I recently moved to San Diego from New York. In my neighborhood, unlike in New York City apartments, each individual person has their own recycling/trash container to deal with. This is an example http://www.recycleaway.com/BRUTE-Square-Recycling-Container_p_113.html The blue one is for recycling and the black is for trash. Anyway, so my neighbor, who seems friendly, but is sometimes catty and gossipy, said that she would feed ‘my’ friendly stray cat while I was away for Thanksgiving. I paid her $20 for the inconvenience and gave her disposable bowls and enough cat food for 4 days. I was very friendly about it and thankful. I even offered to do the same if she ever went away. She always says that she loves how everyone in our cottage complex helps each other. When I first met her, she made it a point to let me know that she would help me out if I ever went away for a couple of days. I said that I would do the same.
Anyway, so last night I was putting away some boxes in my recycling container and I noticed that cat food (like the smelly tuna fish kind) was everywhere inside of it! I know I’m kind of anal about cleanliness, but I thought it was really gross and inconsiderate. It completely stunk and there were flies everywhere! I had to basically clean it all out by hand and then spray bleach. I mean, how hard would it have been to put it in a plastic bag?? It was hard to reach all of the way to the bottom since the container is like 5 feet tall. I also had to take out all of the boxes and cans that were already in there. It seriously was a huge pain in the ass. I’ve been inside of her house and know that she’s a neat/clean freak like me, so it was really surprising. I honestly feel like this has something to do with the fact that I recently started dating someone. I introduced her to him before I left for the Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe she felt sad since she was going to be alone for the holiday. I get a jealous vibe from her at times. Maybe I’m just overreacting. The thing is, those recycling containers are meant for paper and plastic only. Sometimes the recycling guys won’t even take your recycling if it’s mixed in with loose trash or food. I feel upset about this. Am I being a princess? Although I’m somewhat introverted, I’ve always been friendly to her. Seriously, is this as inconsiderate, gross, and vindictive as I think? Like I said, she seems like a very clean person. And, it wasn’t just 1 can. It was like 6 cans of gross leftover tuna spread on top of all of my neatly packed recycling. What do you think? Was she tuna-attacking me? lol
Your post may be in the wrong forum. Some one will be along to help you out.
Since the young woman seems pleasant in my respects, you might consider asking her if she was aware of her mistake. If that makes her angry, she’s not the sort that you can depend upon. If she regrets what happens, give her another chance.
You are not acting like a princess, but a reasonable citizen.
You’re not overreacting. I have one of those bins too and they are a real PITA to clean. I cannot reach to the bottom, noway, nohow. It’s why I roll my eyes when (some) dog owners think it’s just fine to throw their poopy bags in my bin; they’re too tall to clean if it breaks open! You have to get out the sprayer! Anyway I would just gently say something to her. “Next time you throw the cat food away, could you just please put it in a bag?” With a smile on your face. Don’t mention a thing about the jealousy or the dating, and in fact, put that out of your mind! It’s more likely just a careless thing:
Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.
Honestly, I’d be really pissed off if this happened to me, and I might even wonder whether she’d done it deliberately, but I’d let it slide without a word.
Keep the peace. Kumbaya.
Perhaps next time you ask her to look after your cat, you can give her some plastic bags for the used cans.
Why would you assume she is jealous because you are dating somebody?
Why would you assume she is sad to spend the holiday alone?
Why would you assume she would behave in such a childish petty manner?
Why would you assume it’s anything more than carelessly throwing trash in a trash can?
She did you a favor, she just didn’t do it to your expectations. Nothing more, nothing less.
How can anybody leap from she threw empty cat food cans in my recycle bin without rinsing them out first to *she is jealous and behaving badly towards me because I have a date and holiday plans *?
I live in the City of Houston. We have recycling using city provided bins that are for use with the automated pickup trucks. They have a claw arm on the side that grabs and dumps the bins. (Same as garbage trucks, separate bin but same style.)
For recycling, we’re not supposed to use bags or liners, just put the dry, clean waste in the bins. Dry, clean waste. No food dregs in your cans.
I live in the city of Houston. We have city provided recycling bins that are designed for the automated trucks, with a claw arm to lift and dump. Just like garbage bins, but different color.
We are not supposed to use liners for the recyling, just put in the dry, clean waste. Dry, clean waste is the key. No food dregs in the cans, etc. No food covered paper waste from food packaging.
Who here hasn’t played garbage fairy every now and then? She probably just doesn’t keep her recycling bin quite as spotless as you do and didn’t think anything of it.
Would you have rather her thrown the can in the regular garbage? At least it was recycled.
Because the alternative means that people do random and thoughtless things without a moment’s consideration about the OP. And who want to live in a world like that?
Do you know how I can change this to another forum?