I'm still primarily a rule-follower, but over the last decade or so I've come to realize how silly and stupid some rules really are. Our town has one that strikes me as completely ridiculous. Thursday is trash and recycling day and we are not supposed to put these curbside before 5:00 pm on Wednesday, and cans have to be retrieved by 5:00 pm on Thursday. This is supposed to keep the town looking nicer, prevent trash cans from blowing around in the street, and generally restore calm and order in the world or some such nonsense.
The town council tried to solve a problem that didn't exist, the rule is impractical and unenforceable, so it's clearly my duty to rise up and rebel against it. I've begun to make a point of putting out my trash before 5:00 pm and it makes me happy to do it.
I know this is petty and silly on my part, and we laugh about how much of a badass I am with my big act of rebellion, but it might also be a small start on being comfortable disregarding rules and having a little fun.
Who knows, I might even start pumping my own gas (it's against the law in NJ) or using profanity on Main Street (another local ordinance). Stay tuned ... :-)
Pump your gas on Main Street, while swearing and talking trash!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that one, Patty!
DeleteWell... I was just on the phone again this week to complain about my neighbor's trash & recycling receptacles out on the street. I was pretty damn patient this time (yes, there have been TIMES) (and, yes, I think of/feel like/possibly channel my mother EVERY SINGLE TIME), considering they were out there for A FULL *%#&^#!* WEEK. It rankles extra when the @!#%#&** son's pickup truck is stupidly parked on the street at an angle... TO AVOID HITTING THE RECEPTACLES! Day after day after *#*&&& day. He walks right by them on the way to the house... everyday. TAKE THEM IN WITH YOU! And... there are at least TWO OTHER PHYSICALLY ABLE PEOPLE who could do the same. On one of those days. OMG. Thank god I only have neighbors on one side. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a town trash company. Everything is private so every day somewhere there is a garbage can out (hopefully without a bear messing it). We put our garbage out the night before, they do not recycle so I drive my recyclables to a center.
ReplyDeleteBoy, this strikes a chord with me! I just had this conversation with my city councilman a couple of weeks ago. We have an ordinance that says trash and recycling cannot be out until 7am of the day of trash pickup, and must be taken from the curb by 7pm. And evidently someone complained that it wasn't happening, so they sent out a notice that they were going to begin to enforce it and fine people if they did not comply. That made me so mad, especially since I often find my cans in the middle of the street, in the ditch, or turned over by the sanitation workers. I told him that it was totally impractical. What about shift workers? Are they supposed to set their alarm to get up and put out trash at 7am? Ridiculous. I usually put mine out the night before because I don't want to walk it all to the curb at that hour, especially if I am not dressed. So far, most of us are ignoring it on my street. I understand you don't want things at the curb for days on end, but a rule that stringent is just not going to work for a lot of people. And I have always been someone who abides by the rules, but I will go to court on this one if I have to do so. You have to take a stand somewhere, and pettiness is a good place to start! Stepping off high horse now, Bonny. I hope you continue to rebel, and I hope you have a fabulous weekend without rain.
ReplyDeleteOh, you GO! I'm going to start calling you Bonny Badass! :-) I'd be right there with you. . . living on the edge with the trash restrictions (and setting my alarm to do it)!!! (I am very much a rule-follower. Unless the rules are stupid. Then all bets are off.) XO
ReplyDeleteOh!!! Now we MUST meet. I just love a good badass!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! We have the same ridiculous rules, and I am right there with you! It drives Steve mad, lol. In Michigan there were no such rules in the city where I lived. Sometimes they want to "rule you to death"
ReplyDeleteI say, viva la Bonny BadAss1!
This post is priceless! You got Bad Ass Bonny! I don't think we have rules about when trash can be set out at the curb . . . Dale does that stuff. Plus, as a selectman I should know! hahahaha
ReplyDeleteOne must do what one must do! The question is, does anyone come after you if you break the rules? I say, either way, it's good to be badass when the rules don't work.
ReplyDeleteOur fun requirements here are HUGE. We crave fun, laughter and days infused with some rule breaking. Mostly me onmy diet right now. I must get back to strict point counting...
ReplyDeleteYou go girl!!! We may have the same "rule" in our town, but it definitely is not enforced...especially since the trash collection has been known to be a day late...or completely missed! Grrrrrrr.
ReplyDelete