understanding and validation

On my way in to work this morning I was listening to NPR which I do most mornings. They were talking about the up coming election which is about all they ever talk about. They were discussing Newt and Mitt. Ha, what funny-sounding names! Newt and Mitt.

This is not a political post. I listen to stories about politics because I don't want to appear stupid. I get a little out of it before my mind starts to wander on to other things that interest me more. So this analyst was saying that he liked Mitt more and thought that he would make a better President. But he said that he thought that Newt understood the Republian party better. He thought that Newt was more in tune with the feelings of the Republian party. He said something that made me sit up and listen. He said that when a woman tells a man about a problem that she is having, that the man always immediately starts to offer solutions. He said Mitt is like that. But that isn't what the woman wants. She is capable of thinking up her own solutions. What she wants is understanding and validation. She wants him to say (these are my words not his, his were a little more formal) "Awh, that sucks." "I understand how you feel." Followed maybe by a little pat on the hand. I totally identified with what he was saying.

He said that Newt gets this and offers the pat on the hand first and then helps solve the problem. So I guess Newt is more like a woman.

discomfort

Sometimes all you gain when you step outside of your comfort zone is discomfort.

upbeat me

I've been looking at old journals of mine. Once back in 1988 I let myself be talked into selling Mary Kay. I liked the products. I even liked demonstrating them. I didn't like contacting people and asking them to buy or have parties. This is an excerpt from 8/8/88 where I'm giving myself a pep talk.

I've decided that if I'm ever going to do anything with Mary Kay I'd better start. Maybe recording my progress in this diary will help. I'm interested in a career with Mary Kay. I just need to overcome the fear of asking people. Last night I organized my desk and put my financial matters into order. I believe I'll place an order for nail care, holiday items and some glamour and now I need to get out and call people and ask people. I really feel the products are great.

to be continued.......

a mess o running bras

I only own two running bras that I like and both are ragged, the fabric torn away from the elastic. Yesterday during my outing I stopped at Walmart. I used to be able to walk through the clothing section at Walmart and find tons of things I liked. Now I can't find a single thing. But I do like their Hanes running bras. So I picked up five new ones and tossed those ragged ones.



I've been noticing the younger girls at the BAC wearing looser blousier tops recently. At the Goodwill I found this Nike top and this Champion looser fitting top with the original tag still on it.

dealing in counterfeit shoes

I'm so happy that I didn't make a New Year's resolution restricting my number of visits to resale shops. I really don't go as often as I use to but I don't want to feel guilty about going at all because it is one of the great small pleasures in my life. And what is wrong with having small pleasures in life. I've found that when I do go I often end having a theme color or set of colors. One day I'll come home with a bunch of tans and browns, another day I might be attracted to bright colors. But more often than not I'm attracted to black, grey, metallic and dark red. Never bright tomato red. If you look in my closet you may think I'm a very dull person. Maybe I am. I know that I do prefer to wear dull colors. My favorite color for clothing is grey...that sweatshirt grey color.

So I stopped by Goodwill yesterday and had such fun. An hour goes faster in Goodwill than any other place I go. Certainly faster than at work or exercise class.

I picked up a silver cowl neck tunic top, a DNKY dark red sweater with full sleeves gathered at the elbow with ties, a grey with black velvet trim cami, a silvery grey mesh tank from Talbots, two Champion exercise tops (not pictured), a gold Calvin Klein belt and two pair of shoes. One pair of shoes is Ann Marino. I always like her shoes. These will replace a favorite pair of shoes of mine that lost a button. They look a lot alike and both were thrift store finds. This other pair like high-heeled boots....well, they drew me in because they said "Made in Italy" on them. They are sort of cute and will look good with some of my pants that are bit too long or kind of racy with black tights and a skirt. I Googled the brand name when I got home and couldn't come up with a hit. But I did come up with an article about counterfeit shoes that are made in China but have Made in Italy stamped on the sole above the size. Well, guess what? Upon further inspection, I believe these shoes qualify as counterfeit. Not really very well made. But I'm not a shoe snob. I like the cheap ones along with the designer ones.

BTW...if my feet were smaller I could have snagged a pair of Laura Ashley bronze metallic woven linen cloth shoes that were sooooo cute.




This was my exciting find. It's so over-the-top. Here's the little story that goes with it.

I'm poking around all the racks. I have a good eye for spotting the brand names, the fine fabrics. As I'm poking I'm keeping an eye on the two kids putting out the newly marked clothes. A young girl and a young feminine guy. Both have toothpick legs encased in skinny jeans. He has a soft giggle that erupts every time he points out a cute top or a cute pair of jeans to the young lady. Every time he selects a belt that will complete the suggested outfit. At first I think that he is one of those guys that I see in resale shops occasionally who are selecting clothing for their own consumption. Then I realize that he is working. I see see him hang this jacket on a rack that I had just perused. I wait a few minutes and then casually stroll back over. I get that high then you have found something great. It's made in China but it's cute and fit me perfectly. I might not wear it, I might wear it a few times. It's one of those things that a few people will love and most people will think you look like an idiot in. But that has never bothered me much. I go easily from classic to over-the-top.

A final aside.....my sister-in-law posted this quote of Eleanor Roosevelt's recently - Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

I felt instantly offended by this. Discussing people is great fun and some professions are devoted entirely to this. I do have some good ideas sometimes. I can discuss ideas and events. But I have to accept that I prefer to discuss people. I find people more interesting than events. I have a small mind. Lofty Eleanor can go suck an egg.

now serving

Inspired by a Facebook friend's picture post of her dinner out, I quickly put this meal together one night last week. Her dinner was spiral noodles, mushrooms and green peppers in a light sauce and a large erotic-looking sausage. I substituted chicken sausage cut in more delicate manageable chunks, orzo for the spirals, spinach, cherry tomatoes and olives for the green peppers and mushrooms. I cooked the sausage then removed from the pan and added orzo and chicken broth. Then the spinach and olives after the orzo was cooked. And finally for just a minute the cherry tomatoes. Served up with a sprinkle of parm on my new plates. Yum!!

alone again naturally

When I was driving into work this morning my eye was caught by what appeared to be a dirty clump of snow hanging from an overhead wire. As I got closer I saw that it was a white with gray speckled feathers pigeon, all alone on the wire against a white sky and dirty speckled snow background.
I wondered why this guy was all alone as I drove on and spied overhead wires with clumps of pigeons huddled together. When I saw church roofs clotted with pigeons at the base of the spires.
Was he being ostracized for the colors of his feathers? Or maybe he is just a loner and doesn’t like to participate in group activities. Maybe he needed alone time to think his little pigeon thoughts.