Christmas Light Disposal or Electricity 101...

It's that time of year again when the people of Arlington take out their Christmas lights and decorations and prepare to make merry! Naturally they worry about using electricity and the environmental impact of their festivity, but most especially they worry about their festive trash.

"Hi, everyone -


OK, we have more than 1 string of Christmas lights (the small bulb, non-LED kind, several years old).
There is clearly an electrical problem of some kind with them.  (You can make the lights go on and off by touching random sections of wire, touching bulbs, wiggling wires, etc.)


Obviously we unplugged them, and the lights are coming off the (artificial) Christmas tree.  Even if they are fixable (I don't think they are), I want them gone.


So, here's the question: what is the safest way to dispose of them?  Can I just bag them up and put them in my trash, or do I take them to the fire station, or what? It's pretty wet out there, but I don't want to take the slightest chance of starting a fire. Thanks in advance for the advice!"


NAME REDACTED


One of the things I miss most about Arlington is the excessive concern residents have about throwing away things that are broken or useless. I miss it even more when other listers are forced to explain basic principles of science.

"They can't start a fire once they're unplugged and at room temperature."

NAME REDACTED

Get off my lawn!

Miss Crankypants had some complaining to do today!

"Do you have middle school children that walk from school along Mass. Ave
in the Heights??? Today, I stopped one young man drawing in fresh cement a
big circle with Jasper written underneath. I yelled at him to stop and he
ran away. I found that today, National Grid put new cement to replace the
asphalt that had been in place since they started the gas main work. All
the new areas of cement have been carved by young kids with hearts, names
and more. This is destruction of public sidewalks.

Please have a talk with your kids that fresh cement is not for them to
carve their name in unless it is on their own private property."


NAME REDACTED

I bet she kicks puppies too.

More Town Day crankiness!

Sadly, in my experience hermit crabs and frogs live for years. And years. And years.

"After my daughter arrived home from Town Day last year with a frog (in a plastic bag) which she had "won." I posted to the list that this was a cruel activity and most of the frogs (and gold fish) will die (confirmed by a number of local vets). Not just one but two members of the Board of Selectman told me (one on the list) that this would never happen again at Town Day.

HOWEVER, I saw a number of people with hermit crabs walking around and finally found the vendor with a town permit to sell them at Town Day. This time, at least, the vendor also sold plastic cages for them.

I would like to hear for other list members. Some of these crabs might find wonderful homes but many may not. Unlike a pet store where people go because they want a pet, pets at fairs can be bought impulsively (frequently at the demand of children) and end up being ignored, neglected, and otherwise mistreated. In addition, these vendors, unlike pet stores, are not regularly inspected by authorities to make sure the living creatures do not carry diseases and are kept in hygienic conditions. They operate under the radar of regulation.

I would support a request to the Town Day Committee not to issue permits to vendors selling living creatures in the future. "


NAME REDACTED

Town day crankiness!

Children like to play with pretend weapons? Call the police! Alert the media! Halt commerce!

"I was semi appalled today at Town Day that there was a vendor selling slingshots, cap guns, a revolved shaped miniature flash light, plastic small sized machine guns, and more. I believe the vendor was called 'Balloons, Toys, and Novelties'. They were located next to American Alarm's booth. There were kids playing with them everywhere. I don't think parents were purchasing the items but kids who had money were.

I thought it was completely out of line for Town Day. While the vendor had balloons, candy, and other treats, I thought many of their wares were in appropriate.

I mentioned this at the Information Table and they spoke to some one who was going to ask the Police to speak to the vendor. I would hope in the future, that these items would not be available.

Otherwise, Town Day was a great day after the rain stopped."
 
NAME REDACTED

You went to MIT didn't you?

"Does any one have a laptop to sell me cheap? I will use it  essentially as a radio to stream WBUR while I am working in my kitchen so no bells and whistles needed, old but functioning is fine.
Thanks!"

NAME REDACTED

Which would work better? An actual radio which is cheap, durable, and has nice loud speakers or a broken down laptop which will eat up your counter space and requires you to know your wifi password.

Please god make it stop...

How many times do I need to say it? No one wants your half empty package of pads. Seriously. If you cannot bear to throw them away, then discreetly donate them to a shelter, but for the love of pete, do not offer them to the list!

"I have 14 remaining of these pads:

Always Maxi Overnight Extra Heavy Flow with Wings, Unscented Pads, 20
Count.  Pick up in North Cambridge, near the Alewife T stop."

NAME REDACTED

Heavy flow. Good god.

Cold spot...

Just this morning I wondered to myself, "Hmmm. I wonder if I can find a cold pack for my private areas for free from a neighbor. There is nothing I'd like more than a perineal cold pack. Yessirree." And then this email came over the list!

There are even used nipple shields! This day cannot get any better!

"Two single-use cold compresses for perineal area, for postpartum recovery.

Two silicone breast shields, two Medela TheraShells breast shells--both of
these products are good for sore nipples, inverted or flat nipples, or
engorgement. Breast shells and one of the shields used a couple of times;
one shield is unused. Pick up in East Arlington."

NAME REDACTED

An excellent example of the A list...

Look, I get it. You hate waste. You probably also hate leaf blowers, cats who roam off leash, and mean people, but it is okay to toss your old apples. I swear.

"Hi All-

I have about 12 large granny smiths that have been sitting on my counter for the past month (they were used in place of flowers as a centerpiece). Does anyone have a compost bin I can dump these in? 
 
NAME REDACTED"

Just what I was hoping for...

Oh, dearest list! How did you know that I was hoping for some used and expired laxatives? Is there nothing too embarrassing to give away?

"2 bottles Laxaclear (Kirkland / Costco generic).  I unopened, 1
opened but barely used.  Both expire 03/13.
1 huge club-sized bottle Benefiber. Never opened. "Expired" 02/2011,
but I doubt it will be any less effective as fiber.

Pick up near Stratton School."
NAME REDACTED

Not about leaf blowers...

You might be thinking that the people of Arlington have been quiet and peaceful lately. You could not possibly be more wrong. The last three weeks have contained so much self righteous umbrage that I could not keep up. The topic which nearly tore the town apart? Leaf blowers. Again. I know.


