From Tampons to Tennis Balls
I never know what I'm going to find along the roadside26 total reviews
Comment from Sally Law
Thank you for even caring. Honestly Tom, I don't get it. We have property on the Florida coast and when on the beach we find trash near and around the trash cans but not in them! Our beautiful beaches are littered from the seafaring and from beach goers. Our worst concern should be stepping on a jellyfish, not a broken booze bottle. It's been that way since my husband and I can remember. It's a fallen world we live in, what can I say? But we do our best and teach our children to keep it clean. Sending you my best today as always, my friend.
Sal :))
reply by the author on 27-Jan-2025
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Thank you for even caring. Honestly Tom, I don't get it. We have property on the Florida coast and when on the beach we find trash near and around the trash cans but not in them! Our beautiful beaches are littered from the seafaring and from beach goers. Our worst concern should be stepping on a jellyfish, not a broken booze bottle. It's been that way since my husband and I can remember. It's a fallen world we live in, what can I say? But we do our best and teach our children to keep it clean. Sending you my best today as always, my friend.
Sal :))
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 27-Jan-2025
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Hello Sally,
It seems to be a universal problem in the US for some unknown reason. I think we need to start making it more painful for those who are caught littering. When I was living in Florida, we went to Bahia Honda State Park, in the keys. It was after a storm and there were hundreds of Portuguese Man of Wars washed up on the beach. Some of them had tentacles that must have been fifty feet long. Talk about dangerous!
Thanks for the great review and comments gal.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from LJbutterfly
This surely has a catchy title. I share your concerns. I wa once driving along the highway and watched the driver of the car in front of me clean out his car by throwing all sorts of trash, piece by piece, out the window, which put my car in jeopardy. I wasted mental energy wishing I were a police officer.
reply by the author on 27-Jan-2025
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This surely has a catchy title. I share your concerns. I wa once driving along the highway and watched the driver of the car in front of me clean out his car by throwing all sorts of trash, piece by piece, out the window, which put my car in jeopardy. I wasted mental energy wishing I were a police officer.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 27-Jan-2025
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Oh my LJ,
you don't know how many times I wish I were a cop when I witness some of the behavior of other drivers. Its true, they create an issue for their fellow drivers. Of course snow can be a problem here, and frequently, some drivers who park their cars outside don't bother to brush the snow off, so it blows onto the cars behind them. It's so frustrating.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from royowen
I haven't seen much trash on the actual road, otherwise I would pick it, but the significant amount of trash, old tyres, furniture, which our local council would have to pick up, it's really disgusting the thoughtless selfishness of folk, I find it hard to reconcile, beautifully written Tom, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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I haven't seen much trash on the actual road, otherwise I would pick it, but the significant amount of trash, old tyres, furniture, which our local council would have to pick up, it's really disgusting the thoughtless selfishness of folk, I find it hard to reconcile, beautifully written Tom, blessings Roy
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hello Roy,
I did come across one wheel with the tire down over the side of the road, but there was no way I was going to climb down to retrieve it. It will have to wait for spring clean up I suppose. I don't understand the mentality that allows people to justify tossing trash on the ground. It shows a total lack of respect for nature and for their fellow neighbors.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
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I agree
Comment from Alexandra Trovato
This is a well written interesting story. I also hate to see people throwing trash from a car wibdow. Like, who do you think is going to clean up people? The problem is, they don't. They just want the cc convenience of not having the trash in the car. Terrible So, we never do that.
Thank you for caring but also be safe out there.
Best wishes,
Alex
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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This is a well written interesting story. I also hate to see people throwing trash from a car wibdow. Like, who do you think is going to clean up people? The problem is, they don't. They just want the cc convenience of not having the trash in the car. Terrible So, we never do that.
Thank you for caring but also be safe out there.
Best wishes,
Alex
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hello Alex,
thanks so much for the delightful review. I honestly enjoy finding the stuff in the bushes, but that doesn't excuse the folks who throw it there. I've thought more than once about getting a reflective vest like the city road workers wear. People really drive by fairly fast at times, and I have to hope I'm far enough off the road to keep from getting hit.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from patcelaw
When I lived in New Mexico, there were times that I would go out and carried with me a plastic bag to pick up trash along the road, but that got to be old hat because there was more bottles of booze and stuff that I could carry. There was a liquor store right close to my home and I think there was all kinds of liquor bottles along the way.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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When I lived in New Mexico, there were times that I would go out and carried with me a plastic bag to pick up trash along the road, but that got to be old hat because there was more bottles of booze and stuff that I could carry. There was a liquor store right close to my home and I think there was all kinds of liquor bottles along the way.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hello Pat,
There is a liquor store on the corner of a busy intersection not too far from our home. I suppose that accounts for part of the bottles that get tossed out. I don't understand why people think its OK to toss their trash out onto the ground, but somehow humans have the ability to justify just about anything.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Good for you!
