This Is Why I Heart Thrift Stores

Where else can you part with four bucks and get a portrait of the only pope to be canonized in the last 439 years?

Render Unto Daley?

Let me begin by saying that I think bottled water is by and large a stupid idea.

Call me old-fashioned if you must, but I still cling to the antediluvian view that it's just fine to drink water out of, you know, the tap.

That said, I recognize that there are times when having bottled water on hand is convenient.

So while I never have, and never will, buy bottled water for consumption within the confines of Haus Jansen, there is an occasional need to buy it for work-related events.

Knowing that we'd need some in the near future, I saw that 24-packs of half-liter bottles were on sale for Jewel for $2.50. And despite the limit of 4, that's still a deal I couldn't pass up.

So I picked up 4 cases on the way to work yesterday morning.

As the cashier was ringing me up, I thought my total sounded high, but it was getting on toward 9:00, and I needed to get to work, so I didn't think much more of it.

But when I got to work, I glanced at the receipt and noticed that there was a "Chicago bottled water tax" of $1.20 tax per case ($.05/bottle).

Wha...?

I then vaguely recalled having heard something a bottled water tax a while back, but I'd never hitherto bought bottled water in the city of Chicago, so I'd forgotten all about it.

I then had to consider my options: keep it, because of the hassle of returning 4 cases of water back to the store. This would mean, of course, having to live with myself knowing that I coughed up nearly 50% [!] of the price of the water in taxes — which utterly kills the deal's couldn't-pass-up-ability.

Or, of course, I could take it back, and then get 4 more cases at another Jewel outside the city limits, where there is no such infernal bottled water tax.

If you know me at all, you'll know which option I chose.

I took it back this morning, and I'll get 4 more cases on the Jewel in Oak Park tonight — a mere block off my normal route home.

Dumpster Diving

I've never gone dumpster diving myself, but after watching stuff like this, and given my admiration for those who devise ways to avoid spending money, I have to say that my hat is off to those who do.

What a Relief

I received a notice in the mail this week from the Illinois Secretary of State's office reminding me that my driver's license is up for renewal this year.

Great, I thought. Now I get to go and wait in line at the DMV.

But, upon opening the letter, I learn that if 12 statements do not pertain to me, I can instead renew by mail (or by phone or online, but these options would also require a "minimal [read: outrageously expensive by Jansen standards] payment processor fee", so those options are right out).

After reading through statements 1-10, I'm in the clear. Then, I get to number 11:

Your legal name or gender has changed or you have lost your driver's license.

I must admit that the juxtaposition of these three things made me laugh out loud.

Number 12 didn't pertain to me, either, so it looks like the DMV will not have to be visited by me this year.

Maureen Wittmann Has a Brilliant Idear

If you're getting short on pens and pencils don't go out to the store to buy new ones. Just do what I do -- put your hand in between the cushions of your sofa and you'll be sure to find anywhere from 5 to 10 pens and pencils. You'll save a ton of money doing this.

And how.

I don't think I've bought a pen since at least 1996, my freshman year at Loyola, when I started finding and keeping left-behind pens at Cudahy Library, which were there in spades (as they surely are in most any other library).

Then, when I started teaching, I was forever finding pens on the floor at the end of the day, which I gladly made my own.

Now, I find, free pens seem to be everywhere.

Haus Jansen Is About to Get a Lot Greener

I've wanted a composter for a few years now, but my penurious sensibilities have prevented me from shelling out money for one.

Getting one for Christmas, however, we didn't have to.

A win-win situation, I'd say.

I'm Not Missing This

Last month, our office got a call from Father Tim Fiala of the John Paul II Newman Center at UIC, who invited us to attend a bioethics symposium on the topic, "What Is Meant by the Term 'Quality of Life'?", which will be held next Friday, November 21.

The topic itself piqued my interest, and it was doubly piqued when I found out Dr. Peter Kreeft will be speaking—not to mention our own Cardinal Francis George.

And the price of the all-day symposium is a mere $30—and that includes breakfast and lunch. (With my penurious inclinations, even I recognize this would be a bargain at twice the price.)

Needless to say, I'll be there with bells on.

If you're interested, get thou more information here.

I.D. Theory

“Catholics agree about everything. It is only everything else they disagree about.” —G.K. Chesterton

Ever since Expelled came out, I've wanted to throw in my $.02 on evolution/intelligent design/creationism, but am only getting around to it now.

Family obligations being what they are, and given my reluctance to spend money if I Don't Absolutely Have To, I haven't yet seen the movie. I'm sure I'd like it, and I hope to see it at some point, as I'm told there are are some priceless exchanges between Ben Stein and the humorless Richard Dawkins.

Regardless, what intrigues me about Expelled — and about ID theory generally — is that for growing numbers of Christians (conservative Evangelical Protestants especially, and Catholics, to a somewhat lesser extent, I would say), ID theory seems to be on the Non-Negotiables List.

It ought not be.

I'm no scientist, but I find it regrettable when Christians (of any stripe) wail and gnash their teeth at the very mention of the word "evolution", as if the very notion of evolution per se is necessarily inimical to belief.

It's not. (Cf. Pope Pius XII's Humani Generis and Pope John Paul II's 1996 Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences: on Evolution.)

What also intrigues me is that there are not a few orthodox Catholics who are very critical of intelligent design theory. Case in point, Gonzaga philosophy professor Michael Tkacz, a Thomist, who offers an instructive primer on Thomistic criticism of ID theory here [HT: Mark Shea].

Ultimately, as with most every issue on which Holy Mother Church allows her children a great degree of ideological latitude, I don't have a dog in this fight. But I continue to be fascinated by those much wiser than I who are duking it out on these most important questions.

Hark! The Ark!

After I dropped off an old computer monitor and other various and sundry items at the Goose Island recycling facility (and got some free compact fluorescent light bulbs!) this morning, I had breakfast at the nearby Ark Cafe, which rightly styles itself as a "unique, quaint, and charming Christian based cafe".

The Ark was recommended by some friends, and it's also been advertising in the St. John Cantius bulletin — with a coupon for a free cup of coffee, no less!

It was "damn good coffee", as Agent Cooper would say, and the spinach quiche was yummy.

If you're local, check thou it out. It's open from 7am - 10pm Monday through Saturday, and their website indicates that they will soon be open on Sundays too.

Four Bits the Richer

In case you've ever wondered if it's possible to use a bike pump to inflate a car tire, the answer is yes.

One might wonder, "Duh. Why wouldn't it work?" — and I'd say that's a fair question.

But now I know for sure. I tried it this morning, and it works.

To be sure, it took a heckuva lot longer than it would have to use a motorized air pump at a gas station, but I didn't have to part with $.50.