CRAZIES ON THE ROAD (AND SIDEWALK!)

 

Instead of going to Arlington & Waterloo, like I planned, I thought I'd drive over to Arlington & Archwood, the area that took me four days to clean the last time.  It was a mess.  I picked up 2,869 pieces of trash on all four corners tonight, but that was way better than the last time.

I heard the dare devil motorcyclist coming, and I hurried up and got my phone out, and I got a picture. 

I can't imagine being addicted to the thrill of risking your life (and other lives) like this.  If I tried to pop a wheelie on a busy street, there would be a police officer chasing me.  I wonder why they get away with it.   I see them every day.

I left that corner, and headed down toward the drive through.  I found my first big pocket of trash, and do you see the trash can right there?

I don't wonder why anymore.  I'll just keep picking it up.  It doesn't take very long, and it makes a huge difference. 

I was picking up this trash, and a boy, about 14 years old, came zooming down the sidewalk on a motorcycle.  (I really need to look for motorcycles on the sidewalk.  They're sure not going to look out for me!) 

I just snapped that picture, and behind me was the wonderful man from the drive through.  He walked all the way up the sidewalk to give me a cold bottle of water.  I didn't tell him I had cold water in my car.  It was so nice of him.

However . . . when I got closer to his building, I could see why he was being so nice to me.  What a mess!  He really needed me today! 

I emptied my trash bag in his dumpster, and I started to pick up these Slim Jims, but then I thought maybe they were being left for the homeless people.  They looked like they were still good, and I don't think stuff like that ever goes bad.  

So I left them there. 

And on the other side of the dumpster, there was this cluster of cigarette butts, where somebody emptied their ash tray while they were waiting in line.  Right beside the dumpster?  Somebody has to tell these people that cigarette butts are litter!

That's just disgusting to me. 

I cleaned all around his building, and a woman in a van stopped and asked me if I was a volunteer.  I told her my story.  She was so nice.  She gave me $5 for trash bags.  And she said she would buy me a bottle of water.  I told her the guy at the drive through already gave me one.

One of the best parts of picking up trash is meeting wonderful people.

I turning the corner at Arlington, and there was a baby diaper in the road.  Seriously?  That's so much worse than cigarette butts!  

So is the baby being changed while the driver is flying down the road?  I get not wanting a stinky diaper in the car, but isn't that all part of having a baby? 

None of this makes any sense to me. 

A little farther down the sidewalk, I found a gallon jug of what looks like ice tea in the grass  

Sweet gesture, I'm guessing it was left for the homeless people, but ick on every level.

I left it there. 

So I cleaned all four corners, and a man in a pick up truck and a long beard pulled out of the auto parts store, and asked me why I was picking up trash.  He said he saw me two hours ago, and he thought what I was doing was remarkable.  And he had a bottle of ice cold water he just bought for me.  People are so nice!

I was almost back to my car, and I saw a tiny four wheeler coming down Arlington Road.  

This must be the day for crazies on the road!