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Not With a Bang (But With a Cauliflower)

Posted November 4, 2009

It’s time, Fellow Whiners, to bring this wonderful experience to a close. So a brief discussion of cauliflower seems to be in order.

After all, it was a failed comparison-shopping hunt for that sometimes maligned and frequently overpriced vegetable, up and down the streets of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, that helped lead to the launch of this website.  

It’s true that a costly head of cauliflower wasn’t the only thing that got us going (sorry, New York Times, we lied — or, at the very least, we exaggerated, when we told you the story of EconoWhiner’s origins).

In fact, it was a more general recognition that the ever-weakening economy was killing us — at a time when we lacked the psychic energy and simplest survival mechanisms to cope — during an era in which the whole notion of in-demand job skills was becoming increasingly anachronistic — that led us to where we are now. 

We knew that we weren’t alone. We wanted to create an online community in which people could band together to share their rage and confusion, ideas and emotional support. You came. Indeed, we weren’t alone.

By now, you know many things about us, so we think that you know it’s been a struggle, sometimes, to keep EconoWhiner going. The cost. The time. Those days when only a few people sent in a comment. Did we mention: The time.

We thought about closing the site on our one-year anniversary, but your outpouring of support convinced us to give it another try. But it didn’t work. Despite our most fervent wishes (and hard work with no end in sight from the always magnificent Deputy Whiner, Kascha Piotrzkowski), we can’t keep it going any more. Life has just gotten in the way. We face some big challenges and they’re taking all the time and energy we’ve got.

So it’s time for us to say goodbye to you, dear friends. Now and forever, we wish you all the very, very best. You deserve it. You’re smart and you’re talented. You’re hardworking. You keep trying new ideas. (Jerla, who else except you would embark on that whacky plan of writing one-thirtieth or whatever it is of a 50,000 word novel every day? We’ll see you on the best-seller lists!) 

In the face of incredible adversity, you don’t give up (you know who you are).

Every one of you who has ever sent in a comment or an email has been an inspiration to us.  But to all those of you who didn’t, please know that it’s meant the world to us to know that you’re there.

We’re not alone. During the toughest of times, that has meant so much, we believe, to so many of us.

Guess it’s time, finally, for that cauliflower. We prefer to toss it in olive oil and kosher salt. Then roast it for 45 minutes to one hour in a 425 degree oven.

When you make it that way, think of us.

The Whiner wants to know: What do you want to say? We’ll leave the site up for at least awhile so that you can share any thoughts you might have with our community. Or, if you prefer, please send an email to jfraser@econowhiner.com. Our thanks, as always, for everything.

Reader Comments

  1. penner

    Oh, gee! I’m going to miss my fellow whiners, but most of all I thank W-I-C and her Deputy Whiner for a great run. Not gone and not forgotten. When I roast my cauliflower, I add 1-2 tsp. coriander and several shakes of red pepper flakes. Let’s all keep spicing up and preserving one another’s matchless survival skills! This site contains rich veins of lore we will continue to use. xoxoxo

  2. jerla

    It’s been a good run and I’ve enjoyed participating. I still think the name “Econowhiner” is the best name for blog ever. I wish you all a prosperous, happy and healthy future. Thank you for providing this wonderful environment.

    The thousands of people around the world who are participating in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] *are* wacky. Not only are they writting feverishly to complete a 50,000 word novel in 30 days, but contributing to massive blogs which pretty much point out how wacky the whole idea of “everyone has at least one novel in them” really is.

    You’re all welcome to drop into my own web site, which features my resume, some of my original fiction, and a course called Highlander University … about the old Highlander tv series, especially devoted to Adrian Paul / Duncan MacLeod’s hair and … um … derriere.

    http://jerlapoint.com

    Cheerio! Jerri

  3. Jan from NJ

    Sorry but not surprised to hear it. I will miss W-i-C’s and DW’s great stories. Good luck to you both.

    I tried my cauliflower that way once and got little brown pellets. Maybe the heat was too high, but in any case I’m not eager to try it again.

  4. dbf

    Thanks for being there. We found a new source of coffee, recommended your blog to a relative who has been unemployed, and got a more human scale look at today’s financial fall out. Thanks for all that an more. Good Luck.