Luckily, this lady posted the sort of request which blows away (get it? leaf blowers? never mind.) the pettiness of landscape politics. I bet that in Portlandia you can rent a free-range, organic, holistic recumbent bike.

"My brother in law is coming for a visit from Seattle on Thursday, and we'd like to get a recumbent bike for him to ride while he's here.  We've tried the bike shops in the area and so far no luck.  They sell recumbents but they don't rent them.

Would any of you know of a place in this part of the 'burbs that rents recumbents?  Or, would any of you have a recumbent we could rent from you or borrow?"

Many thanks,"
NAME REDACTED

The Great Cat Fight of 2012

Last week a town about twenty minutes away from Arlington voted on whether or not cats should be leashed outdoors. It was a topic which the people of Arlington could not resist discussing until every list reader wanted to gouge out their own eyes with toxoplasmosis infected cat claws. 

"One lister took the historical/cultural approach."

"Domestication of feral cats first occurred several thousand years ago in Mesopotamia, following the invention of agriculture and the storage of grain. Humans and cats made a deal: Cats would keep the granaries rodent-free, thereby preserving grain for people. In return, they got to stay around and eat the rodents, likewise anything else they could get their paws on, and we humans promised not to eat them. And for nearly ten millenia, we have preserved this detente, this symbiotic relationship, *without* have to debate cats in a town meeting. Until now."

 Of course not everyone agreed with this understanding of cats.

"A feral cat is generally considered to be a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. So cats were not feral prior to domestication.

Also, we didn't have to debate lots of things until very recently in our history: water fluoridation, women's rights, gun control, vaccines (including those for domesticated animals), seat belts, smoking, use of x-rays, and so on. Things change, and they change very quickly now. I'm not sure why the relationship between cats and humans should be exempt from any consideration of change."

Then there was a big heap of joyless lecturing with a side dish of "We're all going to die".

"Coming in late this conversation, so I don't know what's been said
before....the domestication of cats on a wide scale first occurred in
Africa. However, cat are an invasive species here in North America, and
like invasive species, they wreak havoc on indigenous species, in this case
songbirds. As for bells, there are conflicting studies, some show that cats
wearing bells killed less birds (though not by a large ratio), whereas some
studies showed cats wearing bells actually killed MORE birds (
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/materials/predation.pdf).
Either way, wearing bells doesn't offer any real solution to the problem.
And it is a problem.  Cats also carry and spread toxiplasmosa in their
feces, which is highly toxic to many wild species here in New England,
including the river otter (oh yeah, and young children), which is much more
prevalent in outdoor cats than indoor ones.  And one of the number one
reasons people ask to have coyotes killed is because it predates their
cats. So, I think it's a good idea to have an ordinance to collar and keep
cats indoor or at least leashed/fenced if outside.

I have worked in the field of wildlife conservation for about 7 years now
and there is no way around it: cats decimate songbird populations. In
relation to climate change, Concord is a place that is known for prime
songbird habitat. Thoreau recorded the habits in terms of breeding,
nesting, and migration of songbirds at Walden, which gives bird biologists
a blueprint for seeing how changes in climate are impacting birds today.
However, increasing cat predation rates on birds skew these numbers. Cats
are domesticated animals, not wild ones, and should not be allowed to roam
free and compete with wild animals as though they are wild...and it is
human hubris to show utter disregard for the impact our actions have on
nature in letting cats outside. Should we also allow our dogs to just go
out unleashed and unsupervised? Our farm animals? No one seems to have a
problem with ordinances to leash or fence all of our other domestic
animals, but suggest it for a cat and people get testy and ignore all of
the science and couldn't seem to care less about any of the other animals
it harms (including the cats themselves, which often succumb to car
collisions, predation by wild animals or dogs, or diseases contracted by
being outside). And I say all of this as someone who has three cats, and
does a lot of volunteer work in animal rescue."
NAME REDACTED

This lister admirably tried to diffuse the situation with some humor!

"Yes, cats are from Africa.

So are humans.  (We are the ultimate Invasive Species.  Only cockroaches are more successful...)

And songbirds fly all over the place - eating worms, among other things.  But -

Guess what! 

EARTHWORMS are an invasive species!
http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/invasive-species/invasive-eartworms-in-american-soil/4545

NAME REDACTED
(who just let her cat out to hang out in the swamp)"


This was followed by more joylessness and some "It's all your fault that we are all going to die."

Hey NAME REDACTED,

And did you scroll down to the link you provided about earthworms that
spoke about the ecological harm they do cause in certain areas in the US?
Did you even read all of the link that you posted here to contest my point?
Would you now also like this opportunity to brag about some other thing you
do that harms the environment just because you can? Perhaps how many
disposable plastic items you blew threw today, or maybe you idled your car
for 10 minutes just for fun?

We can engage in real dialogue or you can quip and make jokes and just
ignore the facts/science and make snide comments (which is often just a
signal that the person is uneducated and defensive about the issue and
doesn't like at all for something they do to be challenged, no matter who
or what else is harmed by their choices)...MassAudubon and the American
Bird Conservatory and even the Humane Society of the United States and
countless universities and institutions have done prolific research on this
issue and have concluded time and again that cats cause significant
ecological damage (and that outdoor cats have substantially increased
incidences of disease and premature death)...but hey, you Googled a generic
link (which seems geared more for grade school age) that was off point and
went down the slippery slope...

Ever hear of the Tragedy of the Commons?"
NAME REDACTED

Finally we had this query.


"Here's a question I probably shouldn't ask but will: What is the difference between a neighbor's cat pooping in your yard versus a neighbors toddler pooping in your yard?

Both contain potentially dangerous pathogens/bacteria, both are the responsibility of someone else, both are icky. "

NAME REDACTED





Be grateful I left out the bits about people eating cats and cats who carry water bottles.

I'm pretty sure this is dirty in some way...

"Dear list,

Does anybody have half a carrot I could borrow?
I'd like to cut it up and put it on a salad I'm making for lunch today!


