While my parents were on vacation I took a turn bringing our trash and recyclables to the dump. (The local pickup people don’t let us recycle, and they overcharge, so my Dad usually does it himself.) Here are some lessons learned along the way.
1) When planning to run to the dump, it’s a good idea to pack the truck beforehand…but not the DAY beforehand. Check the schedule! That guy isn’t there all the time! Rain = gross wet cardboard. (It didn’t rain…but it was a definite fear.)
2) Baby CAN ride along in the front seat of the truck, rear facing, IF the airbag turns off. This is actually a nice way to ride with baby.
3) When running out, do NOT decide to run errands along the way until the dump opens. You are a stinky, stinky vehicle filled with garbage bags of diapers and gross stuffs. Take this into consideration.
4) It DOES matter how you pack the back. The bins of bottles and cans do catch wind, and bottles will fly out and hit motorcycalists and litter the road. I did litter today. I did not hit a motorcyclist. (But close!)
5) If crap starts flying out of the back of your truck, do not pretend like it’s not happening. That’s not cool. Pull over and rearrange. Flat cardboard on the bottom, covered with heavy bags of trash. Put the bins in the back, near the cab. That way no bottles fly out. It’s like MAGIC. (I orginally had them near the tailgate.)
6) The dump functions like any other place. If you pretend to be a helpless female, random men will help you unload. This is shameless, absolutely shameless, but it’s a fact of life. In this particular circumstance the line that worked for me was, “This is my Dad’s truck. Do I just throw all this stuff in that bin over there?” Couple that with looking around helplessly, and then all of sudden the back was unloaded! Ok, I did the cardboard. But still! Thanks for the help dump guy and friends!
7) Lots of old ladies go to the dump. Why? you may ask. I have no idea. Maybe I can find the day when all the mommies go, and we can have an after-dump mommy group. (On second thought, maybe they like the attention from the dump guy and friends. Not my type…really…but I can see how his brand of chivalry could appeal to some.)
8 ) Oh yes. The most important one. When you first get in the truck, look at the dash for minute just to get aquainted. If you find the parking break on, call the last person who used the truck (our friends that are moving) to ask how to release it. Hint: you use your foot to put it on, but you use your hand to turn it off! Who knew?
It’s amazing how one little task can make me feel compeltely capable and completely blonde at the same time. Nice, huh?
The other random events of the day: I finally cleaned my bathroom. I’ve been on strike for awhile. That won’t happen again, I’ll save you the details. I ended up walking up to a dry cleaner drive through window. Weird place…I sat in the back of a Hallmark store feeding Bubbs water from a cup (he got overheated standing the the dry cleaner drive through) (thanks for the help gals!), taught piano to two kids just off vacation (full of energy, no concentration. They’re good though, even when they’re hyper and haven’t practiced, they’re still amazing kids. And yo, vacation is VACATION.), and went to the grocery store. Yay for calorie free butter spray!
Tags: garbage day, trucks
I especially love numbers 6 7 and 8. When Ben isn’t with me and i need something on the top shelf of the grocery…I just look around for the most handsome businessman. (Hard to find in certain parts of this city, but they are there) They are most eager to help!