Would eating out of the garbage count as garbage picking cause a few years after I was diagnosed with OCD I would sometimes find food and go in a quiet place and eat it.It may sound gross to you but that's what happened to me. :-[



Howard, was it already half-eaten food? Did you find it in a dumpster?  I am not trying to make fun, I am just curious..that's all. 



Erin :)

I have been to the dump a few times to drop stuff off and believe me, these were items people wouldn't want to use again - like old toilet bowels, shower stalls, tiles, particle board, countertops, etc. The dump had a very distinctive smell, too. I was working with a remodeler at this time, so we made a few trips there dumping a lot of scrap materials.

But, I like going to some rummage sales or antique shows and collecting paper items. I don't have a place of my own, so I've skipped on the furniture (although it's been very tempting).

The best thing I've gotten was a basketball hoop. The backboard was made of wood and the paint on it was peeling, but it still worked. I also got a card table and a chair.

i found an antique porcelain doll,silver and gold jewelry,nice clothes,cashmere sweaters,think of more latyer

did you see the seinfeld episode when george ate the donut out of the garbage and got caught?   ;D



Yes I saw that episode Jim. ;D

Howard, was it already half-eaten food? Did you find it in a dumpster?  I am not trying to make fun, I am just curious..that's all. 



Erin :)


Some of the food was on top of the garbage such as a half eaten bagel with cream cheese or a half eaten sandwich.I guess I was curious at the time.

Yes I saw that episode Jim. ;D

it wasn't a donut, i forget what it was called but it was really funny   ;D

it wasn't a donut, i forget what it was called but it was really funny   ;D



George reminds me of myself. ;D

I was driving down the road the other day....and I saw this really nice lazyboy chair sitting out in front of someone's house....waiting to be sent to the trash....it looked like it was in really nice condition...however, I don't have a truck...so I can't just stop and pick things that large up.




Erin :)

when I was in elementary school, I found a swiss army knife in a garbage dumpster.  It wasn't one of those big ones with all the gardgets ... t'was just a simple one with a knife on one side and scissors on the other side

Just yesterday hubby and I picked up an unusual map of England that looked VERY old, it has something printed on it about BOAC (apparently something to do with air travel in the 1950s).

It was sitting there propped against the trash dumpster and was a neat painting, especially since this is nowhere near England.

Just yesterday hubby and I picked up an unusual map of England that looked VERY old, it has something printed on it about BOAC (apparently something to do with air travel in the 1950s).

It was sitting there propped against the trash dumpster and was a neat painting, especially since this is nowhere near England.



wow! wouldn't that be something if it ended up being worth a lot of money? You should take it on Antique Roadshow! ;)




Erin :)

I know I've never smoked but a couple of times many years ago I found lit cigarettes on the ground and put them in my mouth after drying them off. :P

I know I've never smoked but a couple of times many years ago I found lit cigarettes on the ground and put them in my mouth after drying them off. :P



aww Howard...that's not a treasure! :-\\




Erin :)

I kid you not...

This morning I was dumping some trash (we live in a townhouse complex) and chanced upon a VCR in the dumpster. I thought for sure, "Ahh it's gotta be broken or something, but I'll test it out just for the heck of it since I love stuff like this."

It's still pretty new (made in '99) and works 100% perfectly. Not that I needed it per se (I already have two VCR's and a DVD), but I thought it was cool. Made my day. :)

I kid you not...

This morning I was dumping some trash (we live in a townhouse complex) and chanced upon a VCR in the dumpster. I thought for sure, "Ahh it's gotta be broken or something, but I'll test it out just for the heck of it since I love stuff like this."

It's still pretty new (made in '99) and works 100% perfectly. Not that I needed it per se (I already have two VCR's and a DVD), but I thought it was cool. Made my day. :)



That's awesome!! I love stumbling upon stuff like that!



Erin :)

^ Yeah, I would guess whoever had it only tossed it because they got a really good home theatre system, or they were moving, etc (it's in VERY good shape - looks almost never used at all). I'm just glad I caught a lucky break.

