Shopping at www [wally world west-our local scrapyard] just ain't the same as it used to be. Once it was a respectable scrap yard with some good things amongst the junk--but not so any more! I went to have a "look see" this afternoon. Why, the shame and degredation of it all!! I most had to take to my bed from all the fright I sustained whilst browsin for some buildin materials! The nerve of some people---throwin away things that ort not be throw'd away in the conditin they were in.

I noticed a purty good lookin push mower frame with 3 wheels on't. I tried to remove'm and those bolts were rusted so bad that I just throw'd it back!!! The least they could'a done was spray some wd40 on'm for the next person. I didn't have any with me but I'll betcha next trip out there I'll take my can of "knockerloose" with me--that is if I'm able to face that mental challange again.

Saw an old floor furnace that was probaly not a day older than 40 years! Washers, dryers, ranges, water heaters and just general trash that has no redeeming features to offer anybody! Ole Jeep ain't even throw'd anything away there lately. Rekon I need to go have a "look see" at his junkpile.

Well anyhow, after shopping there for awhile I was so devestated by this onslaught of "city folks junk" that I just had to go do some powerful loafin with my old buddys in Clay City! I don't even know if'n I'm able to et supper tonite. I'm so "stressed out" that our www has went to the dogs! Oh, I forgot to tell ya'll--some dead dogs where deposited there too.

Of course this is writ with a certain amount of "hillbilly humor" but suppose some will oppose the graphic nature of certain aspects of the post. For them I say "oh well"! old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

I think that we live in a throw-away society! It's sometimes cheaper to buy new than to fix! Some relatives of mine own a auto body shop and now-a-days people don't want to bother to have their auto fixed. They go out and buy a new one! I'm not saying it's wrong though, but it makes for a lot of junk laying around! And I agree about the "Oh well!"

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

Hoot, When I go to the dump, I'm as apt to bring home more than I take! ( That is when I can beat the big yellow toothed machine to it- we are NOT supposed to take things).

It is downright sinful the amount of perfectly good lumber that machine grinds up everyday coming in from construction sites! ! When I was remodeling the old farmhouse - - I was grabbing 2x4's fast as I could nearly every trip to the dump with the old plaster and trash from the rehab.

-- J McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), March 06, 2002.

Way back when I lived in the "concrete jungle" my neighbor had his mower sitting out for the trash one day. When I asked him about it he said it quit running. He told me if I wanted it I could have it so I took it. A few days later I was checking it out and discovered the only thing wrong was......spark plug was loose!. I took it back to him and he had already bought a new one. This is the same guy who paid $25 to have the wheels put on a bike he bought his boy one Christmas and this was back in the '70's. Some folks are like that...don't know a hammer from a screw driver and don't know how to use either one. Not being critical....that's just the way some folks are.

-- WV Ridgerunner (ewvaughn@mtneer.net), March 06, 2002.

I had to stop going to our "recycle center". Ran out of friends and relatives who might need at least 2 dehumidifiers as I would bring 5 or 6 home and end up with 4 or 5 good ones after a few shots of oil to the fan bearings. The best story was when I rescued one from the curb on our street. So much cat hair that the coil looked like a solid disk. Only needed to clean out the hairs and hit the reset switch. Later, the previous owner was moaning the fact that she threw out a dehumidifier that was still under warranty! Didn't tell her that it was in my son's basement.

And microwave ovens are a hobby that I took up several years ago. Then I was coming home with several ovens each trip. The old ones were built to last and usually just need a new upper switch after 50,000 cycles. My prize was a huge 1978 GE model. $2.34 switch was all that it needed and it is proudly working in my kitchen. All of my friends also have at least 2 and I even give them out as wedding presents. And 5 backup ovens stored in the garage! Learned early in life to improvise and repair things when they broke on the farm when nearest implement dealer was 25+ miles away.

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), March 06, 2002.

Learning to fix things with what's available is undoubtedly the best skill a parent can teach a child.

-- IveyNelson (iveynelson@aol.com), March 06, 2002.

I love going through "pill hill" (the rich folks side of town) on clean up day. I pick up computers, mowers, bookcases, all sorts of stuff.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

When I was first married and could not afford to buy anything a friend of mine pulled up in my driveway with a sofa. She said she had gone to the dump and a couple was getting ready to pitch it. She told them to put it in her truck instead and they thought that she was crazy but gave it to her. She said the sofa is sound but it has not legs so it is short and it has a hole about 6 in sqr where someone had droped a cig and burned a hole that big and deep in it. But since I had not sofa at all she thought I might be able to fix it. I took a small pillow and stuffed it in the hole real tight then got a beautiful floral sheet King sized flat for 4.50 at K-Mart and tossed it over the entire sofa :) whala I had me a place to sit and it stayed in my house for a year.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), March 06, 2002.

if you live in or near a college town, check out the sidewalks when the kids move. you will get alot of good stuff.

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), March 07, 2002.

I grew up in a place where it was an absolute no-no to take anything out of the dump. They had a person at the gate that checked as you left as well as coming in besides people directing you to were to go so we just tried to empty with out looking at anything or we would cringe for what folks threw out.

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), March 07, 2002.

I haven't said yet but welcome back Hoot.

We have a Swap Shop at our Co. Dump. One time we left there with 3 NICE metal chairs (2 of them were what I would call government office lobby chairs...brushed alluminum frames, wooden arm rests and back slats, padded bottom) and 1 chiferobe dresser. Each of my 3 children had a chair upside down on their laps and the dresser was sticking out the back of the car.

We almost always leave with something useful. Found a copy of Edmund Spenser's Faery Queen too.

-- LBD, Maryland (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

i worked at the dump out here.brought home lotsa nice things, and some not so nice.lotta clothes, what didn't fit went to goodwill. one hint for getting around the rules, the guys working at the dump, (ours anyway),like beer like. a little beer goes a long way. in a small town the guys remember who you are.they'll even watch for stuff your lookin for.yup thats right bribery.just a thought

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), March 07, 2002.

oh yeah, welcome back hoot!!!!!

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), March 07, 2002.

got one even better, pre dumping clean up, we were driving by a local eatery, and noticed several nice looking BRIGHT red cafe chairs outside, i told hubby to stop, and went in , the kids working werent sure , so called the owner , owner said, take em, but only if you take the rest down in the basement as well, well, we now have a matching set of 12 cafe style chairs, kind of old fashioned bucket style , but very nice , and the upholstry, though a horrendous bright red color , isnt ripped or tore on any of them , abd since they were commercial rest. stuff, very solid chairs , oh yeah , one small drawback to them , other than the color, is most were missing the little wheels, oh darn, you take off the wheels that are left on , and still have perfectly comfy kitchen chairs , :)

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

Oh Hoot! Very Graphic? I am ashamed to say I opened this thread. I am sure glad it was you. God Bless! I thought, well if it's too bad I'll just hit the back button.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), March 07, 2002.

Hee-hee. Lessee.. I've been the recipient of a computer that needed a $15 fan, a sofa that needed to be washed, (washed the heck outta the covers and then scrubbed the fabric I couldn't remove, then set a clean fan on her and got outta my apartment for a while:) ), four chairs of varying pedigrees, and lots and lots of books. My friends don't even bother to take their old books to goodwill, they bring 'em to my place. Did I mention that Goodwil is right across the street from me? LOL

-- Connie B (MykellSilver@aol.com), March 09, 2002.

IT makes no sense... we hear that the dumps are going to all be full in x number of years, and that no new dumps are going to be allowed to open in the area... and then we arent allowed to save some stuff from the bulldozer??? Some people in high places dont have a brain.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), March 09, 2002.