Accidental Trendsetter

I was listening to NPR yesterday (it's so annoying to hear that isn't it?) on my way home from Goshen and "Talk of the Nation" was dealing with the new trend of being recession savvy. The terms being bandied about were "recession chic" and "recessionista." Leave it to our country to turn something bad, like the current economy, into a trendy bandwagon to jump on.

The show was sparked by an article by Kelly Marages of the Washington Post entitled, "I'm Not Buying Recession Chic." She begins the article talking about how people who brown-bagged their lunch in corporate America were, until recently, considered weird and dowdy. And now, "these days, it's precisely parading that plastic container around the office at midday that shows that you're resourceful, that you're rolling with the times, that you're cool in a do-it-yourself recession-y kind of way." Oh dear.

Topics of the conversation included how all the morning talk shows are jumping on this theme and providing ideas on their shows for saving money in this economic wilderness. For instance, people have been stunned that they can rewash plastic bags and reuse them. Imagine that. Or that they can *gasp* cook at home. Lay-away has now come back into vogue. The guests on the show yesterday made a point of saying that those that need to be frugal with their money, and that always have, ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF AND DO IT! The wealthy now love to talk about how they are making changes because of the dreadful economy. High end restaurants are now offering $150 tasting plates, down from the usual $300. Many argued that it is precisely the wealthy who need to be spending money right now. It is their job to fuel the economy. I don't know if I completely agree, but if their motivation is to be "recession chic" and not responsible, then they should probably go ahead and keep spending.

And then it occurred to me. Oh my word. I accidentally became a "recessionista" without knowing it. The "Great February Dine-In" could be interpreted as me becoming "recession chic." Oh geez!

I'm sorry economy! I can't help you right now. I understand you're going through a rough time but I'm not wealthy and I've been dining out as if I am. You are on your own. I'm not leaving you hanging like this to be "cool." It's merely coincidence that my analysis of personal finances coincides with this new, and very strange, trend. Please don't hold it against me. I'll try to help you in other ways.

Maybe though, it is all the talk of the economy that scared me into taking a closer look at our spending. If it is, isn't that a good thing? I don't know. But I hope that all of you don't take me as trying to be "recession chic." I'm just not really chic at all.



P.S. I will not be washing out plastic bags and reusing them. They never dry and they always seem greasy no matter what. I decided long ago (after my mother washed and reused every plastic bag that came across her path) that I simply must draw the line there. Ha! Take that recessionistas!

Top O' The Mornin' To Ya!

I loves me some St. Patrick's Day! I don't know what my deal is with embracing these holidays that were not celebrated in my childhood home but St. Patrick's Day and Halloween are two of my favorites. I think the monotony of our lives needs to be broken up by little bits of festivity. So I'm happy to have reasons from many traditions to whoop it up a little.

So throw off your Lenten melancholy - it's time for celebration. (Evidently in Ireland Lent was traditionally suspended on St. Patrick's day.) So, if you gave up chocolate for Lent go ahead and have some chocolate today. Throw back a pint of a green beverage, dance to some Irish jigs, cook up some corned beef and cabbage, find a blarney stone to kiss, and find the Irish in you!

I decided this year for MYF (youth group) we should have a St. Patty's day shindig. Which was all good and fine until I realized I needed some party activities. Not only that, I need party fun that doesn't involve alcohol which seems to be a heavy theme in most of the online research I've done for party ideas. Prizes? Give 'em a pint of Guinness. Missed pinning the shamrock on the leprechaun? Take a wee nip o' the whisky as punishment. Hmmm. So I'm working on some ideas that teenagers won't think are lame. Well, they'll probably be a little lame but I hope every one's a good sport.

The party isn't until tomorrow so if you have great ideas or games you've enjoyed at other St. Patty's Day gatherings, I'd love to hear them. Really. I leave you with this Irish blessing:

May those who love us, love us.
And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he can not turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we may know them by their limping.

Oh What a Tangled Web we Weave

On Friday at 6:00 p.m. the great "Dine-In" officially ended for me. Heather and I have season tickets to the Morris Performing Arts Center and Friday night "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" was on the slate. (The musical by the way, is HILARIOUS and uproariously good! We didn't know a thing about it when we went and we absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend it. It even included a guest appearance by Gordy Young, our dreamy local morning news anchor. Alright, I wouldn't say he's dreamy.) Our tradition is to enjoy a most excellent dinner at Trio's, which is steps away from the Morris, before the show. It was the best way to end my dine-in. They have such delicious food and it is always so good to catch up with Heather. This is what I want dining out to always be like!


