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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 140 Comments · by

Coffee Break: Anti-Theft Hobo Bag

Coffee Break

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Pacsafe CitySafe™ 400 GII Anti-Theft Hobo BagWhile hunting for basic black bags for our earlier roundup, I found this interesting “anti-theft” hobo bag, which I could see being a nice bit of security if you're traveling. In addition to a padded laptop compartment and a zillion little zippered pockets, there are a ton of safety features —  you can clip the zipper closed, the fabric is slash-proof, and it blocks identity scanners with RFIDsafe pockets. If you're traveling this summer, or even moving to a new city and still learning the lay of the land, I'd consider this. It's available in black, blue, purple, and beige for $99 at Zappos. Pacsafe CitySafe™ 400 GII Anti-Theft Hobo Bag (L-2)

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Comments

  1. Anooooooon

    This is a re-post from the thread this morning, cause I think I posted too late for most people to have seen it:

    I have a question about job hunting – informational interviews. How does one do them? This idea seems even more foreign and awkward to me than networking events.

    For background, I am a third-year law student about to graduate in May. I have great credentials (not to toot my own horn too much) and solid pre-law-school work experience, but I currently have no after-graduation employment plans and am getting more worked up by the day about this. I’m trying to work in DC or NoVa, because my husband works in that area and we don’t want to move or be apart. I have alerts set on pretty much every job posting site, so I’m working the job postings already. I think I need to do more.

    So, do I just start calling up alumni and asking them out for coffee? For a phone call? Email them questions? I read that I’m supposed to ask questions, but I have no idea what to ask (aside from “Will you hire me?,” which I’ve been told not to ask). This is really out of my comfort zone, so I would really appreciate some guidance.

    • Mpls

      Ask for 20 minutes of their time to talk to them about the work they do. What do they see as the necessary skills for success? How do people usually join their organization? Where would they see someone with XYZ credentials (like yours) being successful in this industry? Who else would they suggest you talk to?

      My theory in info interviews is that you are gathering information about the industry and putting your name and face in front of people who may not be in a position to offer you a job, but might be able to recommend you to some who can.

    • Melissa A

      Are you a GMUSL student? Just curious. I just graduated 2012 and had to do a whole bunch of that networking business last year. I feel like in the process I because am “expert on networking.” If you’d like, we can sit down over coffee and I can give you some advice based on my experiences.

      • Anooooooon

        I’m not from GMUSL, another similarly ranked area school. I would love to sit down for coffee if you’re interested! Email me at ely.[this site] @ gmail and we can set something up!

      • January

        I did a lot of networking over two years of clerking, and for what it’s worth, this is basically how the process works. You contact someone (I usually did it by e-mail) on the basis of some connection –e.g, shared alma mater — and introduce yourself as a 3L who is looking for work. Then you say that you are looking for advice about approaching the job market and/or express an interest in their practice and learing about their career path. In my experience, most people are receptive to meeting for lunch or coffee to discuss these things and will introduce you to other people that they think might be helpful for you. I *eventually* found a job this way… and just so you know, my position was not advertised on any job posting website.

        • Hel-lo

          This is precisely right. A few years ago, I received a notecard in the mail from someone who had graduated from my school and had just moved to town. It just said, “I’m looking to expand my network.” Another alum of my same school who I worked with also got one, and it freaked out my co-worker. I think the sender had gotten a list of local alumni from our school. I responded to the note, and now I’m good friends with the person who sent it.

          Yes, it’s kind of awkward.

          But stay at it. This is really a step to success. Don’t give up because it feels weird. You may send out a ton of notes/emails/calls and might not get all the responses you like. Stay at it. You’d be surprised at how many responses you will get.

    • Anonymous

      Always ask people how they got there. What is their story. You’ll pick up some surprising info when you put a half dozen or dozen of those together.

    • Flamingo

      A couple of other tips: Send a brief email – people are busy and may not read a 3 paragraph note. Try to state in the first couple of sentences why you are contacting them and that you would like to speak for 15 – 20 mins of their time (if for a phone call), or grab lunch or dinner briefly. Make sure to mention if you have any connection to them (went to the same school, are from the same state, know someone in common), etc. I would also provide 3 times when you are available, but also mention you’ll work around their schedule.

      I used to write these nice, longer notes explaining my background, why I was interested in the area, etc. And I got some responses, but not as many as I did once I switched to shorter notes. It’s helpful to remember that the purpose of the email is to get on their calendar, and you can dazzle them once you meet them / speak with them.

