Random #4.3 sad, sad Attleboro, MA

When I first moved here I was gun-ho about getting involved locally and maybe making an impact on the community regarding global economic, environmental and ecological conditions. I actually thought, "This place needs me." I couldn't have been more correct. This "city" really is lacking leadership in the form of an experienced activist and event organizer for anything related to the above conditions.

If you don't "believe" in climate change, then save yourself now and stop reading, as this will probably tick you off. But, if you understand what the words "carbon footprint" mean, and you are working on lowering yours, then stick around :)

Technically, Attleboro, MA is a "city". There is a Mayor, a city hall, they have their own police force, etc. Additionally, while Attleboro may not visually represent a typical metro area, such as Boston or New York City, it holds all the filth of one.

I've written on this topic before, but I've finally got some photos of what I was desperately attempting to convey through some other shots of rubbish around the neighborhood.

If this doesn't sum up what I see everyday in this place, nothing will:


This is the usual sight, everywhere. This happens to be on one of the ONLY untouched areas by commerce and business (as its right below the commuter rail).



I mean, look at that, the dumpster is RIGHT THERE! They can't put it in the dumpster? They really are that incredibly lazy here, that they can't lift a plastic lid to a designated receptacle? AND WORSE, the garbage collectors see this trash at least once a week and they can't even make a slight impact on it, by, oh, I dunno, maybe picking up a few pieces at a time?!


There sits the insane amount of rubbish within the shadow of the dumpster. How can so many people turn their cheeks at this? And how can they knowingly add to it by carelessly throwing trash out of their car windows, in order for it to accumulate here?

In my own block alone, I'm sure it would take at least 12 hours nonstop to clean up all four sides of it.

Do you think I should take this on myself? At least around my block? I already take care of the yard as much as possible, but every day I find new stray rubbish...

Random #12 - Happy friggen' Easter

You know how I'm always blogging about what a wonderful dog I have?


Well, he's not so wonderful right now, after waking up to his Easter egg CARNAGE.

Dammit.

Then, my son pointed out that the peeps were crying.


Awe! Poor wittle peeps...we're gonna eat you and make it all better, k?

So, okay, before anything else ruined this Easter (my mom always said bad things happen in threes - and we were already up to two), I decided to drop the bomb on him about how jelly beans are shiny because of shellac (also known as Confectioner's Glaze, Resinous Glaze, Pharmaceutical Glaze, Pure Food Glaze, Natural Glaze, Beetle Juice, and Lac-Resin). If it was out of my control to have a nice Easter, then I was going to join in and ruin it, too!

"Shellac (commonly used as wood primer and varnish) is a resin which is secreted by the female Lac insect after it consumes tree bark. This scale insect is in the same family as the cochineal bug and lives on a variety of trees in Southeast Asia and Mexico. The raw resin is collected, heated, filtered. and mixed with an alcohol solution to create the food glaze." (-source)

-source

Gross. And that's exactly what he said, while continuing to chew away on a mouthful of those colorful morsels of sweetness...

On the brighter side...


I was able to upcycle some cool pyramid-shaped teabag boxes into jelly-bean containing Easter basket carrots. The tea bags are so cute (in the above picture, you can see they have tiny green leaves at the end of the string, instead of the usual monotonous tag)!


My son thought they were "genius" (really, it's just about seeing things as they relate to other things, through their shape and possible re-use, mainly because I'm broke).

So, happy friggen' Easter!

Random #11.1 - As you wish

Okay okay. I have to admit that I was hinting in my prior post that I'd actually like someone to request pics. My dear friend Rachel answered the call...which I have to say she is quite gifted at, little does she know...

So, now you get to see my choppings:




Also, recently Abe's Market online ran a promotion for a FREE three item sample package with only a $2.00 shipping charge to pay. I was ALL about it and sampled some aged cheddar flavored Pirate's booty (kinda like cheese puffs but on the healthier side and far tastier), organic quinoa pumpkin treats for my canine companion, and Wembé's Black Clay "natural/vegan/ecofriendly/wild" soap bar. The latter of the three made it FAR beyond worth just the $2.00 shipping fee. I don't think they are having the promotion anymore over at Abe's, but this soap gave a whole new meaning to "taking a shower." I highly recommend the product, and would love if someone could direct me to a more wallet friendly alternative.



