It’s not the first time I’ve found a new vacuum in the garbage or at the curb, it’s just the first time it was so new that the box was thrown in with it. Ever since leaving my cushy job last year as an overworked and underpaid branch library manager for the Santa Fe Public Library System (yes, it’s wonderful to visit, but try to earn a living there), I’ve been the maintenance man for my family’s industrial business park. It’s modest in size so don’t get to outraged… and I live in a 34 foot travel trailer with my grown son. At any rate, I digress.
As a few of you have noticed, the oil patch is in the tank and as with anybody who has lived through Texas’ numerous booms and busts, bust means an exodus, hopefully where they paid their last month’s rent. Tales of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, etc., etc., etc. busts ring the same. My cousins’ recall whole neighborhoods vacating overnight, leaving loads of abandoned homes and possessions behind. Vehicles weren’t left because they needed to haul a few things but, overnight ghost towns were created and local economies trying to sort out the wreckage. Such is the cycle of Oil Patch Boom and Bust. Local city and county fathers, as well as State authorities bend over backwards for “the jobs”. But, the good paying jobs are only a function of the “drilling phase”. Once a field has matured to “production”, its left to a few, lower payed maintenance personnel and that’s that.
Which brings me to my dumpster find: a brand new Shark vacuum that was completely clogged to non-sucking ability (cat dander, hair and the like for those that like to be grossed out). It’s not the first time I’ve found such a vacuum, but it was the first time I found one and the box it came in as well. Think I can clean it up, re-box it and return it to Walmart for a credit? Anybody know the difference between bag and bag-less? Well, for me, I’ll never buy a bag-less again. 3-4-5 Hepa filters and having to clean them and the bin too! Screw that crap! An old Hoover bag vacuum works just fine. If you happen to think you accidentally sucked up the kid’s Legos… okay. Maybe your wife’s ring or ear ring, you might have to cut open the bag. Still, ALOT less BS than the bag-less variety.
I’m sorry to see the Oil Patch guys go. They worked to recycle fracking fluid and were doing a good job at it until the big boys like Haliburton would come in and do it for free just to kill the competition. By the way, we still need “fossil fuel” extraction, unless you can figure out another method of lubrication on a grand scale… also Air Travel. Think about it and Take care!