  2. TO Lawyer

    Wow this bag would have been perfect for me when I was in Barcelona last and my cell phone was stolen out of my zipped up cross-body bag.

    On another note, (hope this isn’t TMI) I think I’m making tremendous progress post-breakup. I told my ex to stop calling to just check in, deleted all the reminders on my phone and went on a date this weekend. I’m really quite proud of myself – it’s quite the turnaround from last week! Thanks again ladies for all your support over the past few weeks!

    • springtime

      That’s AMAZING progress! Really! Sounds like in your gut you know it’s the right call.

      Also- how did your cell get stolen??

      • TO Lawyer

        I was on the subway when it was really crowded, some people got on the train and were really loud, jostled me so I was separated from my friend and then got off the train. When they got off the train, I looked down and realized my purse was open and my phone was gone. I don’t even know how it happened…

        • Anon

          Yep, we had this happen to us at a nightclub in Vegas. Crowded dance floor, my friend didn’t notice that someone had unzipped her purse and stolen all of our cash/IDs, etc. It was awful. I’ve learned to only buy the ones where I can clip the zipper into the strap of the purse, which seems like I’d be more likely to notice the pull on the strap. I also tend to keep my bag right in front of me, rather than on my hip or behind me.

          Its really too bad people can’t just keep their grubby mitts to themselves.

    • Divaliscious11

      5’10” and wish I had another 2 inches – which I usually provide via heels
      I love dressing monochromatically
      Men in business seem to treat me differently – probably because I look them in the eye
      Negative – when clothes are short on the model, they’ll probably be too short on me

      But my husband is 6’7″ so it works, and our tall children look completely average height at home!

    • Ellen

      This is the troubel with BIG bag’s with alot of zipper’s. I can NEVER find exactely in which zipper I put stuff, so I am fumbeling with the bag alot. When this hapens at the airport, I am in big TROUBEL. But it is still CUTE!

      Ed’s freind, Philip, called — FINALLEY! He said he was out of TOWN on a project, so he could NOT call earleir. HE SAID he is VERY happy that Ed thought of HIM when it came to his wifes’ sister, b/c Ed is also very pickey. He evididenetely has met Rosa, and he think’s I am a clone of her (Ed Says so). I said I am OLDER and heavyier than her, but still very PRETTY, but NOT a model like her. He asked who I looked like, so I had to sayGwineth Paltrow, even tho I have a bigger tuchus then her. I wanted to say Clair Dane’s, but I did not and her tuchus is also smaller then mine.

      Philip sounded happy to hear this and we talked for 10 minutes, until the manageing partner came in to go over the breif’s I had to file today, so I had to hang up. He seemed NICE on the phone, and we agreed to talk again, tho did NOT set up a meeteing yet. I will discuss with DAD and Myrna tonite. YAY! I am geting very busy on socieal thing’s. But I have to go to COURT tomorow, b/c of the caseload is NOT getteing any lighter. It is very dificult balanceing all the professionael things with the life of a gal in the big city. YAY!!!!

  3. Hollis Doyle

    Hmm, I’d never thought about adding safety features on a bag. Interesting concept. I love that shade of purple too.

    Random question – is there a way to cook chicken in the crock pot so that it doesn’t shred? Do I just cook it for a shorter amount of time? What I’m looking for is a way to cook frozen chicken breasts that doesn’t involve thawing, which rules out frying, grilling, baking, broiling, etc. If possible, I just want to be able to throw them in the crock pot while frozen and then have them turn out just like a grilled chicken breast. Can I?

    • Anonymous

      It’s not really so safe to cook frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot (without thawing). I know people do it all the time, but as far as I know it’s not recommended because of the amount of time the chicken will spend at a lukewarm sort of temperature (aka friendly environment for bacteria). You also won’t get a grilled texture/flavour from the crockpot (I love the crockpot, but it’s not capable of a bunch of things). Why not take the chicken out of the freezer in the morning, leave in the fridge while you’re at work, and invest in a small Foreman type countertop grill to cook them when you get home? It really takes very little time.

    • mascot

      I think the safer way is just to speed up your defrost. I put individually wrapped pieces of meat in a sink of warm water and they defrost quickly. You could thaw them the night before, refrigerate and then toss them in the crock pot the next day.

      • saacnmama

        What if I move them from the freezer to fridge overnight? Could I use the crockpot the next day?