NAME REDACTED"

Perhaps you have heard of google?

Now look, you were tech savvy enough to sign up onto the list, compose your message and then press send, and yet you cannot google "wrist watch" yourself to find out where to buy one. Have you never in the last twenty years walked into a store which sold wrist watches? Amazingly about eight people resisted to urge to bitch slap this lister and instead offered many suggestions of where to buy watches. The list is full of enablers.


"Hi savvy listers,

My reliable Timex became not so reliable and has now died. It lasted
about 20 years. The shop I bought it at, for maybe $20, is no longer
around, and I have no idea where one buys wristwatches at a decent
price.

I want a simple watch, analog with numbers (not Roman numerals, not
lines), and a clean design so it's easy to read; ladies' size; leather
band (not a stretch or metal band).

Swansons will be getting in a watch that matches my requirements, but
it's $180!

Have prices for simple watches gone up that much in 20 years? Where
else might I find a simple watch?
 
NAME REDACTED"

It's been a busy day on the A-list!

Today the list had 101 posts! About 50 were people arguing about the math of the recent election.


Here's an example:

"NAME REDACTED, this reminds me of the time my highschool calculus teacher tried to prove
to the class that .99999999 (ad infinitum) = 1. On the face of the exercise it
seemed plausible, but we all just know that the two aren't equal."


Followed by:

"Huh. Then you're probably the kind of guy who doesn't believe that the
sum of the infinite series 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 (etc.) equals 1, either.

Although they're both easily provable."

Then there was an extremely long and honestly bizarre comparison of farm animals to politicians with a bunch of math thrown in. I did not read the entire thing because I was an English major and I know when the math geeks are getting their grok on.

Finally, it was suggested that the farm animals be turned into barbeque with a leaf blower on Mass Ave. Not a bad idea actually.

Kudos to this lady for recognizing humor when she she reads it.

"I hope those people who love to pick out unusual Arlington list
conversations and blog about them can fully recognize the wonderful
undertones and leg pulling that this thread is full of!!!  Net result (a
vaguely math term):  The Schlichtman Way will get you to pastrami, while
sneaking up on the George Washington Bridge.  It works
.9999999  of the time, which we all now realize is 100%".
NAME REDACTED

About 51 posts are about bike path etiquette. It starts out all polite.

"Hello Listers,

I have a few requests of the many bikers here on the List.

1. When you are coming up behind a pedestrian, and intend to pass that
person, could you please indicate that intent either with a "On your left"
or perhaps one of those cheery bells of yesteryear?  The dogs and I get
taken off guard many times, causing us to go in opposite directions, often
into the path of the biker.

2. And when you pass, could you only pass on the left?

3. And when you pass on the left, if it causes you to go into oncoming
"traffic", please realize it is not the responsibility of the oncoming to
get out of your way.

Thank you very much, in advance, for your courtesies in these requests."

After about 15 posts arguing about whether people should yell, "On your left!" or whether that is too annoying on a sunny day, 15 about whether dogs should be leashed or unleashed, 10 about whether the bikepath should be used for walking at all, and 5 requesting the return of the bicycle bell we arrive at this:

"You're right, of course. How many times can we re-hash the same nonsense.

We should go back to talking about things like Coyotes.

Or leaf blowers.

Or Mass Ave!

Tell me, again, about how rotaries are safer, and bicycle paths, like communism, are just bad European ideas that failed..."

And this:

"We haven't talked about power-outage-causing squirrels in a loooong time."

And finally this:

"I've been lurking this list now for three days, and all I can say is, wow.
You people have TIME.

Jealously,
NAME REDACTED"


Me too, NAME REDACTED, me too.

Update on those not so free chairs...

 Has this lady never read this list? Free crap is the lifeblood of Arlington!

"that's nuts, why would people take something that's still on your property?!"

NAME REDACTED

For Sale: Racist Paint!

 First of all, just be grateful you are done painting. Secondly, no one is going to buy your paint, especially with a name like that.


"My loss, your gain!  A beautiful  deep red "Moroccan Spic" eggshell finish,
Ben Moore paint.  Unopened gallon plus one third gallon (opened) both
purchased two weeks ago.  No use for them now.  Have receipt.
$45 + tax will sell for $25!"

NAME REDACTED

The perfect addition to your suburban lawn!

 Could anything be more wonderful on your front lawn?


"FS  Statue of David created by Michelangelo
Stands approximately 44 inches high
I believe it's resin, indoor/outdoor
Great for garden, three season room, foyer, etc
Pictures available, Excellent condition, $40.00"

Uh oh! When it's not free!

"If you took my dining room chairs from 106 Newport street please return them!  They were not free I was moving them that is why they were on my driveway!"
NAME REDACTED

Free expired calendars!

I do understand the appeal of pictures of puppies, but I wonder about the people who are so eager for pictures of them that they are willing to drive somewhere to get them from expired calendars.

"I have three never used (expired) calendars with pictures of puppies.  Last
time I posted calendar pictures I had a lot of takers. Here is the
Craigslist posting with the pictures.

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/zip/2943417302.html"
NAME REDACTED

Leaf blowers...

There is a discussion about leaf blowers happening on the list right now about which I would post except that if you read it you'd want to kill yourself.

Please throw away these supplies.

 Listen, I get that you hate waste, but I promise you that no woman has ever left the hospital with too few of these. Also, and I say this as a mother, ewwwwwww!

"I have a bunch of unopened perineal cold packs, and hospital grade pads
that I was given from the hospital after I gave birth but landing up having
more than I needed. I found them very useful in the first couple of weeks
after delivery, so thought I would check if anyone might find use for them
before I threw them away."

Free for the taking: 2 non-working phones!

 I was hoping for some broken phones!



"This is the kind of phone that can be programmed to autodial 15 numbers and has an illuminated dial pad.  I can get a dial tone on both and can take incoming calls on them, but several or all of the keys on the dial pads are not working.  I don't need them.  However, if someone wants a phone just for incoming calls, or someone wants to tinker with them and see if they can get them to work, or someone's child needs a non-functioning appliance to take apart, maybe they still can be put to some use.  If no one claims them, they're going out in tomorrow's trash. "

Best,NAME REDACTED

Plumber versus Handyman smackdown!

