Takin' the Blog for a Walk
Join Waukesha resident Brien Lee and his blog, Sir Fido, as they explore the city and report on the interesting things they find.
Email Brien at howlinblog@yahoo.com.
goin' green
Plenty o' green on St. Pat's. The unbelievably perfect weather was obviously something to bain sult as an saol. I have a strong connection to the day that has nothing to do with green beer - just call me Patrick, it's my middle name - and I immediately recognized upon waking what a truly beautiful day it was.
This St. Pat's follows a winter so mild we never even got the snow blower out or needed the new bag of salt. I feel safe now, the remaining days will be in the 70s, but there were plenty who thought I'd jinx it by mentioning the mild winter during winter.
Bailey and I walked up the nearest hill to greet the day. March 17th really is the best day to go green and I feel I did my part. I took advantage of the sunny skies by grabbing several trash bags for a hike out to Retzer and back.
Several years BC (before children) I used to earn a little green by collecting cans along roadsides. It was a good feeling doing my part to beautify the countryside even though I had an ulterior motive. And it was addictive. Alone time in the country; fresh air and exercise; recycling before it was a requirement; the money. . .
Felt I was pretty much done with that part of my life. Working full time; older; too much traffic. . . but the fact remains: trash is still there, possibly more, because of certain things now banned from landfills.
I wish there were a way to make Hwy. T/ Madison St. out to Retzer an Adopt a Highway. I realized how bad it'd gotten a few months back when I went for a long hike. It doesn't make sense for the road leading to a nature center to be one of the trashiest around, but I know why it's likely that way. A less-traveled rural road makes a great dumping spot for TVs, furniture, tires, bags of grass clippings... and especially beer cans, because anyone who's not too drunk realizes you don't save the cans for recycling if you're out drinking and driving.
If I were to "adopt" Hwy. T out to Retzer I'd need a dump truck, but my goal this day was a little more conservative. I'd start with four empty trash bags and go from there. As a concession to maturity I got myself a broomstick with a nail in it to save bending over hundreds of times.
I filled four bags with aluminum cans in three hours of perfect weather and scenic beauty. With the dozens of car tires, etc., I don't think I made a noticeable difference, but it felt pretty good to at least try.
St. Patrick's Day was the perfect day to go green, if you know what I mean.
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