1.

We’re too broke to be stupid.

2.

So our local “news” station did a report on taco trucks. Only their conclusions were excitably unfair.  A lot of restaurants hate taco trucks, which you can find in almost any parking lot in Houston.

3.

Read an interesting article on simplicity.  The author, Meg Lund, writes for a Christian audience, and she makes some good points.

An important aspect of simplicity is one which has yet eluded me in way too many cases, and that is taking good care of that which I have. Respect for the gifts that God gave us is reflected in keeping things clean, orderly and in good repair. Since all things that we have are only ours “on loan” from God, we can look at it as if we have borrowed these things from a great king, who will one day want account of them.

In so many ways, our modern day culture destroys our ability and even desire to foster this virtue. The main reason, I believe, is because we are no longer in control of the things we have. We didn’t make them and could never make them with the resources we have at home, so we are unable to fix or maintain them. We have no idea of the effort that has gone into making them, so we lack appreciation for the “work of human hands.” We don’t pay the price that things are really worth, thereby exploiting people and the environment, and giving us a false sense that stuff is “cheap.” Because stuff is apparently cheap, we have way too much of everything, making it impossible for us to properly respect all that we have.

One thing I do struggle with is the exploitation of workers.  A while back I really, really tried to boycott China – this was when everything coming out of the country was coated with lead, it seems, and they were being so unjust as they prepared for the Olympic games.  But… it is really almost impossible.  Hard to find kid shoes, things the children could purchase with their own money, even hair clips were all almost exclusively from China.  And, I wondered if my little boycott actually did anything than hurt the Chinese worker, who counts on their job.  We can’t judge Chinese wages based on American minimums.  It’s so complicated and difficult.

4.

One boycott that I am participating in: Planned Parenthood Matching Donors. I found out Starbucks does that, so no more Marble Mocha Macchiatos for me.

5.

From Mommylife:

Encourage Priests

To make this launch exciting and truly inspiring, we want all of our supporters–including YOU–to submit a short testimonial, either written or in a 60-second video format, about a priest or bishop you are grateful for, or one who has inspired you in some way.

6.

I totally forgot about Glamour of a SAHMer.  Actually, I forgot it was Thursday.  Those long weekends always mess me up.  Get your posts ready for next Thursday!  Let’s commiserate about the weirdest, grossest or most obnoxious thing you did this week!

7.

Mr P did his science fair project testing various “home remedies” to get rid of fire ants.  Surprisingly, cornmeal, slightly dampened, drove them from their homes.  Just so you know.  It didn’t seem to kill them, just make them abandon the nest.

Of course, boiling water always works, too.