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Friday, December 4, 2009

WTF Friday

Before you read on, be sure to check out my Amethyst and Diamond Earrings Giveaway! You can read more about it and how to enter Here

Now on to post number two of my new series WTF Friday!


Yes, it's that time again, time to bitch about something that annoys the hell out of me.  This is one little annoyance that I can count on at least twice a year.  The problem?  Collection of those damn paper leaf bags for both Spring and Fall cleanup.





I swear, it doesn't matter when I fill those bags, the minute I kick them to the curb, I can count on it raining for the next 5 days straight.  This not only leaves the bags soaking wet but rots out the bottom so they split open spilling their contents all over the sidewalk, driveway or lawn. This wouldn't be such a big deal if I only had 4 or 5 of these bags during clean up, but I live in an old neighborhood where the trees are huge and the leaves are everywhere. No only that, whoever lived in our home before we bought it must have been part groundhog because there are gardens around 3 sides of the house. That's a hell of a lot of raking, clipping and cleaning twice a year. So I can pretty much keep the local hardware store in business just buying leaf bags. I bet I fill 40 to 50 of these damn bags twice a year trying to keep up with the yard work around here. Hubby you ask? Don't bother, according to him, gardening is my thing. I'm lucky to get him to mow the lawn once in a while.

I know what you're thinking, "Well just put them out a couple of days before the scheduled pick up" which is exactly what I do. We have been living in this one-horse town for more than three years now and for the last three years straight, the scheduled pick up of these damn bags is always running a good one to two weeks behind so waiting until the last gun is fired would be great if I actually knew when that was. Trouble is, the minute I missed that first scheduled day of pick up would be the one and only time the trucks would be on time. And the use of plastic has been banned which would be a good thing if they would just pick up the paper ones on time.

So here I am, bitching about those damn leaf bags sitting outside while I'm typing this post and yes it's raining and yes, the damn collection was supposed to be last week! So if I'm slow getting posts done next week, you'll know where to find me, outside raking up all those damn leaves again only this time off the driveway instead of the lawn!

41 comments:

Buckeroomama said...

What a pain! Is the leaf collection service a free service? If not, can't you write to complain?

Tamara said...

hahahaha I loved your bitch about the leaf bags! We live out on 5 acres and we are buried in leaves...we just throw them in the firepit and burn em now. lol WaaaLaaa no more leaf bags!!

btw...there is nothing worse than the smell of wet rotting leaves...yuck

Anonymous said...

ew, what a nightmare. i hate raking leaves the first time...let alone the second!

we burn ours...or how about a compost pile? it would be great for your garden...

The Mommyologist said...

Too funny about the leaf bags!!! And I'm freaking out right now because this past Wednesday I posted a whole "What the Heck Wednesday" thing and I didn't realize you were doing a WTF? Friday thing and I'm seriously hoping that I didn't have your idea in my subconscious when I did my post on Friday. Totally unintentional!

Martha said...

We have not had leaves to rake in years now, and I love it! Too much work. I love gardens and landscaping that looks beautiful, but it is NOT my thing!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Traci said...

Oh Dear! So sorry. The paper bags seem like an environmentally good idea but I can see how it sucks when they don't get picked up.

Hope it gets picked up soon.
:-)

Anonymous said...

How annoying! I feel for you, that would drive me absolutely nuts!

BigSis said...

That is a completely justified complaint. Of course, I'd make my son do it, but I'd still complain :)

honeypiehorse said...

I still think you should just let them lie. THey're biodegradable. Or move to LA or AZ, hardly any leaves to rake there.

Liz Mays said...

Near as I can tell, you have a definite right to do some complaining today!

Working Mommy said...

It is true! We don't use those bags, but others in our neighborhood do...and every time I see them on the sidewalk I say to myself - GREAT it is going to rain...sure enough, it does.

Helene said...

That is very irritating!!! Can't you call the city and complain about the service?

Or maybe you could throw a plastic tarp over the bags until they come pick them up??

I dunno...but I can totally understand your frustration!

Lee said...

WTF...It's snowing BUCKETS here!!

Tracie said...