  5. Deputy Whiner

    I’ll miss you all, my Fellow Whiners. I will always carry the thought that we did something very special here. Thanks to The Whiner for giving me, and all of us, really, a voice and a place to talk about what matters most in life — and a haven for reordering our lives and priorities.

    Be well, and Whine On!

    Kascha Piotrzkowski, Deputy Whiner

  6. Kathy G

    Best of luck to you. I’ll be sorry not to have your posts show up in my RSS reader.

    Perhaps when things settle down a bit you might think about revisiting the blog idea? Just an idea.

  7. Noelle

    waaah!!!
    I love this blog.
    I might be losing my job in a month. oh well.

  8. Holly

    I’ll miss this blog, it’s one I read daily.

    I steam my cauliflower and melt cheese on top.

    What I guess I’d like to say is this- People, it’s time to get mad and do something. Things will not change, the corporations will continue to run our nation, if we don’t force a change.

  9. Talking Horse

    This blog has been one of my comforts and pleasures during a very difficult year. Sorry to see it go but understand why the the decision has been made. Thanks for all your time and effort providing a place for all of us who are not a victim of a “mental recession”.

  10. powwow

    Dear Econowhiner,
    I’ve been a lurker and have so much enjoyed your “voice” and the helpful tips on a wide variety of topics. Please know that there were lots of people who would check in but did not leave comments. All the best to you!

  11. Diane

    Good luck to you. Enjoyed the blog.

  12. Chris

    EW was the most incredible outlet for me during 8 months of unemployment. Sometimes it hit too close to the heart and I couldn’t read it but always kept coming back.

    Thanks for a great year of insightful comments and helpful distractions!

  13. LH

    Aw, I’m sorry to see you go. Best of luck with everything, and perhaps it will work out to revisit the blog in the future.

  14. Stella

    Thank you for your work in the time that you have had the site up. It’s been filled with some fun and thought-provoking posts and even when the comments section got a bit heated, it was still a site worth visiting regularly.

    For those who have never had a Web site of any kind, you can’t imagine the work involved. And remember that is work time spent away from revenue-producing work. So it’s twice as costly in time and money.

    So we can appreciate that you need to pull the plug and focus on other priorities.

    I just made some cauliflower last nite (we’re big fans of garlic so our recipe is almost identical but we toss in freshly grated garlic, too.) and we will think of you fondly as we continue to do so in the future.

    À Bientôt !

  15. Crayon

    Applause, large bouquets of roses, Bravo! Jill and Kascha please take your bows!

    I will miss the EW community and all the articles and comments. Sometimes you get a chance to be a part of something very special and I feel honored to have chanced across your blog at a time when history was being made and be allowed to comment on it. I really looked forward to checking in everyday. I thank you for all your hard work and creativity and sharing it with us!

  16. Patrick

    I’m proud to have been part of this fun experiment. Cheers! I’ll always be here down in Austin whenever the W-I-C or anyone needs anything.

  17. Hope

    Oh, bummer!! I will miss your whining and all the regular posters here in Econowhiner Land. Best of luck to both of you…I’ve loved this site. :)

  18. Patty

    Gosh, I wish this blog could go on and on, because I really think the recession will be doing the same thing. *sigh* I too have been following it every day, even though I have a job (for the moment). If anyone has any ideas for like-minded Web sites we could check out, please let us know.

    At my local family farm stand I recently found some yellow cauliflower that tasted delicious — almost buttery by itself!

  19. Kris

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Whimper, whimper
    But who am I going to tell my Eco-woes to now?

    Jill, Kascha, you did an amazing job over the past year creating an outlet of “real” people in more than real situations. I will miss all of you and your insights.

    May 2010 bring us all a little breathing room from our economic pinches, giving us fodder to whine about something else!

    Big hugs to you both! Cheers!

  20. Bruce Coulson

    I’m sorry to see the site go. It was informative, entertaining, and a window to the views of people I would never meet otherwise. I appreciate all the hard work you and your faithful deputy have put into this site, and I hope that everything works out for the best in your lives.

    But I hate cauliflowers.