I was riding to a special church service out of town one day, just the preacher and I. We'd stopped for fast food and being rushed for time, we ate while on the road. Finished, I looked around for a trash bag. "Here, I'll take care of that," the preacher said. To my astonishment, he rolled his window down and chucked the waste over the car and to the ditch.
We voted him out a few months later.
I would have voted you in.
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Good for you!
I was riding to a special church service out of town one day, just the preacher and I. We'd stopped for fast food and being rushed for time, we ate while on the road. Finished, I looked around for a trash bag. "Here, I'll take care of that," the preacher said. To my astonishment, he rolled his window down and chucked the waste over the car and to the ditch.
We voted him out a few months later.
I would have voted you in.
Best wishes.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Oh my goodness Wayne,
thanks for the vote of confidence, but I doubt I could fill the bill of a pastor. It's certainly disheartening to see that kind of behavior from someone who is supposed to be setting an example for his flock. Thanks so much for the wonderful review and the six. I appreciate both.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment from BethShelby
Even trash pickup can make an interesting. You have a knack for seeing that it does. I enjoyed reading about all the unusual items you have found and your reason for engaging in this acticity. You have been getting some of our southern weather while we have be having to deal with your usual temperatures.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Even trash pickup can make an interesting. You have a knack for seeing that it does. I enjoyed reading about all the unusual items you have found and your reason for engaging in this acticity. You have been getting some of our southern weather while we have be having to deal with your usual temperatures.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hello Beth,
I really do enjoy picking up the trash, in part because it's like going on a scavenger hunt, and in part because it looks so much better after I'm done. We had a lot of unseasonably warm weather and rain, so much so that all of the snow melted. However, today it rained a little bit and then froze, and snowed about an inch. Then the wind started blowing like crazy. Traveling on the roads was treacherous. There are always the fools who think the if the speed limit sign says 55, that's the speed you should go regardless of the road conditions. I'll never understand people.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from GWHARGIS
I used to take my kids on a trash walk in our neighborhood. I give them "prizes" for finding the most cans, for whoever had the most colorful trash in their bag, who spotted something no one else found. My kids were happy and our neighborhood was clean. Good deed you're doing, sir. My hat is off to you. Gretchen
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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I used to take my kids on a trash walk in our neighborhood. I give them "prizes" for finding the most cans, for whoever had the most colorful trash in their bag, who spotted something no one else found. My kids were happy and our neighborhood was clean. Good deed you're doing, sir. My hat is off to you. Gretchen
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Oh thanks so much Gretchen,
I really do enjoy the activity. When the kids were small, back in Hoonah, we used to pick up cans and sell them. One year a forestry company from Norway wanted to buy Spruce cones. They paid ten dollars for a burlap bag full. That was fun. Sometimes one of the grandkids will go with me to pick up trash. Its a shame that almost anywhere we go around the town we could easily fill a bag or two, or more.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from Tom Horonzy
I am with you - puzzled why refuse cannot be kept in the car uintil the driver gets home.
The title tells me I had an effect on you, as it rings like something I would have used.
Tampons? ugh. I can't imagine why the women decided to unsheath her goodies then and there.
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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I am with you - puzzled why refuse cannot be kept in the car uintil the driver gets home.
The title tells me I had an effect on you, as it rings like something I would have used.
Tampons? ugh. I can't imagine why the women decided to unsheath her goodies then and there.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hi Tom,
it was the insert that they use. Fortunately it's not something I've come across a lot. The most common trash is booze bottles. A few years ago, my granddaughter and I found so many one ounce bottles in the roadway, that we started keeping count. I think we found 271 of them in a few block area. It was a little distressing.
Have a blessed evening buddy.
Tom
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
"Picking up trash is like eating Lays Potato Chips." What a great line:-)
You are a good guy to do this, Tom. Highways are the worst when it comes to tossed trash; on our backroads in my neck of the woods, that doesn't often take place.
I hope you weather the incoming snow and temperatures okay.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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"Picking up trash is like eating Lays Potato Chips." What a great line:-)
You are a good guy to do this, Tom. Highways are the worst when it comes to tossed trash; on our backroads in my neck of the woods, that doesn't often take place.
I hope you weather the incoming snow and temperatures okay.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2025
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Hi Pam,
I guess I'm kind of weird on the one hand. I really enjoy picking up the trash. It gives me a sense of purpose and I'm always happy with the end results.
I had to go volunteer at the church cafe' today, and overnight the weather went from rain to snow with strong winds. The roads were solid ice under the snow, and for some reason the road crews hadn't gotten out when we left. Talk about an unpleasant experience. Some of the young fellows around here with their pickups think they are invincible and drive like maniacs, even on the ice. Twice we saw vehicles that were going too fast to stop at the red light and go on through. Fortunately the people who had the green saw what was happening and waited.
I had to go clean off the driveway this evening. Fortunately Jan had bought me a new pair of insulated coveralls for Christmas, so aside from my face and ears, I was toasty.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
