Oh, the weather outside is frightful!
And truly it is! Ugly, wet, yucky stuff. We started with heavy, wet snow at around one o’clock. By three, it was rain. Or something. When I took my walk this afternoon, the sidewalks were slippery with about a half inch of mottled gray/white slushy stuff. Talk about slow going. I had visions of slipping as I ran across N. Maple in the dark and the oncoming vee-hickles not seeing me and running right over me. Not a pretty thought but I did make it. And it’s okay. I actually love days like this, especially at this time of year. Winter solstice. Michigan. Dark and yucky weather. It has its own beauty.
So, what do you do when the weather outside is frightening. No, you do not make a delightful fire. Well, sometimes you do. But Elizilla and I went to the mall! Yes, the mall! I own about enough items of clothing that can be put together to qualify me as wearing bona fide business casual to work maybe about two days a week. Five days a week? Hmmm. I *hate* to shop! But I had deliriously mumbled something about Chico’s earlier in the week and, even though I don’t think my California girl likes to shop much either, she more or less dragged me out there. And loaded me up with things to try on. And I did and I bought it all!! We walked up to the counter with the goods and I had absolutely no idea how much money I was spending. I didn’t bother to look at the price tags. For all I knew, I was spending $600 or something. NOT in my budget. I almost didn’t care. I liked the clothes. “Moom, that looks good on you!” (Love.) In the end, I got five pieces for something like $135. FIVE! Count ’em. My little lizard had steered me to the *sale racks* (hello, Kayak Woman) and I think everything I bought was pretty deeply discounted. Bling bling!
After that, I felt obligated to strongly encourage her to let me purchase a “fancy” dress for her. She looks gorgeous in it. Turnabout is fair play! 😈
December 28th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
heh heh heh, i win this one! i guess california is having an effect on me.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Nook met up with Raksha & Krish at Somerset, had lunch at CPK, then shopped & yakked. Didn’t get home ’til after the Spartans’ game started … there was a nasty accident just north of Exit 101, she called and confirmed the way home from there (easy! take exit, go to the right, then left at the traffic light, stay on this road until you need to turn into our sub…. ).
I went out to Meijer (rah-rah) and found some “clearanced” valances for the teeny 1st floor bathroom, a mat to put next to the side door, and more english muffins & margarine for breakfasts….
Then, “Taste of Chicago” hot dogs with hot peppers, mustard, and fluorescent-green pickle relish (apparently a signature item of this particular restaurant) and poppy-seed hot dog rolls – actually, very good!!
December 29th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Chico’s at deep discount is a good thing! The other thing I’ve noticed in your blahgs about business casual is the hosiery issue. When I used to wear skirts a lot (~ 20-25 years ago), I used to stock up on Hanes Summer Sheer stockings whenever I could find them. I don’t know if they even market that name anymore, but they are lightweight. Now I have a few pair of pantyhose, and I tie a loose knot in the leg if they have runs and should only be worn with longer skirts. My version of bus. casual is pants, khakis mostly, and various layers on top, in case the school is too hot or too cold. I wear skirts occasionally, more often in the warmer months.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I actually do wear skirts in preference to pants. Not sure why. I did buy some pants yesterday, black ones. They’re a little long but that’s what sewing machines are for. The hosiery issue is okay at this time of year. My black DKNY tights fit perfectly (so I’m not tugging at them all the time ;-)) and they don’t run terribly easily but eventually… Summer is another story and I’ll try those summer sheer things. I don’t do much khaki, not sure why. I am *struggling* to get myself to deviate from black. With some progress. It’s not been cold where I work, seems generally temperate. Back in the day, the EPA used to be frackin’ cold, had to keep a sweater there in the summer!
December 29th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Oh yeah! LOVE the tip about knotting the legs! I am FOREVER pulling on a holey pair of stockings/tights that are still wearable in some circumstances, then having to pull them OFF and put on ANOTHER pair! Hate that! 😐
December 29th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I have only worn a dress to work once, maybe twice. The once was about 19 years ago when I had to testify in court. I don’t even think I own a pair of nylons/stockings now. I always have cardigans at work for the coolness (I think I am my father – he always had cardigans at school). Ashlan and I are off to find her a dress – something she can wear to parties I guess. I can’t imagine she would wear a dress to class, in this season anyway. We are also to pick up a pair of khakis for Rey, a rake for Carl and a toaster oven for Rey. Also split pea soup mix for the ham bone – mmmm, feel warm just thinking about that.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I know Valdemort & I need to go dress shopping for “Huddle” (post-season formal dance for the Marching Band held in Feb.) – she said something about going for a “little black dress” (!) for this year’s. Used to be, Val *hated* the idea of dresses, now she seems to actually enjoy the occasional “dress-up” event!!
OOOOOH! Split pea soup!! YUM! Val wants our ham bone to go to a bean soup (no onions), however. Guess I’ll just hang on to some of the ham and make myself a batch of pea soup after they’ve gone back to school 😈
December 29th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Elizilla’s is a black knit highlighted with a bit of metallic yarn. She was *horrified* at this one dress with HUGE bronze sequins hanging all over it, like 3″ ovals. (btw: this was NOT at Chico’s. It was Companie Express or something like that. I don’t know mall stores.) She complained that she wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it (I mean the little black dress that we *did* buy, not the sequins one). But you never know and why not be prepared. At any rate, it makes her look her age, rather than 16. And I understand that whole dilemma.
re pea soup: I’ve been asked to make The Commander’s corn chowder, which I plan to do before she leaves. Someday I will blahg about a rather infamous New Year’s Eve day ice-hiking expotition up in Canada that culminated in pea soup at the Commander’s. Or maybe I already have. But if I did, it’s probably buried in the archives somewhere.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Ashlan & I successfully completed our dress shopping trip – to Nordstroms Rack (where Nordstrom clothes go when they don’t get to stay at Nordstroms anymore). Not 1 but 4 dresses later – but I am OK with that. It was a big sale day and they were $12, $18, $22 and $24, so a good deal for nice dresses. She said about 10 girls on her dorm floor are about the same size and swap back and forth with clothes and shoes. The ham bone and peas are now starting there 2-3 hours of cooking, smells like soup.