. We are moving into a new building and the owners of the Shell Factory have been kind enough to make space available until we can get our Certificate of Occupation for the new building. The Party House is a unique place for church services, but the Lord is present when we are there and everything is wonderful. Saturdays usually have more family traffic than Tuesdays. Most of the vendors have been known to give things to the little kids. Just a note. Parents and grandparents do not always like it if you give the kids Boy's Life whistles. I have learned to check with the adults first. A lot of the vendors have great buys on toys, clothes,and all kinds of other stuff for the kids. If you are a young family and need tools and materials to improve on your home than the Flea market is the place to find them. Just about anything a family young or old needs can be found at the Shell Factory Flea Market. I know most of you may think because I include the name Shell Factory Flea Market so much that I am receiving monetary compensation from them for writing my blog. I am not. I just think it is fun to say. If you happen to come out tomorrow, look me up. I am the large happy guy, which probably fits me better than Bad Brad. I am actually very good and would like to meet you.     

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Let Me Tell You About The Flea Market Today

Hi! Guys,
When I left last night I told you I would tell(maybe that should be tale) you about Hank Williams III. Now I do not know this gentleman's real name, I just call him Mr. Hank. Mr. Hank comes out to the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market almost every Tuesday. He is a tall, slim, nice looking white haired gentleman and always wears a hat. Mr. Hank is a great guy, but the unique thing about him is his ability to come up with one of the great Hank Williams Sr. song for almost anything you are discussing. He must know every Hank Williams Sr. song ever wrote, much less sang. Now I am not a Hank Williams Sr. official, but Mr. Hank knows everything about him. Mr. Hank and my mom are from the the same area of Alabama and when we met we got to talking about Ozark and Montgomery and the next thing I new Mr. Hank was singing a Hank Williams Sr. song about anything we happen to talk about. Cold Cold Heart, Your Cheating Heart, Whipporwill, something about little joints just over the hill, crawfish pie, and down on the bayou. You name it Mr. Hank has a song for it. He and his wife are real nice people, and it is very enjoyable talking to them and some other time I will tale you about his performing career and about some of the mementos he has from the real Hank Williams Sr..  Today at the Flea Market was a little slow. All of our snowbirds have returned to Canada, Michigan, Indiana, and all those other northern places. I did sell a visitor 11 pairs of used blue jeans today. He was happy and probably will resell them to someone else for a lot more. I had a $1.00 a bag sell today, it is amazing how much some of these visitors can get into a WalMart bag. One of these days I will tell you about my opinion of the people that offer us 25 cents for items that should cost at least $5.00 and $10.00. If it was not so sad it would be very funny and these people do make for interesting stories. Help me get my blog out, please send it to all your Facebook and Twitter buddies. As I write more I should get better. Thanks

Monday, April 25, 2011

After Easter at the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market

Hi! Guys,
I am just getting home from a long, but enjoyable trip to Georgia for Easter. I got to watch one of our grand daughters play soccer. I watched one of my brothers and his son's band play and met a lot of good ole boys from Harris County.  We enjoyed a great traditional Easter dinner with my parents, my brothers' families including six great-grandchildren under the age of seven. It was a great weekend and I would love to tell you more, but I have got to be at the Flea Market bright and early in the morning, so I had better go for now. Check out the Shell Factory Flea Market Adventures tomorrow and I will tell you about one of the Flea Market regular visitors, Hank Williams, III.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Flea Market Adventure Begins

Hi! Guys,
I have about 15 minutes before I leave for my meeting so I thought I would share more about the Shell Factory Flea Market. Most of the stories I will relate, are about what goes on Tuesdays between the sellers and buyers. Just as you will find at most flea markets, the sellers come from many different cultures. Race, religion, shapes, sizes, and personalities differ greatly. At the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market most of the sellers are some of the greatest people you will ever meet, but there are a few that just do not have good people skills. These are the ones that add spice to my Tuesdays. We have more junk to sell than you could ever imagine. I am sure that some of my fellow sellers would not appreciate me calling what we sell junk, please remember one mans treasure is another mans trash. I will guarantee you that buyers that are looking for deals will find them at the Tuesday Flea Market. When you can buy a slightly loved Sears Craftsman belt sander for $ 10.00 that is a good deal. As I continue with the Blog, the cost of items and the haggling over prices is where most of the humor is found. Well I have got to get to the Boy Scout office. I will try to write more this afternoon.











will

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Shell Factory Fleamarket Adventures

Hi! Guys,
Today is Tuesday in the Sunshine State, which means it is Shell Factory  Flea Market day. Let me give you a little background as to how the idea for this Blog came about. In October of 2010 our church begin having Sunday Worship services in the Party House at the Shell Factory in North  Ft. Meyers Florida. One of the staff suggested we have a space at the Tuesday Shell Factory Flea Market.  We contacted Richard, and  found out Tuesday's spaces are $12.00 and we needed to show up at 7:30 AM. Upon arriving on Tuesday, Jerry leads you to a space which is two standard parking spaces in the Shell Factory parking lot. The things I sell are items collected from members of the Calvary Connection Ministries members, friends, and relatives. The items vary each week. Well, this is getting lengthy so I will close for today, but in the next Blog I will begin relating humorous Adventures that happen between the sellers and buyers on Tuesdays at the Shell Factory Flea Market.