Heather and I vacation together each year and so one topic over dinner was this year's plans. We have dates set but no destination. We're sort of running out of ideas. We've done the Alamo, a dude ranch, California in a convertible, and a women's heritage trip to name a few. But we'd sort of like to branch out and head out of the states. But the dilemma is always this: I can't financially tap out our family resources on trips that Brian won't be a part of. He's very gracious in accepting the need for Heather and I to spend this time together but his rule has been that we can't go somewhere that he wants to go. And I don't feel like, regarding these vacations, I have to ask Brian's permission, but I definitely want to be considerate and respectful of my partner. So, my challenge is to find vacations that are interesting and delightful while being the most reasonable in cost possible. (I guess that's sorta the goal with any vacation I plan really.) So maybe the better way to say it is: I'm looking for a super-awesome vacation for CHEAP...that doesn't interest Brian!

In researching vacations destinations I discovered some very good prices to both Costa Rica and London. Heather was definitely interested in Costa Rica but when I mentioned London it was very clear what her preference was. It would appear that she dreams of eating fish and chips in foggy London Town. Now, normally I would never consider suggesting to Brian that Heather and I go to Europe, namely because he had never been and it just wouldn't be fair. But he's currently gadding about in the Netherlands and I have a trip planned for us to Italy in September. And the prices to London are SO GOOD! I figured if there was ever a chance to push this through this would be the year. So Heather and I concocted a plan. Make London sound like a place that Brian would not want to visit. We came up with lots of ideas (some are clearly stereotypes picked up from watching the "Austin Powers" movies - my apologies to the British).

• London shouldn't even really be considered visiting Europe. They speak the same language as us and share a similar culture. It's basically like staying in the states.
• It's foggy and rains all the time. It's pretty much just as gross as Indiana - if not more.
• Their food is notoriously bland we'll be eating nothing but fish and chips the whole time and maybe some sort of horrible sausage and porridge.
• Brian doesn't even like cities. London is probably just like New York - only dirtier. (He hates even the thought of visiting New York City.)
• The British have bad teeth. Ugh. Who wants to look at that for a week.
• They're celebrity obsessed over there. It's so unbecoming.
• There is that whole "Revolutionary War" thing that nobody's ever really gotten over.
• And talk about snooty! We'll probably be treated with great disdain and loathing the whole time we're there.
• We'll be forced to drink copious amounts of tea. It may interfere with our digestive systems.
• The double decker buses are completely ridiculous. I mean, who really wants to ride around in one of those silly looking contraptions?
• And lastly, the Queen and Prince Charles and Lady Camilla and Princess Di - and David Beckham - Are you kidding me? Who wants to be in such a drama filled land?

So, I coyly began broaching the subject, planting the subtle seeds of London being utterly dreadful, with my dear husband...who immediately and thoroughly saw through my scheme. He asked, "So what, did you and Heather come up with this little plan together?" I immediately became indignant and denied, denied, denied. He threatened to call her. I told him that it is tax season and she (a CPA) will always be at work.

Brian jumped to the next logical reaction, which for some silly reason, I hadn't seen coming. He posed the question, "if London is so awful than why would you and Heather want to go there?" Dang it! We hadn't planned a response to that one.

In panic, I immediately threw Heather under the bus. She is fiercely independent and incredible, and in no way is she or our friendship a burden to me but I had to do what I had to do. I replied, "I don't really want to go London. It's more that Heather really wants to. It doesn't sound that appealing to me at all. But she really wants to go to Europe and she doesn't have anyone to go with. And isn't it sad?" etc...etc...etc... I'm afraid Brian might have seen through this scenario as well. He really has me figured out, I guess I've lost my air of mystery to him.

No decisions were forthcoming. We'll see what his mood is after visiting the Netherlands with all its easily accessible debauchery.

(And before you go thinking I routinely try to deceive my wonderful husband, know that most of the above conversation was done in a fun, good-humored manor, in which smiles and laughter abounded.) I'll keep everyone posted on the Womyn's Vacation 2009.

And for your enjoyment - a video clip taken from "Spelling Bee" if you're interested in seeing what it's like.

One is the Lonliest Number

Yesterday Brian left for the Netherlands on a work-related trip to visit Da-Lite's sister company, Projecta. He was scheduled to spend today in Amsterdam being a tourist and then hopping on a train on Monday to Weert to visit Projecta. I'm so happy for him that he's going to experience Europe and a different culture. (Never mind that I booked a trip to Italy just two weeks prior to finding out about this trip so that Brian could experience Europe and then he goes and takes off for the Netherlands.)

I dropped him off at Da-Lite yesterday at 4:00 p.m. and on the way home I had this wonderful feeling come over me. A feeling of total freedom for five days, of completely selfish "Lisa" time. Ahhhhhhh!

Immediately this feeling was followed by guilt and worry. What if by feeling happy about my vacation in solitude I cause his plane to crash and he dies? I only want five days alone, not a life-time. Is that so wrong? I'm sure I'll be really ready for him to come home at the end of that time and I immensely enjoy the time we spend together. But if his plane went down I was going to feel really bad. So, I was quite relieved to get his phone call this afternoon saying that he had arrived safely and was having a wonderful time. Phew!

So now I have begun enjoying my alone time. Knitting and surfing the net and cooking very little and keeping my house tidy and not sharing the bathroom on a Sunday morning and watching only what I want on TV. Bliss.

