Actions speak louder than sitting there and thinking about them (part 2)

A few days ago, Ashley and I were driving to the bookstore, when I witnessed someone 2 cars ahead of me throw a large Taco Bell cup out their window onto the street. Infuriated, I honked my horn uselessly at the car in front of me. The silhouette of the person gestured as if to say, "what are you beeping at me for."

This certainly wasn't the first time I've witnessed someone brazenly litter in public. In fact, the last time this happened at a stop light, I recall writing in regret for not having given the person a piece of my mind (link). Well this time I got my chance, and I'll say it now, I'm not proud of how I handled myself.

The traffic ahead of me approached a set of lights, and sure enough, I found myself right behind the individual in question. He was probably about twenty years old, driving a silver PT Cruiser and wearing a flat-brimmed baseball hat sideways. The light was red, and my blood boiled as he dropped another wrapper out his window. Less than a second had passed, and I was already out the door, with an empty cup in my hands for demonstration purposes. I approached his window and unloaded on him.

"What the f--- dude?! You're not capable of throwing your trash away like everyone else?!"
"Dude, what?" He looked kind of scared.
"I said, why the f--- can't you throw your garbage in a trash barrel?! I live here, and here you are throwing your shit on my ground. How would you like it if I came over your place and used it as a dumpster? You can't f---ing wait until you stop your car to throw your shit in a trash barrel?!" I was gesturing angrily, and I could not stop swearing.
"Are you serious man." It felt like I was yelling at my kid.
"YES, I'm f---ing serious! Don't litter all over the place!"
There was a slight pause. I looked at his dumbfounded expression, as if to expect some enlightening response.
"Are you serious?"
"That's it?! Tell you what--", I held up my empty cup, "Why don't you try this. Get some practice."
I tossed it in his car. Now, I did it.
His eyes frowned, "Dude, seriously? You throw shit in my car? Are you serious? You throw--"
"Practice! F---ing PRAC-TICE!"

The traffic light was still miraculously red. This must have been the longest red light in New England. I headed back to my car, and realized as I sat down that I could feel the blood pumping through my veins. Clearly, not a single thought had passed through my "better-judgment" filter in the passed moments.

On the way out of Salem, I had the privilege of driving behind this piece of work, who proceeded to throw my cup, and yet another massive Taco Bell cup out his windows. I gained only a little satisfaction from noting that he got coke all over the side of his car, but mostly I felt disappointed in myself.

What kills me is I feel like there is absolutely no take home message from any of this. Doing what I did is probably the most counter-productive thing to do, and yet it felt better than just sitting there and letting it happen. But even still, I can't suggest any words or course of action that would inspire such a person to change their ways and, for once, put the environment first.

Published?! Boston vs. Yankees?!

After writing my last entry, I decided it would be a good idea to distill my thoughts on the current political situation and submit them to BostonNOW. Well, go figure, they published it in the paper today!

On the topic of good news, Tim called me at work yesterday and informed me that he managed to acquire Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets for April 13th. What's more, they were 30 bucks! Phone-ninja that he is, he called Red Sox Nation NINETY-NINE times before getting through and snagging 4 boletos for me, Ashley, Rae Beth, and himself. This makes 3 games that I've committed myself to this season, which is 3 more than I've ever seen in person. This is certainly a victory worthy of publication!