Fashion Consultant

I am leaving tomorrow and I am a little sad about it. I'm going to a huge convention in a wonderful city, and I'm giving an hour-long talk on a subject I find fascinating, and I'm really not sure the whole thing is a good idea. I've never been away from Petely overnight before and I am afraid he will be sad. It's only one night, right?

I am also a little worried about mean people coming to my talk: people who want to demonstrate that they know more about the topic than I do, or people who think I am pushing a particular political agenda, or people who are some kind of mean I haven't thought of. This morning's reading was Shadrach et al. in the fiery furnace, and I've been thinking about them all day. (The drama queen strikes again.)

Anyway, I didn't sit down here to whine. I sat down to tell you that I just asked Elwood, "Do you have any fashion advice for me? What should I wear?" Most people would have worked this out some time ago, I realize, but I have been stumped by the shoe issue. If I am taking public transportation, I need good walking shoes. Do my good walking shoes go with any of my favorite dressy clothes? They do not. Should I wear impractical shoes and take a taxi? This offends my frugal Scottish soul. Should I take extra shoes? That would violate the Parsimonious Packing Principle.

You see my dilemma.

At this moment I am wearing a dark orange shirt with mint green pajama pants. I wanted to wash the pants I wore today, but I was busy and distracted and didn't put on a pajama top. I clash violently. You would need to shield your eyes to be in this room with me. Elwood, however, looked me up and down when I asked him to put on his fashion consultant hat. "Wear anything," he said. "Wear what you're wearing."

Yeah.

Comments

[Sarah]

I say that instead of taking a taxi, use that money towards another pair of dressy, comfortable walking shoes. That way you only have to pack one pair (convienence!), you'll "save" the money on the taxi (frugality), and in the end you'll have a nice pair of shoes to show for it. Better than wasting money on a taxi ride and having nothing to show for it, right? For a little more you get shoes!

Of course, this is logic I use pretty frequently. It may be faulty.

[Lilian]

I hope everything went well, that you found what to wear, gave a great talk, and, most important of all, didn't miss Petey too much. This summer I spent the very first days away from my sons and it was OK. They're older, though, 3 and 5.

[pnuts mama]

bring the extra pair of shoes- you'll be glad to be comfortable on the way there and back, and you'll feel more confident during your talk. parsimony schmarsinony. sometimes, it's ok to be a woman!

best of luck to you- we'll say a prayer!