HAHAHA!!! Love love love the Missing in Acton milk carton....
Do these places ONLY hire morons????

Oh girl you are just too funny and THANK YOU for a much, much, much needed laugh today.

Oh...my...god...I just got off the phone with Raimundo's co-worker as the Green trash truck just destroyed my green can...ate it up like a cracker with brie on it. I was told that I have to put it out in the street the day before my next pick up and I will get it replaced. So where do we put the lawn clippings this week...perhaps at Raimundo and his friend's house.

Im just amazed that they tried to replace your cans in the first place. Seriously, you should see some of the banged up, nastyassed garbage bins in my neighbourhood.

that milk carton is the funniest thing i've seen in a week. my condolences for the loss of your cans.

Options:

1. Sneak your trash into a neighbors bin. Under cover of night of course. Preferably a neighbor you don't like.
2. Leave it on the curb. With a sign of your MIA trash bins.
3. Call the trash company back and ask for a supervisor. Don't even bother with Raimundo. And get rightous mad!
4. Haul it all to the trash company offices and leave it there.

Or any combination of the above.

WOW
You got put on a list. over the phone? He's not a government employee. can't be. When i started my government job, i got a poor review. Know why? ( I kid you not ) I was too helpful. on the phone. with.. you know... people. i tried to answer their questions and help them. i was told by my supervisor "you need to learn how to tell them to put it in writing."

now THAT is government employment. Raimundo didn't tell you to put your complaint/request for a new trash can in writing and mail it in.

HA!

Good luck with the new trash can situation. I'd call daily and say "hey, i didn't get my new can yet. Oh, 3 weeks did you say? Gee, i must have forgotten." maybe it will come quicker that way... so you'll stop calling :)

Can't you just throw it over the fence into the kissin' cousins' crack-house yard? I bet they'd never notice.

This is weird...they GIVE you your trashcans? I've never lived any place where they GAVE you trashcans. You just have to go to Lowes or Home Depot or some other neighborhood and get them yourself. California's strange.

And about your previous post...(I'd comment there but there are already 54 comments and I feel like mine would be lost in some sink-hole), you need to get a copy of a book called The Laments by George Hagen. It's about a family always on the move, always traveling. It's funny and sad and really good. And it would give you something to read on some sleepless night.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, but I'm also secretly selfishly glad that you have such good material to write about!

With Saturn gone, what heavenly body is responsible for your recent streak of misfortune?

Jed -- Saturn is gone but the full moon on the 22nd had Saturn moving through it, so I knew this was coming, just a little last hurrah for an evil, evil planet. LOL. I sound crazy. Time for the tinfoil hat!

Sarah -- thanks for the book suggestion :)

And I like the suggestions here. Maybe the insomnia will come in handy as I smuggle my trash into the neighbors' cans under cover of darkness...

That happened to me once, but fortunately we only had to wait a few days before we got our can back.
They only replaced ours. Strange. Anyways, good luck! I agree with southernwench - pester, pester, pester!

Um... not to sound stupid here, but would it be possible actually to work something out between your neighbors, the ones who have less trash than will fit in their trash cans, and you, who have (by definition) more trash than will fit in your trash cans? As in, please can I share your trash can? Your recycle bin? Would you accept a small rental fee?

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K, Laurie.

A couple of months ago, we wanted to get our brown (trash) can replaced because it's cracked from top to bottom (the stupid truck did it), but Raimundo's long-lost cousin in San Jose said we'd have to PAY FOR AN ADDITIONAL CAN every month in order to do that. Apparently, he did not understand the concept of a can SWAP. Grr!

Sorry about the cans! Is it possible that you were really bad in a past life? I mean, it seems like you are having the WORST luck lately! You know, karma and all.

And what of knitting...now that you have your air back, some yarn time might be in order :)

Remember Dr. Johnny Fever's advice when the sanitation engineers of Cincinnati went on strike? If City Hall won't come for your trash, take your trash to City Hall...it's what I'd do. But then, I'm someone who would take Dr. Johnny Fever's advice. Ha! Hope you have your trash cans back soon!

I used to live in Acton, England, and it's a dump. Maybe it's because the government don't provide rubbish bins? Who knows.

I'm with Drew - use the crack head kissing cousins cans.... or stage a trash drop off at Raimundos office.

Nighttime trash traveling...a popular Wilshire Vista hobby. Many of my neighbors practice this sport. For this reason, we wait until the VERY LAST MINUTE at 6 am to roll our trash cans to the curb. The problem with overloaded trash cans is that the arms from the motorized trucks tend to spill the extra content onto the street...yuck!

They took your trash cans? And it's going to take a whole 3 weeks before you get them back?? Oh hell no, I'd be on the phone calling someone...unless they are ok with you leaving your bags of trash on the street.

