Disentangling Yourself From Corporate America

OK, I know I still have to bow to corporate America for some things- I still live in a house in a quickly growing town with a phone and electricity and natural gas but I'm trying. I've gotten so used to most of my ways that it isn't even trying anymore- for years it has just become habit. So here are some hints that may help anyone who wants to to stop putting your hard earned money into the pockets of the already rich and uncaring.

Food- buy locally grown- farmers markets, grow your own and never buy preprocessed food! Cook your own, bake your own. Not only will you put your money back into the hands of local folks, you will be healther tool If you want to go to a restaurant stay away from chains- go to a locally owned home-cooking style restaurant.

Clothing- I haven't bought new clothes in decades. Go to thrift shops, yard sales, church rumage sales. Why in the world would people waste money on over priced new clothing? I have my own style and get many compliments- my kids have all been raised in used clothes and no one complains. My teenager gets a big kick out of what I get for him- take your kids along and let them pick out what they want. They can have a lot more when everything costs under $3!

Cosmetics and personal care products- Well, I don't wear makeup- more corporate brainwashing of our society. I make my own mosturizers and buy everything else at the health food store. Again- you will be healthier doing this. Your skin absorbs chemicals from all the commercially produced products that are full of questionable ingredients. Use essential oils for perfume and scenting your mosturizers.

Cars- If you don't live where there is good public transportation buy a good used small gas saving car. If you live in a nice climate- walk and ride a bicycle- lucky folks who can do this all year- I envy you.

Books- Used book stores and libraries are the place to be.

Furniture- Oh my- antique stores and flea markets are the best! And if you get tired of something it retains its value. Most antique furniture is of much better quality and way cheaper than a comparable item in a furniture store. And it's so much fun to look for your treasures.

Musical Instruments- Classified ads, flea markets etc.

Art and mirrors etc for your walls- Make your own, buy at art festivals, yard sales, flea markets, antique stores

Carpets-Antique stores and used furniture stores have nice area rugs. Or go for the oriental rugs on eBay. There isn't a better deal anywhere on beautiful Persian rugs. Rug dealers are full of recent imports from Iran. These are gorgeous and handmade. Yes, I know sometimes children make them- but is a traditional tribal life really any worse than the conditions in our schools that some children can barely endure?

Dishes- Buy handmade pottery from your local ceramic artists. Buy vintage or antique dishes at flea markets and antique stores. Want to totally cheap out? Thrift stores have china for next to nothing. Be creative and have fun! Take a ceramics class at your local art school and make your own.

Pets- Humane societies and pet shelters are the only way and then have your pet neutered. I have always gotten my dogs at our local shelter.

Jewelry- Antique stores, flea markets, vintage clothing stores, jewelry artists.

For anything you need it is best to try to buy used or handmade. You are putting your money into the hands of your neighbors and community members and supporting hard working artists.
I know people will disagree with me and one big complaint is that if everyone did this it would cost jobs- I don't really agree- what jobs? The ones in China? The top dogs in the corporations? People working for minium wage in retail? If people make an effort at responsible buying then we may not all continue living as mere slaves to corporate America. Use your imaginations, have fun and don't thow your money away.

Zozobra!

 

What a fabulous festival!!! I just got back from my oldest son's wedding and had to tell everyone about Zozobra in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Oddly enough, since the 1960's it has been a fundraiser for Kaiwanas but was first celebrated in Sante Fe back in the 1920's. The whole idea is to put all the town's gloom, anxiety, troubles, etc into this 50 foot high animated puppet and burn the thing down ridding the town of all problems. I asked a local and they said about 100,000 people come- and are they ever in to this- all chanting "burn him, burn him". What a wonderful release - what a wonderful celebration. It is a must experience.

Thoughts after a morning at our local Flea Market

Every Sunday morning-from mid April to the end of October- I go to a little local flea market. A gathering - a community- of people that are in stark contrast to the daily gatherings of shoppers just 10 miles away at one of Central Ohio's biggest malls (and in the many other malls that crowd central Ohio). Here are people buying everything from fresh produce to antiques using cash, bargaining as they buy and sell, not a charge card in sight, not a single person tossing away their hard earned money for overpriced items- filling the pockets of big corporations. This morning as always, there was as much conversation as bargaining going on and the general tone of the conversations were angry and stunned. I talked to a 70+ year old farmer who was ready to participate in an armed take over of the government. Amazing- the level of anger and frustration at/with the government is incredible. I live in a traditionally overwhelmingly Republican area and if you weren't one you pretty much kept it quiet. Not any more. Lots of very loud and animated protest going on. Lots of people finally seeing what level of care the government has for the common people.
Because I don't go to malls, won't thow my money at corporations, I don't know what the talk is there. Someone let me know please. But I do know what the talk is amoung teachers- we are well aware of the twisted trap that has been set for the public schools. When you really look at the way school success is measured in NCLB you see that within the next 9 years all schools will be in the failing category. It is impossible - can't happen statistically- to have 100% of children performing at or above average. Impossible. I don't think states and local governments will allow this (labeling every school failing) to actually happen- but didn't the authors of NCLB have the destruction of the public school system in mind when they wrote this? Seems the only logical conclusion.

Horrified in Ohio.
For a long time- since the 2000 elections actually- my family and I have had this sense of impending doom. We are being ruled by people with an unimaginable agenda. No government could cause so much harm by accident. What are they really doing? Destroying the environment, public schools, our sense of tolerance and rationality, even the government itself- what are they doing? While watching their response to this horrible natural disaster I am even more filled with anxiety. Do they want the total destruction of this country? How will their corporate buddies make any money if 90%+ of the people in this country are bankrupted and immobilized by fear?

Happy in the Summertime

 

Here I am- happy and relaxed a few weeks ago. School hadn't started yet! I love my job but kiss relaxed goodbye for the next 9 1/2 months. I teach special education in a high school and it is definitely a challenging job. I'm a little overwhelmed right now- we are just done with the second week of school. My oldest son is getting married next week and I'm leaving for Santa Fe NM on Thursday. I sure hope that the "running out of jet fuel" scare is just that, a scare. Or maybe it would be nice to get stuck in NM for a few weeks!
What are you doing to help the people in the Gulf area? Unimaginable suffering.

Call Waiting