A tiny tidbit

My name is Elizabeth and I am a {closet} dumpster diver.

I'm not one of those crazy ones, though.  My sister's one of the crazy ones.  She's that kind that actually climbs into dumpsters.  She's the kind that goes for a Sunday afternoon drive on "big trash weekend" to see if there's anything she could re-purpose...or use for its original purpose.  Not me, though.  Uh uh.  

Nope, I'm more of a lazy dumpster diver.  You know the kind.  You might even be one.  I'm really more of a trash picker.  But even then, a lazy one.  I'm more of a "drive by on trash night and see if there's anything awesome sitting next to the trash cans" kind of girl.  I'm a "I don't mind your trash, as long as it's not dirty and I can use it as-is for its intended purpose, with little or no effort" kind of girl.  See?  Lazy.

A few months ago, we were in the market for a new Cozy Coupe.  Well, not exactly a new one, as we didn't want to spend $50, but a good used one.  Garage sales and consignment sales weren't yielding anything worthwhile, and I'd about given up, when out of the blue, someone just down the street put one out with their trash on a Sunday night!  Woohoo!!

So, every once in a while, on my way home from church on Sunday night I take a couple of "wrong turns" through the neighborhood and check out everyone's trash.  There's some good stuff in there!  I could probably even start a collection and sell it all in this summer's garage sale...perhaps even to its original owners?  

Tonight was one of those nights.  We were almost home, and I noticed someone had a torn up bike in their trash.  And then I noticed a broken bedframe.  And then I looped around to check out the rest of the neighborhood.  My husband called to see what I was up to.  I believe he called me "nuts."  He's probably right.  (By the way, I didn't tell him why I was driving around, just that I was.)  And then I saw it.  I haven't found a prize in several months.  Not since the coveted Cozy Coupe.  But right there, in front of the house...the same house, I saw something I needed to have...and struggled but was finally able to cram it in, in pieces, amidst the ridiculous array of carseats that pepper my back seats.

Of course, it didn't come with the cute kids.  (They're catalog models for Step2.)  It didn't come with the sand, the sand toys, or the umbrella, either.  What it DID come with was cobwebs, dirt, and a little water.  But can you imagine how excited Little Lou was when I told her to make sure Stinky didn't touch it because we were taking it home!  (She was also a bit concerned.  "Mommy, I'm sure they won't notice tonight, but don't you think they'll be upset when they get up in the morning and it's gone?")

So there you have it.  Sometimes, I save the earth, one plastic yard toy at a time.  Sometimes, my version of "eco-friendly" means I still get to give my kids the "fun" plastic toys, but they're used, a little worn down, but still just as fun.  

That's just a tiny little morsel of me to chew on tonight.  That's right.  I'm a {closet} dumpster diver.  And my sister would be proud.