Talk of the Town: Sorry, Mr. Whipple! I can’t do without those little luxuries!

Groceries are getting more and more expensive in these economic crazy times. Paper products, too!

I saw a television poll recently where the commentator asked the public to e-mail the station, listing things they won’t compromise on — like brand name foods, cleaning products and other day-to-day necessities.

Many folks responded, and their answers were pretty interesting.

One man from Portland, Ore., said he wouldn’t even think of buying generic coffee, stating he loved his pricey brew “strong and rich.”

Another woman from Madison, Wis., said she would never think of buying store-brand canned vegetables. “Too watery,” or “way too salty” were her reasons.

Anther woman from North Carolina said she would never, ever buy anything but brand-name mayonnaise or peanut butter, saying that she once purchased non-brand name spread and her family didn’t like the taste or texture of either of them.

I, for one, will not compromise on bathroom tissue, toilet paper, loo roll (as the British say) — whatever you prefer call it. The stupid stuff is a blasted necessity and the cheap brands last about 24 hours in our household — and there’s only two of us.

Bathroom reading: Why buy cheap toilet paper, according to MSNBC money:

Leave it to Dong at AskDong.com to break down future lifetime savings from switching to the cheapest toilet paper. In a hilarious post that errs a bit on the side of too much information,

Dong does the math, “20 sheets X five visits X 60 years X 52.15 weeks totals 312,900 sheets of toilet paper for the rest of my life.” That concludes he’d save only $1,000 over 60 years if he always bought generic one-ply instead of Charmin Ultra. You’ll be happy to know he gives the figures for Scott one-ply, if that’s your favorite brand. Dong concludes, “I certainly rather make my sacrifices elsewhere in life.” Amen!

Dong isn’t the only blogger to ponder TP frugality. SavingDiva, after reflecting on an article at MSN Money about the price of toilet paper, estimates that 75 percent of the trash in her bathroom garbage can is toilet paper. So when she’s correcting a “makeup issue,” she’s going to make an effort to use only one square. BillyOceansEleven over at Close Encounters of the Cheap Kind prefers a compromise between “comfort and cost.”

Billy writes, “We used Angel Soft for over a year after hitting a big grand-opening sale with coupons at CVS a couple of years back.” Let’s hear it for coupons!

The Santa Cruz Shoestring Players will present “Book of Days” by Lanford Wilson, Thursday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall of the Community Performing Arts Center, 1250 W. Continental Road.

Tickets are a bargain — $8 in advance and $10 at door and are on sale at the Performing Arts Center, the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce and Online at: www.scshoestringplayers.com.

The fun thing about this play is that the age range of the volunteer actors is so varied. And the players come from the community — Green Valley, Tubac, Sahuarita and more.

Directed by Susan Voorhees, a retired drama teacher, and assisted by Ray Hathaway, “Book of Days” was first produced in April of 1998. Dramatists Play Service has the following to say about the play:

“When murder roars through a small Missouri town, Ruth Hoch begins her own quest to find truth and honesty amid small-town jealousies, religion greed and lies. This tornado of a play propels you through its events like a page-turning mystery.”

Vorhees also likes the play for its language, rich and diverse.

Stay local. Save gas. Support local theatre! Have fun and go see “Book of Days.”

I love the Country Fair White Elephant and I really adore Midnight Madness Green Valley Style. Move over folks! The stampede for great fashion bargains begins tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 23, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Green Valley’s White Elephant shop, 601-1/2 La Canada Drive, The public is invited to this special annual event full of music, light refreshments, holiday decor and many shopping specials. CFWE volunteer Bobbe Trunzo and fellow volunteer Sandy Wray are the chairwomen of the 2008 Midnight Madness Green Valley Style.

Each shopper at this popular event will receive a raffle ticket, and 50 numbers will be drawn, with the lucky winners receiving $4 off any purchase at the White Elephant that afternoon, Trunzo says.

Featured will be ladies’ clothing, handbags, hats and shoes, along with men’s shoes and clothing, books, furniture and more.

All of the White Elephant shop will be open that afternoon except for the indoor patio area, which will be turned into a ladies’ dressing room for this special event.

The White Elephant’s dedicated volunteers save for Midnight Madness some of the very best of the clothing donations received throughout the year, and Trunzo expects to have available many “glam and glitter” items for the holiday season, including special jewelry. (I personally call this recycling. Buying gently used stuff and using it again. Bring it on!)

The store that day will be open its regular hours, 8 a.m. to noon, then will close from noon to 3 p.m. so volunteers can transform the shop with colorful holiday decorations.

Proceeds from all sales at the White Elephant shop throughout the year, including Midnight Madness, go to support area charities.

With the popularity of Midnight Madness, extra parking will be available that afternoon at the nearby Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church lot.

Let’s go shopping! See you at the parade on Saturday!

It’s fun with fiber (the non-edible kind) this Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Amado Territory Inn (exit 48 on I-19). From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Southwest Fiber Festival will feature fleece and fiber competitions, demonstrations, animal exhibits and classes to learn a new skill. Bring a project and sit and spin, knit or crochet with other fiber enthusiasts.

rford@gvnews.com| 547-9740