P.S. - Sorry, but I really have a hard time posting pics of myself, so they're "half-a$$"...

Random #11 - Hi. I'm buzzing.

What? A lady can't have a drink once in awhile? I'm drinking cheap gin, mixed with diet tonic water and all natural cherry juice. R.W. Knudsen makes fantastic pure juice, in so many flavors, and because they aren't watered down, they make for a great mixer.

Also, I cut my hair today. And because I wanted to take pictures of the haircut, I decided to put on makeup. I don't like pictures of myself, I'd rather just walk around thinking I'm pretty instead of seeing the horrible truth in a photo. Are you with me? So, I caked on the eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara with experimental colors, in order to take a halfway-decent shot. I will probably still Photoshop it, though.

I am SUCH a girl.
And OMG it was SOOOO much FUN! Like, OMG! TOTALLY!

So yes, I'm celebrating a new haircut with gin, tonic, & cherry juice (even though it was just a little trim, really)!

Oh, and...no, I won't post any pics along with this post...




...unless they get requested... :P

Random #10 - Pay phones

Remember these things? I hardly EVER see them since the convenience and affordability of cell phones have become so widely available. Pay phones like this littered the street I used to hang out on in Burlington, VT, when I was a teenager. We even had gadgets that made noises into the mouth piece, which the phone interpreted as accepting coins...I guess they found out about that, and it's probably another reason they seldom exist anymore.

This is the only one I could find within a few miles from where I live and, obviously, it's no longer in service.



Isn't is weird that they left the sign and the framing up, whilst they ripped out the payphone?

I wonder what they do with the payphones they pull out?

Do you have any payphones near you? How many and what company provides service to them? OH! and HOW MUCH do they cost??

Random #3.2 - Dump Spot (in a new spot?)

Ugh. I had a rough emotional time as of late, and didn't leave my bed much. Therefore, the "Dump Spot" became my bed. I guess that means I am more guilty of the "dumping" than my son is...

The List:

1. I pulled out my stamp collection in hopes to get some of the more rare ones appraised via Google research. Never happened, and the stamps (in the binder) have moved to the ottoman at the end of the bed. Hmm...maybe I should go - wait, I'll finish this post first!

2. There's my MacBook - I LOVE YOU, MacBook! Note the stickers for 350.org plastered on the top of it, as well as a hot pink sticker that says, "Make out, Not War". Love that.

3. Not sure why the cords got all tangled and ended up semi-topping the MacBook, but again you can see the camera connector amidst the telltale Apple power cord.

4. The upside-down box is actually homemade. Inside it there is a diorama of a garden full of flowers and blossoming trees, vines and bushes. I wanted to thank my Landlady and friend for thinking of me on my birthday, and so I gave her her own little "happy place" inside this box. :)

5. There's a paper cutter to the right side of the image, but it's upside-down as well. I don't know?

6. Scissors and the corner of a purple folder which holds a bunch of half-used scrapbooking paper, which I utilized for the box.

7. SHARPIES! Who doesn't LOVE Sharpies? They will go back to their home in the black case which is also on the right side of the pic, just lower. I have had them for SO long, the mere fact that I sometimes have to throw one or two out from dry-out scares me to death. They are my friends!

8. I also love gluesticks, such as the purple and clear one shown above. Oh, I just NEVER have enough of these things!

9. That black round thing is the top to my water bottle.

10. Lastly, a piece of paper with some old love notes printed on it. I certainly won't be using those, so they will also go home, into the purple folder.

What's in your dump spot today?

Random #4.2 - Attleboro IS a dump

Yes, Attleboro is SUCH a dump.

I promised little while back that I'd get around to photographing the evidence supporting the above statement, and while I still haven't gotten the worst images available (forgot my camera...oops), here are some that give you an idea.






^^Looks like somebody ELSE made an oops, too. Yes, they paint the fencing here. I'm from Vermont, and we just don't see this kinds stuff up there, so if you live in a filthy city and this doesn't surprise you, I'm really sorry to have bored you today with my doldrums regarding the mess of this place!

On the bright side of this dump, little T took me on a walk on Sunday, to a very nice little wooded area, not too far away from our house. :)


AWE! If you are one of the unlucky folks who live in a filthy city, have you found any special places that are really nice within the filth? Do share!