are we already in a recession or heading towards one?

[tradergirl]

What I do know is that there is a well documented bifurcation of the economic classes in the U.S. now and that someone who lives in a 11,000 square foot house and wears 9 carat diamonds very likely has no idea about how the recession is impacting others not so fortunate; and might even claim there is no recession. However, I expect that to change soon; it is already beginning to.

 

[tradergirl]

Dancing Fire: I''m in DUG also, that is battleground but we will prevail at some point. The trick is to survive until then

 

[diamondfan]

Date: 6/26/2008 8:16:22 AM
Author: tradergirl
What I do know is that there is a well documented bifurcation of the economic classes in the U.S. now and that someone who lives in a 11,000 square foot house and wears 9 carat diamonds very likely has no idea about how the recession is impacting others not so fortunate; and might even claim there is no recession. However, I expect that to change soon; it is already beginning to.

You have quite the nerve to make any assumptions about what I do or not know. You know nothing about me. Keep your opinions about my awareness to yourself.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 6/25/2008 9:57:59 PM
Author: diamondfan
LAJennifer, thanks so much. I hate to feel that I have to defend myself, and hope the people here who read the various threads I post in know that I am honest and real but not a snob. Ask me a question and I will answer truthfully. I appreciate your kind comments and right back at you!

DF, to elaborate, in the Main Line, of course a business here or there might go under or some places might not be crowded or hard to get a table. That is certainly not something we are totally immune to here. But it is not what appears to be most prominent.

Exactly.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I'll defend Diamondfan (though she doesn't need me to). I have met Diamondfan, and she is an intelligent, sensitive, gracious individual. Nothing at all pretentious or condescending or snobbish about her. She is well aware of the economic situations in the world. It's a mistake to judge a person you haven't met face to face.

 

[diamondfan]

Thank you, both of you are lovely.

MB, How did you like South Pacific? I might like to go see that with the ladies. Mary Poppins was great!

 

[LitigatorChick]

Date: 6/26/2008 8:23:49 AM
Author: diamondfan

Date: 6/26/2008 8:16:22 AM
Author: tradergirl
What I do know is that there is a well documented bifurcation of the economic classes in the U.S. now and that someone who lives in a 11,000 square foot house and wears 9 carat diamonds very likely has no idea about how the recession is impacting others not so fortunate; and might even claim there is no recession. However, I expect that to change soon; it is already beginning to.

You have quite the nerve to make any assumptions about what I do or not know. You know nothing about me. Keep your opinions about my awareness to yourself.

Tradergirl, enough already.

As Diamond Fan explained with her usual class and grace, she responded to the OP concerning her observations in her area. As she clearly stated, she is well aware of the situation on a national level, and your comment that she "very likely has no idea about how the recession is impacting others" is completely offside.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Diamondfan, South Pacific was great! If you go, you might want to give yourself extra time to get to the theater - they're doing major construction work, and they're digging up the entire area. There's a pleasant little nude scene

in this production that I've never seen in any other production of the show.

 

[VegasAngel]

Date: 6/26/2008 2:08:14 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/25/2008 9:57:59 PM
Author: diamondfan
DF, to elaborate, in the Main Line, of course a business here or there might go under or some places might not be crowded or hard to get a table. That is certainly not something we are totally immune to here. But it is not what appears to be most prominent.

i know chinese restaurant owners are crying in our area

some say their business are down 30-35% compare to 2 yrs ago. steak houses like Morton''s and Ruth''s Chris are also very slow in our area.

Funny you mentioned Cheesecake Factory, the one by my house used to be always full too you could never just walk in & get seated. Now there is virtually no wait. I have been getting email specials from Flemings, Ruth''s Chris & I think Morton''s. Fleming''s has a 3 course dinner for $33.95. Not bad.

 

[Linda W]

Tradergirl:

I have been reading your posts and your attack on Caroline (Diamondfan) Do I see the "green eyed" monster peeking out? Do you envy her life style? All I have to say is Back Off, please leave her alone. You don''t know her.


Linda

 

[diamondfan]

Lindan thank you for having my back too!

