The last two weeks have gotten away from me again! That wasn't planned. It's been busy at work, and I've done overtime nearly every day this month. But that's okay! Gotta save up those comp hours for honeymoon, right?
So I just want to talk about how much I love and adore tights. I was first introduced to sweater tights when I moved to Chicago, wearing them for insulation under my jeans. (Sweater tights are basically like long underwear that you don't mind other people seeing.) The sweater tights were brown and pink striped a la Wicked Witch of the East, and I actually wore them for Halloween this year. But aside from my witch tights, I also have just normal solid tights in black, brown, fuschia, teal, patterns, etc. I mean, my tights drawer is getting a little out of control. In an awesome way.
My former colleagues did not quite appreciate my great taste in legwear, but luckily I've moved into a much more artsy office. It's funny, but business-types really are different from writer/designer-types. My epiphany moment was when I was complimented on my outfit of knee-length maroon skirt, grey tights, black shirt and sweater -- the same outfit which had prompted several former colleagues to inform me that I looked like a grandma. I don't know what that really means about the way my office dresses, but we definitely don't look like an off-shoot of Joseph A. Brooks Brothers of Benetton. (Not that we can afford to shop at those places anyway...)
An upside to living in DC is that my tights-flaunting time frame has expanded considerably from approximately three weeks in the fall and two weeks in the "spring" aka June. Chicago gets cold so quickly that, most of the time, my tights were hidden under a pant leg. But here, it's been perfect tights weather since September! Months and months of tights!
But the downside to sheathing one's legs in transparent stretchy material is that the stuf catches on absolutely everything. I was quite distraught this morning when my new comfy aubergine tights (from Target!) snagged on THE BOTTOM OF MY DESK WTF. After a brief flurry of consultation with Internet and colleagues, I went out during lunch to buy an emergency bottle of clear nail polish.
This is what transpired after I huffed and puffed back into the office. To be fair, I also bought an empanada at the DC Holiday Market, so part of it was me trying to walk and eat at the same time. Def not b/c I haven't gone to the gym since I moved from Chicago. But I digress.
Me [to our intern]: Greg, can you open this for me?
Greg: Sure. What is it?
Me: Nail polish.
Greg [looking perplexed, but too polite to ask]: Uhh okay. [tries unsuccessfully to get the cap off] I don't know, I think it's stuck or something.
Me: Right. Which is why I asked you to open it.
Greg [doubtfully looking at the nail polish]: I think you need to run it under hot water or bang it on something.
Me: Um. It's okay, thanks for trying. [suddenly realizing that Greg must think I'm a huge slacker for having nail polish at work] Oh! This isn't for my nails. I'm not giving myself a manicure over here! What! Ha! I need it for my tights.
Greg: Oh. Right. [very awkward pause] What are tights?
Hilary (my amazing awesome and very well-dressed work spouse): Tights. Stockings. You know. Hosiery. Come on, you know what tights are.
Greg: Well, no, actually, I don't.
Me: [still trying convince him of my non-slackerly-ness] NAIL POLISH FIX TIGHTS.
Greg: You know, I'm going to just go back to writing this essay...
Our intern is learning a lot. I'm sure this is something he will look back with fondness, perhaps chuckle over how completely sane and normal his co-workers were.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Well, it's been a while
I'm sure by now whoever stumbles upon this little page is either lost, or perhaps is a curious old friend wondering if I ever bother to update this thing anymore. Either way, hello, welcome and welcome back.
In a way, I suppose I am welcoming myself back, too. It's been quite a while since I last wrote, and I really have no excuses. Well, maybe a couple. June 2011 really took us all for a spin, and I haven't felt much like writing since.
Long story short: in the space of 3 weeks, I got a new job, got engaged, and got really bad news about a family member's health. I feel like I've squeezed more life into the last few months than I have in the last couple of years combined.
And it's funny, but it's like..all of these things that happen act as a sort of sieve, you know? Like everyone I know is a rock or a pebble or a speck of dust, all being shuffled through this net. It's really let me see who my Big Rocks are, whether it's just an "Are you still alive?" text or forcibly dragging me out to a bridal salon to pick out a dress. Each gesture, big or small, really does matter. Really. I know on the outside I might be panicked or pissed off or even apathetic...but they really do matter. So, not to get all sappy and gross, but...thank you. I know I haven't been the best at getting back in touch (or getting on gchat...OKAY OKAY I GET IT, I'm not on gchat very much even though I keep saying I will). Honestly, sometimes I just feel too fretful to talk. Some people are really good writers when they're sad or upset; I prefer to get overemotional while watching horrible television. (Yeah, I watched a lot of L&O: SVU. Yeah, it's made me cry. More than once. You wanna fight???) But really -- thanks.