Funny thing is, I was tired this morning and REALLY didn't wanna get dressed and go downstairs but I decided to anyway. I would've missed it if I'd gone back to sleep. ;)

^ Yeah, I would guess whoever had it only tossed it because they got a really good home theatre system, or they were moving, etc (it's in VERY good shape - looks almost never used at all). I'm just glad I caught a lucky break.

Funny thing is, I was tired this morning and REALLY didn't wanna get dressed and go downstairs but I decided to anyway. I would've missed it if I'd gone back to sleep. ;)



ya, people have been known to put all sorts of nice stuff out in the garbage, just because they have upgraded, or got a newer item, etc.  I would never think of throwing something away like that...instead I would find someone who wants it or give it to Goodwill.  Oh, listen to this....my brother-in-law was helping his uncle with a plumbing job and they were driving up the street and noticed a big screen TV sitting out in someone's trash. He went to the house and asked the guy if it was definitely in the trash and the guy said that it was. He was throwing it away because he said that it was broken and I guess, kept shutting off all the time...so he bought a new one. RJ asked if he could have it and the guy said yes.  RJ (my brother-in-law) is a Mr. Fix-it kind of guy and he can repair nearly EVERYTHING he gets his hands on....so, he took it home..turned it on, and it never turned off on him at all! LOLOLOLOL! The only thing wrong with it was a line through the screen, but it wasn't hardly noticeable when the TV is on....but hey, he's not going to complain..he has a HUGE big screen TV for free!


Erin :)

ya, people have been known to put all sorts of nice stuff out in the garbage, just because they have upgraded, or got a newer item, etc.  I would never think of throwing something away like that...instead I would find someone who wants it or give it to Goodwill.  Oh, listen to this....my brother-in-law was helping his uncle with a plumbing job and they were driving up the street and noticed a big screen TV sitting out in someone's trash. He went to the house and asked the guy if it was definitely in the trash and the guy said that it was. He was throwing it away because he said that it was broken and I guess, kept shutting off all the time...so he bought a new one. RJ asked if he could have it and the guy said yes.  RJ (my brother-in-law) is a Mr. Fix-it kind of guy and he can repair nearly EVERYTHING he gets his hands on....so, he took it home..turned it on, and it never turned off on him at all! LOLOLOLOL! The only thing wrong with it was a line through the screen, but it wasn't hardly noticeable when the TV is on....but hey, he's not going to complain..he has a HUGE big screen TV for free!


Erin :)


Really, that's cool. :)

I'm sorta the same way - even if the only "mechanical" thing I can really do is clean the tape heads of boomboxes with Q-tips, lol. But whenever I see a cheapie boombox at Goodwill I'll usually buy it and clean/fix it up as much as possible. It's a great feeling, to think you've "fixed" something, especially when it's nearly free.

One of my neighbours had an old 80's Widescreen TV out on the end of their lawn with a sign that said "Free" on it.  I would have taken it, but I didn't have any way to get it back to my house  :(

I wonder if it actually worked?

One of my neighbours had an old 80's Widescreen TV out on the end of their lawn with a sign that said "Free" on it.  I would have taken it, but I didn't have any way to get it back to my house  :(

I wonder if it actually worked?



possibly...maybe they were just upgrading and decided to get rid of the old one.




Erin :)

Ok...so I have been looking out my window at this person's house 2 streets over. They have their garbage sitting out and there is this neat looking wooden desk (not real big or anything)....and I am so thinking about going to grab it when it gets dark out. If I stripped the red paint off and restained it...I think it would look pretty darn good. ;)

Ok...so I have been looking out my window at this person's house 2 streets over. They have their garbage sitting out and there is this neat looking wooden desk (not real big or anything)....and I am so thinking about going to grab it when it gets dark out. If I stripped the red paint off and restained it...I think it would look pretty darn good. ;)




Well...I attempted to shove the desk in my car early yesterday morning...but it wouldn't fit.  I sulked my way home and looked out the window to see a neighbor (who lives about 4 houses down from me) looking at the desk.  Later I looked again and it was gone, and when I went to pick up Chris from work...I noticed that the desk is now sitting in the neighbor's yard (near our alley). My mom said that I should wait until dark and go over and swipe it! LOL!  I was so looking forward to stripping and refinishing that desk...I even had a place picked out for it.  Now watch...that guy will just let it sit there for ages and do nothing with it....GRRRRR!! >:(

I agree with your Mum !!