        I’m a vegetarian, trying to figure out how to cook meat for my son.

        • Monica

          That’s what I do. (Freezer to fridge overnight, then crockpot). The result is an easy to shred chicken breast, which Hollis Doyle wants to avoid. (I really like putting the cb in with salsa – so easy).

    • Anonymous

      We bake our frozen chicken breasts all the time. We buy the flash frozen chicken breasts that come in bulk and they have instructions on baking from frozen…

      I can look and see what the exact instructions are, but I think it is usually 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes depending on the size of the chicken.

  4. Equity's Darling

    I’ve been feeling pretty jealous of all my tall friends recently. I’m quite short, and it drives me a little insane. Tall people get nice long legs, they get to wear pants without being worried about looking stumpy, they get to have maxi dresses, they get to see better at movies and concerts, their waist is at the right point for shirts/dresses, etc. Oh, and they get to eat more, simply for being taller. I’m 5’2, and I have a 32 inseam, so I’m a little long in the leg/short in the waist, which means petite bottoms never seems to fit right, but regular bottoms aren’t right either.

    I’d love to have an extra 3 inches at least, though if I was being honest, probably another 6-7 inches. I know, it’s a stupid complaint, but, I’ve been feeling really short and sad recently.

    So, I want to hear good/bad things about being tall and good/bad things about being short. I see no downsides to being tall, yet I’m sure they exist, and I see no upsides to being short, but I’m sure they also exist. I will also encourage commentary regarding other body parts you can’t change- e.g. feet size, arm length, etc.

    • Anon Today

      I’m 5’9″, 145 lbs, and haven’t grown since 5th grade (that’s not an exaggeration). I was that enormous kid in your school who was at least a head taller than everyone else and I envied the small, cute girls who fit into girls’ clothing and didn’t have to buy size 10 shoes and shop in the women’s section when they were 12. Even though I’m not enormous, I still feel like a huge person because I spent my entire childhood—really until my early 20s—being taller than my peers (boys included). Going to my high school reunion was awesome because everyone else was finally something approaching my height.

      I also hate washing dishes because I have to lean over so far (long legs + short arms). I raised the counters in my house by two inches and that helps a lot.

      Finding jeans, pants, skirts, dresses is a huge pain in the a. Yes, you can order the tall lengths, but those are sold online. I want to try them on in the store and see if they fit!

      Double beds and twin beds are always too short.

      Honestly, as an adult, I like being tall. I like having long legs (even if buying bottom half clothing is annoying). And fortunately I have a boyfriend who doesn’t mind if I’m a smidge taller than he is when I wear heels. Maybe some day I’ll train my brain to realize I’m not really enormous.

      • Equity's Darling

        You’re like my ideal height!

        That being said, I can comfortably nap on a loveseat couch, and stretch out to my full length on a regular couch, so I guess that’s a bonus?

        I’d like to add the complaint that the top shelf everywhere is unusable by me without a step stool. And when I change a lightbulb in my apartment, I have to sometimes stand on my kitchen table, because a chair doesn’t give me enough height, I’m constantly terrified that I’m going to break my neck.

        • lucy stone

          5’6″ woman married to a 5’8″ man – we have a lightbulb grabber pole for changing lightbulbs. We got it for ones in our exposed stairwell that we couldn’t reach, but I use it for everything now.

          • Equity's Darling

            Brilliant. I am now on a mission to acquire a grabber pole, because I am clumsy as it is, and certainly asking for trouble by standing on tables/counters.

          • NOLA

            Unfortunately, that only helps if you can reach the lightbulb. I can just *barely* reach to be able to remove the globes from the light fixtures, on my tiptoes on a step ladder, on my 10 ft. ceilings. I’m 5’6″ and my SO isn’t much taller.

          • AIMS

            I use kitchen tongs to grab things off high shelves. Not plates or light bulbs, but works great with pantry items and pill bottles.

            As for the tall/short debate, a very tall guy I once had a crush on summed it up thusly: “you see people’s boogers, but I see everyone’s dandruff and how dusty their cabinets are.”

      • Wannabe Runner

        Love this thread. Sounds like there are advantages and disadvantages at every height.

        I’m 5’7″. I just want to chime in with Anon Today and say that I also reached my maximum height in 4th or 5th grade. I was HUGE for a kid. Off the charts in the earlier grades. I was gangly and wobbly and my mom was always pestering me about my posture. Other people would say I was “built like a model,” like they were jealous of me. I’ll tell you what: no 12-15-year-old feels like a model. I was also really bad at all sports, yes, including basketball.