You have to be kidding? Three weeks to get a freakin' trash can? Can you go pick them up? Know anyone with a truck? This is why my husband and I don't do work in the city of LA...

call them back and explain that you have 4 cats that generate a lot of poop and dirty litter. I like the Dr. Johnny Fever approach too.

Ok, take a deep, cleansing breath. Now, most trash services will allow you to put out trashbags out on trash day in lieu of a trash can. Give Raimundo another little jingle and see what the limit is. In my town it's three. Then go buy some large black trash bags, if you don't already have some, and use them until you get your new can.

That is such crap!! I'd call the garbage company back and tell them you will be deducting 3 weeks payment from your bill. I'm crossing my fingers that this is the last of your unfortunate events, even though it is quite funny the way you put it in words.

I'm thinking 'knitted trash cans' to use in the interim... whatdya think?! With a little felting it might just work!! ;) And just think of the colors you could use! You'll be the hit of the neighborhood!!

Um. Hi! I have questions. Are the trash people going to take your trash bags or are you required to have a trash can in order for them to take it? If that is the case, I would definately be on the phone asking for a supervisor. You already collect yarn and cats, no need for you to collect garbage for three weeks!

Had a similar thing happen to me. They went around and swapped out everyone's cans but mine. Came home that afternoon to see everyone had fancy, shiny, pretty cans - and I still had my old dingy, ugly, yucky cans.
And to add insult a week later they sent me a nasty-gram chastising me for not complying by giving up my old cans, and a bill was attached.
Like I was personally attached to my old cans? I may be crazy and act nutty from time to time, but seriously?

I once tried to throw out a garbage can. I couldn't get the stupid garbage guys to take it. An empty can with a big sign on it that said "This can is garbage, please take it away." (I used to live in a city where you could put anything on a curb and there were no limits. Nice, eh?)They never did take it. I ended up throwing it in a bin behind a restaurant late at night.
Oh, and as for your skunk fear (which I SO agree with), I suggest you keep some tomato juice handy. It really works.

hmmm, I like Kats idea but lets take it a step furthur...lets play, "Decorate your trash!!". Think of the joy you would bring to the face of all the trash-bag pick-up guys (WTF are they called?!!) with Mr. Smiley-face trash and his cousin, Mr. Pouty! They could hold up little hand made signs.....-"Homeless, please help!"

Love, love LOVE the pic on the side of milk! Such a clever girl!!!

they don't give us trash cans. we pay for trash pickup. and now those jerks won't take your trash? mail THAT in.

I think you can go to one of their offices and *pay* for tags to put on your trash bags. That's the ONLY way they're going to take your trash. Nice, huh? Oh, and these offices are only open from, like, 10a - 2p, with 2 hours for lunch, so you better get their early.

I live in the Wilshire Vista area as well, and we got RACCOONS!!! They scare me way more than the skunks or oppossums!!!

Good luck.

Oh, sista, you seriously stepped in it now. The trash can Standard operating procedures clearly state a minimum waiting period of one week with a maximum of freaking forever. Really, my neighbor had her trash can stolen, and they were going to charge her for it to be replaced. Told her she could claim in on her HOMEOWNERS INS!!! Let's not even go into why the can was stolen - we all know it was because someone had their can taken and it was never, ever replaced....May the force by with you!

Ahhhh....Bureauacracy.

Hmm. Ours does not give us cans - we have to provide oru own.

Which leads me to a thought I have always had - how do you throw away a trash can?

Read Blog Knitting not going so well.

That milk carton is hysterical! Perhaps you could fax it to Raimundo's supervisor? A reverse ransom note of sorts?

humm..

going back to Chris' post? About having his can's stolen? Cause maybe someone's hadn't been replaced? And going back to Drew's suggestion about your crackhouse neighbors?

How about combining the two suggestions?

lol

"I'm just sayin'"

Oh man, that happened to me! Someone took my recycling bin. I waited, thinking a neighbor maybe took it by accident, until the next recycling collection day. And what do you know, it reappeared like magic.

Ok I say go straight to the source...your garbagemens. Why not act super sweet and super nice and "oh would you like some sweet tea? a beer? me? Javi?" tell them that your cans are missing and would they pretty please get you new ones or take just your bags sans can. Worth a shot non?

Let's see... some options:

Well, there's the compost heap for gardening (that takes care of all your organic garbage).

And, um, there's the other option of turning your home into one of those dens of cat cruelty we see on the tv news sometimes. The homeowner tends to be a little older, but with your four cats, you could really work the crazy cat lady angle well despite your relatively young age.

I say, deliver your trash to the first air conditioning repair company you attempted to hire.

you are too lovely and funny.

haha

i'm sorry about your missing cans.

...lol. Nice job, Julie! Best suggestion yet! :)

I laughed so hard I appeared to be crying. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I have had a tough week already and it's only Tuesday.

