December 1, 2006
Blog Exchange: December
Green
Husband and I have a long-standing battle over the big green garbage can that sits in our alleyway. Mostly, I like to put things in it and he likes to take them back out. I throw away a “perfectly good” item and he thoughtfully retrieves it for me. If challenged on his selection from the green monster he will shout, “Fine, I’ll put it in my workshop!”
This inclination of his to save everything we own has led to some covert garbage operations. Last night my friend Carol helped me purge our toy room of all the McDonald’s happy meal toys, (God we eat there too much!) and any broken or outgrown toy we could find. We even got rid of some stuff simply because it was small and pain in the ass to keep tidy. Being the true friend that she is we loaded up her green minivan with garbage bag after garbage of toys. Some were going home to be put in her cans and some were going to Goodwill. Carol understood that unless the items were removed well and away from my home they would find their way back inside. She understands because she’s seen the workshop.
If I don’t have time to smuggle the garbage out to my friends and neighbors cans I’m forced to make the item irreparable. Pit stained tee shirts that are scrawled with thick black sharpie, “I am a dirty smelly shirt” to render them un-wearable. Toys that are slightly broken must be stomped on so that they are unrecognizable.
Husband: That drum set is perfectly good.
Me: No. It’s not. It doesn’t work, it’s never worked and the stand’s broken.
Husband: I could fix that. Put it in my workshop.
Me: (Stare)
Husband (Blink)
Me: (Snapping drumstick in half)
Husband: Gasp!
It ain’t easy being green!
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I’m Lotta, I reside over at Mom O Matic. Like most parent bloggers we’re just trying to keep on keeping on. Come by and visit me so you can read what Dana has to say about the color Red!
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This post is part of the monthly Blog Exchange on the topics Red or Green. To read the other participants, click here. To participate in the next Blog Exchange, e-mail the lovely Kristen at kmei26 @ yahoo.com with “Blog Exchange” in the subject heading.
Posted by Dana @ 12:01 am • Uncategorized
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December 1st, 2006 at 5:30 am, Claire Says:
Hi, I came over from Alternati’s! Sounds like you’ve got the right idea. My Mum and I recently had a clearout of my Dad’s “it might come in useful one day” stash of junk recently. I have to admit I did go and hide when he started asking where things were.
December 1st, 2006 at 6:01 am, Janet a.k.a Wonder Mom Says:
That’s a pretty nice garbage can, you should only see ours. I’m surprised our neighbors haven’t confiscated them yet. That’s what I’m waiting for. Maybe they’ll buy us new ones out of pity.
December 1st, 2006 at 7:07 am, sj Says:
absolutely hilarious! jas and i do this exact. same. thing. he’s the biggest packrat of anyone i’ve ever met and i like to keep things to a minimum. besides, it’s my butt picking it all up off of the floor, countertops, car seats, etc…not his. i have sunk to secretly tossing out those rugbys of his from jr. high that still clutter our closet, the lost puzzle pieces from the bottom of the toy trunk, and the “collection” of random nuts and bolts that i find in baskets around the house. ah, the joys of marriage.
December 1st, 2006 at 8:05 am, Calamity Kim Says:
That’s so funny! We are the opposite. My husband throws away and I keep, er, hoard rather. Sometimes I go to him and he gives me permission to throw it away- like, yeah, please. Mom & Dad grew up during the depression and Mom saved tin foil, smoothing it out and reusing it, over and over. Yikes! I fight the pack rat daily and am just now learning how to just get rid of it!! Good green, girlfriend!
December 1st, 2006 at 8:11 am, Mammacheryl Says:
A few years ago, my sisters and I were evil, and while my mother was on vacation, we cleaned out her basement. She had over thirty years’ accumulation of junk and old, moldy remnants of days gone by. We saved the important stuff, the stuff she’d be heartbroken with out, and donated or tossed the rest. Since then, she’s accumulated more stuff, and the basement is a clutter fest again, but at least we know it doesn’t smell like mildew.
December 1st, 2006 at 9:03 am, Mombat Says:
Laughing! I can relate to this. We call the “workshop” the “guy fort,” where the red vinyl Lazy boy resides and reeks of cigars.
Nice post. Met you through the Blog Exchange.
December 1st, 2006 at 9:16 am, Bid Says:
As usual your too freakin much.
I am a trash digger sometimes. I just did it yesterday, I’ll post about it!
December 1st, 2006 at 1:22 pm, Dana Says:
Isn’t this a funny story? Lotta is so damn cool. I freakin’ loved this when I read it!
Mammacheryl, my mom is a packrat, too. Her basement is full and it drives my father crazy!
December 1st, 2006 at 8:07 pm, Binky Says:
That’s hilarious! You are a patient women, I’ll tell you that!
December 1st, 2006 at 10:55 pm, Heather Says:
I could use you around here. For ME. I have a terrible time bringing myself to get rid of things. Why is it so painful???
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:21 am, Alex Elliot Says:
My husband was like that too, until we had to PAY someone to take away all our crap. Goodwill doesn’t want a broken humidifier. After writing out a check to the garbage collector he’s gotten better at getting rid of broken stuff.
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:11 pm, Kristen Says:
HAHA. Seriously. I’m in the land of covert trash operations. My in-laws.
OY.
December 2nd, 2006 at 10:50 pm, Jessica Says:
Dana,
I couldn’t find your e-mail address (hence, this comment) - in the event that you read my recent post and the Republican comment therein - it truly is a joke (I am only responding to a troll) and do not mean to offend any of my Republican friends.
December 2nd, 2006 at 10:59 pm, mayberry Says:
I love it. You are one smart mama!
December 3rd, 2006 at 7:00 pm, Dana Says:
This was such a good time! I love the Blog Exchange! I need to finish reading everyone else’s posts!
December 3rd, 2006 at 7:03 pm, Kate O'Brien Says:
We have almost that identical garbage can. The city provides it. And oh how I can relate! My hubby is a pack rack as well. We have BOXES and BOXES of all of his “momentos”. Even t-shirts from junior high! UGH! It drives me bonkers. I am a self professed purger. So we have butted heads in this area quite a few times!
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