ChgoRed, Girl Editor

Newsstand, 7:30 A.M.

(ChgoRed sets bottle of mocha Frappuccino™ on the counter. Clerk is doing something on lottery machine.)

CR: I'll take this and two Illinois lottery tickets.

Clerk: For tomorrow's game?

CR: Yeah.

(Clerk pushes various buttons. Lottery machine chugs and chugs and chugs over bits of paper. ChgoRed starts to wonder if clerk misheard and is now ringing up 10 or even 20 lottery tickets. How much money is in her wallet again...?)

ChgoRed (slightly nervous): Heh heh. Guess I came at the wrong time, huh?

Clerk (nonchalantly): Nah. I'm just running the list for this one customer. She plays about $40 a day.

Object Lesson

On my mind this week, a quote from Gandhi. OK, not Gandhi; Nishkulanand Swami, quoted in Gandhi's autobiography. Still, on my mind.

"Renunciation of objects, without the renunciation of desires, is shortlived, however you may try."

Simple, but it fits right into aspects of my life--trying to eat better, trying to spend less money, etc. You can give up the Krispy Kreme, but until you give up the desire for Krispy Kreme, you're doomed to go get one eventually.

The Bride Wore Greed

To answer The Boyfriend's inevitable question: Yes, I have a copy of the latest Martha Stewart Weddings. As if he expected any less.

Mojo Nixon Was Right

These people make my head hurt.

Buy! Buy! Buy!

From the caption:

"Early morning shoppers at K-Mart in Philadelphia reach their arms out for video games, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. Several department stores and other retailers are offering enticing consumer discounts this Thanksgiving."

Desperation is never pretty. Celebrate annual Buy Nothing Day.