Back on November 13, 2017, I was out walking Cloud and saw the above fire hydrant. Something about the Cup Noodles wedged on the side really tickled me. I took a photo and posted it on Facebook, just as a silly, “Look at what I saw” thing.
I captioned it: This made me laugh out loud on my recent walk with Cloud.
Fair enough.
Eight days later on November 21, 2017, I saw another Cup Noodles just flapping around the sidewalk. I posted the following:
Caption: Another entry into the “Cups of Anaheim” art series. Somewhere that Cup of Noodles’ mother’s back is broken.
And thus my path to the Cups of Anaheim, was born.
Please note: I understand this is a completely silly and slightly stupid thing I’ve started, but now, every time I see a freaking cup (and there are a LOT of discarded cups on the streets of Anaheim), I take a photo and post it to Facebook as part of the Cups of Anaheim series.
I take all these photos on my phone so the quality is what it is. Half the time, Cloud is actively trying to get right next to me as I kneel down to take the photo so, occasionally, his ears have wound up in several of the outtakes.
It wasn’t until I went to file them all together that I realized, since November 13, 2017, I’ve posted 18 entries into the Cups of Anaheim series. That’s so many more than I ever thought I’d do. I now even have people who send me images of their own finds of discarded cups from the cities they live in.
I’m not going to lie, I kind of love it.
Below, please find the remaining 16 entries into the Cups of Anaheim series, each with their original captions. I hope you enjoy this, or at least find it moderately amusing.
Because I’m probably going to keep compulsively doing it for the foreseeable future.
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11.25.2017
Caption:
The “Cups of Anaheim” series brings you: Iced Drink In A Plant.
Breathtaking.
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12.04.2017 (AM)
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim series brings you: McDonald’s Empty in the Shrubbery.
Beautiful.
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12.04.2017 (PM)
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim series has accepted a fringe entry: Juice Pouch Asunder.
We’re so pleased for its inclusion.
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12.11.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim series braces for winter with its latest entry: Polar Pop.
Festive (and street) as f*ck.
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12.12.2017
Caption:
Cups of Anaheim brings you: Balanced Breakfast.
Evocative.
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12.13.207
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim council is speechless; it’s the holy trinity of beverage receptacles. The light, the composition, the emotion.
May we all take a moment.
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12.16.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim would like to take a moment to reflect on the lifespan of a cup. Please take a moment to ponder a fallen plastic comrade.
Makes you think.
Also please recycle.
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12.18.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim is pleased with this entry titled “Friendship.”
Taco Bell and Capri Sun, living in harmony and sunshine.
Transcendent.
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12.19.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim presents you with Maruchan Instant Lunch.
The lunch is long gone but the leaf has taken residency where noodles once were.
Repurposed. The urban hermit crab.
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12.20.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim are overflowing with content lately! Please feast your gaze upon There’s No Substitute for Quality, a profound metaphor for the streets of our glorious city.
Well said, cup. Well said.
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12.29.2017
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim is back from a holiday hiatus to bring you this touching entry: Cups Spooning In Front Of An Actual Spoon.
Sometimes on those mean streets of Anaheim, cups have to stick together; literally. These two have sought refuge in each other, and the nearby spoon and straw only serve as reminders for each of us to spoon our loved ones and…use straws in our beverages.
Hold each other close, friends.
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01.04.2018
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim brings you: Oops.
Let this be a reminder to us all to exercise caution and safety where possible.
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01.06.2018
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim brings you: As A Pancake Unto You.
A reminder that we can all make ourselves less intrusive if necessary.
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01.11.2018
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim brings you Everybody Needs Somebody.
We all need a light in the dark; this lost soul needed one during the day.
Don’t judge. Please.
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01.15.2018
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim brings you: In-N-Out The Bottom.
A reminder that you can only shove things down for so long before they come out unexpectedly.
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01.23.2018
Caption:
The Cups of Anaheim would like to present a topical entry titled: My Heart is Dirty.
We’ve all been there; our heart empty and kicked around the dirt, forgotten like a piece of trash.
But, we get back up, rinse ourselves off, and start again, anew. It’s kind of beautiful.
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And there you have it. I also have at least six more in the can (so to speak) to post in the coming months. Not that it matters, but I seem to be compulsive about taking these photos, so there will assuredly be more in the future.
Cheers to wholesome, dumb things.
And, apparently, people’s displaced garbage and laziness.
Categories: musings
Rebekah Lang 
I like what you started here! And at the same time I’m thinking: why do people throw them out in the street?
I’m going to look to find them here in the Netherlands too. See if the people here aren’t littering as much!
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Aww, thank you! It’s a silly thing, but I can’t seem to stop.
Also, I wonder that, too. I think this city has an unusually high amount of street garbage, and we also live relatively close to a high school. I have seen lots of kids throw things around. But I’ve also seen lots of adults do it, too. It’s disheartening.
I’m guessing there in the Netherlands it’s a heck of a lot cleaner! Of course, I’ve never been there, so that’s just my preconceived notion!
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I will be your litter detective in the Netherlands, all right 😉👍🏻
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Aww, that’s adorable. A litter detective. :) We can patrol together! Only thousands of miles apart.
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