4-30

1) Cheese Shop sandwich, an Anchor Steam Liberty Ale, and a PB & chocolate chip cookie, even though it's only a "sometimes" food.

2) A suit. returned

4-29

1) Latte with caramel sauce. From Starbucks. Yes, I know what I said before about independent coffee shops etc. but sometimes the siren song of the caramel sauce is too much to resist. It's transformative, transcendent. It makes Starbucks mediocre coffee sing. It's like liquid gold on your tongue, sunshine on your coffee. My ideals remain the same. Chalk it up to human fallibility

2) Coffee beans from Fresh Market
3) Grapefruit juice for grapefruit mimosas
4) sourdough bread
5) ravioli

4-28

More grocery shopping and other errands.
1) Groceries:
slivered almonds in bulk
butter waffle cookies
vintage raspberry seltzer water (12-pack)
1% milk
free-range eggs
buttermilk
extra firm tofu
cilantro
green onions
cream cheese
Borden Mexican Cheese Blend (pre-shredded)
Green Giant carrots (pre-shredded)
Baked, Marinated Tofu

I went shopping after work when I was hungry and low on energy. That is reflected by the number of convenience foods at the bottom of the list. I went grocery shopping at Ukrops. While I don't agree with all of the politics of the owners, it is a privately owned regional chain of grocery stores that is closed every Sunday. And quite frankly I think we could all do with a few more 6-day-a-week shops. Though I wouldn't agree that the day off should necessarily be Sunday. I'm more interested in a closing day that suits the needs of the people rather than the Christian religious institutions. But more on that another day.

2) Hanging file folders from Staples. The first step in an attempt to pull my study into some semblance of order.

3) Plane tickets. Environmentally unsound and expensive, what more could you ask for?

4) Direct debit for my UVA student loan went through today. Somehow this student loan got lost in the efforts to consolidate and as a result I now pay it separately every month.

4-27

Today is not shaping up to be the buy-nothing day of my dreams. I was out of coffee this morning and dragging hard enough to necessitate a large, extra-shot latte before I could even hope to get to work.

1) Large, extra-shot latte.


No other purchases were made today.

4-26

I got to see Elvis Costello in concert tonight at the NorVa. It was a great show. The crowd was chatty and annoying, but EC transcended the energy of the audience in a way that I’ve seen few performers do. He was energetic, enjoyable, witty, and (of course) eerily cool. I purchased the ticked for the show about a month ago. What I purchased today was:

1) A diet lime-flavored coke
2) Dinner at The Corner Pocket where my purchases included: a Caesar salad, waffle fries, and a diet coke. And a 20% tip. Because waitstaff shouldn't have to subsidize my evening out with their underpaid labor.

4-25

Grocery day:

I've not had a buy-nothing day in over a week now. I'm feeling profligate. However, today cannot be my buy-nothing day as I have no food in my house and must go grocery shopping. I'm shooting for Wednesday to be my next buy-nothing day.

My grocery purchases from FarmFresh:

Raisin Nut Bran Cereal
Organic Applesauce
Wheat Bran
Peanut Butter (natural, chunky)
Vintage Seltzer Water (12-pack)
Whole Wheat bread
Mini Marshmellows
1 Granny Smith apple
2 Mangoes
2 Grapefruit
Pre-washed spinach
Baby Bok Choy
Strawberry yogurt
Flour tortillas

Nutritionists will tell you that it's best to shop the perimeter of the grocery store and buy whole foods rather than processed ones. Fresh whole foods and whole grains, however, are expensive. Finally, nutritionists are telling price-conscious shoppers that there are cheaper alternatives. Frozen fruits and vegetables are much less expensive during much of the year and just as nutritious as "fresh." Often frozen produce is picked at its peak nutritional and ripeness point and then flash frozen. This results in a product that often has more nutritional value than its “fresh” counterpart that has been picked before it ripens, shipped thousands of miles, and stored indefinitely at your local grocery store. It’s enough to make one question the concept of fresh food and perimeter shopping. And while we’re at that….
Studies actually indicate that the consumer’s concept of fresh food is less an objective distinction and more a spectrum of authenticity, "quality, healthfulness, status, ideology, etc." Which means that the perimeter of the market is a symbolically loaded space in which customers’ perceptions of fresh are currently being reshaped by retail manipulations and reaffirmed by items packaged to convey "heightened quality, health and taste perceptions" regardless of their actual contents.
So. We’re paying more money for the perception of freshness—however we as individual shoppers are defining that term—than for any quantifiable content or quality. It’s enough to send anyone to their local farmer’s market.

4-24

1) Gas. Again at $2.09/gallon.

