Later, Snow Guy

WHEN: December 2009
WHERE: Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh
This snowman was dumped with a mess of other trash, headed for the landfill, even if he is trying to hide behind the telephone pole.

A Bridge Too Far

WHERE: Smithfield Bridge, Downtown Pittburgh
WHEN: November 2009
I'm at a loss to describe this -- a baby frog? some random green creature in shorts? Also, what's with the ABC on its shirt? One thing for sure: A pile of dead leaves on the bridge is no place to call home.

Street of Shame

WHEN: December 2009
WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh
PHOTO: Mac H. in Pittsburgh
Was it a hard-partying night that left this bear face down and ass up in the snowy street?

The Housing Crisis Cuts Deep

WHEN: November 2009
WHERE: Silicon Valley, Calif.
PHOTO: Lizzie in Calif.
LIzzie notes that with so many properties "underwater" in California, even the dolls are just walking away from homes.

Happy (Sad) Thankgiving

WHEN: December 2008
WHERE: South Side, Pittsburgh
The soggy remains of some kid's construction-paper turkey

Sidewalk Slumpin'

WHEN: November 2009
WHERE: Astoria, New York
PHOTO: Kim in NYC
Looks like another morning-after from the another night-before for this guy

Looking for Some Tail?

WHEN: November 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
There's a sad furry somewhere who's missing a clip-on tail. Grrrrrr.

Out of Bounds

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: Downtown, Pittsburgh
Steelers football wedged in window of shuttered restaurant.

Blue Blob at Bus Stop

WHEN: November 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
This guy was just hangin' out at the bus stop. He looks like he's been drinking.

Buggin'

WHEN: January 2009
WHERE: Bloomfield, Pittsburgh
The cold weather comes, and the insects die.

Fangs for Nothing

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh

When Halloween's over, these fancy teeth just get kicked to the curb. Sad.

Hey Boo!

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: South Side, Pittsburgh
ADDED PATHOS: Cigarette butts
The happiest, saddest ghost head.

Baby Help-Me-Up

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: East Liberty, Pittsburgh
Won't somebody help this naked baby?

Broken Arrow Alert

WHEN: October 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
In cheesy thrillers, a "broken arrow" is a lost nuke. Here, it's ... well ... just a broken arrow.

The Perils of Kewpie

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: Oakland, Calif.
PHOTO: Lizzie in Calif.
Lizzie writes: "This kewpie doll was in Oakland, obviously in danger. I felt so sorry for it that I picked it up and now it's living on my windowsill with a lot of other toys. A happy ending!"

Today's Post Is Brought to You By ...

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Point Breeze, Pittsburgh
PHOTO: Jill in Pittsburgh
... the letter "M."

Your Ride Is Over

WHEN: August 2009
WHERE: Homestead, Pa.
It's official: The reign of mini-vans is no more; park these babies out by the garbage.

Boo Hoo Boohbah

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
PHOTO: Lydia in Pittsburgh
Dumped on the curb, outside the Ronald McDonald House.

Go, Puppy, Go

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh

I like how it looks like this dog is running, but, in fact, he's not getting anywhere except under the wheels of another car.

Please Curb Your Dog

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: Santa Clara, Calif.
PHOTO: Lizzie F. in Calif.
Uh ... looks like we're gonna need a bigger trash can. Love the crazy pink color, the placid suburban background. Woof!

Bye Bye Bunny

WHEN: September 2009

WHERE: Ravenswood, Chicago

PHOTO: Jane in Chicago
Dumped, but this bunny is going out on his own terms. The body language says: Chillin', all cool.

Make Mine a Redhead

WHEN: September 2009

WHERE: Uptown, Pittsburgh

I saw this from the bus, and hopped off. You can't miss a flaming redhead plopped down on the sidewalk. (Two hours later, thousands of anti-globalists and riot cops came down stomping this very block. It's likely something very terrible happened to Red.)

Rock This Town ... or Not

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: Strip District, Pittsburgh
Another promising musical career abandoned.

Urban Farming

WHEN: December 2008

WHERE: Homestead, PA

A tough row to hoe.

If I Had a Hammer ...

WHEN: June 2009
WHERE: Bloomfield, Pittsburgh
... or at least part of a toy hammer ...

Suck on This

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: North Side, Pittsburgh
Never mind that this is lying on the ground ... who would design a pacifier to make a baby look like it's sucking the brains out of the back of a cat's head?

The Dress Still Looks Great

WHEN: September 2009
WHERE: beach at New Rochelle, NY
PHOTO: Rose in NY
I dunno if this gal washed in from the French Revolution or what, but this is pretty tragic.

America's New Frontline

WHEN: August 2009
WHERE: Kohl's, North Hills, Pittsburgh
PHOTO: Jill in Pittsburgh
Keeping our discount department store restrooms safe from freedom-haters.

Seven Days of Balls: No. 7 Cycle Ball

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: South Side, Pittsburgh

Seven Days of Balls: No. 6 Baseball

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Today, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to lock up one of the greatest records in all of professional sports: most consectutive losing seasons (17). To show support, I offer this busted baseball.

Seven Days of Balls: No. 5 Golf Ball

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: Strip District, Pittsburgh

A classy ball and a classy car on a not-so-classy alleyway

Seven Days of Balls: No. 4 Mickey Ball

WHEN: January 2009
WHERE: Bloomfield, Pittsburgh

Seven Days of Balls: No. 3 Basketball

WHEN: June 2009
WHERE: Braddock, Pa.
PHOTO: Gisele in Braddock

Seven Days of Balls: No. 2 Eight Ball

WHEN: March 2009
WHERE: Garfield, Pittsburgh

Seven Days of Balls: No. 1 Thunderball

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Balls on the loose are the most commonly seen sad toy. This mini-series highlights a variety of forlorn orbs.

Shrek Dreck

WHEN: August 2009
WHERE: Shadyside, Pittsburgh
Here's a much-marketed green guy who's overstayed his welcome. Now, blow away.

Every Dog Has Its Day

WHEN: November 2008

WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh
I found this 1950s ceramic poodle planter lying in a trash heap in an alley. Cleaned it up, and found it a new forever home.

Wheels Up

WHEN: August 2009
WHERE: Homestead, PA
Another in the trash-for-clunkers series.

Ball of Confusion

WHEN: August 2009
WHERE: Homestead, PA
As far as I can tell, this is a brown tennis ball that's sprouted a huge two-tone Davy Crockett tail.

Monkey Business

WHEN: August 2009

WHERE: Friendship, Pittsburgh

This little guy needs to do a better job of blending into the jungle.

Mini-Series: National Park Tragedies No. 3

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
A tennis ball far from home but the wildflowers are pretty companions.

Mini-Series: National Park Tragedies #2

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: Camp Mather, Yosemite National Park, Calif.

PHOTO: Candi in San Francisco

Candi sez: "What freakish wave washed this tiny boat ashore ... under the mighty pines of Yosemite?"

Mini-Series: National Park Tragedies #1

WHEN: July 2009

WHERE: Yoho National Park, British Columbia

This rather pathetic plastic sandbox rake definitely gets a boost from the scenery: Takakkaw Falls, Canada's second highest waterfall.

Moose, No Longer Loose

WHEN: July 2009
WHERE: East Village, Manhattan
PHOTO: Andrew N. in NYC
With dog, Henry Hudson, this almost looks like one of those fancy old paintings -- the hound and the giant creature he's just nobly brought down. However, Mr. Hudson simply came across this downed moose on the sidewalk.

Disposable Razor

WHEN: November 2008
WHERE: Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Remember the frenzy when everybody just HAD to have one of these Razor scooters? Well, it's over.