What is your priority in life?

Been raining here a lot so it totally screws up my dumpster diving. However many times when it’s raining like cats and dogs, the staff wait until it stops raining and then they throw out a fresh bag of trash.

The other night retrieved 2 boxes of women’s vitamins. Won’t expire for another 2 years. These are the multipacks you can take traveling or when you’re on the go.

Several vials of EmergC packets and Gatorade flavored water containers. These will come in handy while traveling or once again on the go.

To me dumpster diving is an obsession or an addiction. If stores are going to throw away perfectly good items that can be used by me or others, then I’m going to take whatever they throw out.

I grew up poor. I know what it’s like to have literally no food and barely making it. I know that feeling all too well. Now in our economy we have working men and women who are living in their cars, their vans or RV or living at home with mom and dad or couch surfing.

I feel their pain, I do. And if my hygiene kits or food kits help someone who is hurting, then that makes me happy.

15 years ago I used to be such a mall junkie. My priorities were my mani/pedi, what man I could date or meet, what new outfit I could buy, how hot I looked or how much I could do to my hair to meet a man. Now that I look back on it, those were pointless meaningless jaunts.

If I could bring back 20 years ago after my first husband died I would have been a dumpster diver and more of a environmentalist who cared about others more, instead of spending more and consuming meaningless items.

But we cannot go back in time, can we. So for the last 5 years I’ve been an urban forager, gleaning items and helping others. To me it’s more noble and honorable. I’m not judging those who are still mall and spending junkies. But the reason behind those pointless jaunts are busy making activities to fill an empty void of pain and loneliness. Maybe it’s a case of narcissim and looking good, who knows?

Back from Road Trip – manifesting what you want

pink blanket

Went on a 4,425 mile trip to see family and friends in 3 weeks. That’s a LOT of driving. On the way to see loved ones, passed out many a candy bar, bag of chips, crackers or bottled water to weary travelers who were less fortunate than myself. It was good to see family and friends and to meet my new dear mother-in-law. I’m lucky; I have a good one and good husband. After that exhausting trip, came straight home and did nothing for a few days. As a middle aged woman that type of trip takes a lot out of you. It did my husband as well. I insisted that he pace himself as he spreads himself too thin. He’s sometimes TOO nice and promises more than his physical body could do.

We did some dumpster diving in his home state. We found a crate of Febreeze (one bottle was smashed so the entire case was dumped). We gave half of that away. We also found one case of pickled vegetables in jars. One jar was broken and the rest was thrown in the trash – perfectly good of course. Gave away half of our finds to others on the road.

Dived twice since I’ve been back. The other night found a ton of 4th of July trinkets which we will give away to the kidlets. On the way to our first store I told my husband that I wanted to find a razor to match the blades we’d found and I’d like to find some chips. Guess what was in the dumpster? A brand new Mach 3 razor kit unopened and dozen bags of new chips.

Manifestation works. You have to believe that it is.

Tonight found a beautiful little dog sculpture that has beaded glass all over it. You’re supposed to put a candle in it to light up the beads. Also retrieved a bulb for the garden. Simply beautiful. Also found a dozen of odds and ends for plumbing work that my husband can use for repairs. Found a new flashlight for diving.

Isn’t life wonderful?

 This economy is really terrible and I feel really bad for those who are hurting. I’ve been there.

So if in my little way I can help others with fruit, toys, crackers or chips, then I will. While we were driving and in hotels I made a new blanket (crocheted) for the house. I like it, I think all my readers will like it.

Road Trip

Going on vacation in a few days. Last night retrieved out of the trash, raisins, energy bars and cereal. The boxes were wet from the rain but the cereal was intact on the inside. My hubby and I are taking a vacation and visiting family and friends who weren’t at our wedding since we eloped.

Since we usually don’t stay in hotels unless we have to, we’ll be taking breaks every few hours on the rest areas on the highway. Nine times out of 10 we usually encounter a homeless man or woman or family or families who could use free food. We’re also bringing the toys to donate as well.

This is a picture of last night’s finds.

Road Trip

Dine and Dash

Had to do some serious meat shopping tonight. Stopped at a huge discount store that I normally find to be pretty ethical on how they treat their staff and their customers. Something disturbed me. I was going to buy a bucket of potato salad. I have decided dining out is a no no and date night is a picnic lunch at the ocean. There were about 100 gallons of potato salad in the refrigerated container. All were dated to expire, tomorrow June 23rd.

So I asked the manager if he was going to either give a huge discount on them or give them away. Oh no we can’t do that. We send them back in a refrigerated container and get store credit. I said let me get this straight. You’re going to send back 100 containers of potato salad for “store credit”. This will go on a refrigerated truck, using precious fuel and polluting the planet for “store credit”. I said this is absurd.

I said here’s a thought. Why don’t you take all those potato salads off the shelf and GIVE those away right now to the customers in the store. You have plenty of families who come into this store who are hurting. These same families bought food from your store lining your pockets and your bosses pockets with income. OR sell them to me at a discount price, I’ll haul them in my truck and give them out to the hungry myself. He said Ma’am I cannot do that. I said OK. I wanted to plant the seed.

So tomorrow, this store’s corporate office is getting a phone call from me personally.

I come back home and put away all my food. Then I decided to go back out. I stopped at one of my local haunts for dumpster diving. The stuff they were going to throw out was sitting on the ground ready to be thrown out. I drove by like a super dumpster diving sleuth grabbed 2 bags of trash and took them home.

Tons and tons of good new stuff. Some for my stockpile and some for those who could use it. I don’t have to work, my hubby makes good money, but MANY of my readers are hurting and in a big way. If I can give some goodies to those who need it, then that works for me.

Be kind to each other, we’re all hurting or traumatized in some way from this economy. A little kindness goes a long way.

Dine and Dash