  21. Florence

    Thanks for the great run! I’ll miss you but understand that there comes a time to take your bow and close the curtain.

  22. Charles

    I have been reading your site ever since you started it but have not posted up to now. It’s one that I check every day and am going to miss it. However I can fully understand that You need to focus on priorities. Good Luck in the future and I really appreciated this site and the effort that went into it. As Spock would have said Live Long and Prosper

  23. The Doctor

    You’ve given up on this great little forum to have a life? Well, I guess we can allow that. A small assignment for you: post a status report in a year so we can compare notes; a reunion of sorts for all us whiners. And remember what Mark Twain said, “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”

  24. abo gato

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo(sorry Kris, I was going to do that too when I peeked in during the day and had to wait till I was on my own computer to do this)ooooooooooooo…..I cannot tell you, Jill and Kascha, how sad this makes me……really…..wipes away a tear…..I looked in on you every day.

    You created such a welcoming, warming place to visit. How will we get by now? It just won’t be the same, I’m tellin ya.

    I have to echo a couple of the other comments, please take care of all the things that are burning and need you, but, when those clear up (and they always will), please come back somehow and let us know how you are and how child number 2 is doing in college, how you are feeling, what you are whining about, what you are cooking and tasting right now, what kinds of writing you are doing…..you know, all the stuff we’ve talked about here for the past year.

    I won’t forget you all, and I bet none of your other regulars will either.

    As Bob Dylan says, you’re gonna make me lonesome when you go……..

    (sniff)

  25. abo gato

    Oh, and how about this? What if some of us wanted to be able to touch base with some of the other commenters? There are a few here I’d like to be able to stay in touch with…..would you at all be able to have an email exchange hosting thing going on for a bit?

  26. yalda

    It was a good run. I’m really going to miss you!

  27. Shirley

    So sorry to see you go … would it be possible to keep the site going as a free (ie, WordPress) blog or something? I’ve really enjoyed the discussions here, and benefited from them personally (via tips for purchasing a used car).

    Hope we can continue to see you somewhere in the blogosphere — you’ve been an enjoyable and helpful resource!

  28. Mimi Forsyth

    It was a very good ride. Thanks!! May it continue in whatever form.

  29. Drew

    Paean to Econowhiner

    Jill and Kascha we hardly knew ye. I came late to the party, but I saw immediately that you had created a wonderful sense of community, a forum of ideas, practical help and just plain fun. And of all times, in the middle of an economic depression; brilliant! I shall miss you far more than, and completely out of proportion to, the short time I’ve been an econowhiner.

    This has been a year of loss for me, much more than I could describe. I know I’m not alone, and that helps, again partly because of your excellent forum. I don’t wish suffering on anyone, but knowing that others out there know similar experience helps. So the thought of losing this community adds to my litany of loss for 2009. I understand it has to be. I accept it. I just don’t have to like it.

    You worked very, very hard against the odds, so you should not feel bad or take on any blame. Tilting at windmills isn’t for everyone. What a sorry world if no one ever tried.

    I‘ve liberally modified a quote:

    Grace to you and peace. You have given me great joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the hearts of this community. Philemon 1:3,7.

    My very best wishes to all my fellow Econowhiners. Remember, if you don’t ask, the answer is No. If you don’t try…

    And Jerla,, you keep working your dream. Jack Kerouac wrote his best seller, On the Road, in 3 weeks in 1951, though it took a few years to finally sell. He typed it on a single roll of teletype paper so he didn’t have to stop to change pages (we’re talking way pre-PC). The “scroll” drove his publisher nuts.

    I love cauliflower, pretty much all ways, including raw. You might try adding a ¼ tsp. of bruised cumin in the olive oil (or use melted butter) before tossing and baking the cauliflower.

  30. JillyPas

    I can only add my NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to the chorus of others. Although I only recently posted my first comment, I have faithfully read Econowhiner for months. I loved the discussions, the tips, the ideas, and the comfort I took in knowing that others were similarly situated. This was indeed a very special community.

    While I understand all the reasons why, I can’t help whining.

    Best wishes.

  31. stephwood

    I am sorry to see this blog go. It has been a source of comfort, ideas, and entertainment for me. It’s tough to walk away from something that you’ve invested so much time in. I will miss you.

