The Short and the Long of It...

Last night I decided to get some things done that had been on my list for quite some time, but never near the top. I went to Kohls and bought some shorts. I have not bought new shorts in many years and have not actually worn any for the past year or two because I didn’t have any that fit.

Like most women, I hate shopping for pants, jeans, shorts. I am not the size I once was and the reality of it always hits home in dressing rooms. They are so depressing that I’m not sure why I don’t even hear cries of anguish or cursing of anger. I think it’s because we all blame the lighting. There’s no way we could look as bad as we do in the dressing rooms if it wasn’t for the lighting.

But, for some reason, I’ve had the best luck at Kohls.

I used to always buy at Marshalls and TJ Maxx, but they are so hit and miss that some days I’d make out like a bandit and other days I’d walk out so thoroughly frustrated that I swore I’d never go back. It got to the point where I was comparing it to a bad relationship.

So I cut ties with those stores for basic needs, putting them into the category of shoes and household items only, and moved on to Old Navy. It worked for a while, but either the store is sliding into a much younger direction or I’m sliding into a much older direction. I’m going with Old Navy moving away from me rather than the other way around.

I can’t really remember the epiphany I had over Kohls, but it was rather recent. I suppose it’s the residual effects of the Advil PM I took last night to sleep. However, in less than 30 minutes I walked out with four pairs of shorts. On sale, no less!

So then I hit the Goodwill by my house looking for more work tops. I really love the faux sweater/button down shirt combos that came out last fall because they’re dressy and comfy. My problem, which isn’t really a problem since it’s self-inflicted, is that I have tattoos on my upper arms and want to cover them for work. I know in the summertime I’ll hate the tops, but my department is generally kept pretty cool and I’ll only have to worry about the walk to the car and from the car. I hope.

I struck out at Goodwill. Bleh.

Off to get a pedicure!

I must admit that leaving the spa had some perks that I sorely miss. I got used to trading for a massage by doing the service provider a favor. Or getting my brows done for free because the esthetician had some free time and was bored. But a pedicure was something I rarely did. Namely, because it was one of the few services the spa offered that I could actually do myself with some proficiency.

But since it was evening, and I always use more coats than I probably need, I decided to go to a professional so that they would be dry by bedtime. Which I was hoping would be very early last night.

Now, I went to the place I used to get my nails done at when I used to do acrylics. It’s funny to think I used to be that person, but my mind is slowly moving back to that place. However, my nails are in better condition than they have ever been and I’d be a fool to mess with them at this point.

But the place had changed. It’s about half the size it used to be and very few of them spoke any English. And that was one of the reason that I used to go there – great conversations. Ah well. For a $20 pedi, I suppose I can’t complain too much. I mean, no one talked to me, there was no music or television to distract me from the fact that I could give no input into my pedicure, but it did look good when all was said and done. And the price was a far cry from what I was paying at the spa when I worked there.

I just need to remember to bring a friend next time to talk to. It was a very lonely 45 minutes, but my toes look damn good, if I do say so myself. A nice sparkly blue to go with my red flip flops that I plan on wearing to the Cardinals game next Wednesday.

And speaking of the great American pastime, have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. But please take a moment to remember the meaning of the day. All those men and women who died in combat so that we might have the freedoms that we do, deserve just a few moments of our time.
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Work While You Work, Play While You Play

So I finally found gainful employment. A position I had applied for, seemingly months ago, finally came through. The position had been offered to me, but the money had yet to be mentioned pending reference checks. The call came earlier this week with the salary offer. Which was right where I was hoping it would be, so I enthusiastically accepted. I start Monday.

To say that I’m nervous is an understatement. I really wanted this job when I applied for it. I really wanted this job even more after I interviewed for the position. I was practically salivating over the job when I was brought in to go over a detailed, multi-page job description. I was almost climbing the walls when days turned into a week, then two, without a salary offer.

And then it came and all was right with the world.


But the case of nerves? For a job that I wanted so badly, why am I nervous? Well, it’s partly because I wanted the job so badly that I’m concerned that I’ll be let down by all the build-up, but there’s also the fact that for a few years I bemoaned the fact that I was working in a job that didn’t require my college degree. And now that I’m back on track in a PROFESSIONAL career, it’s overwhelming.

I have always wanted to work in the field of non-profit fundraising. I like the idea of grassroots much better than corporate. I love the idea of making a difference in this crazy world of ours. I really think that this job will let me get back into doing what I do best... working with people and making them feel good about the financial decisions they made in donating to a good cause and generating creative ideas on generating new money-making events.

But it’s been several years since I worked at a non-profit and while I hope it’s like riding a bike and will soon become quite comfortable, the nature of the business has to have changed in these tough economic times. While I’m good at the whole baptism under fire – learning under pressure is the only way to go – I just hope that this old dog doesn’t need to learn all new tricks.

So in light of the new job, I have gone shopping. Target’s sales racks are dangerous and addictive. In two days, I have hit four stores with mixed results. When I wasn’t looking for anything but ‘work clothes,’ I did great. But when I started to look for items that I had already bought in different colors, I learned that clearance is a whole lot of things that don’t sell well and a little bit of single items getting marked down to make room.

But in my excursion yesterday, I headed south. And south took me farther than the South County Target. I cruised down 270 to 255 and exited at Koch Road. Yes, I drove Robert Koch Hospital Road, looking longingly to my left, as I lead a parade of trucks and cars who thwarted my hopes of driving slowly along the former hospital grounds in an attempt to see if there was an easy way to slip onto the property. Curses, foiled again.

So today, my official last day of unemployment – because the weekend doesn’t count – will be spent shopping some more. I plan on returning a few things to Target that were bought in the heat of the moment, and then off to scoop up my mother-in-law and whisk her off to the happiest of happy places for book lovers around the region… the St. Louis Book Fair out at West County Mall.

For those of you not in the know, it’s my idea of Heaven… and Hell. Books! Cheap Books! For as far as the eye can see! All waiting for a good home to go to…
And that’s my problem. I want to rescue them all.

But I plan on focusing my search this year. Books that are no older than five years old pertaining to non-profits and ways to fundraise and, drum roll please, historical romance novels that aren’t overly formulaic. Yes, they are a guilty pleasure of mine, but someday – and sooner rather than later – I want to publish. I have a story I’m editing that others have enjoyed so I figure that I can chock up this kind of reading as ‘research.’

What a double life that would be… Making the world a better place by day and bodice-ripping authoress by night. Hey, maybe that can be an incentive for people to buy my book! With each purchase, I’d donate a percentage of the profit to a charitable organization. I might have to explore that idea…
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