Well i just had possibly the most bizarre, confusing, and just overall odd days of my life. First i start the day with a really strange dream involving a haunted fireplace that had a tendency to shoot flames, mock my family, and generally be annoying. Why we didn't hit it with a fire extinguisher, i don't know.
Then I am awaken by my mom calling from work on her break to check on me. Turns out the cat my parents had, which was a total a-hole that pissed all over everthing and treated us like crap, died around 4AM. Still not sure how I feel about that. I hate to see an animal die, but that cat really was a jerk. So I've been kinda off all day. Walked over to my folk's house and helped bury the little guy before going to work raking up the leaves in the yard (gotta do something while off work!)
Walked home, and after dinner I went looking for christmas decorations. Thought some might be in the attic, which I've never even really gone into, just tossed junk up there. Found some stuff from the old owners, like a couple of old books (well, from the 60's), an old tennis shoe, and a strange wooden box, held together at the handles with old bread ties. While still standind on the ladder I untwisted the ties, opened it up, and saw it was a travel chess board! With beautiful tiles, with every other square being intricately carved and delicately painted. The wood around it had some amazing carved details that look to be done by hand. So after struggling to remain on the ladder, i bring it down and have a look.
Each detailed tile has beautiful carved images and letters that look chinese, with scenes of wild life and people in natural settings that are just incredible. Every line is as thin as an exacto blade line, and painted with no apparent paint outside the lines. My camera refuses to focus on these details with clarity, so they will have to wait untill my aunt arrives from San Diego in a couple days with her much nicer and less battered camera.
The figures are apparently carved by hand. They follow nearly identical designs on duplicate figures (knights, kings, queens, and bishops are the same design) yet have very subtle differences. One side appears to be solid jade, and the other is some kind of very dark reddish-brown mineral. They all seem to have some kind of yellowish protective coating, but are otherwise simply amazing. I'm hoping to get photos of everything since I want to document the hell out this thing, since we are hoping it might be worth something. Since money is so very very tight around here, we are hoping for a little miracle. While we all doubt it's worth a fortune, it might be enough to pay a couple bills and maybe get a new work car. But even enough for a case of beer and a pizza would be pretty great. Although possibly best of all, it gives me the opportunity for a great series of photos! I'm already getting my lights ready, so I won't have to use the flash or anything.
So, long story short. Asshole cat died, but he was still family so a little bummed. Worked my ass off clearing my parents lawn, which really aggravated my back again. But found an amazing treasure in the attic of my house. So, not sure if this was a good day or not! Very confused. Think I'm just gonna be grateful for a little excitement and a great photo opportunity, have a little apple juice, and go to sleep!