D17 – Opportunity lost – Zanfirico Hanks

Monday, September 21st, 2026. Studio Un cle Fish, Irmo, South Carolina.

I didn’t wake up till ten o’clock this morning. Worked to 2. I did burn all my o2, which is good because Derrick is going to get o2 this morning, I can take my tanks with him.

I don’t have any brain cells to make any interesting or logical comments. I need to figure out how to get through today without any cigarettes.

It’s about a hundred degrees in my van. I’m just chilling in front of the fan, a mug of Foldgers, and a freshly washed face.

Should be a good day.

Went to go get oxygen but also added cantaloupe, kombucha, and cigarettes. Sigh. On the positive side, these are four of my favorite things.

I don’t get back into the studio until after 1 pm. Which is not great. Plus, moving the tanks round messes with my lower back. I feel old. Where are my cigarettes?

Studio Assessment

In a progressive future, there will be a link to a tour of the glass shop.

Simple double lay lay Zanfirico marbles. There is a lot of room to explore here and a great way to move the Italian technique away from classical. It is very challenging, though, particularly to try and make consecutive runs of these objects.

The overhead lighting here is yellow. Lol, my photography is not good. One of the consistent weaknesses in my little business at the moment. My life has changed so much over the decades. There was a time when a rainbow marble like this would have sold immediately for top dollar. The inverse is now the best case scenario.

eBay Charity Auctions

After cleaning the studio, the first order of business is national service. Read about my 100% donation eBay charity auctions program, benefiting food programs around the United States, by clicking here. Link to live auctions by clicking here.

Auctions are cold. I continue to have no approach but stabbing desperately into the promotional dark.

View this post on Instagram

Another plea to no one. Posted to Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube. A poorly constructed message to a nonexistent audience. This is, however, what I am capable of, so I’m happy to see me try.

Etsy

Shop the Zanfirico Harold Etsy store by clicking here. You buy, I backpack.

There is an order to pack and ship. Blessed.

The situation is complicated by the need for propaganda inserts. I struggle to advance the humble setup I have been using and am frustrated to be moving backwards.

Lampworking

In a progressive future, there will be a link to photograph history or plans or some shit.

I worked until about 10 p.m., which is an early stop. I’m just so frustrated. Lol. My world is indeed frustrating, but that’s no excuse for my disposition. I’m grateful for my life. The shop is coming around, and the work will continue to improve. I’m just frustrated. I’m frustrated with being frustrated. I am frustrated with being frustrated about being frustrated. Decades of frustration.

I work my way through the marble segments from yesterday. I make another marble coaster leather wrap thing. They can be listed tomorrow.

Conclusion

Buddy, I’m a flat tire still rolling. I know no one is reading this, and so I’m that much less embarrassed to say it. I’m not doing the work to help myself. I act on frustration. I think about frustration. And so, I am frustrated. My body is uncomfortable. My life looks evening and not morning.

Zanfirico Hanks