I must confess....

OK, so I try to keep my postings upbeat, but since it is my blog, I'm guessing that I can also go on an occasional rant. "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...I have had negative thoughts about the people I have encountered lately who pick up free stuff from me."
When you run into things in your life that just don't make sense, do you say, "It's really not me, is it?" The world has gone to hell in a hand basket (as my Mother used to say) as far as I can tell when it comes to common courtesy and manners. Anyone else with me here on this? Here are my examples of proof: I offer up a soup to nuts package...two twin mattresses/boxsprings, headboards/footboards, sheets, blankets and bedspreads. Came from a very nice older lady at Linden Ponds, so nice stuff and in great shape. A woman from Weymouth sends me an e-mail that simply says, "I need the beds, but don't want the mattresses/boxsprings. Can you deliver to Weymouth?" Instead of explaining how I really can't do something like that, particularly given how she asked, and that I hope she would have friends to help with that (gives you a clue right there that there are no friends in the picture)...I just want to write back, "WTF is wrong with you? Did I miss a memo that said if you're poor and live in Weymouth you get stuff delivered to your door for free?" That's why I'm confessing, because I know that's not right and it only spreads negativity, but I am sorely tempted.
Have also had three no show/no calls yesterday, so that doesn't help my mood any. If I have made an appointment with someone and am running more than five minutes late, I call to tell them. I figure that they are busy people who have better things to do than hang out and wait for me to show up. The feedback that I get from people when I do that is....surprise! Really. I've had people tell me that they are surprised that I would call to tell them I'm running late. Pleased, but surprised. That's when I have to start to check myself and ask if it's just me that follows an archaic set of rules relating to common courtesy/politeness. I wonder how my parents managed to follow these rules without a cell phone at the ready to make the call. Maybe they just managed their time better and prioritized the relationships they had with other people around them? I do know that the expectations and moral fiber of that generation was of a different caliber than today's.
Those of you who know me, know that I set limits and expectations pretty clearly, so when folks blow me off, unless they were in the emergency room, they are getting nothing free from me. But, I wonder, when I set the limits, does it really matter? Will it change how that person behaves the next time? Probably not, and I'm old enough to know that I have no control over what that person does, but it does get tiring. OY! Thanks for listening...negative Nancy will now be retired.
On a positive note...met a nice guy Marty yesterday, who showed up when he said he would and was a positive, pay it forward kind of guy. Also gave away a side by side frig and a stackable washer/dryer to Mike from Bridgewater who was also on time, friendly and helpful. Note to self: keep focused on these kinds of people who send out positive energy and let the others go.....

Lots of Furniture

I had thought things would slow down as the holidays approach so I could catch my breath, but no such luck. Don't get me wrong, it's great to be working so much in these economic times. I've met lots of new people lately, often under times of stress. I'm cleaning out two houses in the next couple of weeks because the person's Mom passed away suddenly. While both people acknowledge that both women lived to a ripe old age, there's still such sadness in the ending. They are both pleased that their mother's memory will be honored by giving their things away to folks, rather than trashing it or selling it for gain. This time of year, many of my favorite places to donate, like Friends of the Homeless in Weymouth, are overwhelmed with furniture, so I'm turning to you, my list of re-allocation specialists to get the word out that the furniture is rolling in. Do you know of someone that just got an apartment and needs furniture? Someone getting a divorce that has to move and has nothing? A friend who has things that are pretty worn out and would like something new for the holidays? You get the idea.
Next Wednesday, the 25th, I'm in Hingham. There are two couches, an upholstered chair, end tables, coffee table, two matching twin beds (mattress/boxspring/headboard/footboard), nightstand, bureau, desk.
November 30th I'm in Braintree and there are couches, kitchen set, dishes, end tables, etc.
If the person you know doesn't have access to a truck and they are close to the route from the job site to my house and can swing in and drop off at theirs.
Thanks for reading and for trying to help others. Every time we pay it forward, we all win.

More new technology

It sure is hard keeping up with all the technology changes. Just got a new Cliq phone,which syncs all my facebook, e-mail and phone contacts. It will all work out eventually, except I now have to have cheater glasses ready any time I go to look at the screen on my phone because I can't see the words as they are too darned small...or I'm too blind. Take your pick. My plan is to download different ringtones for the people that call me the most, as my hearing is only gone in one ear. Seems to take forever to listen to all the potential downloadable songs and pick one that's most appropriate for each person. My friend JRod will have "who let the dogs out" because she's a huge dog lover, but not everyone will be so easy to match up. Wish I had a friend Eileen so I could use Dexy's Midnight Runners (or something like that...memory is going too) for their song, "Come On Eileen".
The bigger scheme/plan is to use the camera on the phone to take pics of free stuff at the job sites while I'm there on the estimates, then load them directly to this site so everything will have a home to go to by the time it gets to my home. That's the plan, but all of this takes time to do, so patience until I've got this all up and running.

New beginnings

Well, I'm just starting to get this blog up and running. I'm not a technologically proficient person, so it's slow slogging. The purpose of this blog site is to provide a site where folks that know of my business, Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap, can come and see what furniture and other items are available for free. I give lots of stuff away to Friends of the Homeless and similar organizations, but most of the time I'm so busy that I can't make the trip there. I would love to have a warehouse where I could store things to give away to those that need it, but it doesn't make economic sense to pay for storage and then give stuff away. My garage will have to suffice and things will have to move quickly. I have given away tons of stuff via Craig's List, but it has limitations. Mostly, I'm tired of folks on there who are just down right greedy, are getting free things to re-sell or just out and out rude.
I will monitor my own blog site with the hopes that all those that get free stuff from my company will become my "Resource Reallocation Team". How's that for a fancy way of saying someone who takes my junk and gives it to other people? I know my own limitations and know there are only so many people that I can help on any given day. If you are visiting my blog site, it's because you or someone you know could use a helping hand by getting a free bureau, TV, living room set or what have you. We waste far too much in this country when there are so many people without. I believe that part of the problem is connecting those that have with those that have not. I plan on being part of that connection and part of the solution. I hope you'll join me.