These things always start out so nicely. A request for some neighborly advice on a plumbing matter.

"I am a new homeowner of two family. My tenant's toilet is 'running' and has cost excess in water bills despite multiple fixes. New stopper. Adjusted arm, shortened chain. It stops running, for weeks, two months at one point, but then it resumes. I am about to have my handy man replace the toilet (even though I've been told it is unnecessary unless there is a crack in the  porcelain) bc it has dragged on so long has wasted water, is driving my tenants ( and me) nuts. Anyone have thoughts before I replace the entire thing?"
NAME REDACTED

Look at how helpful this lister is!

"I would see if you can figure out causing the 'running' rather than just
changing something that helps for a while.

Watch a flush or two with the tank cover off and see if you see
something moving wrong that keeps the stopper from sealing.

Is the tank dirty, and occasionally a piece of scum or debris holds the
seal open a bit?

Perhaps the piece the stopper seals to is worn and that needs replacing.
Changing the whole flushing mechanism is a lot cheaper than changing the
whole toilet, and unless the tank has some form of contaminant that is
wreaking the seal, should fix the problem."

NAME REDACTED

If only it stopped there.

This lister had some eloquence to share. I think he may be a plumber.


"Use. A plumber and not a handyman" (sic)

NAME REDACTED

Another helpful suggestion, this time from a handyman.

"You can call a plumber, but is it justifiable to pay close to $200 to have a toilet flapper replaced? The most common reason for a running toilet is the "rubber flapper" that is connected to the chain. You can pick one up at any hardware store for under $20 bucks, and maybe even under $10 bucks. Turn the water off at the toilet, flush it and replace the flapper. No handyman or plumber needed."

NAME REDACTED

To which our plumber friend responds:

"If your paying close to 200 as u suggest you have the wrong plumber  a handy man is someone without a job" (sic)

NAME REDACTED


Not to be outdone, the handyman replies:

"A Handyman is a plumber, painter, carpenter, sheetrocker, landscaper, organizer, snow remover, furniture assembler, mover, telephone/cable/data installer,basement/attic/garage cleaner without the mask and gun."

NAME REDACTED


Who will win? My bet's on the handyman, but that's only because I like punctuation.

Fraud at Trader Joes!

I know that this is the kind of nerdy social injustice I should get worked up about, but there is too much math involved for me to care.

"Three weeks ago I was at Trader Joe's on Mass. Ave. and needed jelly.  They
had various flavors but what caught my eye was the $2.52/lb unit pricing
for the Concord grape jelly.  That was much better than for the apricot or
strawberry or whatever.  However, on closer inspection, I noticed that the
jar was not the full 19 oz jar specified by the label.  Being that type of
guy, I did a quick estimate and realized that there must have been a
substitution at some point of 17 oz jars for the 19 oz jars, but no one had
bothered to update the unit pricing on the sticker.  (At $2.99/jar, the
unit pricing should have been $2.81/lb.)

I asked a floor clerk about this, we determined that indeed the labels had
old information, she spoke with a manager and she assured me that they
would be fixed.  "Thank you, yes, we want to have proper labels."

A week later I visited the store and the labels had not changed.  This time
I asked the manager up front to get a magic marker and walk with me to the
jelly section.  We reviewed the situation and I thought the matter would be
resolved.

Another week goes by and the label still has not changed.  My faith (?) in
Trader Joe's is drooping but still I want to believe.  I review the
situation with a different manager-in-charge up front who promises to print
up a new label immediately.

Today I'm low on milk and they have a great price, so why not get some
exercise and bike over to check on the label?  At first my worst suspicions
are confirmed because the unit pricing is not set to $2.81/lb, it's $2.34.
But then I notice that the price has been marked to $2.49/jar, a reduction
from last week's $2.99.  I smiled.

I'm not upset for paying more before because that price was posted and it
was my decision to buy.  But I was gratified to see that a change had been
made and that instead of up, up, up, the pricing could drop to be more
competitive.

As for unit pricing in the rest of the store, you'll have to check that for
yourself!"

NAME REDACTED

Free used mayo!

"Yes, you read that correctly!  Free mayonnaise to a good home.

This is sort of off-topic because this is a food-related post.  It's
on-topic if your kid(s) love(s) tuna w/ mayo, turkey w/ mayo, etc.

In an attempt to be a little bit healthier, I purchased Spectrum Organics
canola mayo.  Used a spoonful and decided that we are a Hellmann's family
at heart.  It's a shame to throw it out since it's barely used and
expensive -- for mayo, that is.

Anyone want it?  Expires 22-Sep-12."

NAME REDACTED

This lady is my favorite!

This email best illustrates why I have my blog. I love this lady, which is good because it can be lonely being the pariah of Arlington.

"I'm so glad the list brought Sara's blog to my attention. I read every post,
laughing all the way, until I got to what looks like it might have been her
original post:

http://deararlingtonlist.blogspot.com/2011/12/old-dirty-vacuum-free.html#com
ment-form

It was mine! At first I was a little irked. I thought, hey, that was a
perfectly valid post! I started to write a response. It went like this:

"Hey! That was my post! And do you know how expensive vacuum cleaners are?
The thing worked, it was just dirty from sitting in the basement. Darn. I
loved reading this blog until I saw you were making fun of me."

Then I was going to write, "It seemed irresponsible to add something someone
could use to the waste stream, particularly something that wouldn't break
down."

And that's when I stopped. I realized, OMG, this is exactly why she makes
fun of us. Strangely, I realized I really didn't mind at all. I ended my
comment with:

"Now I'm going to need to read it every day to see how much attention I get!
<g>"

And then, wouldn't you know it, I couldn't get my comment to post. I figured
it I put it here instead, maybe she'd see it and add it for me. If she is
reading, my question is, why hasn't she put up my post about the fake,
breathing dog? Now *that* was worth a chuckle!"



Sorry I missed your fake breathing dog post- especially since I might have felt compelled to claim it!