    Please keep your site up for awhile!

  32. amy

    Hey, good luck, there, Jill & Kascha. And Jill, come on, be straight out there about your smarts. I know you’re in a town where sharp women don’t stand out like they might other places, but you’ll get conversations that interest you more, I think.

    Meanwhile, wish me luck in my interview tomorrow. Part-time salaried writing job with much flexibility, lots of vacation, tenure after 2 years, and full benefits.

  33. Crayon

    P.S. I wanted to give a special thanks to Chad Tomlinson for the artistic contributions to EconoWhiner. Looking at the photos from iStock picked for the articles was at times hilarious, poignant, witty, and just plain fun! Those photos are what helped set this blog apart and made it distinctive from other forums. Thank you so much!

    Fellow Whiners, I will miss your insightful and intelligent comments and the support and ideas that helped carry me through during this difficult time. Because of this site I was able to slog through almost a whole year of NOT eating out to save money. DH will tell you flat out I’m a foodie and nothing will cheer me up and coax me out of a funk faster than going out and exploring a new restaurant. So I really loved Kascha’s food pieces along with Abo Gato’s, Kate’s and the input of others. I always came away inspired to stay the course and cook like a fiend at home. (Hate the cleanup though, that’s the worst!)

    I was also able to clarify some financial goals and decisions because of participating at this site. I don’t know what the future holds, but I have seen the pain, misery and uncertainty this past year on people’s faces I pass on the street, along with the empty storefronts, closed restaurants, the For Sale signs on houses changing to Bank Owned signs, the recent Halloween pumpkins carved with the messages “Jobless Recovery”. Even scarier, I’ve seen the term “Jobloss Recovery” being floated out there in the financial blogosphere. I’m afraid there’s another year or more to go of financial pain and when this is all over, the powers that be will finally use the D word, as in the Depression that began in December 2007.

    As others have expressed, if there’s a way to reconvene at another site, or possibly keep in touch or have a reunion that would be great. Right now I’m trying to suck it up and just continue the journey, maybe hop a new train, walk miles along some different tracks. It hurts to think of EconoWhiner.com as another boarded up storefront. Sorry to lay it on so thick WIC and DW, but that’s how I feel even though I understand completely. Fellow Whiners, I wish each of you all the best!

  34. forkboy1965

    Well crap.

    Funny….I started to slack-off on my commenting for fear of commenting too much. Had I known….

    Thank you for the opportunity to share and comment for those of us who found your site. Of course I’m sorry to see both you and the site to go, but who am I to make demands of your time, when it is, after all, your time.

    You will be missed.

    xoxo
    Forkboy1965

  35. Tom

    NOooooooooooooooooooooooo

    Oh, alright. I understand you have to do it. But please take with you the certain knowledge that this was good. So consistently GOOD in an online world that is full of less than stellar anything. You should be proud of yourself. Thank you for each and every word you wrote and got others to share. It was a great ride.

  36. The Whiner

    Dear Fellow Whiners,

    Your comments have moved us more than we can say. They’ve overwhelmed us. We’re so grateful for your comments and all your kind words.

    We agree that this has been a special place — in large part because of your involvement in the truly unique community that we have created together. It’s not possible to express how much EconoWhiner has meant to us too.

    Please stay tuned. If we can find a way to keep this going, we will do it. But we can’t say yet if that will be possible.

    In the meantime, keep coming back and if you have thoughts, ideas, or just some feelings you want to share, please do so. As you know we like to say, Whine on!

  37. Sara N.

    Ooooh, noooo… as the little SNL guy would say.
    Jill , you are the hardest working person I know – as a writer, entrepreneur and booming idea generator. And Kascha, even though, we never worked together, I know all about you!… and I can say the same as well.
    I’m so glad you had this experience, as joyful and as painful as it may have been at times, it will pay off in the long run. You did a great job, and I will miss your ketvching. No one does it better, with such style, creativity and intellect.
    On to bigger and better things — whatever and whenever they may be. Thanks for this fun ride that you gave us all. A mitzvah for the blogosphere.

  38. jerla

    I think moving a stripped-down version of EconoWhiner to WordPress http://wordpress.com sounds like a way to just keep the conversation going. No money in it, but it wouldn’t cost anything, either.

