“Every increased possession loads us with new weariness.”
-John Ruskin

That popped up on my Google homepage today, and I find it quite appropriate during a time in which I have consciously chosen to carry an uglier-than-usual purse.  I don’t suspect my explanation will be coherent, but… In dealing with life as it currently is, I find it helpful to carry the damned thing, which cost under $10 at Wal-Mart about five years ago.  It’s my “poor” purse and for some bizarre reason, it helps to look at this “poor” thing as a permanent situation rather than something that I only have to endure temporarily.  If it’s permanent, my best bet is to find ways to cope.  If it’s temporary, I’ll just sit around and be miserable until it’s over. 

And, based on both history and any realistic judgment of the near future, it isn’t going to be “temporary.” 

So I buckle down.  I carry my “poor” purse.  I dive back into couponing with a vengeance.  I visit the bakery outlet store for bread.  I buy powdered milk to cook with.  I put my blinders on and ignore the existence of the zoo, the aquarium, Reunion Tower, and all the other places I wanted to visit with my family.  I grit my teeth and clean up after the boys rather than raise hell about it, because I don’t want to fight with the people who are paying half the rent right now.

Fried potatoes with sliced sausages for dinner?  I will raise you RED BEANS AND RICE.  Store-brand laundry soap?  Purex is cheaper, especially with a coupon.  I haven’t purchased soda in three weeks.  It’s water, tea, or nothing.

I actually am re-using plastic baggies at this point, which I find quite funny.  The two that are related to me have fallen in line accordingly, but the man and Hitler think I am a nutjob.