2) One latte and one large coffee at Mudhouse.

Since I’ve not really bought much today I’m going to take this time to delineate the hierarchy of purchases according to mger.
1) quality – I want things that will last and that are well made, well grown, or well produced. I do not want to have to buy a replacement for an item. I want it to wear well, wash well, or (if it’s a food item) taste (really very) good.

2) locally grown or independently owned – I want to buy my salad greens at the farmer’s market. I want my CDs from an independent store, I want my coffee from a local café, and I want my vegetables grown by a real person, preferably one that I’ve met.

3) organic – on the off chance that I can’t find a local dairy with convenient delivery schedules to my local market, I’m going to buy the organic milk, preferably from grass-fed cows.

4) fair trade – I’d like the things that I purchase that come from other countries to be traded, produced, or purchased in such a way as to provide those working a living wage as well as safe and healthy working conditions. This includes my coffee and my chocolate.

5) sustainable – Preferably my purchases are ones that will promote the global economy, the global environment and social well-being. A lot to ask of something I’m buying for dinner but if I don’t do it for the little things the message will never be received.

6) socially aware – I’d like the politics of the corporations that I’m funding to in some way, to some extent mirror my own beliefs. That means that I will not be shopping at organizations that have significantly contributed to the Republican Party in recent years as I feel that platforms that party has adopted have undermined the health and well-being of all Americans by systematically denying the working class basic social justice. But that is a topic for another blog.

7) convenience – things that are conveniently located, easy to use, easy make, or otherwise requiring little effort from or impact upon me.

8) price – things must be low priced at this point in my life. I’m not talking relative costs here, at $3 for a half gallon, organic milk is definitely in my price range even though it is typically twice the price of "regular" milk. I’m talking about actual dollars. Whatever it is that I’m buying can’t cost a whole lot of those because I just don’t have them right now.

That's it. If an item works on more than one of these levels for me, I'll probably buy it and you'll probably see it posted up here.

4-23

1) A summer-weight rain coat from The Gap. Also on sale, this time at 80% off. Say what you will about The Gap, but as long as their political contributions stay with the democratic party I’m going to feel pretty ok about spending my money there. Just like as long as WalMart fights its workers unionizing and gives money to the Republican party I will not darken their doors. Sure, we get to vote on a ballot once a year, but we get to vote with our dollars everyday.

2) A Pain de Campagne, a cinnamon roll, and a bread stick from the Albemarle Baking Company. The best bakery of its kind that I’ve found in the Mid-Atlantic region with croissants beyond belief. However, they’ve discontinued making their beloved checkerboard cookies and can't seem to be induced to bring them back.

4-22

1) Coffee.

2) Lunch

3) Gas. In my part of VA the price per gallon is a total bargain at $2.09. There's been talk that gas will have to get to $2.47 per gallon to get people to change the way they drive. I think that's an optimistic number. In a country where the government consistently under-funds and undermines public transportation, has dismantled the bulk of its rail system, and in a nation in which housing prices are driving lower and middle class workers farther and farther from their jobs, gas prices will have to get a whole lot higher than $3.00/gal to get people to significantly and consistently change the way they drive. Of course, if we grow up, take a long term view, and really work on creating and funding usable public transportation, who knows, gas might eventually seem too expensive at any price.

4) A winter coat. Yes, it’s the wrong time of year for wearing but it’s the right time of the year for saving. 65% that is. Returned.

5) Pink Martini's new album Hang On Little Tomato from Plan 9 Music. It's fabulous.

6) 2 MegaMillions lottery tickets, one for my sister and one for my dad. The perfect no-reason gift: cheap and exciting.

4-21: the day of pay

1) Pay Dominion Power for the heat, light, and other uses that I've put their electricity to last month.

2) Pay Verizon for the local phone service they provided me.

3) Pay United Airlines Employees Credit Union for the car loan.

4) Pay American Express for helping me to pay others in the past month.

and all of this is made possible because I myself was paid today. this pay day underwritten by the employers of mger. and from viewers like you.

5) happy hour cocktails and snacks! it's thursday and the hour is happy. why don't you get happy too?

4-20

1) iced coffee -- i believe i will be purchasing two of these today because of the lovely weather.

2) cell service for the last month. i used 480 of my 600 minutes. yes, i've been doing a lot of talking. and yet i need to do a good bit more talking to make this a fiscally sensible plan.

3) $1.20 in library fines for keeping out David Sedaris' audio book Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim too long. Cheap at twice the price and it's helping support my amazing local library.

4-19: Free Cone Day

1) a new rear blinker bulb

2) no sew patches

and a free ice cream cone at my local Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream parlor.