I have a really cute and unusual little chair I rescued out of a skip a few weeks ago sitting next to me here at work as I type.It's narrow and tall almost like a stool. I need to get it home one day but I don't have a car at the moment and I travel by train so I'm trying to figure out how...............
I have a neighbour who always puts out interesting looking stuff but when you get close up it's mostly broken. I'm always disappointed.

I often see things I want to save from other people's trash -- particularly furniture.  But I'm not handy in that way -- to refinish and repair things in the way I'd need to to turn trash into treasure.  But my aunt is the queen of the trash-to-treasure process.  She's amazing.  I will have to get a photo someday of the carousel horse she made from a trashed child's rocking horse and an old pole lamp.  As I'm typing it, I think she should open a business and call it "Trash to Treasure".

Nope! But one time, my dad found a brand new ... case thing where you put in your stuff, brand new, in the middle of the street! :)

Nope! But one time, my dad found a brand new ... case thing where you put in your stuff, brand new, in the middle of the street! :)
Briefcase?

Briefcase?



No.. some.. it's made of wood, and it's like a miniature chest or something. You can open it up and it has little drawers, I'm not sure what it's called.

I once went to the dump and there was this guy chucking hundreds of books away!!
It was a history collection in a very good condition (hardback) and the collection was complete!
I would NEVER chuck books away,I really don't get why you'd do something like that.

I once went to the dump and there was this guy chucking hundreds of books away!!
It was a history collection in a very good condition (hardback) and the collection was complete!
I would NEVER chuck books away,I really don't get why you'd do something like that.



I just got rid of my childhood books... which I don't read anymore?

I just got rid of my childhood books... which I don't read anymore?



dude....WHY?  Those are things that you should hold onto so that one day when you are older....you can look at them and reminisce....either that, or you should have sold them all on Ebay!!!!

I just got rid of my childhood books... which I don't read anymore?

Yeah but this was a really good collection..I bet it's worth quite a bit.
Actually I still have all my childhood books...memory..

dude....WHY?  Those are things that you should hold onto so that one day when you are older....you can look at them and reminisce....either that, or you should have sold them all on Ebay!!!!


Ebay's always the answer! :P

I dunno, I needed to make room in my bookshelf.

Yeah but this was a really good collection..I bet it's worth quite a bit.
Actually I still have all my childhood books...memory..


I used to keep them all, but it just started flooding my shelf...

Ebay's always the answer! :P

I dunno, I needed to make room in my bookshelf.



too bad you don't live closer to me...I could have taken them off of your hands and sold them for you! :-\\

too bad you don't live closer to me...I could have taken them off of your hands and sold them for you! :-\\


Heh. I've been getting rid of them a bit at a time...

It's almost completely gone. I'm still keeping my Roald Dahl and C.S. Lewis...

Heh. I've been getting rid of them a bit at a time...

It's almost completely gone. I'm still keeping my Roald Dahl and C.S. Lewis...



good choice! ;)

I just got rid of my childhood books... which I don't read anymore?


Me Too.

I'm still using a 30" TV I found 10 years ago behind my first apartment.  Took about an hour or two to figure out that a  $5 transistor gave its life to protect the $0.25 fuse that was supposed to be protecting it. 

(Don't go mucking about inside a TV unless you're familiar with basic safety precautions.)

I sometimes miss the days when electronic devices were expensive.  Because they were expensive to replace, they were engineered to be repaired.  Today's gadgets are a lot less hackable and a lot less fixable than yesterday's.  They're a lot better and they're a lot cheaper.  But they're not as much fun.

No.. some.. it's made of wood, and it's like a miniature chest or something. You can open it up and it has little drawers, I'm not sure what it's called.
By the sounds of it it could be an apothecary's chest.

Heh. I've been getting rid of them a bit at a time...

