Spring Cleaning marches on

New goal for summer - take full advantage of Minneapolis' liberal garbage collection policies by adding two "extras" to the trash each week. In Minneapolis,  free extras include up to two of any of the following: additional bags of trash, appliances or other large items, recyclable electronics (including monitors and TVs!).

Didn't have time last night to unearth anything from the garage, so this week's offerings were two old stereo receivers from the stash of broken electronic gear in the attic.

In addition to the city services, our alley has a very efficient trash picker I call "Metal Man," who is willing to go to quite a bit of work to separate metal parts from discarded stuff, but is polite enough not to steal our metal yard furniture just a few feet away inside the permanently open gate to the back yard. He's already hauled away a broken table saw, pieces of an old swingset, the motor from the broken table saw, and the metal frame (but not the board on top) from an inclined sit-up board. In appreciation for his industry I decided to give him a chance at the heavy old exercise bike, so I didn't put it out last night for the city to pick up. I'm pretty sure if I set it in the alley over the weekend it will be gone before trash day. You go, Metal Man!