  39. Suz

    Thank you for being the co-mayors of Econowhinerville.
    Good luck, godspeed, and know you made a daily difference to a whole lot of appreciative people.

  40. Green Rich

    Sorry to hear about this. I’ve been afrequent reader and occasional commenter. I even got recognized for the “quote of the day” once, which made me strangely happy. Thanks for your efforts. Peace.

  41. tina Isselbacher

    You know that’s my favorite way of cooking cauliflower too. I usually add some oregano or herbs provence. Next time, I’m going to add some red pepper flakes. Thanks penner. Very sad to read your last post. Miss you.

  42. Roberta DiBisceglie

    Thank you! This has been a great support to me during a difficult time. You will be missed.

  43. Kris

    Even though I am still stomping my feet and pouting, I feel I need to chime back in and say I’d be interested in staying in conversation with everyone too.

    Look at all the outpouring of support for the site and each other we’ve been creating, Updates on Jerla’s book, insights from Crayon, Amy, Abo, and Forkboy (to name a few)… help get through the day. It would be a shame to cut us all off from each other.

  44. Lynn D.

    So sorry to hear this and hope we can stay in touch somehow.

  45. Dan

    Jill and Kascha- Thank you guys so much for your hard work to give a voice to a few of us if nothing else to remind us that we all HAVE one. This feels like when a beloved colleague moves away and I know how much I will miss them. BUT, I also try to remember how much that person has taught me and it would be my own stupid fault not to use that knowledge to keep moving foward.
    Dan

  46. Arlene

    Look at all the fans you have!

    I am one, too, and will miss you.

    Too bad you’re not stopping because the economy is “recovering.” Ha. Ha. No, you’re just burned out on the web. Sadly, that happens.

    Best of luck!

  47. beejay

    Whiner! You’ve set an example for us on community building, voice launching, social activism, and personal ambition. You are the hardest of the hard workers, and the most caring of family members.
    We wish you the best of luck always!

  48. Florence

    Dang! I keep coming back hoping you’ve changed your mind!! How can you leave us with unemployment going ever higher, foreclosures everywhere, commercial rreal estate bubbles yet to burst, bonuses and bailouts to discuss, and the holiday shopping season yet to come??

  49. Britty

    Aw, nuts.

    I kept hoping this announcement was just a throw-down after a rotten day. Isn’t there some way to keep this going? Guest bloggers for a while–as long as necessary? I’m trying to understand fully how difficult and draining it’s been to keep producing this work, but the result was some damn fine stuff. That’s why it bothers us all so much to see it fold. Econowhiner had style and wit and originality in a smart-looking package. We’ll be searching a long time before we find its match out there in Blogville.

  50. Britty

    OK, well, today it happened. I got canned. I’m out of a job again, after just a little more than a year since I lost the last blasted job. And now I don’t even have EconoWhiner to get me through. This really is the unkindest cut….

  51. Paprika Pink

    Look at this, 20 days later and we’re still coming out of the woodwork to say we’ll miss you and wish you were still here. As I have admired your content, contexts, and site since I first happened on it, I also admire your decision to actually end it. I mean, I hope it metaphorphs into another entity where we can all still keep in touch, but I respect that you recognize you aren’t able to keep going at the level you’d set for yourself. Usually when that happens the posts just get fewer and further between and everything just looks all cobwebby and dusty and the comments degenerate into spam about making money working for Google from home. Now that’d be sad. All the best to the Econowhiner team and all the participants.

  52. abo gato

    Just had to poke my head in and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving Day today. I got my turkey in a smoker outside, am cooking some roasted turkey necks to make gravy, got the dressing made and ready to bake and am going to go make the pie right now.

    Hope it is a wonderful day for the rest of you too.

  53. Britty

    I still drop by, every few days, hoping….

  54. Linda

    Gotta agree with Britty. But having had a blog for a while which drew time away from life with a capital ‘L’, I understand. Wishing you well!

  55. Nalla Dleifif

    The Secret of a Long Life is Knowing when it’s Time to Go….

  56. Britty

    If anyone is still checking in, well, Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!