It's almost completely gone. I'm still keeping my Roald Dahl and C.S. Lewis...
I still have a load of my children's books. I still read Enid Blyton when I'm in bed sick, it's like I regress to childhood !  ;D

Well...I was out last night scouting the neighborhood...but I didn't find any treasures.  A bunch of junk...nothing worth picking up.

Ok...so the same people who had that desk out...just put out this really great looking corner cupboard (that would have looked great in my diningroom)...but alas, someone got to it before I had the chance to...and I think I know exactly who it was too! >:(

Not the desk stealers ??  >:(

Found one of those 3 drawer plastic cupboards with clear drawers.  The are more money they I wanna pay in the store, and I've found two so far.  Yay!

Not the desk stealers ??  >:(




Yes...the DESK STEALERS!!! MUAHAHAHA!! I WILL GET THEM!! LOL!

Yes...the DESK STEALERS!!! MUAHAHAHA!! I WILL GET THEM!! LOL!
In the dead of night, when they least expect it............

In the dead of night, when they least expect it............



LOL!! Ya, I see him scoping out the neighborhood nearly everyday. ::)

LOL!! Ya, I see him scoping out the neighborhood nearly everyday. ::)



...

Hahahahaha, How did I know that if I came in here, you'd be talking about that guy?! :D

...

Hahahahaha, How did I know that if I came in here, you'd be talking about that guy?! :D



just...because.  It's like my new summer obsession! LOLOL! :D ;D

have any of you gone to Goodwill after closing hours and rummaged through the donated goods that were left outside of the door by people who dropped them off late at night?  I must confess...I do this.  I have found that if you go on Sunday usually around 7-9 pm (Goodwill closes at 5 on Sunday)...there are usually lots of things there. So...just to be fair, I will usually take a bag to donate, and swap it with another one.  :D

have any of you gone to Goodwill after closing hours and rummaged through the donated goods that were left outside of the door by people who dropped them off late at night?  I must confess...I do this.  I have found that if you go on Sunday usually around 7-9 pm (Goodwill closes at 5 on Sunday)...there are usually lots of things there. So...just to be fair, I will usually take a bag to donate, and swap it with another one.   :D
You little devil you!

You little devil you!


hehehee... http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/04/flamingdevil.gif

have any of you gone to Goodwill after closing hours and rummaged through the donated goods that were left outside of the door by people who dropped them off late at night?  I must confess...I do this.  I have found that if you go on Sunday usually around 7-9 pm (Goodwill closes at 5 on Sunday)...there are usually lots of things there. So...just to be fair, I will usually take a bag to donate, and swap it with another one.   :D


You little devil you!

Oh no, you're bad, you just gave me the idea now! ;D


BTW, I have collected a few "thrown out" things on the curb outside that they probably deem not sellable. Once there was this stereo cassette deck with the attached wire cut off (I had it fixed at a repair shop and once it plugged in, worked great), and an old nightstand.

Oh no, you're bad, you just gave me the idea now! ;D


BTW, I have collected a few "thrown out" things on the curb outside that they probably deem not sellable. Once there was this stereo cassette deck with the attached wire cut off (I had it fixed at a repair shop and once it plugged in, worked great), and an old nightstand.



yes...that is very naughty of me...BUT, I find some cool things when I do that! ;)


Yes...I also go around the neighborhood on garbage night and look for pieces of furniture and other salvageable things. I want to start refinishing old furniture...that would be awesome!

yes...that is very naughty of me...BUT, I find some cool things when I do that! ;)


Yes...I also go around the neighborhood on garbage night and look for pieces of furniture and other salvageable things. I want to start refinishing old furniture...that would be awesome!


This is bad, but I sometimes "dumpster peek" (not dumpster diving, it's a step below that! ;D ). It's astonishing and even a little sad what people will throw out. I once found a perfectly good DVD player in the dumpster two years ago.

