As I was watching "Privileged" tonight, I was reminded of myself.
Cute, well-dressed girls with glossy hair going to fabulous parties on yachts. That is so me!
O.K. maybe not. But this line (about the tutor, not the glamorous girls) "I know you're one of those must-be-the-best-at-everything-she-does girls, but don't let your job get in the way of your real life" could be about me.
I'm always confusing my job for my life. In fact I'm not sure what my real life would be without my job. What if your job becomes your life?
I imagine I'm not the only one pondering this question since there's no shortage of television lines devoted to the subject. (Remember in "Sex and the City" when Carrie yells at Miranda, "my column isn't who I am, it's what I do.")
Maybe it's especially difficult to compartmentalize your job when it's creative, maybe it's due to working long hours, maybe it's not having enough other interests (probably due to the long hours).
I'm not sure exactly the reason, but lots of my friends and I seem to be allowing our jobs to run our lives. Certainly the gloomy news about the newspaper industry is hard for all my journalist friends. It seems everyone I talk to is waiting for "the other shoe to drop" or "the last straw."
What can we do? I guess we can stop obsessing. We can try to spend more time thinking about our lives. We can also try to leave our work problems at the office.
I guess at the very least we can watch more TV. That always helps me take my mind off my job (and my life).
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bridesmaid Dress: Part II
A friend of mine has questioned my decision to give the bridesmaid dress a sequel, so here is a photo. Decide for yourself.
Monday, September 22, 2008
A dress for a wedding
I narrowly avoided another wardrobe crisis Saturday. I had a formal wedding to attend. How formal? Some of the guests wore tuxes. Yes, the guests.
I pretty much panicked when I found out I'd need a fancy dress. As much as I love dress shopping, I just couldn't justify buying a new one.
I bought three summer dresses at the beginning of the season, and I didn't wear any of them. They're all classic styles, so there's still hope for them. And they were on sale, which eases my guilt. But with those three dresses haunting my closet, there was no hope I could buy a new dress for this wedding.
How could none of my recent purchases work? One is a sun dress, another is a cute little informal black dress and then there's the perfect strapless dress with a bubble skirt. Well, perfect except that it's white.
As I was rummaging through my closet, I came across that dress that you know you'll never wear again even though you promise your friend you will. The dress you convince your friend is exactly something you would have picked out for a million other occasions. The bridesmaid dress.
This one's a green, knee-length dress with a little belt and spaghetti straps. I pulled it out of the closet and tried it on. It still fit! I took off the tiny rhinestone-studded belt and added a wide black belt. I tucked in the spaghetti straps and put on a short-sleeved cardigan. Black wedge heels and a pink clutch completed the outfit.
So, thanks Karly. I really did wear that dress again, and it worked perfectly!
I pretty much panicked when I found out I'd need a fancy dress. As much as I love dress shopping, I just couldn't justify buying a new one.
I bought three summer dresses at the beginning of the season, and I didn't wear any of them. They're all classic styles, so there's still hope for them. And they were on sale, which eases my guilt. But with those three dresses haunting my closet, there was no hope I could buy a new dress for this wedding.
How could none of my recent purchases work? One is a sun dress, another is a cute little informal black dress and then there's the perfect strapless dress with a bubble skirt. Well, perfect except that it's white.
As I was rummaging through my closet, I came across that dress that you know you'll never wear again even though you promise your friend you will. The dress you convince your friend is exactly something you would have picked out for a million other occasions. The bridesmaid dress.
This one's a green, knee-length dress with a little belt and spaghetti straps. I pulled it out of the closet and tried it on. It still fit! I took off the tiny rhinestone-studded belt and added a wide black belt. I tucked in the spaghetti straps and put on a short-sleeved cardigan. Black wedge heels and a pink clutch completed the outfit.
So, thanks Karly. I really did wear that dress again, and it worked perfectly!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Extra amibiance, hold the reality
In this month's Food & Wine magazine, (yes, I know I'm a snob) editor Dana Cowin writes about how going to restaurants is like traveling to new places. I know exactly what she's talking about. Dining is no longer a prequel to an event, it is the event.
Sure, eating at an Italian restaurant isn't the same as a visit to Tuscany, but for an hour or two, can't you pretend?
I can. A few weeks ago, the husband and I had dinner at a cute little Italian place in town. It was Friday, my favorite night of the week. I was giddy with optimism for the weekend and full of relief at surviving another work week.
The restaurant was cozy with its strategically placed village street lamps, comfy booths and soft linens. It was designed like an Italian street cafe, and Columbus seemed very far away.
A glass of wine and a basket of warm buttery bread later and the tension was melting away. Leaning across the table, looking into my husband's eyes, steeling bites of his pasta, I was "contenta."
Sure, it would be nice to jet off to San Francisco for dinner (hello, new "90210") but sometimes, with the right companion and attitude, an in-town restaurant is a destination.
Sure, eating at an Italian restaurant isn't the same as a visit to Tuscany, but for an hour or two, can't you pretend?
I can. A few weeks ago, the husband and I had dinner at a cute little Italian place in town. It was Friday, my favorite night of the week. I was giddy with optimism for the weekend and full of relief at surviving another work week.
The restaurant was cozy with its strategically placed village street lamps, comfy booths and soft linens. It was designed like an Italian street cafe, and Columbus seemed very far away.
