budding environmentalist

Trike rides around our neighborhood (and walks, trips to the store, etc.) have turned into community cleanup & recycling campaigns. I remember how this started. Last summer, before Milo really could even pedal his trike, we went around the block and Milo asked why there was so much trash on the ground. I told him that many people are lazy and inconsiderate, and it doesn't look like the city has enough trash/recycling receptacles for people to use. He replied, "Oh, oh...I have a basket," and so it began. Wonderful, right? Well, I must say that it takes a looooong time to go anywhere on that trike when every time Milo sees a piece of garbage he points, says "trash, trash," brakes, gets off the trike, picks up the piece of garbage, inspects it, asks "why do people throw trash on the ground," puts it in his basket, and waits for me to answer. When I give him the standard, "people are lazy and inconsiderate and it doesn't look like anyone's coming around to pick this stuff up," he says, "oh, oh, I'll pick it up...I have a basket," and off we go to the next piece of trash. In our neighborhood, that means 10 or 15 feet. What is one to do? I can't discourage this, but it's getting out of hand. I thought we had worked out an unspoken compromise: we can stop and pick up as many pieces of garbage that will fit in his basket, but now he's altered our route to incorporate stops at every dumpster and trash can in the area. Today, I think we emptied 9 baskets full:



In all seriousness, though, I am really happy to see him take such a an interest in keeping our environment clean and as long as he doesn't disagree too loudly when I declare certain items off-limits, I'm all for supporting his cause. Besides, it's hilarious to hear him bust out with statements/questions like, "oh, oh, rubber glove...you pick that one up; it's gross," or "where are all these people's mommies," or "don't these people have trash cans?" A little bit of trivia for you all...the most frequently littered item in our neighborhood: airplane-sized liquor bottles (the size they use on airplanes, not bottles the size of airplanes...cause that just might be ridiculous). The budding environmentalist at work:



Garbage or recycling?:



Before our biweekly (the two times/week version, not the every other week one) trike ride/community cleanup, we spent some time playing in the back yard with Mom, Esme, and Zelda. Pics:



While Esme rolled around on the ground laughing:




...Milo mobilized of portion of his fleet:


and played ball with me and Jill:





He shoots as if I've been teaching him how to play basketball (I haven't):



As I nursed my injured toe (from kicking the ground as I tried to kick the ball "high to the sky"), Milo drove around his Sprig Toys Discover Rig that he bought on a super, going-out-of-business sale with his b-day money from his grandparents. It's pretty cool...battery-free, kid powered lights and sounds...100% recycled bio-composite material...not quite the adventure rig I want...but hey, he's only 3:



Oh...speaking of me: in case you haven't heard/read, I will be riding again in this year's tri-state trek to raise awareness and money to help find a cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Please follow my training at bikemeback, become a fan of my facebook page, donate and become a part of my ride, and/or pick up one of doodleandhoob's cool prints (proceeds to support my ride: 2008 version - 2009 version).

Ride safely and stop to pick up some trash!