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angst over a tinker toy canSubmitted by Emile on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 5:18pm.
I threw a tinker toy cannister away because I was consolidating two sets and didn't need both. And now I know my landlord who lives downstairs (we are in a duplex) goes through my trash, because I saw it in a clear plastic recycling bag on the sidewalk this morning. I didn't think it was recyclable because it seems to be a combination of weirdly stiffened cardboard and metal, but if it is and it doesn't end up in a landfill, that's dandy; I'm just weirded out at the thought of him opening up our trash bag. Last week I was on my period, so he would have had to wade through my bloody tampons (which I don't flush because I'm paranoid about clogging toilets) as well as the poopy diapers and slimy bread crusts. Yuck. I don't want him to harbor bad feelings about us because he felt he had to do this, and at the same time I feel angry because my privacy has been invaded. This is why I hate renting. That, and I wish my sons could run up and down the length of the apartment and bang on drums all day long without my stomach clenching in worry that the landlord (who is dour but has never said an unpleasant word to us) will be annoyed. Mini-vent over now, thanks for listening. I inadvertantly portrayed this as more sinister than I think it really is. We live in New York City where you can be fined for putting recyclables in the trash, and our house got fined about a month ago ($25 - I saw the pink ticket that was pushed the mail slot). I don't know if it was our fault or not, or if it's happened other times since we've lived here. But it's a safe bet that's why he opened our trash bag, and he may well have heard the can clanking, or felt it when he picked up the bag, and having found the can and deemed it recyclable, he no doubt thought he was absolutely justified. But I still feel weird. I would rather he spoke to us, and told us about the fine and asked us to be more careful rather than taking it upon himself to check our refuse. I think it's a felony to go through someone else's trash without a search warrant. Not that you would prosecute your landlord, but you have every right to be creeped out by that. I think he gets what he deserves for opting to sift through the dirty diapers. Maybe that will teach him a lesson? "Everything looks perfect from far away." - The Postal Service Gross and weird! I thought I'd share a story. I once found (I don't remember how, I don't think I was snooping...) my shirt in a roommate's room. "Ack! She stole my shirt!" I thought. It wasn't new, in fact I had gotten it at a thrift store. Sometime later, after we no longer lived together, I realized I had TWO of the exact same shirt, same brand and tag, same color, same size. I had indeed stolen HER shirt. Moral of the story, things aren't always as they appear, even when the evidence seems rock-solid. That story made me laugh. It also paints you in a bad light, especially the "I don't think I was snooping..."). Hee hee! I know you're a good person tho'. I'd be creeped out by that too. Maybe you should just call him on it--tell him outright that you noticed he'd moved it, and wondered what that was about (maybe it's more innocent than it seems?)and let him see your disapproval. dumpster diving is all good, but not from your neighbor. I'm sure it's different 'cause it's your landlord, but I finally got tired of walking on tiptoes for my duplex neighbor...figured if he doesn't complain than I shouldn't be anxious on his behalf. |
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