How earnest are you?

Well, it finally happened and the fine people of Arlington have discovered this blog. 

There has been much said on the world famous list about the blog, everything from, "Alert google! We are being violated!" to "OMG! That blog is hilarious!". It is these disparate reactions which make the Arlington list the amazing creation it is- a place of reaction and consideration, humor and concern.

The blog was started at the urging of many friends and list members who would privately laugh at the often unselfconsciously hilarious posts. Emails offering free used greeting cards and concerns about outdoor cats making love in kale are pure comedy.

I spent many wonderful years in Arlington and the list was no small part of it. I will continue to post. I will continue to redact names. I will continue to laugh sometimes at posters, but more often with posters. There's no place like Arlington and the Arlington List is its finest creation.

Sew crafty.

I know. Horrible pun. Forgive me. The people of Arlington would.

"It's for a double bed.  Color: off white/cream Style: tailored with a couple of pleats.

Let me know if there's any interest."
NAME REDACTED

And then a helpful suggestion of turning that dust ruffle into a window valance! How wonderful!


"If this makes Kathy's offer more attractive - it's very easy to turn
bedskirts or dust ruffles into small window valences:
http://www.string-or-nothing.com/2008/10/29/SIDETRIPINTOHOMESEWINGCAMOVALENCES.aspx"
NAME REDACTED

From lightbulbs to guns in three easy steps

Sometimes the people of Arlington like to use the list to voice their concerns about things.

"Walking home at night is a frightful activity and I am reliant on my neighbors keeping their door lights on because the Town does not keep adequate lighting on Park Ave. My street, Oakland, has better lighting than Park Ave. I fear that I will trip and fall because of the trees roots encroaching the sidewalk that I cannot see the variation in depth. That is also a legal liability for Town if I fall. Further, I don't know the crime statistics but I am afraid I will be accosted. I am constantly vigilant and fearful EVERY NIGHT coming from work. I use the bus services, the few that there are. Again, if the streetlights that re in place are working I doubt I would have these issues. I have worried about this issue since I moved here in June and am so gald it is on the radar. :)"

 NAME REDACTED

Some people offer helpful suggestions.

"Not arguing your point: but the new LED based flashlights are
small, safe, last a long time, and work wonders. I recently
purchased 12 LED flashlight that runs on AAA batteries, and
the light output is amazing. I think it was some $3 in
Rite-Aide.

Facts might help you with that worry. Check out that web
site I mentioned, or write an email to Chief Ryan and ask
about general safety issues. Nationally, violent crime rates
have been dropping for a long time:

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/preliminary-annual-ucr-jan-jun-2011/data-tables/table-3

In the Northeast, the rates are largely dropping faster:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/preliminary-annual-ucr-jan-jun-2011/data-tables/table-2

It is not unusual to be afraid, but perhaps knowing the facts
can bring you some comfort. "

NAME REDACTED

It does not take long before the discussion goes a little awry.

"It's amusing that some people think the town has to light up every
sidewalk and road or risk being sued because it happens to be dark at
night.

I hiked down Mt. Katahdin and the last 90 minutes were in pitch black. I
had a head lamp. It's a good thing I did or I would have had to sue
Maine if I tripped and fell down the mountain."


NAME REDACTED


Then the fun starts!

"I've found that a Walther PPK in .380 caliber provides both security and
comfort in almost every environment. It is light weight and compact enough
to fit in a jacket pocket. Even with the safety off you can (with proper
instruction and some practice) keep your hand on the weapon with relative
safety. This is owing to the fact that when properly loaded the weapon's
trigger is set to double action for the first round. This helps to prevent
an accidental discharge that could happen under stressful conditions. For
each subsequent round the trigger is in single action mode. Of course rule
#3 of safe firearms handling is: Never put your finger on the trigger until
your sights are on your intended target."

NAME REDACTED

Not to be outdone-

"I prefer a .308 Marlin with 4x scope.

Helps bring in the whites of their eyes a bit quicker and addresses both coyote problems: the 4-legged variety and the Jesse James types when they ride up on their mules."


NAME REDACTED


And that my friends, is how we discuss things on the Arlington list.

The voices are in your head.

No seriously, you are the only one who can hear them.

"Is anyone else hearing this?  I am home with my sick daughter and I am hearing what I think is the Three Stooges loud enough that I actually thought it was somehow coming from inside the house.  In the vicinity of Forest Street near the Peirce school."

NAME REDACTED

Lock up the women and children!

 Dear god! A coyote roams among us! No one is safe!

"Hello all,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I saw a Coyote roaming around the Winchester Country Club, on Hutchinson Road around 10:30 this morning. I called the Police to report it. Please keep your animals safe."
NAME REDACTED

I would eat them on the Arlinton list!

Now this chick is awesome, because she gets how silly her offering is.

"Sometimes it can be cathartic to confess one's mistakes in public.  I
made a mistake recently.

At CVS I purchased "Eggies" - yes, the As Seen On TV, Hard Boil Eggs
WITHOUT The Shell, NEVER PEEL A Hard Boiled Egg Again "Eggies."

The box proclaims:  So Fast!  So Easy!

Hah!

Turns out, Peeling A Hard Boiled Egg is a breeze, a delight in fact,
when compared to the complicated procedure of using, and then cleaning
up, the aforementioned "Eggies."  They have not made my life easier.
I will, in fact, be peeling hard-boiled eggs for the rest of my life.
By hand.  Happily, from here on out, now that I have seen the
alternative.

The entire kit of 6 "Eggies" is yours if, after this
less-than-flattering message, you still want them.  BONUS!  Egg
Separator for Healthy Egg Whites included in the box.  I will forward
the address of my porch to the first person-to-repeat-my-mistake, er,
that is to say ... responder ;)

Enjoy your weekend,"
NAME REDACTED

Of course, people had helpful suggestions for making hard boiled eggs, which I am pretty sure the original lister could have done without.

"I haven't seen Eggies on TV but I think I'll pass. However an easy way to peel hard boiled eggs is when you take them out of the hot water, light crack the shell and drop them into cold water. Wait a few minutes and the shell should easily pop off. If you peel them in the cold water, they are extremely easy to peel."