This is bad, but I sometimes "dumpster peek" (not dumpster diving, it's a step below that! ;D ). It's astonishing and even a little sad what people will throw out. I once found a perfectly good DVD player in the dumpster two years ago.


oh I know! People just get sick of things and I suppose they have to money to just throw away things..I dunno.  I mean...my brother-in-law found a big screen TV in the trash onetime....he brought it home and it worked fine.  People are goofy how they just take advantage of the things that they have, and it's silly how fast people get sick of their possessions. ::)

oh I know! People just get sick of things and I suppose they have to money to just throw away things..I dunno.  I mean...my brother-in-law found a big screen TV in the trash onetime....he brought it home and it worked fine.  People are goofy how they just take advantage of the things that they have, and it's silly how fast people get sick of their possessions. ::)


Yeah, that's really stupid. Like I once was talking with this guy at work around 1999, just when DVDs started becoming household (though they were still pretty expensive - kinda like what CDs were around 1986) who said he threw out his old VCR because he was upgrading to DVD. I asked him if it still worked and he said it did. Of course being (a) a nice guy and (b) at work, I couldn't say everything I really wanted to (LOL!), but I vividly remember getting p*ssed at him for wasting something like that. I'm sure alot of people have done that too.

It's like, I know they're objects, but I almost feel a little "sorry" for them sometimes. Like if I see something beat up at Goodwill, sometimes I'll buy it just to give it a good home. :D

Yeah, that's really stupid. Like I once was talking with this guy at work around 1999, just when DVDs started becoming household (though they were still pretty expensive - kinda like what CDs were around 1986) who said he threw out his old VCR because he was upgrading to DVD. I asked him if it still worked and he said it did. Of course being (a) a nice guy and (b) at work, I couldn't say everything I really wanted to (LOL!), but I vividly remember getting p*ssed at him for wasting something like that. I'm sure alot of people have done that too.

It's like, I know they're objects, but I almost feel a little "sorry" for them sometimes. Like if I see something beat up at Goodwill, sometimes I'll buy it just to give it a good home. :D





that is just too cute and funny (about giving the old worn out items a new home).  But ya, people waste things SO much and throw very decent things away...so that's why I go look for them and take them off of their hands! ;)

that is just too cute and funny (about giving the old worn out items a new home).  But ya, people waste things SO much and throw very decent things away...so that's why I go look for them and take them off of their hands! ;)


Thanks, I thought you'd like that. :)

But I think the reason people do that is 'cause they're either too lazy or unwilling to look for an outlet to get rid of something. Maybe like if they're rich and know they don't "need" the money for selling it and know they can afford newer/better stuff.

For instance, I remember saying (politely but directly) to that dude who tossed his VCR, if he'd do the same thing to his (then) brand new DVD player "once it gets old in, like 2010"? He didn't really answer, probably 'cause he knew I was right. ;D

Thanks, I thought you'd like that. :)

But I think the reason people do that is 'cause they're either too lazy or unwilling to look for an outlet to get rid of something. Maybe like if they're rich and know they don't "need" the money for selling it and know they can afford newer/better stuff.

For instance, I remember saying (politely but directly) to that dude who tossed his VCR, if he'd do the same thing to his (then) brand new DVD player "once it gets old in, like 2010"? He didn't really answer, probably 'cause he knew I was right. ;D



ya, someone was telling me one time that their relative worked for a garbage company. They were on the route and they noticed a very nice looking hot tub out in someone's trash. The relative knocked on the owner's door and asked them if they were indeed throwing out the hot tub, and if they were, did they mind if he took it....the people obviously had LOTS of money because the guy says to him, "oh, ya it's virtually new....my wife just got sick of it and wanted a different style, so we are throwing it out...if you wait, I still have the directions/papers that go along with it inside the house" Can you believe that? :o

I really don't get that upset at people who throw away relatively new things.  If that's their bag, then so be it.  I wouldn't take it though, because I'd be too worried about someone seeing me rifling through a stranger's garbage bin. 

[quote author=

I've never actually opened up someone's garbage can or bag....I just look for like large pieces laying beside their garbage. For instance, I saw a rather nice desk that someone threw out in their trash..but I didn't have the means to transport it back to my house....stuff like that.



I'm way too self-conscious to even do that.  I'd be too worried someone might see me.  And to be honest, no one in my subdivision does stuff like that.  I haven't seen anyone throw actual furniture out.

