Plan B

Monday, March 25^th, 2024 – Safeway

Today was a bit cooler but dry. We did not find any money but removed a large roadkill rat from the street. It was either that or a small rabbit, but we prefer to believe it was a rat.

We also startled two raccoons.

Or perhaps they startled us. But we intimidated them. One dove under a fence and escaped, but this one froze and tried to intimidate us. Fat chance raccoon, we came prepared with flashlights and in the end, it climbed the small tree. We could have intimidated it further, but coffee was calling, and we headed for home. But Chuck is proud to be a raccoon intimidator. Janet just rolled her eyes. Again.

“Come in Rangoon.” Someone lost their antenna and went radio silent.

We’ve found several of these, eight or ten at least.

Of more use, we found a pristine Apple Lightning USB cable.

We find a lot of these, but most have been well run over and useless. This one was in great condition. However, Apple has switched to USB-C connections, so this has a limited useful life.

Tuesday, March 26^th, 2024 – Park-and-Ride

Today started with a light mist, progressed to a very heavy rain, for our area, and then subsided as we approached home. We were soaked, but it was relatively warm, so no harm, no foul. We found no roadkill and no money. There may have been some money at the park-and-ride, but at that time the rain was at its heaviest and we may have missed a dime or two.

At the park-and-ride, we saw a car with a sticker on the back window.

We thought, “Whoa, there’s a kid in the car and no adults were around.” We discussed calling 911 and grabbing a rock and smashing a window to make sure the baby was safe. But we thought better of it.

As we began our walk, we found a hoodie that was one of the most torn up items of apparel we have found.

It was a University of Washington hoodie and as we picked up the pieces, there was a razor blade. That may have explained the extreme damage to the shirt. Did someone not get accepted to the university?

Wednesday, March 27^th, 2024 – Safeway & 100^th Ave NE

Today’s walk was another day like yesterday, warm and rainy and again we returned home soaked. But unlike yesterday, we found some money.

Three cents at the gas station, our first money of the week.

Outside the KinderCare, a hippo had escaped.

Janet said, “Put the hippo back!”

We picked up a soaking-wet, furry balaclava.

Yes, we don’t get it either. But we’ll wash it and put it in the Goodwill pile so someone else might get it.

Parking wars.

Thanks, mom.

We had walked all the way down Juanita-Woodinville Way past Safeway and were on our way back. On the other side of the street, we saw a bag.

Between the time we walked three blocks, turned around, and came back, someone tossed the remains of their McDonalds breakfast. Yes, we have job security.

Okay, it’s time to check Chuck’s vest pocket.

Starting in the upper left, a couple of game cards. They are from a company called Metazoo. It started in 2020 and announced in January of 2024 that it was shutting down production. These might be valuable collectors’ items, but don’t hold your breath. To the right is a sticker for ION, a company that makes products for surfers, and below are some glasses parts that don’t match.

At the top-right the perfunctory writing utensil, a breast cancer ribbon, a cheap bracelet and a pipe cleaner. Really? We need to find a new name for these “pipe cleaners.” Can you imagine this man using these “pipe cleaners” to clean his pipe?

No, neither can we.

Below is a key card for the Canadian Clique Resorts. Then a couple of hearts, one with eyes and one as a paper clip, probably left over from Valentine’s Day. Also, a single Apple air pod for listening in monaural and a guitar pick for playing in monaural. Then there are two sealed surprise finds.

A folded and taped-up piece of paper. We carefully cut the tap and unfolded the note.

It was decorated with colorful spots and some artwork. One side was labeled “Emily #20,” obviously the artist’s numbered prints. The other side looks like a snake in the grass with its tail artistically wrapped around the binder hole. We may have it framed.

The second “sealed” find was something in what looked to be the finger of a rubber glove tied in a knot.

Hmm, white powder in a plastic bag. Nothing suspicious here. Obviously, some kind of drug, probably fentanyl but we’re not sure. We disposed of it.

Thursday, March 28^th, 2024 – 160^th to 124^th Street

Sheesh. Yet another wet morning, but colder than yesterday. But we got slightly rewarded.