        My mom used to tease me about my size a little, and my uncle used to tease me A LOT. He passed away and I still don’t want to think about him because of how much of a jerk he was to me about my size. Other kids didn’t want to make fun of the kid who was bigger than them, but all bets are off with cruel family members. (He also teased me about my leg hair before I started shaving, etc.)

        I was sooooooooo happy when everyone else finally caught up, especially the boys.

        Tall celebrities say they were uncomfortable with their tall, gangly bodies as teens, and no one believes them.

        But actually, it really sucked.

        • Cb

          Me too! I stopped growing in 6th grade. Now I wish I had about 2 more inches on me.

        • CrimsonClover

          I too reached max height about the 3rd/4th grade (early puberty, as I was already forced into wearing a bra and shaving by 2nd!). I remember being in the last row of all our school photos and laughing everytime I see one now because my “max height” turned out to be 5’2!!!

      • Lily-Student

        Totally agree. I’m 5ft9 and my waist is definitely not in the right place for shirts and dresses. Lucky I like empire line dresses because that’s all I can get!

        Also shirts and blouses are always too short.

        And I agree with saacnama. I’m over 180lbs, much to my chagrin, and I like fine and proportional when I’m by myself in photos, but as soon as others come into them I just look enormous because I’m both taller and wider.

        • Sugar Magnolia

          Yes! I look really ginormous in photos with others as well. I am even heavier than you are, and only a little bit taller.

          Also second the pain that it is to always have to order pants online. Just once I would like to try on a pair of jeans, buy them, take them home and wear them the next day.

    • saacnmama

      monochromatic dressing looks ridiculous if you’re tall!

      If you gain weight, you don’t look “chubby” or any other kind of cute. You look huge.

      Capri pants feel like just another pair of “floods”

      Your mom tells you if your feet grow anymore, you’ll have to wear the box home.

      You consistently have to remind yourself not to hunch over, to keep good posture.

      Your weight is a higher number than anyone guesses, so you feel fat even if you aren’t.

      And I’m only 5’9″.

      To really get some Schadenfreude on this topic, look up comments on Michelle Obama.

      • Equity's Darling

        You’re also my idea height! Gahh, so jealous.

        Monochromatic on tall people looks amazing! And I hate always being cute, I’d love to be beautiful! Also, your mom sounds hilarious…though I’m sure you didn’t feel that way then.

        • saacnmama

          You nailed it about my mom–at the time, I was a very self-conscious young teen-ager, so it stung like crazy, which is why I remember it. But now I see that it’s pretty funny.

          You have the same inseam as me, which means you must have some amazing legs.

          Really though, I don’t see how any one height is better. I like how this thread brought out the good and bad in all sorts of sizes.

          • NYC

            My mom always makes fun of my big feet (size 10, and I dare not mention that they are really 10.5 post-baby). Downside of big feet: you cannot buy shoes on vacation in Europe. And don’t even consider buying clothing in Asia. They will laugh you out of the store.

            I laughed over all of these comments, although the truth is that I think it is much better to be tall (I’m 5’10” and wouldn’t change it for the world). The only thing that bothers me is that my husband and I weigh almost the same amount (and I am at my goal weight, and he is 3 inches taller than I am).

            This is a hilarious thread. Of all the things we really cannot change!

      • anon

        Yeah, I love my height (5’10”) but there are lots of disadvantages. All these cute shoes recommended on this site? They will never fit me. I have to choose the least matronly looking of the few choices that come in my size, and purchase them online since my size isn’t sold in stores. Finding pants that are long enough is do-able, but it’s so hard to find jackets or sweaters with sleeves that are long enough for me, or dresses where the waist isn’t just under my boobs. My husband and I are the same height, but now that I’m heavier than I used to be I feel like an amazon beside him, especially in heels.

    • short

      Being short is great for me. I shouldn’t admit this on this forum, but I wear kids’ clothes for my casual wear save a lot of money on yoga pants, tees, sweaters, and especially workout clothes. I am not slight of frame and they still fit well – better than the petites in my woman’s size.
      I also like being carded on a regular basis despite being 36. (but maybe that’s because my navy cardigan is really a 6th grader’s school uniform) .

      • Jo March

        Are you me, lol? I TOTALLY could have written all of this. Down to the exact age!

