Wednesday, January 9, 2013

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

Good Grief!  How much junk can one person collect over ten years?  Did you know that Goodwill won't take old TVs and mattresses, no matter how good their condition?  Ever tried to get rid of all of that computer/electronic junk without sending it to the landfill?  Damned near impossible.  Found out the best way was to simply leave it by the side of the road and let the scavengers take it.  They know where to sell it.

A twisted knee, shin splint, sore back, endless struggles with Comcast cable, the estranged wife, and hundreds of dollars later... Mr. C is back!  Battered, bruised and broke, but unbroken.  Got a lot of catching up to do.



29 comments:

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    1. I sometimes wonder if the worst is ever over but... glad to be back.

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  2. Damn glad to see you. I love that image.

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  3. As long as we are on this side of the dirt we will keep rootin' for ya!

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  4. My own experience in getting rid of my junk was a bit better as in my part of the world, the charities are still happy to take anything away. Glad that you have survived the move and may the rest of 2013 be a great one for you.

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  5. Welcome back. Sounds like you've been through the mill. But as Nietzsche said, "That which doesn't destroy me makes me stronger." Only he said it in German.

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    1. Well, we all know how tough those Germans are. For me, soon to purchase martini glass (mine are packed away somewhere) and bottle and get back in the saddle.

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  6. I've used the "leave it by the side of the road" trick. Works like a charm. Glad things are easing up now.

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    1. I have a friend who once put a TV that didn't work on the side of the road and it went away but came back the next day. then it rained and, presto, it worked. All it needed was a bath.

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  7. Here we can take electronics to Staples or Best Buy for recycling without charge. I got rid of a big box of components, a TV and a monitor that way. A lot of folk just dump it though. Worn out furniture or matresses are really hard to pass on and no, the local charities don't want any of it.

    Welcome back, Mr. C.!

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  8. Welcome back, dude. Sorry you've had a rough stretch of it, but the most important part is that you're not "broken". Best way I ever heard of anyone getting rid of unwanted stuff happened in New York. While one of the doctors I worked with was living there, there was a city-wide garbage strike, and he was stuck with a bunch of smelly garbage. He put it in a big box, wrapped it up in pretty wrapping paper and ribbons, and left it in his unlocked car. Problem solved.

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  9. What Nietzsche said: Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich stärker.

    I've moved enough times to know that the box with the coffee maker needs to be marked clearly. One of our moves had me dig through seven large boxes marked "misc. kitch. stuff" before I found the coffee maker. Three days later, I found the carafe to the coffee maker, in a box marked "living rm. pictures."

    Glad you are back.

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    1. You are so right about that. Still searching for a computer disc.

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  10. The most difficult thing to explain would be why and how Theodore Cleaver really was not The Beaver.

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    1. OK. I give. You've got me. What the hell are you talking about?

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  11. Welcome back, Mr. C. Goodwill are stupid to reject old TVs. Soon they will make a comeback like vinyl!

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    1. LOL you're probably right. If the TV doesn't have game or audio ports they say they can't get rid of them.

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  12. Mr. C, if you try to dump an old TV in one of our convenience centers here in middle TN, they can fine you up to $500. They have to be disposed of at designated hazmat sites... go figure. Here's the best way to get rid of junk: put it by the side of the road with a sign saying it costs $100. It'll be gone before daylight. Free things are there in the morning, but something with a price tag won't last the night.

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    1. That's pretty much exactly what I did. The scavengers come by before the garbage trucks and take anything of any value.

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  13. ha welcome back good sir...that is a funny graphic on the cell phone, i imagine they would be rather hard to explain...and what we use them for...i find small solace in that i am not the only one to struggle with comcast...ha

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    1. Comcast and At&t are two of the worst service providers in the world.

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  14. Welcome back Mr. C.
    Never fear, it’ll all come out in the wash.

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    1. Somehow, I feel like I've been through the tumble-dry cycle.

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  15. What doesn't kill us just makes us drink more...and since you didn't land in Bubba County (dry) you should be in good shape! For what it's worth, if you ever find yourself "downsizing" again for whatever reason, women's shelters, homeless shelters/charities and the like are usually happy to have donations of usable household goods. There are also a lot of artists who recycle/upcycle stuff into their works, but I don't know how you might connect with them. Anyway....

    ...speaking of long strange trips, I'm just back from returning intellikid to Boston University. We entertained ourselves (finally!) with the audio book "The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs" on the way up. Very, very funny (after that initial unfortunate incident), and very appropriate since iKid is a linguistics major, too! Thank you for the recommendation.

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