Spending habits of the unemployed

When economists talk about the irrational behavior of consumers, they could be referring to me. Shortly before Christmas, I learned that CBS News would be closing its Moscow bureau, which has been my place of employment for the past 18 and a half years. Two days later I bought an expensive automatic coffee maker as a present for my wife for the holidays. Not so irrational, maybe, as I plan to drink lots of coffee as I look for a new job.

Yesterday I installed cable TV, something we haven't had for about 3 years (and haven't really missed, except for the English language stuff like National Geographic and Discovery which helps the kids' listening skills). 100 channels and unlimited internet for about $30 a month. Also not so irrational, as I will be looking for a TV-related gig while I wait for news on a fellowship I've applied for. And I can surf 100 channels and browse the pay-per-views while I drink coffee.

Francesca and Nika (10 and 5 yrs) were thrilled at the new selection of channels, and celebrated by secretly switching channels to Family Guy while my wife picked me up at work last night. (had to give up the company car). The episode involved the family going to India and burning their American passports.

I'm about to head to a gig I agreed to and now sort of regret -- playing percussion in a jazz-rock collective. It's not that I don't like the music. I've played with them half a dozen times. It's that last time I played guitar for a change, hoping to branch out into melodic expression, and they invited me back this week -- to play percussion.