[quote author=

I've never actually opened up someone's garbage can or bag....I just look for like large pieces laying beside their garbage. For instance, I saw a rather nice desk that someone threw out in their trash..but I didn't have the means to transport it back to my house....stuff like that.


The very desk I'm using right now, I found by one of our dumpsters 8 years ago (I think the people were moving or something). It was probably, like 400 bucks new.

The very desk I'm using right now, I found by one of our dumpsters 8 years ago (I think the people were moving or something). It was probably, like 400 bucks new.



wow, that's awesome!  Man, I wish I would have been able to get that desk....I tried, believe me...but it just would not fit in my vehicle! :-\\

wow, that's awesome!  Man, I wish I would have been able to get that desk....I tried, believe me...but it just would not fit in my vehicle! :-\\


Don't you just hate when that happens!? :(

I don't have a car myself (long story), and I actually don't know anyone who drives a truck (well, no one that I'd wanna call out of the blue and say "Dude, can you come pick me up?"), so I hate when I'm out and I see something that I have no way of transporting.

Like one time, I'd just gotten out of a class and saw this bookcase and was like, Oh man, why'd they throw it out now!?

Don't you just hate when that happens!? :(

I don't have a car myself (long story), and I actually don't know anyone who drives a truck (well, no one that I'd wanna call out of the blue and say "Dude, can you come pick me up?"), so I hate when I'm out and I see something that I have no way of transporting.

Like one time, I'd just gotten out of a class and saw this bookcase and was like, Oh man, why'd they throw it out now!?



I saw a corner cupboard that was thrown out by the same person that threw out that desk....but I had no ways of hauling it over to my house (even though it was only a street away from me). There's this neighbor of mine who I am in competition with...he always ends up picking up the things that I wanted to pick up...and he rides in an electric wheelchair...but you should see him carry things on his lap...it's crazy. I think he owns a van and his wife goes and picks up the furniture though... :-\\

I used to pick food out of the garbage. :P

I used to pick food out of the garbage. :P




Okay, that's just straight-up NASTY.

[quote author=

I used to pick food out of the garbage. :P



wow Howard...that had to be rough. :-\\

wow Howard...that had to be rough. :-\\



It was my OCD :(

It was my OCD :(



did you feel gross after you did it?

did you feel gross after you did it?



Yes I did Erin. :(

Yes I did Erin. :(


that's a shame Howard. :-\\

that's a shame Howard. :-\\




I try to stay away from it now.

anyone been garbage picking lately? I saw some nice patio chairs in front of someone's driveway today...but they were not free..there was a "for sale" sign on them..with no price, of course. ::)

anyone been garbage picking lately? I saw some nice patio chairs in front of someone's driveway today...but they were not free..there was a "for sale" sign on them..with no price, of course. ::)


No,not right now.

No,not right now.


you haven't eaten any half eaten bagels lately..have you Howard. ;)

you haven't eaten any half eaten bagels lately..have you Howard. ;)


Ok,I'll admit mine,this mid morning,I found a Taco Bell taco sitting in the parking lot and I ate half but gave the rest to the birds.

Ok,I'll admit mine,this mid morning,I found a Taco Bell taco sitting in the parking lot and I ate half but gave the rest to the birds.



Howard..I'm worried about you doing that..you don't know who ate off of it before you and what disease they could possibly have...that is really scary. :-\\

Howard..I'm worried about you doing that..you don't know who ate off of it before you and what disease they could possibly have...that is really scary. :-\\



Sorry,I was hungry. :-[ :(

Sorry,I was hungry. :-[ :(



didn't you have any food at home?

ji'm a pro garbage picker.

i have a great painting; really lovely and framed and in a perfect piece of glass...in the trash- part of my home for about ten years or more.

Someone this morning left a decent paperback book close to one of the major exit doors where we left, it may be worth a few pence on eBay.

Someone this morning left a decent paperback book close to one of the major exit doors where we left, it may be worth a few pence on eBay.


did ya swipe it, Phil?

did ya swipe it, Phil?
I pick it up, yes.

I pick it up, yes.
Was it a book crossing book someone had released?