Somebody's Got My Number

I have been getting these delightful buttons in my church mailbox and they tickle me pink...and have me completely perplexed. I really can't imagine who is tucking these delightful pieces of flair into my church mailbox, especially since I attend a congregation that is, in general, a bit more conservative than I am. And because of that I generally try to keep my liberal and feminist ways under control but perhaps I'm more transparent than I realized. It's really fun to know that I have a sort of co-conspirator at church who, at least in part, shares my free spirit. In case my secret flair-giver is reading this, thank you for these little messages that make me smile.

The First Piece of Flair I Received

My Second Piece of Flair

The Most Recent Flair Received

Lisa - The Mystic

Recently Brian and I had the privilege of attending Winter Youth Retreat (formerly knows as "snow camp") at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan. The guest speaker and musician for the weekend was Jonathan Reuel (composer of "Waterfall," part of the group JRL, and just an AMAZING musician). It really fed my soul. The theme was finding our dreams during the different seasons of our lives. (And there were serious hippie under-tones present here, and I think we all know how I feel about that.) Jonathan had us briefly examine what we thought our personality types might be using the Meyers Briggs classifications. I predicted what I thought I might, maybe what I wanted to be, and it was interesting. Many simply couldn't believe that I am an introvert. Well, believe it folks.

Then this past Wednesday at MYF we all took an on-line version of the Meyers Briggs. I was wrong about what I thought I was. I am an INFJ. (If you would like to take this test click here.) Fascinating stuff. I immediately came home and googled my personality type. Wow! It turns out that I am a mystic. Most people with ESP or clairvoyant abilities are INFJ personalities. I was really excited to find out about my new abilities. My powers are still in their infancy and I want to be able to use them for good and not for evil, so I need to proceed with caution. But soon after finding this out, I was in the bathroom washing my face and getting ready for bed. I opened the bathroom door and called out to Brian that I was foreseeing that there would be a drink waiting for me in the living room when I got out. Brian came to the door, proclaimed me a dork, and went away. And what do you know? When I came out there was totally a drink waiting for me in the living room! My powers are potent.

Aside from finding out about my new abilities, it was a little unnerving to read my personality type. There were things there that I thought were my own particular quirks that in fact, typify my personality type. The descriptions pretty well had me pegged. I love academia, I hate conflict, I am drawn to clergy and music careers, etc... It's actually given me a lot of insight into who I am and areas for improvement. Mostly though, I think it helped me to see some areas I should feel more confident about, more of the ways I should embrace who I am.

In case you're curious, Brian is an ESTJ. He is a pillar. His personality type is called "The Supervisor." And guess what he is at work. That's right, a supervisor. We go very well together. We're also both Geminis...but I don't trust that personality description quite as much. So if you have some free time and would like to find out who you are, this is definitely some interesting stuff...

The Great February Dine-In

The Great February Dine-In went off without a hitch. I really expected it to be impossible or at the very least, mind-bogglingly difficult. It actually wasn't at all. Just goes to show if I look at something as a challenge and stick a catchy name on it I can make it happen. Currently it is March 9 and I have not dined out since February 1.

The weird thing is, not only was it not difficult...it was easy and sort of transformational. I figured it was going to be a huge challenge and so to set myself up for success, I planned ahead. I came up with a list of menu options and then went grocery shopping to supply the items for most of the items on my list. The fact that I had ideas seems to be what made the difference. I feel so much more relaxed and in control of my schedule. Even though I have been cooking a whole bunch more...I feel less rushed and stressed. It has been so strange. Really, really strange.

And here is the real kicker. I sat down last weekend to crunch some numbers. I knew what Brian and I had spent in January on dining-out and that the number for February would be, well, zero. However I fully expected to have increased my spending on groceries from January to February to compensate for the lack of meals spent dining-out. But that was not the case. In fact I spent $110 less on groceries in February. That BLOWS MY MIND! The key here seems to be the advanced planning. Even when I was cooking in past months I was coming up with something to prepare and then sending my faithful husband to the store for me because I didn't have everything I needed. Each of those trips cost between $17 and $35. Simply not running to the store all the time is a cure for overspending. (Especially if said faithful husband picks up a few extra things every time he runs to the store...primarily pork. He has an irresistible urge to buy pork.)

So now, I find that I am turning into my mother: going to the store for staples and staples only, no funny-business. Brian is not enjoying this new grocery shopping personality I have embraced. He accused me at the grocery store of always getting to buy luxury items that I want but not any of his luxury items. He whined when we didn't go down the snack aisle. I said we didn't need snacks. Then later, standing by the sandwich meats, flipping through coupons, I casually mentioned that we had a coupon for Doritos. Brian immediately, and with all the seriousness of a military Sergeant, proclaimed, "I'm on it," and darted off to the snack aisle before I could even blink. I guess I'll have to find a happy medium in this new endeavor of mine. And while the "Great Dine-In" is officially over, I feel like I learned a lot, changed my perspective, and gained so much more than money.