NAME REDACTED

"The biggest "trick" is not using very very fresh eggs.

Wait a couple days to a week with them raw in the fridge then they are far,
far easier to peel.

The membrane needs to release from the shell before it will release from
the albumen when it's boiled."


NAME REDACTED

"Your post is certainly not a recommendation for this product, and I have
never seen it advertised or "up close."  Hard boiled eggs to me are not
too difficult, but when I have wanted a number of really nice, perfectly
peeled HB egg, and I'm busy cooking a bunch of other stuff (for me,
pretty much only for my Passover seder), I've bought peeled HB eggs at
Trader Joe's, for not much money.  (I think about $2 for 6 eggs).  Near
the salad stuff."

NAME REDACTED

I love the attention to detail- also, would you like a free rubber brain?

"The FREE STUFF store is still open in our driveway at ADDRESS REDACTED,
off Forest, on Turkey Hill in the Heights.

JUST ADDED
Small washboard
Embossed copper artwork from 1930s
Thermal mugs
Circuit breakers
Brown glass quart storage jugs

NEW STUFF:
[Cast iron frying pan] GONE
[Antique leather suitcase] GONE
Kids and adult luggage [Some left]
Tin cookie boxes - someone wants these, I vaguely remember

Sheets, towels, bathroom rug, bedspread, bed pillows [Some left]
[Antique carved marble medallions from South End fireplaces] GONE
Antique demountable ladder from a South End rowhouse
[Meat grinder] GONE
Other kitchenware
[Tin box of padlocks , key rings, pirate eye patch] GONE
Photo flashbulbs
Wrecking bar

I think the rubber brain (hand-size) is still out there.

Also still out there:
Three ring binders
Empty small box assortment
Slide rule
Kitchen cabinet two-level carousel (small)
Audio/video switches
Large box fan
More

Also still available: Original oil painting, about 2ft x 4ft,
atmospheric depiction of geese flying under a full moon, in blues,
white, black. Ring doorbell if you would like to see it when you come
by. (It might blow away if put outside, I think.)"

NAME REDACTED

Remember those ugly and expensive windmill chairs?

They are now free on the curb- which is where they should have been in the first place.

"Free on Curb - 2 Comfortable Rock Maple Chairs"

"Cushions are in excellent condition.  Wood needs sanding and restaining.  Interesting windmill designs on front and sides.  Pet-free and smoke-free home.

See picture on Craigslist:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/atq/2834655674.html

Free on curb at ADDRESS REDACTED, Arlington."

NAME REDACTED

The raccoon ate your baby.

Lock up the women and children! There are wild animals in Arlington!

"For the last couple of weeks, the Hounds from Hell have been reluctant to
walk too far from home during their 5 AM walk and I couldn't figure out
why. I think I may have the answer.

Last night, about 8 PM, I spotted two *very* large raccoons scurry across
my neighbors' driveway, into their back yard. When I say very large, I mean
easily over 25 lbs., probably closer to 30-35 lbs. These suckers were HUGE.

So, those of you with outdoor cats and small dogs, be aware. And "lockable"
garbage cans are a must."



OMG! This lister has seen raccoons too! I think that the fear of wild animals might have affected this persons ability to spell.

"I go to work early and walk my dog at 3am. A couple of morning's ago I heard the stragest noise coming from in front of my neighbor's house. I was as courious as I was scared but I had to know! Crept around the cornor and 3 BIG FAT RACOONS playing in the middle of Pleasent st."

Dear god! They are breeding!

"OMG, those coons can have some real parties!  I believe they may be 
courting right around now."





Those raccoons have been known to kill people!


"When I first moved to Arlington 23 years ago, I had never been encountered by a raccoon. (being a city girl, I only encountered domestic animals). Every night they would come by my back yard and I would go outside and hand feed them.  Every year the mothers would return with their babies looking for my handouts.  Then I came across a possum and did the same with them. One day I wad told not to feed them as they carried rabies.  I was devastated as I really cared for them.  Well just to be on the safe side, I leave them food in the center of my back yard and keep my distance from them.  Not sure why I'm telling you this, but since we are on the subject of raccoons, I thought I would share my experience with you."

NAME REDACTED

Rabies- even cute animals can get it!

"Hi NAME REDACTED,

Sorry for your sadness.

I had a friend in Lincoln that felt as you did.  Fed a mama and her
babies for a long time.  Right up until they attacked, bit and scratched
her and she had to go through the rabies treatment.

Wild is wild.  She never fed them again."

NAME REDACTED

And finally, "I barely escaped with my life!"

"I used to think they were really cute...until I spent a summer as a camp
counselor in the mountains of NYS. I got cornered by a big raccoon one day
in a cabin and I saw it's teeth up close and personal. Let me tell you,
those are some razor sharp teeth! And they can be v-e-r-y nasty."

It's called trash.

No, we do not want your old broken toilet. Thanks for thinking of us though!

"We are replacing our old toilet with a newer more efficient model. But
what do we do with our old one. It basically works but the lid is broken
and it needs new insides. It is vintage 1960s. Is there any place to donate
it? Should we just put it out with the trash?

Thanks"

NAME REDACTED

From gum pain to death- an Arlington tale.

Sometimes the people of Arlington aren't sure where they can buy a particular product and so they turn to the A-list for help.

"ISO clove oil for use as a dental anesthetic.

Tried CVS, Walgreens, GNC and VitaminShoppe (VS has one variety, but it seemed specific to aromatherapy).  Even went by what, apparently, is no longer Arlington Health Foods.

Looking to purchase nearby, not online.

Suggestions?  (Also, hints on safe and proper use?)"
NAME REDACTED


This lister was very helpful and answered the question.

"I was able to find some at CVS (I think the one near the high school)
last time I had a toothache.  It was in the aisle with other tooth care
stuff, but you have to read the packaging carefully.  The small brown
bottle didn't say "Clove Oil" on the label, but that was the main
(only?) ingredient in the one I found.  I can't remember the name, and
I'm not at home now to check.