Was it a book crossing book someone had released?
There is no indiction of that.

didn't you have any food at home?


I was almost on my lunch break and I was starving. :(

Sorry,I was hungry. :-[ :(
Did you take snadwiches?

I was almost on my lunch break and I was starving. :(


you should carry a powerbar or something with you Howard...anything is better than eating half eaten food of strangers!! :-\\

you should carry a powerbar or something with you Howard...anything is better than eating half eaten food of strangers!! :-\\
Not Mars Bars, something like a cereal bar.

Did you take snadwiches?


I was waiting for my break.

you should carry a powerbar or something with you Howard...anything is better than eating half eaten food of strangers!! :-\\


I know Erin,It's a compulsion. :(

Not Mars Bars, something like a cereal bar.


It's like a sports energy bar.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTbx86S_5HeqsA.zCjzbkF/SIG=13en16thu/EXP=1207934138/**http%3A//www.health-care-beauty.com/images/Powerbar-12-Pack-B000300D1I-M-A3NN9THRUBU1AW_.jpg

It's like a sports energy bar.
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTbx86S_5HeqsA.zCjzbkF/SIG=13en16thu/EXP=1207934138/**http%3A//www.health-care-beauty.com/images/Powerbar-12-Pack-B000300D1I-M-A3NN9THRUBU1AW_.jpg
A PowerBar to give you power?

A PowerBar to give you power?


yes..exactly! :)

I don't pick through garbage... although if I find glass goldfish rocks, guitar picks and pencils on the ground I pick them up and keep them.

I wish to clarify something..I have never once actually dug through and/or opened up someone's garbage bags. I just look at things they have sitting out..beside the garbage. Just to make that clear..I don't want you all thinking that I am some bag lady. haahah :D

I wish to clarify something..I have never once actually dug through and/or opened up someone's garbage bags. I just look at things they have sitting out..beside the garbage. Just to make that clear..I don't want you all thinking that I am some bag lady. haahah :D


Oh, forgot that you started the thread.  :D

I don't think you're a bag lady. ;)


Of course, me keeping stuff like glass rocks used for goldfish bowls says alot. :D ::)

Oh, forgot that you started the thread.  :D

I don't think you're a bag lady. ;)


Of course, me keeping stuff like glass rocks used for goldfish bowls says alot. :D ::)



hey, we all have our little "quirks"...don't we?!! ;) ;D

I wish to clarify something..I have never once actually dug through and/or opened up someone's garbage bags. I just look at things they have sitting out..beside the garbage. Just to make that clear..I don't want you all thinking that I am some bag lady. haahah :D


Did you eat anything? :P

hey, we all have our little "quirks"...don't we?!! ;) ;D


Ain't that the truth. O0

I was almost about to eat a roll that was wrapped in a plastic bag but I decided to give it to the birds instead.

I was almost about to eat a roll that was wrapped in a plastic bag but I decided to give it to the birds instead.
That is more like it.

Did you eat anything? :P


no way! I am a germophobic!



I was almost about to eat a roll that was wrapped in a plastic bag but I decided to give it to the birds instead.



glad you opted to give it to your feathered friends. ;)

That is more like it.



I don't know who bit into it.

I don't know who bit into it.
I would not wish to know who bit in it.

I would not wish to know who bit in it.


Could've been someone with a disease.

Could've been someone with a disease.
Exactlyso.

Exactly so.


That's why there are pigeons and seagulls around.

That's why there are pigeons and seagulls around.
But the pigeons and seagulls are still alive and kicking.

Could've been someone with a disease.


Not picking on you personally, because others have echoed your sentiments in this thread -- but this mentality always confused me.

Walk down the street.  Pick out the next ten members of the appropriate sex that you see.  All other factors (ages, opinions, personal styles, etc) being equal, would you consider kissing 'em?  I'm not talking about farking 'em without protection, I'm not talking about marrying 'em, I'm talking about just one kiss?

