Tag: life

What are you going to wear?

A friend asked me what I was going to wear to the Bonnie Raitt concert that is the talk of our little town. “Something that fits” I thought. The truth is I don’t think much about clothes, I don’t think I ever did. I am sure this was a disappointment to my mum who tried to give me a sense of style, she certainly had one.

It’s funny how a simple question can lead you down a rabbit hole. I found myself thinking about my history with clothes and style (or lack of it.)

The queen mum as I liked to call her loved to be stylish and died without ever wearing a pair of sweatpants. I think that says it all. I can remember when I was young how she dressed me in classic tailored clothes, no frills or stiff petticoats for her daughter. When I was eight we had a big fight over the camels hair coat she insisted I wear with a beret. Why did I fight her choices? I guess rebellion, my desire from the start to make my own choices.

I was relieved that the Catholic school I went to insisted on uniforms. Pleated skirt (below the knee) white blouse, sweater, with socks and saddle shoes. Sometimes I slept in my uniform so I could sleep later.

In California I discovered blue jeans and they became my uniform. The closest I came to being concerned about fashion was when the “French jean” came out and I HAD to have a pair even though they were twice as expensive as regular jeans.

After high school I decided I was tired of jeans and for the next few years I did play with style leaning mostly towards second hand antique clothes. Leather, velvet, silk, fringe, tye dye. In my early 20’s I moved to Hawaii and gained a tan and lost any sense of dress. I lived in a bikini, sarong and flip flops. Still my favorite mode of clothing.

I never wore high heels, I never wore stockings or a girdle. I never wore makeup. I’m sure all of these “never” confused the queen mum who got up every day and “put on her face’ before slipping into something stylish.

I am back in the jeans now wearing flannel and comfortable shoes. It’s always been about comfort for me.

Disgruntled

Feeling the hostility: could it be all that solar energy?

Just trying to mind my own business but difficult to do when so many people are acting out their anger. My little town known for being so polite at the four way stop sign is showing signs of being frayed around the edges.

I was so excited to go to the dog park with the dog I am pet sitting. I have been watching dogs and their owners have fun in that dog park for a number of years while doing my show from the station at MVC. When I got the chance to take the dog I was sitting to the park I was so pleased. As it turns out everyone at the park knew Woody and he was welcomed back with open arms. The next dog I took care of the exact opposite happened. Winston has not been trained as well as he could be and has some behavioral issues. I had hoped being around other dogs would help some of these issues. He did good with the other dogs for the most part but the owners did not like Winston. He is ball obsessed and would often go after the ball and then refuse to drop it and would often go and attempt to take the ball swing out of their hand. I was working on distracting him by playing just with me but not before one owner started screaming at me about my dog. I will tell you that being screamed out in front of a bunch of strangers and their lovely dogs is not a nice feeling. When I asked her why she was being so hostile she replied “because I’m frustrated.” Aren’t we all lady. There is a small enclosed area which hardly gets used so I took Winston there while I worked with him not to be so aggressive while playing ball. I try to go at times there are not many people around but occasionally for what ever reason another dog owner wants to come in the small area I warn them about Winston and his challenges. Today a man who I have seen there before who has dealt with Winston and been frustrated with his behavior decided he wanted to join us with his dog. He was holding the ball thrower that Winston goes crazy over and I told him I didn’t think it was a good idea. He then blew up at me, screaming who did I think I was that I could have a whole pen to myself etc, etc, etc. This place that had charmed me with the good vibes of dogs and humans connecting and playing together was soiled with his anger and meanness. 

People are so disgruntled these days and acting out in ugly ways. It’s exhausting to be around.