For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 04, 2020

Somehow I don’t think that you will find any wolf-whistles at the dump. :-)

I am not sure why they put lipstick on baby April in Panel 6. It looks weird to see makeup on a baby.

Bet that guy in the trucker’s hat took a shave before he left home. Sucking in his gut when he spots El. Wouldn’t be the first time.

hahaha I thought she was leaving for work.

….frankly, she’ll never find any wolf-whistles anywhere..

Gettin’ Gussied for the Garbage… yeah.. that’s telling…

Given current sheltering, trash dump day has been a highlight of the week around here.

Um, you’re probably right!

I haven’t been to our old dump since probably the late 20th century…

but even then it had become the county landfill and waste transfer station… and the actual garbage pit was already long closed.

It’s been years since you could drive up and just “dump” a load of mixed trash off the small cliff like Ellie’s doing…

or rummage through the leavings and just grab a discarded chair or some scrap lumber to take home.

Instead, you drive up to various drop-off locations for compostables, recyclables, furniture, and large and small appliances…

clothing, tires, car parts… some of which carry fees.

I think you can still get a small amount of cash for certain kinds of bottles and cans.

Toxics disposal is only on certain days… and a battery or a bottle of nail polish is “toxic.”

I remember there being an open shed where you could leave cans of paint, or take some, for a small price.

Also an area to do the same with usable building materials.

You pay a fee to put things like plastics, wrappers, and uncompostable garbage into big dumpsters that are hauled away to another county cos the landfill is full …

they encourage you to leave anything you can at other stations first.

Workers go through the stuff that’s dropped off…

So of course, there’s a big thrift shop there, where you can buy the usable clothing, furniture, etc.

You can spend hours there… whether you want to or not.

I’m surprised they don’t have curbside pickup of trash.

Lynn’s Comments:

The garbage dump in Lynn Lake, Manitoba was called, “The Exchange.” Folks were leaving town on a regular basis and often the dump was a treasure trove of unwanted but really good stuff. I do remember getting all excited about a trip to the “nuisance grounds.” Sometimes I brought home more than I threw away.

Elly is one weird mom!!!!

I go through this routine (minus the lipstick, which I can’t stand). Gotta look good for the DH. And the horde of people who show up during my day.

Getting all dressed for going to the dump!

Hey, you never know who you will run into at the dump. Afer all, you’re there.

It is always a special trip to go to the dump; you don’t know who you’ll see there.

That is just from cleaning out Michael’s room.

In the late 1950’s, my dad came back from the city dump with a stuffed rocking chair. The fabric covering the chair was worn; but, the frame and cushioning were still in good shape. He carefully removed the fabric to get the pattern, ordered new, and reupholstered it, becoming a self taught upholsterer. From there, he bought a heavy duty sewing machine and button maker (nothing automated), and added a shop to the end of the garage. After retiring at 67, he worked in his shop for the next 20 years. He became very proficient at reupholstering everything, recliner rockers, sofas, hide-a-beds, …, and clients came from up to 40 miles away, even though he never placed a single ad advertising his shop.

Yes, you never know what you might find in a dump, even the start of a new business. Oh, and I still have that stuffed rocking chair in my living room, good as new.

I give Elly credit for wanting to look presentable in public, even if it’s only a trip to the dump.

I wish more people would do this in real life. The way some dress in restaurants these days is enough to make you lose your appetite. Pride in ones appearance seems to be falling by the wayside.

Look closely, it’s not lipstick, it’s her tongue (pay better attention)

Yep, I must agree, she doesn’t get out enough

they don’t have garbagemen where they live ?

Just wait until the next lockdown.

Panel 3: The last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it…

I guess Canada doesn’t have any trash pickup… ?