There are directions.  You can use a Q-tip or small wad of cotten held
with tweezers to apply.  It's very effective ... for a short time.
Eventually, you have to see the dentist."

This lister predicts death.

"The sooner the better. Your teeth are very close to your brain.
Infection can travel. And yes, you can die of a toothache. (Granted, it
generally takes awhile.)"

I can't believe that no one wants these.

"I am looking for a place to take used greeting cards. Any such place?

I searched the archives but couldn't find anything."

NAME REDACTED

OMG! MOUSE INFESTATION! HANTAVIRUS! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!

When this email about relocating a mouse in the house I knew that the people of Arlington would have some strong opinions. Luckily, they never disappoint!

"Oye!  We have a mouse!  Before we go out to buy a have-a-heart trap
(thinking we'd release this little guy over near the marsh by alewife) does
anyone have one we could borrow for a little bit.  Also, anyone else gotten
any random mice problems?  I'm sure hoping this doesn't develop into a
bigger situation.  Sigh.

Thanks,NAME REDACTED"

This was the first response.

"Hahahahahaha! 'a' mouse! Hahahahahaha!

You, my friend, are a world-class optimist. This is illegal, (releasing the mouse) but I won't 'rat' you out. A serious word of advice that you'll find also in the archives, repeated many times: find the entrance being used, plug it, and only then deal with the mice.

One word for those reluctant to kill mice. Hantavirus:
 
http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-24/news/29580736_1_white-footed-mice-hantavirus-droppings

It's not just in the southwest any more. Not that easy to get, but
spray the droppings (bleach is good, water better than nothing) before
cleaning them up.

Good luck,
NAME REDACTED"

Stay tuned for more alarmist advice!

Expensive ugly chairs! With windmills!

I know one guy in A town who would love these!

"Solid rock maple chairs with removable thick cushions, windmill motif on front and sides. One is a rocker; the other is stationary. Cushions are in fine condition, but wood needs refurbishing. Great chairs for folks who like refinishing wood furniture. Very comfortable. No smoking or pets in house.

Sold as a pair for $125 or best offer.

See photo on Craigslist:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/atq/2819902235.html"
 
NAME REDACTED

I swear sometimes they are baiting me.

Okay, I get that it's not worth it to send back, but charging $1? What's the point?

"$1.00 to a good home.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EK00JG/

We like it, but accidentally ordered an extra one for our newly renovated
bathroom. It's not worth the trouble and money to return it, especially if
some Arlingtonian can use it. It's still in the original box, unopened.

Please reply offList."NAME REDACTED

Sometimes the people of Arlington get cranky.

"To whoever let his or her dog crap on my driveway ... if I ever find you, I
will return it!!"

Freecycle + Arlington = Crazypants

This one came in from the Arlington freecycle. Except that it is completely broken it works great!

"Colby TF-DVD7100 includes a cord, the power works, the image is extremely dark and appears to not read DVDs correctly - other wise it is fine.

Color is silver.

Arlington near Winchester"

This is about as Arlington a post as you can get.

 This could be rewritten as "I received tons of awesome gift cards, but I am too pretentious to just go use them. Please acknowledge my superiority by suggesting only handmade, organically grown, free range toys for my little precious to enjoy."

"Hi, I have over 10 gift cards that were given to us a birth congrats gift for Toys R Us that I'd like to start using. I find Toys R Us more expensive than Amazon for most of the things we need and I don't want to spend more money at Toys R Us, even if it doesn't cost us the difference; I prefer value shopping.

Can anyone recommend items at Toys R Us that are well priced compared to Amazon or other Internet retailers that I should consider? I guess it doesn't have to be the same price or less than Amazon, but at the very least comparable. Or if I should be on the lookout for sales of a specific type of good?

Thanks,"
NAME REDACTED

Who wouldn't want broken dishes?

"A few chipped dishes - maybe they could be used for a project?  Anyone want
them?"

In which the people of Arlington attempt to save the world...or at least one cat.

The people of Arlington are very loving. As long as the subject is not the width of Mass Ave, dogs off leash, cyclists who do not obey traffic rules, the town horn, overrides, MCAS tests or the best place to get Chinese food, the people of A town will always come to the rescue. They especially seem to love rescuing creatures which do not actually need rescuing.

Today this came over the list:

"My wonderful neighbors, the Sisters of St. Anne, need some help.  A black cat ran up a tree sometime in the night and now is so high that he cannot get down.  The poor cat is howling and shaking.  Plus it is freezing out!  The Sisters have tried to coax him down with food but he is just too scared.  They called 911 to ask the fire dept for their help but they were firmly told by the dispatcher "we do not do that type of thing."  I thought maybe for the Sisters they could make an exception, but no.

So, does anyone own a black cat with green eyes - mostly likely from somewhere in the Hillside, Claremont, Appleton area.   The cat is in a tree behind the chapel on the Germaine Lawrence property.  We think maybe the owner might be able to lure it down.  If not, who should we call next?  MSPCA?

Thanks for any help -"
NAME REDACTED

The people of Arlington sprang into action!

There were many helpful suggestions.

"Any contractor should have a 30 ft ladder. Then it is probably a matter of 2 men, good samaritans, to get the cat down. Any one out there fitting this description?"

"Is there a tree service nearby with a crane to get it down?"

"Has anyone tried running a can opener? This has always been an 
attention getter for my pets."
 
People became more panicked.


"Update on the cat - we have called the mspca, animal control, Boston animal rescue league and now the Arl Fire Dept twice!  AFD keeps saying they do not do this type of thing. we have left messages everywhere else.

we are very concerned this cat is going to die of hypothermia. the nuns are very upset. they do not have the money to pay for a tree company. does anyone have any other ideas.

the cat is all black, long haired, green eyes. it is about 30 feet straight up - very easy to get with a large ladder.

fingers crossed for a rescue!"


One Lister could not help getting a little barb in there. Get it? Barb? Never mind. Carry on.

"Good Samaritans indeed as they'd likely want to wear a suit of armor to avoid getting torn apart by the cat.

