Home Improvement - Sort of

It may shock you to know that it takes me forever to make decisions about The Condo. For example, it took me five years to find the Couch of My Dreams and three years to find the kitchen table. I don't agonize over all my decisions like this, in case you're wondering. I just feel like if it is for The Condo it is somehow a commitment - a covenant that has to be honored respected for ever and ever, (amen.)

One of the purchases I've been needing to make for about two years is that of a garbage can. I used to have a crappy Rubbermaid one that I bought at some dollar store in Ohio when I was an undergrad. I had it here at The Condo for about a year - big, blue, beaten up, and stained - until one day I just couldn't stand looking at it anymore, and I tossed it in the dumpster.

Since then, my kitchen has been without a garbage can. Trash has been collected in grocery store bags that hang from the back doorknob. This works well for one reason, and one reason only: it makes me take the trash out every single day. But that isn't always convenient and it makes it a little gross to use the door. So the search for a garbage can began.

I looked at every housewares store in the area. I looked at Target and Walmart, I looked at Home Despot and some local boutique-y places. Most garbage cans are too large. The smaller, nicer, non-rubber ones I like cost over $100. No receptacle for my trash is worth that kind of money. So I continued my search. Bed, Bath, and Beyond was too expensive and Linen's n'Things didn't have anything I liked.

For whatever reason, I woke up this morning thinking, "I've got to stop the garbage can nonsense TODAY!" Maybe I had a dream?

So on my shopping trip today, I walked right into Bed, Bath, and Beyond, intent that I was not leaving without a garbage can. I felt that twinge of anxiety I feel whenever I have to make a commitment, but I was determined to ignore it. Such strength, such honor, such fortitude!

And instead of biting my nails in indecision, I looked at the high-priced ones, I looked at the crappy brightly-colored plastic ones, and then I found this:It's perfect! It is small without being tiny, it is black, which matches my counter tops, and it will fade into the background, rather than to direct attention to itself. What's more, it has a secret clippy thing on the inside that holds the bag up. It also cost $30 with tax.

And so I dragged the thing home with me on the El with all of my other purchases, spent about 1/2 hour removing the stupid stickers on the front, and I installed a bag - a real garbage bag. And now I'm just waiting for something to throw away.

Maybe someday, I'll find something to put the TV and stereo in. Elapsed time since beginning this search: five years.