Give the time of day to a homeless man

The project:
Take a few minutes to talk to a homeless man.

Time:
10 minutes

Why bother?
This isn't something I normally do. Sure, I'm cordial when our paths cross with those of homeless people, but I don't typically have a conversation.

Today, however, I'd stopped by a convenience store to grab a quick drink no my way north for a speaking engagement. When I came out, there at the busy gas pump was a 1934 Ford roadster built to the max - rumbling engine, flames, wheelie bar, even a parachute. Even if you're not that into cars, you couldn't help but notice it. And if you ARE into cars, you couldn't help but understand and appreciate the kind of time and effort that went into the build.

The wizened homeless guy on the curb just next to where I'd parked my own standard, modern minivan and I were in the same boat on this one. Both of us were gawking. He started the conversation with, "Ain't that a beauty?" Then he filled me in on the car's details.

Turns out his dad was a mechanic, so as a young guy he'd had the shop at his disposal. He built a Chevelle (427) to the max and made some money racing it in the Central Valley back in the day. He'd wanted to drive it up the twists and turns of Highway 1 with the woman who became his wife, but she knew how he drove and wouldn't have any of it. (Not sure I blame her.)

He never asked me for anything. When another homeless guy drunk off his derriere walked up to us both and asked for 50 cents, it was the auto expert living out of his backpack who was first to his pocket. He pulled out the contents of his pocket and handed it over.

Worth it?
Yes. People end up on the streets for lots of reasons: mental illness, addictions, poor financial decisions, terrible luck, even choice. Regardless of what got them there, I believe homeless people, like most people, want to be acknowledged. I know it can be scary, and in this instance I felt not like I was talking to a homeless man, but to a man with a shared interest in an amazing vehicle - nothing more.

Recycle Plastic

The project:
Recycling our ubiquitous plastic bags and related materials plus the plastic bags we gathered throughout the week from neighbors' and floating around in parking lots and parks.

Time:
Moments to drop off. Negligible time collecting others in our path.

Why bother?
See any of these reasons - we seem to be doing a lot of this.

Worth it?
Yes.

Photo courtesy Omar Eduardo under Creative Commons License.

Recycle a Swimming Pool

The project:
Cut up our kids' sun-damaged, leaky swimming pool and recycle it.

Time:
35 minutes.

Why bother?
The pool was made of #2 recyclable colored plastic. Our curbside recycling program accepts #2, but only if it fits in the bin. My other option was to put it in the back of the van and drive it to the recycling center (where staff doesn't even know about recycling batteries or CFL bulbs, let alone bulky things) or drive it to the dump where I'd pay a tipping fee to leave it in a landfill for decades to come.

Using a combination of vehicle (my Jeep is a great #2 plastic crusher), garden sheers (to cut apart the broken pieces), and brute strength (sometimes you just have to go there), I managed to break, cut, tear and otherwise reduce the pool to pieces small enough to fit in the bin.

Worth it?
Yes. It was kind of fun, actually. I don't get to destroy things very often, and since this was already useless at that point, the destruction was nothing but productive. Plus, the pool's been awaiting a decision for months since becoming useless as a water-play area. Now the side yard is clear, the plastic is on its way to becoming something new, and the neighbors are CERTAIN I'm crazy.

OH, and the youngest daughter who didn't know there was a leak is probably emotionally scarred. I walked into the house where she had been watching out the window as I drove over, cut and tore the pool apart.

"You know it had a leak, right," I asked her.

"No."

"OH! Well, it wouldn't hold water anymore. We tried to fix it, remember? Now it's time for a new one."

"OH," she said more brightly. "OK!"

Photo courtesy giveawayboy under Creative Commons license.

Holding Open Doors for Men

The project:
Hold open doors for men who follow into and out of various stores, offices, etc. for a day.

Time:
Minutes

Why bother?
We've held doors open for just about anyone following us through them, but today I focused on doing this favor for men. WHY? I kind of feel sorry for them. I mean, while we all know that there was a time when men held doors open for women, there came a time when women wanted to hold open their own doors. Some women were just plain rude about it. So now men don't know whether you're one of those women who WANT the polite door holding or one who will grow a horn on your forehead if he so much as OFFERS a hand.

Today, I turned the tables, and most of the men greeted the favor with high eyebrows, a smile and a word of thanks.

Oh, and for the record, while I'm quite capable of opening my own doors, men are welcome to open doors for me anytime. I'll even say, "Thank you."

Worth it?
Yes - a fun social experiment.

Connecting Pets with Homes

The project:
Help find a home for one of man's best friends.

Time:
10-15 minutes or so.

Why bother?
There are lots of great pets looking for homes. Some have been abandoned; some lost; some turned in because they just didn't get along with their hosts/hostesses. While puppies are cute, there just doesn't seem to be a reason to farm dogs while there are so many in shelters awaiting good homes.

Rascal, who I spotted on the slide show in this blog's left column, seems like a keeper, so I helped to spread the word further and found a potential new home - pending local SPCA approval of the proposed new home.

Worth it?
If Rascal gets a new home, then absolutely! If you look at that banner and help spread the word about these pets in need, EVEN BETTER! :)

Right a Trailer

The project:
Help right an upturned trailer.

Time:
15 minutes

Why bother?
It's what you do when you're traveling with someone else - help.

We had gone over some pretty hair trail, but the trailer opted to bounce itself right upside down in this mild spot! Go figure. I backed down, turned around, and provided winch support, though the cable sorting and heavy lifting was done by others in our group.

Worth it?
Certainly!

Clean Up Camp

The project:
Clean up after the campers who came before us.

Time:
A few minutes here and there over the course of two nights' stay.

Why bother?

The campers before us were pigs. Really. They were the prime example of why public access becomes limited. Trash in the fire ring, trash spread around the site, trash bag semi-buried.

Seriously, People!

If you're going to &*$# in the woods, bury it properly. No plastic bag!

Worth it?

Absolutely - but a shame we had to do it.

Putting out the fire: Even ashes need to be cooled - completely soaked - DEAD OUT!