“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
It is so cold (how cold is it?) that my computer has been freezing on me, and the air turns blue when it does.
It has been a struggle this morning to get up and running. Gracie is so used to me and my computer tirades that she slept through it all. Now the computer wants to turn itself off to update. I won’t let it. I am in charge. So there, HAL.
Winter has returned, and it really is cold. The temperature says 30°, but the weatherman said it feels more like 20°. It is, of course, my dump day. Because the dump is the coldest place in the state on a day like today, I fear I have annoyed Mother Nature in some way. Solzhenitsyn would have been able to stay right by the newspaper recycle bin to write his novel. I wish I didn’t have to go out, but I need some groceries and some cat food. I’ll put Miss Gracie’s lovely Pendleton coat on her so she won’t get too cold in the car. The dog dresses better than I do.
I really don’t get dressed up very often. I have few reasons. The last time was a wedding in October. Before that I wore a dress in August in Ghana for the swearing-in ceremony. Both dresses were new. One is my summer dress and the other is my fall dress. I only hope there are no events in winter requiring a dress.
The dress requirements for women have changed dramatically since I was a kid. Back then I had to wear a dress to church, and we always wore uniforms, skirts and blouses, to school. Even in college, skirts or dresses were required until my sophomore year. When I was in Ghana, I also had to wear a dress. We were told only women who worked street corners wore pants, yamayama girls.
Pants suits came next, and they were acceptable dress substitutes at weddings and other once formal gatherings. Everything went downhill after that. My grandmothers never gave in and always wore dresses, but my mother easily accepted the fashion of wearing pants. I think that was an indicator of the anything goes fashion trend.
Now, women wear shorts to church, and I wore pants in Ghana. Many women there, including a couple of my former students, wore pants. I hate getting dressed up for anything. Panty hose is a remnant of the torture devices used during the inquisition. Heels are potential ankle breakers. The only ones I have are short and chunky like the nuns used to wear only mine have colors and no ties.
I am happiest wearing cozy clothes which keep me warm in winter. I wear slippers in the house all the time. Sometimes I even wear them outside: they look a bit like clogs. When I’ll get dressed to go to the dump, I’ll wear corduroy pants, a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt with a hood. That’s about as dressed up as I ever get.
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February 3, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Almost -5F here this morning and it will be even colder this night they say and it seems they are right unfortunately 🙂
But I think Solzhenitsyn just would say: In siberia this is summer temperatures, You are so spoiled, with a very russian accent 🙂 🙂 🙂 He would even laugh when I complain over how cold it is here now 🙂 🙂
I’m much like You when it comes to clothes now days, but there was a time when I could have been called a snob 🙂 🙂 Even though the period was rather short I think I could have a good life for more than a year with all that money I spent on clothes 🙂 🙂 🙂
Now days anything goes as long as it doesn’t fall apart 🙂 I think my rich friends in gothenburg says I’m the poor friend from the countryside when people asks who I am 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
February 3, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Christer,
I saw your blog and decided even the pictures looked cold.
You’re right-this may be a bit warm for a gulag winter but everything is relative. I think he wouldn’t laugh at your complaints!
I’m with you. If it finally has too many holes or worn spots I sadly toss it away. I hate spending money on clothes.
February 3, 2012 at 1:18 pm
February 3, 2012 at 2:26 pm
What’s up, morpfy?
February 3, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Hi Kat,
I went to pant suits as soon as I could. Much more comfortable to deal with work. I will admit to a fondness for high heel shoes. Unfortunately, Karma’s a byotch as they say and my knee problems have made the wearing of high heels impossible. 🙁
Winter occasions nowadays would call for my autumn outfit and a coat. Spring would be my summer outfit and a shawl. But I would try really hard to get away with jeans and sweater. 🙂
It’s sunny and cold here, too. 45 days until Spring. Enjoy the day.
February 3, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Hi Caryn,
I always wore skirts or dresses to work. As an administrator I had to maintain a certain decorum. It killed me.
I couldn’t wear heels as I often had to go into the woods to find the escapees. That was just fine with me. I usually wore clogs to work as they are so comfortable.
It seems we both have seasonal wardrobes.
February 3, 2012 at 2:20 pm
One year ago tonight, on a cold dark icy runway, I felt and blew apart my right leg from the knee through the ankle.
The rehab took forever, jobs got changed. stuff happened (can you say heart operation) and I was left with a painful installation of rods, plates and screws which felt foreign in my body.
Two weeks ago the entire installation was removed, and today the 60 staples holding my leg together were popped out.
I sit in my office in a tracksuit and trainers feeling so much better and looking forward to a full recovery.
So it is a good moment to reflect on those things that bring you joy and to say “wherever you are, may your God go with you” (Dave Allen)
February 3, 2012 at 2:31 pm
My Dear Hedley,
It is amazing how far you have come in a single year. You had so much to deal with yet you made it through everything and was even able to travel.
Now you don’t have to avoid magnets any more!
I am so glad for you that finally the medical road has ended. I figure that enough has happened to you that the future looks great!
I send this right back to you:
“wherever you are, may your God go with you”
February 3, 2012 at 5:29 pm
I haven’t worn a suit since Rebecca’s wedding. Good luck this Super weekend.
February 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Z&Me,
Thanks on the game!
I don’t see suits all that much anywhere.
February 3, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I have worked in the same flight school since 1990. The instructors have to wear uniforms which are supplied by the company. We wore navy blue blazers, gray slacks, light blue button down shirts and either blue or red stripped ties. About ten years ago the company instituted a casual Friday for all the employees. The instructors were issued navy golf shirts to go with the slacks on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The students used to come dressed in business casual attire but now many wear Jeans, tee shirts and sneakers. In recent years they wear anything including cutoffs and flip flops in the summer.
Finally, a couple of years ago I was able to convince the powers that be that we should wear business casual uniforms all the time. We disposed of the ties and jackets and now wear the button down dress shirts with the gray slacks on Monday through Thursdays and the golf shirts on Fridays and the weekend. How did I accomplish this feat in a company which is steeped in ancestor worship? The company was spending $26,000 a year to buy each instructor two Jackets and two ties. As usual, money talks and everything else walks.
February 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Bob,
The uniforms sound exactly how I’d imagine flight instructors to dress. They remind me of airline pilot uniforms. Well-dressed pilots seemed to give off an aura of authority and competence.
I think the business casual dress sounds just fine too. Ties do not make the man! Your casual Friday and the golf shirts were a great idea!
February 4, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Going to church as a child in a Buffalo winter meant itchy wool pants. Even worse if they were wet from the slush. It was like doing penance, like the monks who still wear hair shirts.
February 4, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Bill,
I remember itchy wool sweaters so I know what you’re talking about. I hated wool for the longest time. Now my favorites are wool socks as they keep my feet toasty warm.
If I had to choose which hair shirt, mine would be a cat fur shirt, so nice and soft.