I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO DO THIS!

 

I was so happy that I figured out how to spend time with my dogs AND pick up trash when it gets dark so early.  I set my alarm and take the dogs for a nice walk at 3:45.  I can do that and still have time to finish my work for the day.  Today was perfect.  Henry & Stella are happy1

So at 4:30, I raced out to pick up trash, and I started at the Route 8 exit ramp to Wilbeth Road, where Roger sits.

I was surprised to see that somebody fixed him up with a tent so he doesn't get wet in the rain.

Poor guy.  He was slumped over, and I wasn't sure if he was sleeping or dead.

I started picking up the trash around him.  Keep in mind that I was there a week ago.  I usually try to clean this area on Sundays, but it was raining last Sunday, so I didn't go out.

What a horrible mess!  How could one man make this much mess in one week?  

There was one trash bag completely full of garbage that was very heavy. And another bag half full, and trash all over the ground.

It smelled so bad, I almost couldn't stand it.  I was thinking, "I don't get paid enough to do this!"  

He sits there all day, and I'm guessing right here is where he goes to the bathroom.  Ick!  Ick!  Ick!  How is this okay with the City of Akron?

I cleaned everything up, and he never woke up.  And I was not quiet.

I managed to get both trash bags onto my trash cart, and I put a new bag beside him, secured with a cement block so it won't blow away.

I crossed the street, and somebody blew their horn at him, and he woke up, so he's still alive.

Why do people keep throwing food at him?  He doesn't want food.  He wants cash!

I can't believe I'll have to clean this area more than once a week to keep it from getting like it was tonight.  

The thing is, everybody coming to Firestone Park drives by this area.  Is this really who we are?

After I finished there, I met a woman who lives down the street.  She came out and thanked me for cleaning around her home.  She said she has lived in her house for 30 years. She was very nice.

Then I went down to the football field, and I filled my recycle bin with beer cans.  I didn't have time to squish them, because it was getting dark.

When I got back to my car, I took off all the caps, and squished the cans.

Can you imagine how awful this area would look if I didn't clean it?  This is one week's worth of trash.

My little purse that I carry my phone in was getting pretty heavy, so I emptied it.  This is from the last two days!

So far, I have picked up 674 nails, bolts & screws, swept up 1,244 piles of broken glass, and I'm at 812,213 pieces.

I need to be at 850,000 by the first of December, and that means I need to pick up trash every day the rest of this month!