So how do you like living in a place where it hardly ever rains? It only rained a bit during the past two weeks, and for those of us who golf (and I do) it's been wonderful.

For those of us who like to go to yard sales (and I don't) it's also been terrific. However, I've noticed a trend at yard sales, and I am going to rely upon you, my expert readers, to let me know if I have erred in my assumptions.

I used to believe that the stuff appearing on the tables was original, only been used by own owner type of junk. But lately I have noticed that the same junk, like out of stock items from Montgomery Wards, the Five and Dime and other now-defunct retail shopping chains, makes its way from yard sale to yard sale. Please let me give you an example.

My mother is hosting a yard sale this weekend and I had the chance to visit earlier in the week. While rummaging through her tables of goods, I picked up a lawn ornament that was clearly not something she would have purchased.

"Where'd you get this?" I asked.

"Um. Well, I really don't remember," she responded, eager to change the subject.

Now remember, this is the same woman who remembers the names of all the people I went through grade school with.

"C'mon Mom. You can't fool me. I know that you bought this from another yard sale last year! Didn't you? Admit it!"

Sweat formed on her brow and as words were supposed to emerge from her lips, she took a swig of soda to buy a few more seconds.

"How could you buy someone else's junk, keep it for a year, and then turn around and sell it again?"

Looking guiltier than the boy who cried wolf, she shook her head and said, "Please let me explain."

This was going to be good.

"See, the lady I bought this from last year was having a bad day. It was raining and by noon she had nearly a full table left to sell. I felt bad, so I bought it from her. And it was only five dollars. As you can see, I am selling it for eight bucks!"

While I can appreciate her attempt to appeal to the capitalist in me and I do respect her handsome profit in one short year, I had to interject.

"You mean that you took her as a charity case in an attempt to stock your shelves so that you could have more items this year and make more money?"

"Well if you put it that way, it sounds bad. I was really trying to do a good thing. Really. I was!"

Before I had a chance to debate her on this subject, she continued to speak.

"It all really started about six or seven years ago when I saw something I had sold re-appear at a yard sale later in the year. I had heard of 'regifting' but never in a million years did I actually think anyone would 'resell' one of my pieces of junk for more money. If you look around at these sales, you will discover that most of the stuff has been in six, seven or even eight houses! Imagine the stories that these items could tell, Mr. Fancy Pants writer!"

Her smirk said it all and I recognized that once again, I had been out-dueled by the master.