If the answer is "yes" to more than 5 out of 10 of 'em, then you may as well eat the half-eaten sammich. You may as well grab the fork that your co-worker was just eating with.  You may as well stop worrying about the person who's double-dipping with the nachos/dip.  Drop a donut on the floor?  Yep, there's gonna be germs on it, even if you pick it up within the five-second-rule timeframe.  Eat it anyway.

With the possible exception of the anus, the mouth is the filthiest orifice in the human body.  The germs you'll get by eating a half-eaten slice of pizza from a clean pizza box, or from the salsa after a co-worker has dipped a chip, eaten half the chip, and re-dipped the chip, or from a dropped-on-the-ground donut are nothing compared to the germs you ingest when you enjoy a nice wet kiss.

I don't pick food out of the garbage because I'm not starving.  I eat what I kill, and by extension I eat what I purchase, even if it means I drag leftovers back home in a styrofoam box or packing them up in the freezer.  But if I were starving, I'd have no compunction about dusting the grungy bits off and chowing down.

Electronic components, on the other hand... my TV was diverted from the landfill for the sake of a few bucks worth of spare parts.  I'll be watching the analog TV signal go dark next year on it.  Then I'll flip the ATSC tuner box and light it back up again.  Two of my computer monitors and at least one arcade machine were acquired from electronics surplus stores, which are barely one step above dumpster-diving.  Reduce, reuse, recycle. 

But the pigeons and seagulls are still alive and kicking.



they eat garbage every day.

Not picking on you personally, because others have echoed your sentiments in this thread -- but this mentality always confused me.

Walk down the street.  Pick out the next ten members of the appropriate sex that you see.  All other factors (ages, opinions, personal styles, etc) being equal, would you consider kissing 'em?  I'm not talking about farking 'em without protection, I'm not talking about marrying 'em, I'm talking about just one kiss?

If the answer is "yes" to more than 5 out of 10 of 'em, then you may as well eat the half-eaten sammich. You may as well grab the fork that your co-worker was just eating with.  You may as well stop worrying about the person who's double-dipping with the nachos/dip.  Drop a donut on the floor?  Yep, there's gonna be germs on it, even if you pick it up within the five-second-rule timeframe.  Eat it anyway.

With the possible exception of the anus, the mouth is the filthiest orifice in the human body.  The germs you'll get by eating a half-eaten slice of pizza from a clean pizza box, or from the salsa after a co-worker has dipped a chip, eaten half the chip, and re-dipped the chip, or from a dropped-on-the-ground donut are nothing compared to the germs you ingest when you enjoy a nice wet kiss.

I don't pick food out of the garbage because I'm not starving.  I eat what I kill, and by extension I eat what I purchase, even if it means I drag leftovers back home in a styrofoam box or packing them up in the freezer.  But if I were starving, I'd have no compunction about dusting the grungy bits off and chowing down.

Electronic components, on the other hand... my TV was diverted from the landfill for the sake of a few bucks worth of spare parts.  I'll be watching the analog TV signal go dark next year on it.  Then I'll flip the ATSC tuner box and light it back up again.  Two of my computer monitors and at least one arcade machine were acquired from electronics surplus stores, which are barely one step above dumpster-diving.  Reduce, reuse, recycle. 



right...but Howard's not starving, and he picks half-eaten food out of a garbage can.

right...but Howard's not starving, and he picks half-eaten food out of a garbage can.


that was always a bad habit for me,I used to take medication for my compulsion.

right...but Howard's not starving, and he picks half-eaten food out of a garbage can.


Yeah -- and I'm not trying to encourage him to pick up the habit again either.  You're still safer eating food that you paid for and was touched by nobody other than the kitchen/serving staff and yourself, and which (for hot or cold meals) remained at a safe temperature between preparation and eating.  I just don't think the actual risk is as high as the "eeeewwww" factor would suggest.  The immune system doesn't know or care whether those germs come from a sexual partner's lips or from a sandwich.

that was always a bad habit for me,I used to take medication for my compulsion.



maybe you should consider going back on them Howard....you wouldn't want to get sick.

right...but Howard's not starving, and he picks half-eaten food out of a garbage can.
I would rather go hungry.

maybe you should consider going back on them Howard....you wouldn't want to get sick.


I haven't been on it for almost 9 years.