Originally posted 10/12/2008

Intro:  We moved about a year and a half ago from an, upscale city neighborhood to a more working class,  dog friendlier, people friendlier neighborhood, in a cul-de-sac... went from being renters to homeowners.

Since this post, gas went down to as low as $2.69, then climbed all the way back up to $4.05 and is now resting uneasily at $3.89.  I am currently working from home, so this recent gas crisis isn't affecting me in the same way that it did back then. The 'Bush stimulus package' has been replaced with our current stimulus packages, one of which was  'The Obama Plan,' which I definitely took advantage of to purchase my new home. The economy is slowly turning around...It is now June 2011...
 
The state of the economy showed up in my garden and in the alley behind this bank.  For example, I used to be able to read the local Penny Saver and would see many ads for free DIRT!  Not even one ad this year.  A-a-a-a-nd this indicates what?  The housing crisis, of course.  Without new housing starts, no free dirt.

The mopeds and motorcycles behind this building which houses a Huntington Bank, are indicators of the gas crisis.  Six months ago there may have been two bikes at most.  Now, there's four times that amount.

 So, I took my 'Bush Bucks', you know...the 'stimulus package', paid a bill; bought dirt, boards, vegetable seeds and started square footin' it in da Burgh (square foot gardening). I felt empowered.  This was my food fight, a 'Victory Garden' of sorts.



Neighbors' view...
Neighbor came by while we were digging out the beds (emissary from further down the street), old guy said, "Hey what are you ladies doing?"  Not even a hello...We had lived here for over 15 years at that point and barely got a hello from any of the neighbors.  I should have said mind your business before you end up in the basement with the rest of the bodies...LOL.  I politely smiled and said, "Trying to plant a vegetable garden."