WALKIN & TALKIN Lizzie Ann & Mary out walking the New York streets, Says Lizzie Ann to Mary Jane, How’s about going way out this year on treats? Throw caution to the winds, forget there’s a damn recession, Let’s buy ourselves somethin naughty to assuage this deep depression. Are you crazy, girl? says Mary Jane. How the hell we gonna pay the rent? You had better face the music or spend the rest of the year in lament! Sheesh!!! says Lizzie Ann, as loudly as she can, The guy I’d like to strangle now is Mr. look-on-the-bright-side- Greenspan! Oh, he’s not the only one to blame, says Mary Jane to Lizzie Ann, there’s a whole lot of them that belong in the can! Ah, here we are at the Ye Little Thrift Shop on the Corner, I’ll buy you a scarf, you buy me a pair of gloves, and let’s just pretend to be reckless and fabulous! Merry Christmas my frugal friend.

Good one Phyllis. Greenspan—“I didn’t see it coming” owes all of us Christmas gifts. Amazing how these Wall Street company types still insist they get a bonus even though their firms collapsed. That should have been a major stipulation in the bailout.

Ain’t it the truth, Liza! I’m leaning towards frugal. Darnit.

mo, i like your puppy’s hat. liza, frugal wins. brooklyn, greenspan and the bailout (as opposed to loan) beneficiaries on wall street owe us all health care.

Frugality, like patience, is not only a virtue, but also, these days, a requirement……

Liza —- In the last week as the world has tilted downhill even further, my love of giving that everyone has known me for forever has come to an almost screeching halt with the former “ALL” has become “ALMOST nothing at all” which will come as a surprise to all those who have expected Mrs. Santa to be her usual “beyond generous”. The reindeer have heard the WHOA, DASHER, etc” and are now down to a slow walk. How about you???? Joan