      • CrimsonClover

        I wonder if it’s strictly a “short” thing when it comes to being carded; I’m 5’2 and I’ve NEVER BEEN CARDED (currently 25). I’ve been told I have a very mature face (thus the paranoid use of eye cream at 16!), and in all seriousness when I was 14 my mother sent me into the liquor store to buy wine for a gathering one snowy night when she didn’t want to get out of the car… clerk didn’t even bat an eye!

    • Susie

      5’2″ as well here, and not much advantage to this height as far as I can tell. I hate how petite pants are almost always shaped with saddlebags in mind! Plus less selection for petites. I hate having to sit on my counter to reach my cabinets! Okay maybe one plus – flying coach is maybe slightly more comfortable?

      • Equity's Darling

        Oh, that’s true, agreed re: flying. I always have enough leg room. My last international flight I somehow ended up with a free seat beside me, and I could curl up in the fetal position, it was amazing.

        • Sydney Bristow

          I’m 5’5″ with a long torso and short legs, so not really short, but I’m the shortest of all of my siblings. 2 of them are over 6′ tall so I’ve always been the one to fit into the seats with less legroom. It was a little annoying growing up because sometimes I want the window seat, but flying in general is pretty easy because of my short legs.

    • Nancy P

      I’m not quite as vertically challenged as you (5’4″ barely), but I like being on the shorter side because I had to worry less about being taller than guys I dated. I felt like it made my dating pool larger than my taller girlfriends. Also I have totally bought capris and worn them as regular length pants. :)

    • KLG

      5’1″ and I don’t really mind being short, but I would kill to be 5’4″ so I could use more than one cabinet shelf in my kitchen cabinets and I really wish my husband would get a new car because I actually use a cushion in his car in order to see over the steering wheel (it’s old and the seat doesn’t raise up like it does in my car). Also, I am so tired of seeing cute shirts and dresses and not being able to order them because they don’t come in petite sizes. I do have a long inseam for someone my size so I can usually get regular pants hemmed and I also have to agree that flying coach is no big deal. I know tall people can’t buy pants that are long enough and never have any leg room. But for the talls girls who hate capris, they just look like I hemmed my pants an inch too short on me :)

      I think there are pros and cons to every height.

    • January

      Well, for one thing, you might be tall because you have a long torso, which means that some shirts and dresses will simply not be proportioned in a way that is flattering for you. I’m only taller-than-average (in the 5’6-5’7 range), but many of my taller friends have complained for years about their height and how self-conscious it makes them feel. Some of them have also disliked being taller than potential dates.

    • layered bob

      oh goodness. I’m 5’10”, so not epically tall, but broad-shouldered and plenty tall enough. Regular-length pants are too short and tall inseams are too long. Empire waists are completely out because there’s not enough fabric from the shoulder to the empire seam. Maxi dresses are not long enough and look like they’ve shrunk. Prints and outfits that look cute on smaller people look massive and shlumpy on me. My feet are between a size 10 and 11 – but it seems like only about 25% of shoes are even manufactured in a size 10.5…

      on the bright side, I *can* see better at movies and concerts. People notice me when I arrive places. A 5 or even 10 pound weight fluctuation doesn’t really change my clothing size. I can eat alll the time.

      • Anon short

        6-8 lbs is a full size for me, but I feel like it takes forever to lose any weight because I’m only 5’0, and if I’m trying to lose weight, I’m really limited to 1200 calories or less.

        If I was 5 inches taller, I’m pretty sure I’d get to eat an extra 250-500 calories a day, which is a generous piece of chocolate and a glass of wine. Instead I get to wonder whether a piece of fruit is worth the 100 calories

        • SoCalAtty

          Me too! I’m 5′ exactly. 5 pounds really shows, and 15? Forget it. My inseam is 28″ so no stylish-bottom pants for me! The bottom gets hemmed off. Same for long dresses.

          All that being said, I like being short. I just do. My mom was 4′ 9.5″, so I was just happy to pass that!

        • Jo March

          Thirdsies. I have two different sets of clothes for the weight fluctuations :p

          The only good thing about all that stress with my mom is that I’m back in the smaller size and getting to wear stuff I really missed!

    • Alice

      5’2″ here. I have to disagree with airplane seats being better…I definitely have more legroom, but the headrest always hits too high on my head, making me feel like I’m constantly leaning forward.

      That being said, I love it that my SO (and previous SOs) are taller than me, and can pick me up easily. It makes me feel small even when I am probably a bit chubby.

