the essence

Is anyone else into urban foraging? (aka dumpster diving?) I LOVE this game. For awhile I used to go on walks with Addison on the evenings that the trash went out to see what goodies I could find. There are certain rules of course, you don't want to be gross. I'm looking for items in good condition just setting on the curb (kind of like the "curb alerts" on cragslist).

Several weeks ago I noticed that the house on the end of the street had some garbage bins & a fabulous floor lamp setting by the garage. Seeing as it was garbage night I was hoping that the lamp was part of their trash. I kept going outside throughout the say to check only to find the lamp setting by the garage.

I eventually forgot about the lamp but I didn't forget about my Chinese food craving. I finally caved & ordered Chinese & left to get it. There was lamp! Sitting at then end of the street no longer by the garage door! Seeing as I was

a. not wanting people see me take the lamp

and

b. in a hurry to get home & watch Lost

I pulled that car over so fast, opened the back door, grabbed the lamp, & literally shoved it in the backseat (where's a minivan when you need one?)



I was SO excited. My only hope was that the lamp actually worked. When I brought it inside & plugged it in the light came one! The only problem was the lamp shade was all moldy. I ditched that into our trash that night, it's quite easy to buy another lamp shade. Did these people really toss a $60-$80 lamp just because of the shade?