 

[diamondfan]

MB, it was terribly crowded yesterday. I went up with two other moms and our little ones and it was trafficky getting in to the city. We took a car service, to the kids the limo was a blast and made it easier than trains and cabs for six. But we got stuck near the theater and my friend and I left our other friend in the car with the kids and we ran so I could grab tickets from willcall. It was mobbed eveywhere, with the gorgeous weather I was not all that surprised!

 

[Linda W]

Caroline,

Aren''t Limo''s fun?? DH and I take one in S.F. sometimes. We share with friends. He hates driving in S.F. I think it is fun, but he doesn''t HA!!!

Linda

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Speaking of limos, I noticed that the Plaza has a Rolls Royce as one of its hotel cars. It would be fun to hire that car to go to the theater and back.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/26/2008 9:07:56 AM
Author: LitigatorChick
Tradergirl, enough already.

As Diamond Fan explained with her usual class and grace, she responded to the OP concerning her observations in her area. As she clearly stated, she is well aware of the situation on a national level, and your comment that she ''very likely has no idea about how the recession is impacting others'' is completely offside.

Tradergirl hasn''t been here very long and has only made 115 posts, so I personally do not find she''s well enough informed about members to judge any of us. People can be especially rude when not looking at a person face-to-face. The internet is a tool for many to bash others. Basically closet bullies.

 

[isaku5]

Date: 6/26/2008 2:38:05 PM
Author: Madam Bijoux
Speaking of limos, I noticed that the Plaza has a Rolls Royce as one of its hotel cars. It would be fun to hire that car to go to the theater and back.

I''ve just added that to my to-do list!! My only limo rides have been connected to weddings, but for a special occasion (and what isn''t?), I''d love to hire a limo to pick up our family members and then go for a fabulous dinner!

A note here: The limo supplied with excellent champagne and canapes would start at our house

.

Sorry for the thread-jack, but the attacks on DF were way off-base, and I wanted to digress.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/26/2008 10:06:17 AM
Author: VegasAngel

Date: 6/26/2008 2:08:14 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/25/2008 9:57:59 PM
Author: diamondfan
DF, to elaborate, in the Main Line, of course a business here or there might go under or some places might not be crowded or hard to get a table. That is certainly not something we are totally immune to here. But it is not what appears to be most prominent.

i know chinese restaurant owners are crying in our area

some say their business are down 30-35% compare to 2 yrs ago. steak houses like Morton''s and Ruth''s Chris are also very slow in our area.

Funny you mentioned Cheesecake Factory, the one by my house used to be always full too you could never just walk in & get seated. Now there is virtually no wait. I have been getting email specials from Flemings, Ruth''s Chris & I think Morton''s. Fleming''s has a 3 course dinner for $33.95. Not bad.

we don''t have Fleming''s here,but Morton''s do offer a $99 special for two and Ruth''s Chris $89 for two.

btw; we when to Black Angus for Father''s Day dinner. we got there like 6:30 walk right in and got seated. this is on Father''s Day during dinner hours

this restaurant used to be pack on any weekends.

 

[diamondfan]

The Peninsula in BH has a gorgeous bentley that they drive guests in. I went to a high school reunion there last year and needed to get to saks or neimans for something I forgot.I was going to walk as it is around the corner but they offered to run me there. Figured it would be a van but was pleasantly surprised.
The limo was more cost effective for us. Split three ways it was less money than the two roundtrip acela tickets and cabs we would have needed. We could bring our booster seats toys and snacks and could leave stuff in the car. Also cabs that seat 6 are fewer and this way we were all together. Little kids do not move speedily and this took stress out of the day! We were out of the theater district and home in two hours on the dot with exhausted but happy kids!

