October 16, 2000 ~ I Am the Garbage Woman

It's fall vacation and where am I? Neck deep in trash!! All right!!

So I am a garbage woman for the week. I had to make some money; what can I say? Today we made a round through about half of the dorms and picked up all of the trash and recycling. After each load, we went down to the recycling center, and sorted all of it. Yes, Folks, this means we tore open all of the trash bags and had a go at the contents.

Nothin' like two-month old composted food to make your day! NUMMY. It was black, runny, and VERY stinky. Oh, if only the internet was scratch and sniff... *evil grin* I still have some left on my boot that I could share with ya.

The worst part, though. Guess what LOVES garbage... Bees. BEES, everywhere. In my hair, crawling on my arms, occasionally getting in my clothes. Luckily, I didn't get stung once. Must be that Jedi-like-calm that always exudes from my being.

The second worse part. Guess what college students do a LOT of... They drink. A LOT. It is frightening to see how very many beer and wine bottles and cans a 700-student college campus generates in one week. Being a person who does not drink at all, I was very disturbed. I was also none too pleased that, because of this college-student-alcohol-addiction, I was coated in a constant layer of stinky liquid. I had beer running down my arms, dripping on my clothes, and getting into my hair. I smell like beer.

At least it's only for a week. It's making me think about ways that I can cut down on how much I waste.

I am already careful not to buy stuff that has excessive packaging (and I hardly buy much at all in the first place). I use a cloth towel in the bathroom, instead of the paper towel dispenser that the school provides. In fact, I keep this towel available for everyone else who uses the bathroom as well, changing it every two days for a clean one. It's little things like that which make such a huge difference.

Aside from the garbage job, I am also the Chapel janitor for the week. Even though it's dirty and manual labor, I really don't mind that job at all. It is peaceful, at least, and it is pretty much self-directed. I am really glad I have a job this week at all.

Lately I have been realizing just how lucky I am. I mean, for an American, I am pretty damn poor. I have to work really hard to keep myself fed and clothed. I cut a lot of corners (like finding free clothes) that make it easier. I scrimp and save and make ends meet. Plus, I am getting a college education. I cannot believe how amazing that is, that someone as poor as me is at college and learning so much. This college gives me a place to eat, a roof over my head, and food for my brain. Even though I never really get a vacation, I am so very happy. I am so very lucky.

I've been really happy the last few days. Knowing that Morgan and I are planning our lives out together is wonderful. Every moment is so precious. We've been so happy recently.

Morgan and I are both starting to seriously plan our wedding. Exactly two months from now! December 16th. We are going to find out tomorrow if we will be able to use the space we want to have it in. We are also going to contact the minister who we would like to sign the papers and oversee the ceremony. We are working on writing our vows. The rings are currently being made by a jeweler downtown. We are looking into what we would like to have to eat for our guests. We are discussing what we want to be said, and how we want the ceremony to be.

The ceremony is going to be very simple and very unorthodox. I am going to wear a dark green dress that I bought a few years ago from the Goodwill (no it doesn't look anything like a wedding dress), and Morgan is going to wear some nice slacks and a white dress shirt. Maybe a vest. We don't know yet. Very small. Close family. We don't want this to be a stressful event. Here's hoping we get the space we want.

And yes, Morgan is PROUD to be marrying a garbage woman!

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