I'd bet anything the city/county/guvmint did not forget your cans. Your trailer park neighbors stole them. I'm not saying I have neighbors like that. I'm not saying my neighbors stole my trashcans. I'm just saying is all.

CHINESE ANT CHALK?? You probably did not know this, but I think you have just solved a 5-year-old mystery in my life. When I lived in Chicago, I saw a sign in a store window that said, "This store does not sell miraculous insecticide chalk." And I have been wondering about the miracle chalk ever since.

Man, it's really sort of anticlimactic, isn't it?

By the way, about that ant chalk. You got me curious because we have ant ... umm ... issues too.

From

http://www.ecologycenter.org/erc/fact_sheets/ant_control.html

"You may come across another product packaged as sticks of chalk and labeled "Miraculous Insecticide Chalk" in English and Chinese. It may be available in Chinese variety or grocery stores, although it is illegal in the U.S., because it has not been registered and approved as an insecticide. We do not recommend using this product."

Illegal. :(

Sorry to hear about your missing barrels. (That's what we call 'em up here in Massachusetts). No freebies for us! We have to buy our own barrels, and we have a new "pay as you throw" program, $1.50 per bag. On top of that, if you don't put out recycling, no trash pick up for you. Luckily, my husband is obsessed with recycling. He finds every last scrap of cardboard and plastic in the house. We have neatest and most well-organized barrels on the street. Too bad he can't put his socks in the hamper. Sigh.

Where I live, we can't use cans. We have a pretty nasty skunk problem too. I started using the contractor bags -- super thick plastic bags you get at the home improvement stores -- and I pour about 1/2 cup of ammonia on the bag after I put it out. The animals smell it and keep away, and the bag is thick so it doesn't tear. Works great, an os far, no problems.

I say you find out where Raymundo lives and take his trashcans.......that sounds like some serious poetic justice against the unfeeling beaucracy for stalling on your cans!

That came out wrong but you know what I mean.

put your trash in plastic bags, then at night use dumpsters behind stores. or call back and get raimundo's address. bet he'd like all that trash on his doorstep.

c'mon laurie.....move to south dakota! it's a better kind of crazy here.

OMG when we stopped the lawn waste service, they took our regular trash can and it took my husband weeks of hourly calls to be a new one.

Good luck!

LOVE the milk carton!

What taral said--options 3 AND 4 both look good...

Subtract the payment for the number of days you are sans cans.

Our trash company provides cans. One day ours was missing the lid. I called up and asked for another can, with a lid, and put the old one out or them to take. I got the new can a day or two later, but I still have the topless one. (ne charge, either!) I can send it via UPS to you from Georgia. Although it is just a little stinky. I'm just saying...

Bless your heart...

Skunk spray remedy, do not put in closed container especially not glass. it will blow up
1 Qt 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp. liquid soap

While it might make great blog fodder, girl, crap keeps happening to you. I've been sitting here trying to tot up a list of every stupid thing that's happened to you lately, and I just can't do it. Too many things.

Maybe you should go and get more of those voodoo candles. I dunno. Road trip once the bank allows holidays again?

Ok. I took kans, I took to fix. I fix kans good. Pleez dont kall Department of Trash and Kans anymor. I fix and bring bak soon. Then we go on walk on beech and drink wine wit ice kubes. OK? Tonite you sleep good, tomorrow kans and long walk. OK?

You put your cat poop in the trash? Why not flush it where your poop goes? Is your toilet too good for cat poop? You use the little pooper scooper plastic thingie (mine is purple), slide it under the poop, lift it out and while it's still over the litter pan shake it to remove the excess. The you turn and place it in the toilet. (At my house, the cat toilet lives in the same room as the people toilet, but then again, we're Unitarian Universalists - a people known for liberalism). Not that this will solve your entire problem with the missing trash cans, for that you need to use the solutions provided above - especially stealing the crack neighbors' cans.

By the way, did you see the lovely CAP inspired poncho the Dude created? It's lovely and I can't wait for the pattern :)

Two words, city council. There is no way in hell you should have to wait 3 minutes much less 3 weeks. Come on purl, dont be nice to these guys, get mad, threaten another sit in!

:-) Debra

p.s. you going to SnB? They have big ol trash cans there you know....

Ok, I'm officially in awe. While I live in a socialist country where I could, if I wanted to, claim I had back pain and get my boobs reduced (and probably made perky) and the government would pay... we do not get our trash cans replaced. We buy our own trash cans. There are homeless people in both of our countries who could be made, uh, un-homeless with the $$$ spent on the trash cans... this is madness... this is insanity... this is, oh, wait, I have a municipal green bin for compost. Uh, never mind.

What I don't get is why they took the old ones if they weren't going to replace them right away. You know, bring new ones with you when you take the old ones, so you can replace them?

stand outside NAKED holding your trash....works for me ( I live across the street) heee heee
(not really) ( but go ahead with the naked part anyway and tell me how it all works out for you)