The Wardrobing..

I'm getting ready to go on a business trip yet again. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how frequently I travel, it still always takes me FOREVER to pack. Working from home I have the luxury of being able to be as casual or scary as I want to be.. fuzzy slippers, anyone?
Therefore, the thought of having to figure out what the heck I'm going to wear for an entire week is enough to incite fear and panic. Adding to the drama is the fact that my client, who will go unnamed (but suffice it to say is the most alpha male dominated of the military branches and proud of their elite warrior status) spends way too much time analyzing every detail of what I and my team do and say. Granted, they are trained to find the weakness in someone and exploit it to their benefit, but I didn't realize it extended to fashion. This is especially true as they are given to wearing jorts and very odd color combos in their non uniform hours.
Skirt length, sassiness of shoe, etc is all fair game. It's alternately amusing and maddening.
Needless to say, it requires a big try-on and SWOT analysis. Adding to my frustration is that my figure is a bit more womanly since giving birth so it's a delicate dance of trying to downplay curves while not yet looking like Pat on SNL.

The other thing I find so challenging are the goofy labels people assign to dress code.
"Snappy Casual", "California Casual" , "Texas Chic", "Civilian Casual".. egads!
Interpreting this is almost as much fun as the great no gifts debate. Know what I mean about that? You're invited to a party and they say "no gifts" but invariably someone does bring a gift and if you don't you feel like a clod, but if you do, Murphy's Law would have it that you're the only one that does and everyone else is annoyed at you for doing so. Big sigh.

At any rate, after much closet drama and pawing through my hideously overstuffed closet, I think I've assembled something that will sail me through the next few days.
Now I just have to figure out how to cram it all into my suitcase.

Bon voyage!

Kicking and Screaming, she joins the herd...

Well, I've finally done it. Nothing so noble as finding a cure for the common cold or even as moderately thrilling as organizing my closet ( a dream I've had since 1981).. I finally decided to create a blog. I figured I might as well use that English degree and find a forum in which to share some of the random things I encounter in life. Plus, it might be a way for me to redeem myself with my friends since I'm so horrid at keeping in touch- perhaps they will generously give me a pass and use this as a way to keep up with me. :)
Last but not least, I welcome the chance to get to know some new people virtually and get their perspective.
I don't know a lot of other women who fit into the profile of who I am- an older mom (38) who is the primary breadwinner and not one of the uber mommy set. I don't scrapbook, I don't drive a minivan or even a 4 wheel drive, and I have no clue as to how to navigate the politics of playdates. Please don't take this as looking down on people who do those things, that is totally cool if it works for them- it's just not me.

• I'm the mom who always gives the random answers at Gymboree when they ask us to "share" some inane information at the begining of the session and causes the other 20 something parents to gaze at me in slack jawed curiosity.
• I'm the mom balancing her Blackberry and breastpump in the bathroom at DFW trying to rebook her flight for the second time that day.
• I'm the friend that buys you a birthday card months in advance because it's perfect but then I can't find it when the big day comes.. you might get it 2 months after the fact.
• I'm the neighbor that doesn't get the allure of bunco.. I think it's awesome that you want to play, but if I'm lucky enough to have a free evening I'd rather go out and have a cocktail with my girlfriends whom I never get to see.
• I'm the wife that loves my husband to death but is openly THRILLED when he wants to go watch football because it means I might actually get the house to myself
• I'm the woman that can manage a meeting of tough, testosterone pumped alpha males but quakes in the presence of the mean checkout clerk at my grocery store who is always trying to bust me for double couponing.

So, that is me. For those of you that know me, I hope you enjoy these posts, and for those that don't, I look forward to knowing you. Have a great weekend!