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 6/26/2008 4:27:23 PM
Author: diamondfan
The Peninsula in BH has a gorgeous bentley that they drive guests in. I went to a high school reunion there last year and needed to get to saks or neimans for something I forgot.I was going to walk as it is around the corner but they offered to run me there. Figured it would be a van but was pleasantly surprised.
The limo was more cost effective for us. Split three ways it was less money than the two roundtrip acela tickets and cabs we would have needed. We could bring our booster seats toys and snacks and could leave stuff in the car. Also cabs that seat 6 are fewer and this way we were all together. Little kids do not move speedily and this took stress out of the day! We were out of the theater district and home in two hours on the dot with exhausted but happy kids!

Diamondfan - the next time you are in town, we must tease our hair and pay a visit to the Rainbow. Or at least martini-cicles at the Polo Lounge in BH Hotel.

 

[isaku5]

You''ve heard about the booming economy in BC and Alberta, and here in Ontario everything seems to be on track too. We dine out many times a week and the restaurants that we go to as busy as ever.

Property prices are very high here as well. We have been told for years that there will be a "correction" as there probably will, but not yet.

In the past our Canadian economy has followed very closely behind that of the US, but so far, we''re not. For every Canadian''s sake, I hope we don''t this time.

Perhaps someone who lives in the eastern provinces will let us know what the economy is like there.

 

[Skippy123]

I am not sure about a recession, but things are more expensive. I noticed some restaurants I frequent have shut down which is pretty sad and others are less crowded.

I also talked to my hairdresser and he said that he does not have as many customers.

Today I was at Trader Joe's and I stop there frequently and I noticed that the bag of cheetos (TJ's brand) is the same price but smaller.

I did see on the news since gas is so expensive that people are not driving as much so the freeway is less hectic. The other day I picked up my hubby from the airport during rush hour and it was smooth sailing on the freeway so I do think something is going on. I am not sure how bad it will get but I do notice my dollar does not go as far.

I figure for us we just need to be smart about what we spend our money on, which I am sure lots of people are doing too.

eta: VegasAngel, I have been getting lots of Vegas emails and hotels are slashing prices and one even offered gas credit. I hope things pick up!

 

[tradergirl]

No green eyed monster here, Linda. We do as well as she does and there is nothing there I would care to emulate. Nobody even got the point I was trying to make. It wasn't a personal attack on her but my contention that she is in no position (yet) to judge whether there is a recession or not because it has not hit her social strata. I feel that this is going to change. And I had another great day while the recession continues to tank the markets.

That's the end of this as far as I am concerned.

 

[merrijoy]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:03:47 PM
Author: tradergirl
No green eyed monster here, Linda. We do as well as she does and there is nothing there I would care to emulate. Nobody even got the point I was trying to make. It wasn''t a personal attack on her but my contention that she is in no position (yet) to judge whether there is a recession or not because it has not hit her social strata. I feel that this is going to change. And I had another great day while the recession continues to tank the markets.

That''s the end of this as far as I am concerned.

I understood the point you were trying to make. If you watch the news, read the paper, or look at ie CNN online, it is painfully obvious that people are struggling. If you drive down the street, you can see that many stores and corporations are closing and/or giving great deals to reclaim business. I am not sure what the ultimate definition of recession is (I will go search the internet now), but if it means that many people (and businesses) are struggling because prices of necessities such as milk, gas, and electricity are rising faster than salaries are and people who were having a hard time making ends meet are now just that much worse, then we are there. I don''t see how it matters how your immediate community is doing, I think we need to look at how the country as a whole is doing. How is the average American faring?

If anyone watched Good Morning America yesterday morning, there was a family who was just getting by and then their electric bill went from something like $170 a month to $350 a month. Yikes! This families story is just sticking with me and is not necessarily how every American is doing but how many Americans are doing. Yes, I am sure there are still people doing fine and having no issues, but is that the norm? We have to have empathy to put ourselves in other''s shoes.

 

[VegasAngel]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:03:47 PM
Author: tradergirl
No green eyed monster here, Linda. We do as well as she does and there is nothing there I would care to emulate. Nobody even got the point I was trying to make. It wasn''t a personal attack on her but my contention that she is in no position (yet) to judge whether there is a recession or not because it has not hit her social strata. I feel that this is going to change. And I had another great day while the recession continues to tank the markets.

That''s the end of this as far as I am concerned.

