I'm Doing My Part to Help the Economy

I'm not an economic genius. I'm pretty sure there is some kind of down-turn going on with the dollar, economy, and housing market. However, I feel the general public is affected more by the media, than anything else.

This is how my little brain sees it: Famous, well regarded economist predicts slight economic down-turn. Media picks up the story, predicting gas prices will rise along with a reduction in big ticket item purchases (ie houes, cars.) Other media outlets pick up on the story and sensationalize the details to one up the other networks, until the story is exaggerated and prematurely bleak. When the public sees the story carried in the paper, CNN, and the Today Show, they stop spending and in effect create what they feared: An economic down-turn.

It might not be that simple but the lady and I are doing our part to counter this wave of economic turmoil; Four thousand dollars later, our honeymoon to Tokyo is booked. We are staying in Shinjinku, a trendy spot filled with shops and lots of restaurants to satisfy our foodie hearts. I've never traveled outside of North America, and the places I have been were easy to plan for. Maybe it's the language barrier, but I'm having a hard time planning this trip.

Last time I went to NYC, I went online and picked a slew of places to eat, spas, things to do, cool bars, and sorted through reviews about all those places for several hours. I came up with an air tight plan, that could be broken, changed, and morphed to our traveling moods on a whim. Whenever I try to do the same for Tokyo, I'm met with a wall of foreign characters that only induces frustration for my planning, OCD laden heart. Not being able to plan, plan, plan this four-thousand dollar trip makes me anxious. I have visions of us holed up in our most certainly small room, watching television the entire time we are there.

Now that I think about it, our trip isn't helping the US economy at all, as everything (save a small fee for Travelocity) is going to the Japanese economy. Looks like I'll need to buy an iPhone or something to make up for that. You can help too by spending some money. Starting with that well thought out six-hundo-dollar government check George W is sending us this week.