When it came to light that I would need to write about energy this week, the idea appealed to me about as much as going forward with the presidential debate tomorrow night seems to appeal to John McCain. But one thing I love about blogging, and BlogHer, is that I expose myself to and others expose me to notions and topics out of my comfort zone. 

According to the 2000 Census, Native Americans are only 1.5 percent of the US population, but their participation in this year's presidential election might be especially important. American Indians are a critical voting bloc in several swing states, according to a recent study.

When you give up that big trip because 4 bucks a gallon puts an uncomfortable crimp in your wallet or airfares are too ridiculous or that unexpected stint of unemployment took a bite out of your travel budget, it is not a staycation or a holistay, it's staying home. It's the chick flicks and ice cream bandage of financially wounded travelers, a day trip to the water park instead of a cabin at the beach for a week. Staycation? Holistay? Meh.

I drive a Mercury Sable. A Mercury Sable that I curse each and every day and though I am currently in the middle of Project Purchase a New Vehicle my issue right now isn't so much that I loathe my car it is that last week I went to get gas and spent $55 on good old 87. And after I blacked out and eventually came to, I told everyone I'd ever met in life that I spent FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS on gasoline and threw my hands in the air at the absurdity of it all. I shook my head and wondered what the world was coming to.

Some great gas saving tips to help you save some cash on your Thanksgiving holiday drive: