NOT PANICKING

Okay... things seemed bad when it seemed Bear Stearns was going to collapse and everyone helicoptered in to "rescue" the firm from financial ruin, but a run still happened and, of course, their stock took a beating.

Then a bank run on IndyMac created a huge panic for customers, investors, and the fed. (Apparently, the FDIC won't insure amounts above $100,000. Not necessarily an issue or concern for us at present, but definitely good to know.) So now we may be "re-entering" a recession. Funny... I didn't realize we had left it.

Today I heard the unemployment numbers for June are the lowest they've been since 1993... yes, 1993. And the May to June jump was the highest it's been since 1986. Yes... '86.

Andy informs me there hasn't been a run on any banks in America since the 1930s. So. All that rose-colored smoke that's been blown up everyone's butts for the past year or so... thankfully, it's been de-hued a bit. I really don't like being told everything is okay when it clearly is not, and I do feel we've heard the "everything is alright" message quite a bit.

But, rather than be angry or bitter or panicky or conspiracy-theory-ish, I will attempt instead to be proactive. Productive and hopeful, even.

So... let's see. Ten things I can do in the next two months in an attempt to work positively and constructively for myself and others amidst a difficult and troubling climate:

1. Start a garden. Even better... try to collaborate with our local Boys & Girls Club down the street to see see if there's a way to establish a community garden that the kids can plan and maintain.
2. Compost. This not only helps in terms of cutting down on the amount of trash we, as a family, generate, but will also come in quite handy if the garden does indeed become a reality.
   
3. Stop eating out. It's the biggest money-suck Andy and I are guilty of. We get up at 5:30am most mornings and hit the ground running. By the end of the day, we're both eager to let someone else do the cooking. But I think saving money right now is a good idea. (Every little bit helps.)
4. Use less air conditioning; think about alternative heating ideas for the winter. The thermostat is currently set to 76. I just moved it to 78. (Again, they say every little bit helps.)
5. Check into insulation options for the house. It's old and leaks heat and cooling like a sieve with a very large hole in it. Even constructing some internal storm windows for winter will be a big help.
6. Follow the budget. This is related to #2, but goes more toward changing our mindsets from spendy to thrifty... just in case that extra cash is need later on (like when gas is $5.25 and I'm driving to Murphysboro everyday!).
7. See what we can donate to local shelters and community resources. We have lots of stuff we don't need that might be of use to others. If someone else is able to use what we have without buying something new, we've helped them save some money too - without creating more waste.
   
8. Drive less. We live close to a lot of things (including a grocery store) that are within easy walking distance, and we could also bike to our farmers' market each week. Not only does it help the pocketbooks, it also helps the enviro too. Win-win.
9. See if I can create or consult with someone to offer a program during my internship next semester... something aimed at high school students or even their parents. Teaching kids about mortgages, credit cards, investment options, and tips for saving money and energy at home might be helpful info or at least come in handy one day.
   
10. Pray. Meditate. Stay positive. Envision a successful resolution to the current crisis and try to be actively involved in moving it from thought, to word, to action. (May sound silly to some of you, but I really do believe in the power of intention.)

Unrelated S&J (two-for-one special)

"S"
Why in the world are people still reporting media stories using language like, "We may be in a recession"?

With unemployment rising another .5%, the dollar dropping in value all around the world, gas and energy prices rising, foreclosures continuing to effect individuals and families at multiple socioeconomic levels, multiple companies shutting down factories or closing down offices leading to hundreds of thousands of layoffs, and people looking for work and finding none in nearly every industry imaginable: WE ARE IN A RECESSION PEOPLE.

Instead of blithely pretending it isn't so, or trying to persuade the American public to forgo panic and remain hopeful that such an ecomonic categorization is as-of-yet unconfirmed, why not just be upfront about it and start looking at ways we can make things better for the millions of Americans who are truly struggling?

Intentional ignorance is helping no one, and pretending as if it might actually be debatable or some kind of collective cultural myth is ultimately pretty insulting.

Forgive the soapbox, but consider it a kind of angry sorrow.

"J"
We bought a Snoopy Sno Cone Maker from our local toy store for Ariana in a fit of nostalgic glee, believing her love of ice and the inclusion of a sweet, syrupy topping would make it an indisputable hit with our ice-chip-loving daughter.

Hoping to spring it on her at just the right moment, we had hidden it away in the closet of Andy's office. Tonight seemed perfect: Ari was hyped up on Benedryl for a weird rash on her legs, has not been getting enough sleep, and was generally feeling grumpy and unpleasable.

So... Andy opened it up, cleaned every part, set it all up, and prepped her for what to expect... ice! With grape flavor! Yummy!

I had not remembered that the special syrup for the sno cone maker is actually a kool-aid knockoff. You make 2 quarts of it, put it in the little snowman squirty guy, and voila: flavored sno cone.

Here's the nice part: Ari hated it. She didn't like the grape stuff and kept saying, "pleh" - which essentially means it tastes yucky and she wants no more. We don't give her sugary drinks, she's never had caffeine of any kind, and we try to stay away from anything too chemical-y where she's concerned.

So... our little girl tasted this stuff, from which she has been shielded thus far (stuff Andy and I both grew up on and drank like some sort of kiddie ambrosia), and she detested it. Pleh, Daddy. Pleh, Mommy.

Which made me feel very happy.