My internal compass usually works pretty well when it comes to the cardinal directions--north, south, east, and west. But throw in a diagonal street and you've lost me 70% of the time. I'm diagonally challenged.

Usually the disorientation means some extra miles on the odometer. But now it means that my bee-colored recyclables cart runneth over. Collection day was last week.

Of course I lost the directions that came with the cart immediately. Let's hope they made it into the bin for proper recycling. That shouldn't have been much of a hurdle: the directions are also at the source of all useful information, Wauwatosa.net. Once there, it should have been simple enough to go to the chart to figure out whether I am red or blue, A or B. 

"If your garbage is picked up TUESDAY and your home is located" (so far, so good) "North/South of Underwood Parkway. . ."

Pause. Where I live, Underwood Parkway runs north and south, more or less. I live EAST of the parkway. I tried to flip the map in my head diagonally, but apparently, I flipped in the wrong way and guessed I was a Red B. The truth is, I'm a Blue A. Apparently, the neighbors were confused, too. That, or they don't buy things in paper, plastic, or metal containers. In any event, their carts were nowhere in sight on the designated day, either.

When the 18th rolls around, I'll be ready, and so will all my "#1 through #7 plastic narrow neck bottles and wide mouth tubs. . ."

Plastics numbered 3 through 7 are new additions as of December 7th, when the website information was updated. So you may be hearing it here first.