A glass of wine and a basket of warm buttery bread later and the tension was melting away. Leaning across the table, looking into my husband's eyes, steeling bites of his pasta, I was "contenta."
Sure, it would be nice to jet off to San Francisco for dinner (hello, new "90210") but sometimes, with the right companion and attitude, an in-town restaurant is a destination.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Fall is the season for football
It was cool – event a bit chilly – last night for the first time since spring. Summer usually lasts until November here in the South, but I'm hoping we'll get an early fall this year.
I love the crisp breeze, changing colors and falling leaves that autumn brings. Fall is also synonymous with football in my house. I'm married to a former high school quarterback who has at least two fantasy football teams every season. I grew up in a small Midwestern town where Friday nights were spent sitting on cold, hard bleachers cuddled up under wool blankets watching high school football.
The husband's favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys. Has been a huge fan since he was a kid. My favorite teams are the Colts, Giants and Ravens. Have been since I discovered the Manning boys and Todd Heap.
With four teams to follow each season, our Sundays are usually spent watching football. Sometimes we invite friends over to sit on the couch - beers in hands - watching TV. Sometimes we sit on hard seats at sports bars - beers in hands- trash talking with other football fans. Sometimes we're lucky enough to be sitting on folding chairs - beers in hands - in a parking lot outside the Georgia Dome meeting new people, waiting to see a game.
Tomorrow will be such a day. We'll be tailgating before the Lions/Falcons game. O.K., sure this is not likely to be a outstanding display of talent and these aren't even "our" teams, but football is fun. And watching live football is really fun.
What makes football fun? For the husband it's following players' careers, memorizing stats about interceptions thrown, yards run and touchdowns scored. For me it's sitting – beer in hand – chatting with friends.
I love the crisp breeze, changing colors and falling leaves that autumn brings. Fall is also synonymous with football in my house. I'm married to a former high school quarterback who has at least two fantasy football teams every season. I grew up in a small Midwestern town where Friday nights were spent sitting on cold, hard bleachers cuddled up under wool blankets watching high school football.
The husband's favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys. Has been a huge fan since he was a kid. My favorite teams are the Colts, Giants and Ravens. Have been since I discovered the Manning boys and Todd Heap.
With four teams to follow each season, our Sundays are usually spent watching football. Sometimes we invite friends over to sit on the couch - beers in hands - watching TV. Sometimes we sit on hard seats at sports bars - beers in hands- trash talking with other football fans. Sometimes we're lucky enough to be sitting on folding chairs - beers in hands - in a parking lot outside the Georgia Dome meeting new people, waiting to see a game.
Tomorrow will be such a day. We'll be tailgating before the Lions/Falcons game. O.K., sure this is not likely to be a outstanding display of talent and these aren't even "our" teams, but football is fun. And watching live football is really fun.
What makes football fun? For the husband it's following players' careers, memorizing stats about interceptions thrown, yards run and touchdowns scored. For me it's sitting – beer in hand – chatting with friends.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Rah, rah Sarah
I wish that I'd counted how many times Sarah Palin said John McCain's name during her speech at Wednesday's Republican National Convention.
I feel like I'm in high school. He's the quarterback. She's the head cheerleader. She's the supportive wife and mother. He's the powerful, successful man.
She mostly talked about having a son in the Army, mothering a baby boy with special needs, being a member of the PTA and a taking pride in her status as a hockey mom. I'm not sure what these things have to do with being vice president, but she sounds like a interesting person to chat with over coffee.
She's a good speaker, and she was pretty funny (yay, speech writers). I thought she was a bit mean and took some cheap shots at Obama. But that strategy could work if, in comparison, McCain comes across as a more gentle and good-hearted grandfather (he is 72) in his speech tomorrow.
At first, I was surprised McCain chose such an unknown running mate, especially when news of her pregnant 17-year-old daughter broke. But I was surprised because I thought choosing a woman symbolized McCain's desire to grab some Hillary Clinton supporters. After hearing Palin speak, I realize that I was wrong. McCain simply wants a cheerleader. A small-town, pro-life, devout woman with a big, beautiful family will make his perfect wing-woman.
I'm just not sure she's the perfect wing-woman for America.
I feel like I'm in high school. He's the quarterback. She's the head cheerleader. She's the supportive wife and mother. He's the powerful, successful man.
She mostly talked about having a son in the Army, mothering a baby boy with special needs, being a member of the PTA and a taking pride in her status as a hockey mom. I'm not sure what these things have to do with being vice president, but she sounds like a interesting person to chat with over coffee.
She's a good speaker, and she was pretty funny (yay, speech writers). I thought she was a bit mean and took some cheap shots at Obama. But that strategy could work if, in comparison, McCain comes across as a more gentle and good-hearted grandfather (he is 72) in his speech tomorrow.
At first, I was surprised McCain chose such an unknown running mate, especially when news of her pregnant 17-year-old daughter broke. But I was surprised because I thought choosing a woman symbolized McCain's desire to grab some Hillary Clinton supporters. After hearing Palin speak, I realize that I was wrong. McCain simply wants a cheerleader. A small-town, pro-life, devout woman with a big, beautiful family will make his perfect wing-woman.
I'm just not sure she's the perfect wing-woman for America.
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