I THOUGHT I HAD A HELPER!

 

Tonight was a super good night, but I overdid it.  I picked up 3,418 pieces of trash in four hours, and it was hard to walk the dogs when I got home.  I'm tired.

I started at the Dollar Store on Waterloo.  The manager came out and told me she really appreciated what I was doing.

I cleaned the back part, and a man was walking to his car.  He said, "Did you clean the front yet?"  I told him no, but I was headed that way.  He said, "I pick up trash too."  I was thrilled!  Then he added, "But only the cans . . . for money."

Oh good grief!  He doesn't care at all about the community!  And how many cans does it take to make a dollar?  A bunch!  

I thought I had a helper.   

I headed west on Waterloo Road and couldn't seem to stop.  Every time I thought I was done with an area, I saw more trash up ahead.  

I turned right on Brown, and a man with a big white beard pulled over and rolled down his window.  I guess he went through the Rally's drive through and bought me a pop!  How sweet!  I told him I had water in my car, but thank you so much!  Then I added, "I picked up a million pieces of trash!"  He got a big smile on his face and said, "I've been reading about you!  Nice job!"

That was fun!

I crossed the street and went back to Waterloo.  The guy at Van's Tire Shop came out and thanked me for cleaning around his building.

I saw this bottle, and I was about it pick it up, when . . .  

I lifted the newspaper, and it was shattered!  I guess somebody laid the newspaper on top of it so they wouldn't get cut.  Wow!  Am I the only one who thinks picking up the broken glass is a way better idea?

Right after I cleaned that up, a man in a red truck stopped and rolled down his window.  He said, "Thank you for what you're doing.  I saw you on TV.  I work for the Parks Department, and I'm picking up trash all day.  It's not easy." 

Then he added if I wanted to find a lot of trash, go to Hardesty Park.  I don't know where that is, but I think I'll check it out.  He was very nice. 

I headed back to my car, and went to a dumpster on Brown to empty my bag.  I cleaned all around the dumpster first, and two little boys came out of the barber shop with a big trash can full of paper trash.  I lifted the lid for them.

One of the little boys said, "Would you like some water?"  Oh my goodness!  He couldn't have been more than five years old!  What a sweetheart!  His mom probably sent him out to say that.  I told him I had water in my car, but thank you.

I met so many nice people tonight.  Is it going to be like this now?  People know who I am, so they feel comfortable talking to me?  I sure hope so.  I love it.

I found a punching ball balloon.  Never found one of those before.  I carried it with me until I got back to the dumpster.  

That had to look pretty silly! 

This car was parked beside me.  What a silly car!  Maybe I should broadcast "Pick up trash!" all over my car!

No, I don't think so. 

After I finished with Waterloo, I drove to Arlington & Archwood and returned the scooter I found yesterday. I didn't know what to do with it, so I called the Akron Police.  An officer came to my house and told me I should take it back where I found it, and the person who owned it might find it.  So that's what I did.

Then I started walking south on Arlington, and beside the auto parts store, they finally mowed!  Oh how lovely this is!  

How can the landscaper leave an ugly mess like this? 

I got it all cleaned up, but it was hard.  Instead of 100 pieces, there was 500 shredded pieces to pick up.  

Couldn't they at least try to pick up the trash before they mow?  It probably would have taken no more than 15 minutes.

And what about their equipment?  Mowing over bottles and pieces of metal can't be good for the mower blades.  It makes no sense to me.

Tonight was super fun.  I wish every night was this good.