Salon has a new feature called Pinched: Tales From An Economic Downturn, and the first essay is an account from a single mom who takes her children to a soup kitchen. The mother in the essay had a full-time job. But with three kids in the state minimum in child support, she just didn't have enough money for food. But even when you don't have trouble putting food on the table, you can still feel amazed and dismayed by the way your obligations as a mother turn you into someone needy. Every mother has had soup kitchen moments, those low and vulnerable times where you ask, "Has it really come to this?"
I was listening to NPR yesterday when I heard about Maryland's move to reduce electricity use by 15 percent over the next few years. The NPR reporter listed a few ways to conserve electricity, which I'm already doing. But there were a few more suggestions that don't seem realistic, such as unplugging the TV when you aren't watching it...like I'm going to crawl around on my hands and knees behind furniture and fight my way through dust bunnies to remind myself what a crappy housekeeper I am every time I want to watch Weeds.
We're having our neighborhood garage sale this Saturday. A few months ago, I mentioned I knew someone in the neighborhood who had one every year. I was elected the contact person on the spot. My mouth gets me in trouble once again. I tried to warn them, "I've had one garage sale in my whole life and I only made $20. Are you sure I'm the right person for this job?". They were not swayed. I went to a few garage sales around town for research. Man, has it been a long time since I've shopped at one of these things.
Just wondering, what's the general opinion about kids and summer jobs? Is a 14er too young, should they be allowed to enjoy the care-free fun of summer days before becoming enslaved in the work-force like the rest of us? What about 16? If you drive, shouldn't you be paying for your own gas? I feel like I've had a job since I was 5.