So I guess the latest updates are: I quite like my new job, and am doing my best to become indispensable so I don't get laid off if the government shuts down. Tyler has moved to VA, so it's been good seeing him on a regular basis. Health issues...well, I don't want to jinx anything, but it does seem that the worst is behind us. My bridesmaids are keeping me on track with the wedding planning, bless them. I think I am an inherently lazy bride, and laziness + life craziness = one really apathetic bride. But I'm happy to report that I do have a wedding dress and all my girls have their dresses ordered! And Tyler and I did a cake tasting a few weeks ago, which I scheduled all by myself, thank you very much. Turns out this whole thing can be kind of fun! (Tyler: "I think that we should periodically pretend that we're engaged and planning a wedding so we can go get free cake.") (No, but seriously. It was delightful.)
I can't believe it's already the last month of 2011, especially with everything that's happened. I've been thinking about what I want to write in my year in review post, which is actually what prompted me to get on this blog tonight. It's been so long since I've thought about blogging, and it was kind of a pleasant return to normalcy. I found myself trying to remember things that happened in March or April, and testing out different phrases to see how they sounded.
In hindsight, I probably should not have done it aloud on the Metro during rush hour, but whatever, I still wasn't the creepiest person in the car. DC is full of freaks, yo.
In a way, I suppose I am welcoming myself back, too. It's been quite a while since I last wrote, and I really have no excuses. Well, maybe a couple. June 2011 really took us all for a spin, and I haven't felt much like writing since.
Long story short: in the space of 3 weeks, I got a new job, got engaged, and got really bad news about a family member's health. I feel like I've squeezed more life into the last few months than I have in the last couple of years combined.
And it's funny, but it's like..all of these things that happen act as a sort of sieve, you know? Like everyone I know is a rock or a pebble or a speck of dust, all being shuffled through this net. It's really let me see who my Big Rocks are, whether it's just an "Are you still alive?" text or forcibly dragging me out to a bridal salon to pick out a dress. Each gesture, big or small, really does matter. Really. I know on the outside I might be panicked or pissed off or even apathetic...but they really do matter. So, not to get all sappy and gross, but...thank you. I know I haven't been the best at getting back in touch (or getting on gchat...OKAY OKAY I GET IT, I'm not on gchat very much even though I keep saying I will). Honestly, sometimes I just feel too fretful to talk. Some people are really good writers when they're sad or upset; I prefer to get overemotional while watching horrible television. (Yeah, I watched a lot of L&O: SVU. Yeah, it's made me cry. More than once. You wanna fight???) But really -- thanks.
So I guess the latest updates are: I quite like my new job, and am doing my best to become indispensable so I don't get laid off if the government shuts down. Tyler has moved to VA, so it's been good seeing him on a regular basis. Health issues...well, I don't want to jinx anything, but it does seem that the worst is behind us. My bridesmaids are keeping me on track with the wedding planning, bless them. I think I am an inherently lazy bride, and laziness + life craziness = one really apathetic bride. But I'm happy to report that I do have a wedding dress and all my girls have their dresses ordered! And Tyler and I did a cake tasting a few weeks ago, which I scheduled all by myself, thank you very much. Turns out this whole thing can be kind of fun! (Tyler: "I think that we should periodically pretend that we're engaged and planning a wedding so we can go get free cake.") (No, but seriously. It was delightful.)
I can't believe it's already the last month of 2011, especially with everything that's happened. I've been thinking about what I want to write in my year in review post, which is actually what prompted me to get on this blog tonight. It's been so long since I've thought about blogging, and it was kind of a pleasant return to normalcy. I found myself trying to remember things that happened in March or April, and testing out different phrases to see how they sounded.
In hindsight, I probably should not have done it aloud on the Metro during rush hour, but whatever, I still wasn't the creepiest person in the car. DC is full of freaks, yo.
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