Normally I never bother to get into these things but didnt Diamondfan say in her post what you have in this one that it has not hit her social strata? What is she supposed to do, lie? Since when does being well off or however it should be stated that she doesnt know what is going on? You are making assumptions. Dancing Fire asked if business seemed slow in "Your area", in her area things seem to be doing ok.

 

[ringster]

Date: 6/26/2008 6:40:04 PM
Author: merrijoy

Date: 6/26/2008 6:03:47 PM

Author: tradergirl

No green eyed monster here, Linda. We do as well as she does and there is nothing there I would care to emulate. Nobody even got the point I was trying to make. It wasn''t a personal attack on her but my contention that she is in no position (yet) to judge whether there is a recession or not because it has not hit her social strata. I feel that this is going to change. And I had another great day while the recession continues to tank the markets.


That''s the end of this as far as I am concerned.

I understood the point you were trying to make. If you watch the news, read the paper, or look at ie CNN online, it is painfully obvious that people are struggling. If you drive down the street, you can see that many stores and corporations are closing and/or giving great deals to reclaim business. I am not sure what the ultimate definition of recession is (I will go search the internet now), but if it means that many people (and businesses) are struggling because prices of necessities such as milk, gas, and electricity are rising faster than salaries are and people who were having a hard time making ends meet are now just that much worse, then we are there. I don''t see how it matters how your immediate community is doing, I think we need to look at how the country as a whole is doing. How is the average American faring?


If anyone watched Good Morning America yesterday morning, there was a family who was just getting by and then their electric bill went from something like $170 a month to $350 a month. Yikes! This families story is just sticking with me and is not necessarily how every American is doing but how many Americans are doing. Yes, I am sure there are still people doing fine and having no issues, but is that the norm? We have to have empathy to put ourselves in other''s shoes.

i understood the point you were making too tradergirl and merrijoy, i think you wrote very eloquently about taking a look at the whole country and how everyone is doing in general.

diamondfan -- i''m loving this emoticon and it is for you lady

lol! lol! lol!

 

[diamondfan]

TG is clearly clairvoyant!!!
Not only does she know WHAT and HOW MUCH I know about the recession but she also knows my personal worth too.

I have told you TG to stop referrencing me and my personal finances.I have asked you repeatedly and you are a total boor to continue. Focus on YOU and your experiences.

Thanks to all the classy gals here!

 

[HollyS]

Yes. We are in the first days of a recession. Every ten to fifteen years there is a recession. Ask any economist.

 

[KimberlyH]

Nevermind.

 

[Harriet]

Can Dancing Fire''s question even be answered on a micro level?

 

[surfgirl]

I also got what tradergirl and merrijoy were trying to say. Which is simply that a few are getting fat at the expense of many many less fortunate. And while some PSers never seem to be affected (or is it effected?!?) by money matters ever, those few do not really represent the majority of the country, IMO. The average American is feeling the pinch, some worse than others. We feel it in our gas consumption of course. And we see businesses closing here and there. We do see less waiting time in restaurants, and those aren''t the most pricey establishments, those are average mom and pop owned places. That''s sad when those places close. I''m not sure when or if the wealthiest of the wealthy will ever really feel the pinch. I know people who own their own jets and they''re still using them, that''s gotta cost a lot of money. But they''re not stopping usage. And they''re still re-landscaping, and taking summer homes, so as DFan mentioned, it''s perhaps not gotten to certain socio-economic levels just yet. Will it ever? Who knows? I mean, at a certain point, the very rich can continue living as they do, they just wont continue amassing annual fortunes at the same rate but I''m not sure they''ll have to change how the live on a day to day basis. And I say this only based on what I''ve seen with people I know who are very wealthy.

And as an aside, I have to say that the brief detour this page took in describing the luxury days and activities of a few lucky people is really unnecessary, in my opinion. You can get pissed off at a posters comments, but please, let''s not trivialize the topic at hand by resorting to what amounts to the typical "pie" comment here on PS, which to me just serves as a STFU device and thus, isn''t really very nice at all.