Yep, a penny. That makes four cents for the week so far. We better have a great two more days, or this week will rank on the low end of the TrashWalking money finds.

Last week, we found a lunch box sitting on a rock. We checked for ID but did not find the owner. On Monday, we saw it still there and moved it to a guard rail post near the intersection of 112th and Juanita Way to give it more visiability. Today, it was still there so we confiscated it.

Inside were the remains of lunch. However, it had been unrefrigerated for several days and the contents did not look too appetizing. We will clean it up and send it to Goodwill. Not the contents, just the case in case you are wondering what the case it is.

After the illegal drugs that we found, today we found some legal drugs, at least in Washington.

We find a lot of these marijuana containers, but they are mostly empty. Occasionally, as in this case, there is marijuana left in the tube, in this case.

Friday, March 29^nth, 2024 – 100^th Ave NE

Yes, more rain again, but it was light and only lasted for an hour. And we found mor money.

Okay, Janet found more money. One penny at the gas station and forty-two cents at her favorite drive-thru. This helps our week’s net worth, now at forty-six cents for the week. We have one walk left, so there is still a possibility for you to contribute to the lost money. Operators are waiting.

We found a pie plate.

Of course we picked it up. It was free after all.

We did find another tool.

A small 10mm socket. Not much, but it counts.

We could have called this a found tool also.

A roll of duct tape on a fire hydrant. We could have called it a tool, but Chuck was not at the top of his game. He took the photo but neglected to take the tape. So, no tool. Perhaps if it is still there next week. And of course it’s a tool. Remember Macgyver?

Saturday, March 30^th, 2024 – Riverside Drive

At last, following four days of rain, today brought dry conditions, although a bit cooler. We found more money today in the park-and-ride.

A quarter, a nice way to end the week. We also picked up another tool.

A 7mm socket on Brickyard Road.

At the start of our walk down the hill toward Riverside Drive, we picked up a Rite Aid plastic bag.

The only thing in it was an empty Plan B One-Step morning-after contraception package.

Fifty bucks for one pill. Condoms are much cheaper. Since it needs to be taken within seventy-two hours of the act, having one shipped is out of the question.

A bit farther down the hill we found a key fob in the ditch.

It had a dealer tag on it for a 2023 Ford Focus. Unfortunately, there is no dealer name, so there is no way to find out. Well, we could visit all fifteen or twenty Ford dealerships in the area and wander around pressing the alarm button, but then, it could be a used car. We’ll just put it in our lost-key jar.

A 12-gauge shotgun shell on Riverside Drive.

Was someone on the way to a wedding? And were they riding shotgun?

A lost warning sign.

Actually, diesel fuel is relatively hard to ignite. When Chuck was in the Army, the latrines had 55-gallon drums cut in half to catch the waste. Each day someone, and a few times, Chuck, would pull out the drums, add diesel fuel to the contents and light it on fire. It often took several tries to ignite.

This is a photo from the Internet of the sewer treatment system.

Under a tree on Brickyard Road, we found some discarded jeans.

They were very large and still had tags on them so they had never been worn. Or at least the tags had not been removed. We will wash them and put them in the Goodwill pile.

Finally, at the park-and-ride, we found another needle.

We went for a long time without finding needles, then it seems we have started finding one every week. We hope this isn’t a trend.

A kid’s dog drawing.

We’ll call it Spot.

Also, at the park-and-ride, someone tossed a thank-you card.

“Dear Kathy & Crew,
Thanks again for making me and my neighbors happy. Posted a family-friendly review on Google. Hope you have a great year.”

Just what did they do to make everyone so happy? And what is a “family-friendly” review?

We also found these.

Do you think they belonged to Kathy and her crew?

With that thought, we wrap up our week’s walk. Our take,

• 71 Cents
• 9 Mikes Hard Lemonade cans.
• 5 Articles of clothing including a thong.
• 3 Balls
• 2 Startled raccoons.
• 2 Tools, both sockets.
• 2 Notes, one rant and one thank-you.
• 1 Needle.
• 1 Dime bag of white powder.
• 1 Ford key fob.
• 1 Roadkill rat.
• 1 Escaped hippo.

Have a great week and remember, whatever you plan to do, always have a Plan B.