You do the leaves by yourself? Twice? Your husband sounds similar to mine.

HeartsMakeFamilies said...

Ohh I would be bitching too. I hate how that happens.

Anonymous said...

i'd call and complain, for sure. at my house, we just don't rake them...too busy blogging
:)

Corrie Howe said...

We mow them up. I didn't used to, but a good friend manages a golf course and he mows them up there. I figured if a trained grass professional just mows them and leaves them on the grass, then I can too. My lawn has never looked better.

Stacey J. Warner said...

ah yes, one thing good about living in an apartment int he middle of holywood...LOL!

much love

yonca said...

So sorry. That is very annoying!

Anita said...

I feel your pain.
But on the bright side, you're getting some extra unplanned exercise.
I couldn't resist. :)

2Wired2Tired said...

I hate when it rains after taking the garbage out, I always feel so bad for the trash collectors.

Lissaloo said...

My Hubby is the same way! When did yard work become Womans work?!?!?!

Respectfully Yours said...

Good rant! Hope you don't have to rake again...have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

I feel your leaf pain. Fortunately ours are done for this season. And I do like the paper bags b/c of the whole eco-friendly thing, but the rain does put a damper on the whole system. I feel ya!

Anonymous said...

Suddenly I am terribly grateful that I haven't a yard - or trees!!!

June said...

Ward loves to "mulch" the leaves right into the grass.
This year I expanded my garden by piling about 3'of leaves on the existing garden and extending it onto the grass but first I laid newspaper down to kill the grass. Took care of a ton of leaves and next spring I hope to have a bigger garden that is full of good compost.

Unknown said...

Oooo that sucks... hope they come & pick them up today.. :)

Leslie said...

Where in the heck do you live with all of those leaves? I'm in Northern California. We get leaves, but not like that!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Time for a letter to your senator!

Stephanie said...

You bitch away! Sounds like way way too much work to me:)

Sarafree said...

Oh I have similar problem, but with our recycling. It seems to rain often on recycle day. I tend to recycle in paper bags, so they end up tearing and making a mess!

I don't know if I've told you already, but I love your new blog design!

tattytiara said...

Oigh. I think I need to go down to town hall and kiss whoever decided to issue us all plastic, wheeled carts for yard waste and other compostables.

Samantha said...

I'm so glad I live in an apartment with zero yard maintenance, because I know that the Hubs would NEVER mow the lawn and I would be the one out there doing it between cooking supper and cleaning Bree's butt. Ugh...I feel your pain.

kyooty said...

I'm also up here in the east part of Canada. Don't rake, nope don't just take your mower? with the mulch action? and mow and point that shoot thing out towards the woods or neighbours.

Heather said...

That is crazy that they are so far behind on their pick-up.

I personally have never bagged leaves. We pile them up in a designated spot and eventually burn them, when there is no burn ban going.

chocolatecovereddaydreams.blogspot.com said...

Do what my ex husband used to do and get a leaf blower and blow them down the street. The city has no other choice but to pick them up and then, tada, your yard is spotless.

Holly Lefevre said...

I thought I had a lot of leaves until I started blogging and saw what people that live in places with real season have...I have quit complaining.

Mama-Face said...

Wow, we don't even have this luxury, we have to haul them to the Green Dump every year. That is, if I actually rake them. I usually let the wind take care of 'em. But I'm still feeling bitchy for you.

My hubs has the same attitude!. Which is why our yard is lame-o

The Four Week Vegan said...

When we bought this house it was partly due to the yard, which is not huge, but lovely - hubby assured me he loved gardening and working in the yard. I assured him that wasn't my thing at all. Well, after 6 years we hired a gardner because it was clear hubby had lied to me.

Sharon said...

hee hee hee! Glad you got the leaf issues off your chest! I understand completely. Just imagine how annoying they must be to the garbage guy! YUCK!

brainella said...

Oh, I so feel your pain here. We were not allowed to put our grass or leaves out until garbage day so we had to put the clippings in our garage. All I can say is ICK. Composting grass smells horrid. And yes, whenever we left the paper bags outside it rained. Without fail. God does have his good time, doesn't he? :)