Give me a drum roll
@sallypup (69631)
Centralia, Washington
August 11, 2026 3:59pm CST
Today I finally faced up to it. I am a hoarder. I am a hoarder of plastic bags. They get crammed under my kitchen sink and too many never see the light of day again. My busy brain says But....that bag would be useful to empty cat litter gunk into and that one could hold....insert what you please. Maybe vacuum cleaner debris from the floors? I'd be vacuuming twice a day up and downstairs if I really wanted to use all the bags. I bought a soft storage box from Amazon so at least now I can pull all the crud out and stash some precious bags into the box. Smaller ones and others just are going to have to go live in the recycling toter.
This morning I got up and was ready for the van to pick me up and ferry me to the pool. That van is supposed to be built for the disabled and seniors. Thank God there was a giant yellow grab bar on the side. I wouldn't have been able to haul me up into the van otherwise. I held onto the driver on the way out. The van coming back was easier to get into. Thank God. The pool water was cool but I exercised about 35 minutes. Thursday morning will be a repeat. I hope some day they get the boiler fixed and the water temperature goes up.
12 people like this
10 responses
@AmbiePam (124684)
• United States
5h
I’m really glad you got to go to the pool, even though they really should have fixed the temperature by now. At least, I think so, but maybe that’s because I want my Lenore to have something she wants. Warmer water is a reasonable request!
I have SO many plastic bags too. I tell myself they are good trash sacks for my two little trash cans in the apartment. But I don’t have enough trash to use how many sacks I end up having!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (61250)
•
4h
I wish we would ban them, so, so badly. They are not necessary for life. We produce and waste so, so much plastic. Amazing, isn't it....our grandparents managed to get through life without plastic shopping bags, plastic water bottles, etc. I know it's not a popular thing to say, but I wish a lot of it would simply not be used--or that it was somehow a law we had to recycle it, and there was a good system in place to get that done. But that's a big dream at this point.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (170418)
• United States
4h
For you and Amber I will point out that some thrift shops need your bags, and so does our local food bank. They can be sorted by colors, cut into strips and crocheted into "things". Like tote bags and kitchen rugs. I have even seen them made into bedrolls for the homeless.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69631)
• Centralia, Washington
3h
@GardenGerty Thanks for the reminder.
1 person likes this
@kareng (81390)
• United States
5h
Good for you on getting the bags out and throwing some out! I use all of the ones I get by using as trash can liners in the smaller trash baskets in our bathrooms, and also for putting burn only paper, cups, etc. in for the burn pile. When I do have extra, I take them to the flea market. They are always in need of them there.
Glad you had a nice swim!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (61250)
•
4h
I try to use reusable cloth bags and my insulated tote for grocery shopping, I keep them in the car. That eliminates some of the plastic bags. But they still accumulate. I bet you have somewhere local that would be glad to have them. We have a thrift store that always needs them, so I drop them off there once in a while. I also use them--they line the bathroom trash cans, I use them for some other trash stuff, etc. Yes, I have a big kitchen trash can, but I do use the other bags, too. Some cities and towns and even Walmart's have a collection bin for used bags in their lobby.
I'm glad you were able to go to the pool. Kind of surprised that it's so hard to get in and out of that van, they should have some extra step thingy to extend for those who need it, as well as an optional portable step. At least the driver helped you.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69631)
• Centralia, Washington
Just now
@MariaCoyle Yes that first van was a shocker. Maybe they expected me to use the lift? I hope the driver noted my issues and somehow will arrange that I only use the other van.
@Ineeddentures (42646)
•
5h
You did well in the pool Lenore.
Do you feel better for it?
Plastic bags, we had hundreds of them too
We used them for all sorts of things.
Cat litter was a favourite.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69631)
• Centralia, Washington
5h
@Ineeddentures Sweet you. I go to the pool to keep my strength up. I don't feel better physically but I know it's for the good cause I need to not get weaker. I watched my Dad get weaker and I watched his muscles atrophy. Fair warning for me.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69631)
• Centralia, Washington
Just now
@Ineeddentures This entire health scare is forcing me to get into caring for me better and more often.
@Ineeddentures (42646)
•
4h
@sallypup
The pool will do you good
I could do with getting back in the pool again
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (211958)
• United States
4h
That is why I am making a major point of taking totes to the store. I have had it with those plastic bags..so wasteful too.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (176884)
• United States
52m
I'm glad you can get a ride to and from the pool. And you cleaned out some of the plastic bags from under your kitchen sink. (We stuff bags inside of bags and I wander them out to the car trunk once in a while. When we go to Walmart, I throw the bags of bags into a shopping cart and leave them for somebody else to take inside.)
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69631)
• Centralia, Washington
Just now
@DaddyEvil I'm glad Walmart has some good to it for you.
@RasmaSandra (99848)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5h
Glad you made it to the pool to cool off,
2 people like this