4-18: Rx and cheese please

1) Prescription from CVS.

I know I should be giving my business to an independent pharmacy. Somewhere the pharmacist will know my name and talk to me about possible drug interactions (because he’ll know what I’m taking). I know I should be making my purchases in a local shop where I can support the local business man. However, (and this is where my actions and ideology part ways) CVS is so convenient. It’s very close to my house, it has relatively long hours, and I can buy my whitener-free toothpaste there while I wait. Usually I will say that convenience is overrated. Usually I will drive the extra five miles for the good bread, pay the extra $2.50 for the organic milk. When it comes to medicine though, convenience is paramount to me. I would like the magic pill that will make me start feeling better please, and I would like it now-- with a minimum amount of effort on my part. This is where my dollar is not my voice. This is where I fail. And I’m ok with that.

2) Parmesan cheese

From the local cheese shop called “The Cheese Shop.” Actually more of a sandwich place but as long as I can get my cheese I won’t be the one complaining.

3) Bread ends

They are what they sound like. Crusts of bread. A bagful for a dollar.

4-16 & 4-17: Purchase free weekend!

I bought nothing all weekend.
How did I achieve this amazing feat? I didn't go anywhere. I got my weekend's entertainment from the public library. I hung out with friends in an almost adolescent manner (sitting around, talking, and raiding the fridge).
I don't think that I'll be able to repeat this next weekend. Not going out for a cup of coffee on Sunday just about killed me.

4-15: Purchases -- Day One

1) Copay for Dr Z. in the vain attempt to pay less for allergy serum.

At this time Dr. Z. confirmed for me the avarice of certain doctors by debunking the myth that if you change allergist midway through the allergy shot sequence you absolutely and necessarily have to have new skin tests (uncomfortable and extremely expensive) and start the entire series over again (a time-consuming, painful, and… wait for it… expensive process itself). In fact, even the extract manufacturers have come closer to similar formulas so even if your new doctor doesn’t use the same manufacturer they should be able to create a near replica of your old serum and just drop down by a couple of doses. It turns out that by forcing the retests doctors are getting their dime off of you as a patient. This would be fine if it were literally a dime, but is not great when in actuality the tests run in the thousands of dollars and one can never really be sure how much will be covered by one’s (increasingly crappy) insurance company. Allergists have entire conference topics on how to standardize their industry and deal with transferring patients in this increasingly mobile society. My allergist and Dr Z. use the same standards and methods. Both Drs work in the name of science and medicine rather than bank accounts and boats, therefore I do not have to be retested and I’ll be able to continue my shot series relatively undisturbed. Hooray!
On a less exciting note, Dr Z. confirms that the probability of the serum working continues to decrease the longer I’m not seeing results.
Bottom line: allergies might not be the underlying problem, they just might intensify whatever’s wrong and make me feel worse 6 months a year.

2) 1 birthday card.

Turns out that J.’s mom’s birthday is tomorrow. I’m going to send her a card. Yes, had I figured out this was her birthday earlier I’d have gotten it in the mail earlier but I didn’t.

New focus and rededication

It turns out that I find blogging rather dull. I'm not interested in sharing with the world the bulk of my thoughts, perhaps explaining once and for all why I am not a writer. However, I enjoy reading themed blogs. Political blogs, discussions of gender, craft blogs, food blogs, etc. I like seeing things develop. And so it occurs to me that what might be interesting in a blog are not my reflections on the weather (mundane) or my recipe for dinner last night (popcorn), but an actual log. And since what I'm interested in right now is consumerism in America I'm going to create a diary of my daily purchases. Boring you say? You're not fascinated by the ways in which the urge to buy is played out in an individual consumer? Well, there are plenty of other blogs out there for you.
OK, so what counts as a purchase? I believe I am a consumer every time money changes hands. That means that I'm still purchasing my education every month in the form of student loans. I'm purchasing my health care when I see the doctor. Therefore I’m going to record all monetary transactions. In order not to bore myself I will not include items that are deducted from my paycheck before I get it (which in my case includes not only taxes, social security, Medicare, and health insurance, but also rent). I will trust, dear reader, that both you and I will remember that in the midst of my spending I am also purchasing the items that such deductions confer.
I’ll try to keep things fresh by including some information about what informs my purchasing decisions, etc. I’ll celebrate the days in which I manage not to buy anything (harder than you think). I’ll start today.* We’ll see how long this lasts.

*In case you were wondering, I will not be listing the prices of everything I purchase. While I'll be sure to pass on any particularly good deals, I'm not going to tell you the exact amount of money changing hands. After all, I'm not sure I'm comfortable having you know just how shitty my health insurance really is.