Big Junk Pick-Up

Now, living in a new part of town, I have to adjust to a new schedule to what is commonly referred to here as big junk pick-up. My big junk collection is scheduled this for this weekend. You can put all your useless crap out on the curb, and whatever is left after being scavenged by people scouring the neighborhood for great finds, gets hauled away to some great landfill to continue to overflow our precious space here on earth. It's a great idea to rid yourself of misc garbage like old tires, scraps of wood left from some odd project, paint cans, old-dog-smelly-torn-up couches, etc. It bothers me when people throw functional things into the mix, like an old tv that works fine, but was replaced with a mega-super-movie theatre sized screen tv. Or old christmas decorations, or clothes. I think it bothers me because it shows how lazy some folks are. Take your funtional stuff to the Salvation Army or to Goodwill... don't throw it away. I hate it when I look in the garbage can outside and find a piece of tupperware in there because someone was too lazy to wash it after a child had put a bug in it. For Pete's sake, if you don't want to wash it, fine. But don't throw it away. Donate it to someone who isn't afraid to use it. What about the blinds that the dog broke a piece of? You know, those can be fixed? Yes it takes a little time and patience, but do you really have to go buy a whole new set? And ok, if you do... fine, but again I say, donate it to someone who may use it, instead of throwing it away. There's something about are "disposable" society that has even seeped into our relationships. All too often do we as a society "dispose" of our friends, our partners, our loved ones. It takes too much time and effort to fix the issues at hand, so many just throw the relationship away. It goes out on the curb for big junk pick up. And then more often than not, the thrown out gets picked up by some scavenger feeding on the vulnerable sad sacks. Why can't we all just get along? Why can't we fix our problems? Why can't we even acknowledge that we have problems until it's too late to fix them? Why do we just throw things away?

Yes, I'd love some cheese with my whine, thank you.

More comparisons

As mentioned in a previous post, for me, searching for a new home is not at all unlike searching for a new mate. However, I have discovered that preparing the new place is extremely unlike how I should prepare for a relationship.

For example…

• I didn’t like the colors of the wall, so I am painting them. I can’t change a person’s color, attitude or personality with a coat of paint; so I should make sure that I like them the way they are; I shouldn’t expect that I can change them, or that they will change on their own.
• I didn’t like the stinky carpet in the living room, so I ripped it up to discover hardwood floors. There may be many gems under the surface of someone I choose to date, but it is not MY job to rip off their exterior to discover it. I can be there to offer love, compassion and understanding, but I can’t do the work! So I should make sure I can accept/tolerate/not resent their issues, and by the way make sure they can do the same for me and my issues.
• I have a list of items that need to be fixed. Some broken/cracked windows, some places on the walls to be patched. A banister to be replaced. In finding someone to date, they will have places that need to be patched, but it is not my job to fill these voids in their life. The “you complete me” theory is fine and romantic theoretically, but it’s a crock of shit! You should complement each other…not complete. I feel that statement warrants repeating: You should complement each other… not complete each other!
  
  Basically I guess I don’t mind getting one of those “fixer-uppers” for a home; but not for a partner! Ok, I don't so much mind getting a fixer-upper; but I'm not doin' the work! I got my own fixin' uppin' to do! There's enough work here for my lifetime.
  
  
  That’s all for now. I’ll post before and after pictures of the new place soon.