Another good reason to keep these 'bred to be indoors' cats inside."

Somehow, without the firefighters, the MSPCA and Animal Control, the cat started working his way down.

"My husband just reported back that the cat has come down a bunch, so
he is now bringing one of our ladders over there, which will hopefully be
tall enough."

A voice of reason!

"Thanks. Keep us posted. The other thing we should keep in mind is that cats almost always make their way down eventually. If the cat has already made progress, my guess is that it will get all the way down soon."

I don't know this lady, but she can't possibly be from Arlington.

"Everyone just needs to chill a little bit. Put a dish of food at the bottom of the tree - open the can outside so the cat can see (you don't need can openers anymore to open cat food). Wait a couple hours and it will probably come down on its own. It will never come down if there are a bunch if people making a commotion and staring up at it. Despite some people's concerns, cats are adapted to withstanding much colder temps than we are. They can withstand long periods in the cold (my cat is actually outside right now rolling around in a sunbeam and hanging out in the yard - she shows no interest in wanting to come in). More humans have died or gotten seriously injured from falling from high ladders than cats have gotten stuck permanently or died from being in a tree. It will come down when it's hungry. If its still there tomorrow, then try the ladder - but be careful."

Finally the cat did what most cold and hungry cats did. It came down.

"My husband just stopped back to check on the cat
and retrieve his ladder and just called me to report that the cat is down
from the tree -- yay!  Maybe he just got tired of all the humans making
such a fuss down on the ground he decided to get the heck out of there.
Anyway, hopefully he's found his way home.

Thanks for alerting us all to this, NAME REDACTED."

But then we learned something new! A cat ninja coaxed the cat down!

"The cat is down!  Larry went back to retrieve his ladder and saw that the
cat was no longer in the tree.  He met one of the nuns who showed him the
cat --- they have him safe and sound in the convent.  Apparently we have a
'cat whisperer' in town who stopped by and coaxed the little guy down with
his gentle technique.  No idea who he is ... like our own Zorro!  Came by
to do a good deed and quietly left without any fuss. The cat is now safe and sound
with the nuns.  It's a beautiful long-haired black cat, if anyone knows
someone who is missing one."

Next came the inevitable suggestion that the media be alerted to the fact that a cat was stuck in a tree and then came down.


"Now this would be a nice story for the Advocate. Arlington is a great town!
Anyone have any influence?"

Then came the jokes. This is the part I like.


"None of this would have even occurred if the town didn't insist on narrowing
Mass. Ave.

(Sorry)"

"That off-leash cat was probably spooked by a bicycle riding on the sidewalk."


"Nope, I think the town horn drove him up the tree."


"Amen! Not to mention the presences of bicyclists in Arlington Heights. We won't mention unleashed dogs ..."



There you have it. There were about fifty posts in total on the subject of a stray cat stuck in a tree. 

NAME NOT REDACTED!!!

 Sometimes people are not grateful when they are given wonderful gifts.


"Dear Arlington List,

A very dear friend just moved out of Arlington, leaving me with nothing but a broken heart... and no less than SEVEN bottles of Holloway House Quick Shine floor finish. Who knows what the heck possessed her to buy so much; obviously she liked her floors really, really shiny. It actually does work very well, covers scratches, makes damaged floors look nice and new, doesn't have hazardous fumes or a noxious odor. The bottle is made from 25% post consumer recycled plastic, and the it claims they were "recognized for Safer Chemistry" by the EPA. Anyway, I have no place to put the stuff, and I already had two unused bottles of my own, bought on her glowing (get it?) recommendation. She loved the Arlington List, and I know she would be thrilled to know it had been passed on in this way.

Let me know if you're interested and I will leave it on my porch.

Cheers,


Amy"

ADDENDUM:

"Dear Arlington List,

Actually, now that I look at them, one of the bottles of Quick Shine is half empty. So make that 6 1/2 bottles.

Still up for grabs!

Amy"

OMG more free used bags!

"I have a collection of newspaper bags to give away as well.

Pickup near Dallin School.

Please let me know when you can pick up.

Thanks,"

NAME REDACTED

Used plastic bags!

"Another "bag of bags" for picking up after your pooch. Newspaper bags, bread bags, etc. - all clean.

Please tell me when you can pick up.

Thanks,"
NAME REDACTED

Will trade thread for thread!

"I have two new spools of Coats & Clark machine embroidery thread, one
white, one black. The black spool does not have a label, but the white
specifies 1100 yds., 40 wt., 100% Trilobal Polyester.

I would like to trade both spools for one full, large spool of standard
black thread.

Please reply off list. Thank you."


NAME REDACTED

OMG free staples!!!!

"Hi neighbors - I found a box of staples that I will likely never finish in this lifetime and it's nearly full. I'll pull out a row or two for me and then it's yours if you reply offlist and are the first to claim them!"
NAME REDACTED

Just answer the question!

Sometimes the people of Arlington use the list in a nice neighborly way.

"I know so many of you are superb cooks - and my husband loves pot pie - could use a really delicious recipe for turkey pot pie....."

Isn't that nice? Just asking for a recipe. The people of Arlington cannot stand to answer the request with just a recipe.

"i don't cook pot pies but we like them. if you want to try some very
good ones, check out seven acres turkey farm in north reading. they
don't even seem to have their own web site as it is a very local and
single family operation. they sell turkeys, pot pies, eggs, smoked meat,
and other related things. some jams, maple syrup and a few other
products. when we get there we usually buy 3-4 frozen pot pies to stock
up. very tasty, large chunks of meat (all white or mixed pies), no
veggies and a great whole wheat crust. i made some peas and carrots the
last time i cooked one which made for a nice side.


call them to get info on what they have in stock. they have no employees
so even when you go to the store in the back, you may be waiting for
someone to answer the bell for service. good folks and worth supporting
local farms like this.


http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=1583
http://local.yahoo.com/info-10104698-seven-acres-farm-north-reading"

NAME REDACTED

Yes, you should drive forty minutes to a farm stand which may or may not have the turkey pot pies in stock and which may or may not actually have employees available to sell them to you. So. Helpful.