      And I loved being short while living in Asia. Being short and dark-haired meant I could blend in and avoid stares, and I was also able to find clothes that fit (albeit in the larger sizes!).

    • springtime

      Negative- Clothes: rarely fit well (unless you go for expensive brands), shoes are hard to find in my size too (although in recent years this has improved tremendously).

      Finding guys: I am not that picky about height, but a lot of guys are turned off by tall girls. I think they like the tall ones in theory, but end up being in relationships with shorter girls.

      Work: sometimes I find guys intimidated by my height and it can either be a plus or negative depending on the situation.

      People constantly commenting on your height (I’m 5’11”) and thinking it’s perfectly appropriate to stare at you in public. Get used to the scan down to see if you’re wearing heels, or drunk people at bars making you feel awkward.

      People assuming that just bc you are tall you have a massive advantage over them in sports (there are some truths to that, but also tall people have distinct disadvantages too).

      Chairs, airplane seats, desks- nothing really is designed for your height (which causes shoulder/back strain).

      Pluses: sometimes I get a kick out of people feeling awkward or intimidated by my height, especially if they are mean :).

      Clothes that fill well do look good.

      If I gain a few pounds it’s not noticeable.

    • TO Lawyer

      I’m also quite short (5’1) but I’ve gotten used to it and actually like it now:

      Good things:
      1) good things come in small packages?
      2) I’m always shorter than my boyfriends
      3) I feel like I can always get away with super high heels and shorter skirts (not at work of course!)

      Not-so-good things:
      1) people constantly commenting on your height (yes I’m know I’m short, thank you for pointing it out)
      2) if I gain five pounds, it is immediately noticeable
      3) I can’t reach things.

      All in all though, I would like to be a few inches taller, but overall, I’m content with my height

    • Hollis Doyle

      6′ tall here and been tall all my life. Passed my mom (5’4″) in third grade andwas 5’10” in sixth grade. I wore women’s size 6 shoes in first grade (age 6), and my shoe size matched my age until my feet stopped growing when I was 11.

      Pros:
      -Like others have said, weight gain is less noticable and when I was pregnant, I wore regular clothes and didn’t look pregnant until well into the 2nd trimester, and when I finally was showing, I was all belly. My doctor would always comment on how my long torso was so nice and provided so much room for the baby.
      -Can usually see when at the movies, concerts, etc.
      -Can wear things like big patterns, big earrings, etc. without them overpowering you.
      -My basketball scholarship paid for my college.

      Cons:
      -Almost always the tallest person whereever you go, which leads to dumb comments (“you’re tall!” “Amazon!”) and the inability to blend in with the crowd.
      -Taller than most men and always feel “big.” I would love to feel little and girly.
      -No leg room anywhere – planes, movies, hard to fit under desks, etc.
      -Most clothes don’t fit and not many come in talls/longs. The waists on shirts & dresses never hit in the right spot, and it’s very hard to find suits/jackets with long enough sleeves.
      -In theory, ankle pants, capris, bracelet length sleeves, and maxi dresses look nice on tall women, but often times they too do not hit in the right spot, are too short, and/or look like you outgrew your pants/sleeves.
      -I wear size 11 shoes, so if they run small (which a lot of brands do), I can’t size up (as most brands don’t make 12s).

      • Equity's Darling

        I’m no where near becoming pregnant, but a huge fear of mine is how big my belly would/will get. I’m short-waisted, I can’t imagine I have much extra room for anything in my torso, let alone a small person who will come out almost as long as my t-rex arms.

        I’m also quite chesty, so I imagine I’ll become so front-heavy and lopsided that I’ll be unable to balance towards the end of any hypothetical pregnancy.

        • mascot

          Short, short waisted and busty here. Not sure where my child fit in there (6 lbs, 10 oz, 19.75″, born at 39+weeks), but it worked. Babies just squish their way around in there.

        • Mpls

          I’m 5’10”, but also short waisted, so height isn’t really a solution to that dilemma necessarily. On the other hand, my inseam is 33 or 34 inches, so too long for regular length and too short for talls (which I can hem, at least, if they exist in the style I’m looking for).

    • anontall

      I’m 5’8″. Advantages: It’s not too noticable when you gain/lose a little weight. I can wear maxi dresses, high waisted pants/shorts (when on-trend). I love my long legs.

      Disadvantages: Can’t date anyone under 5’10”, preferably they are taller. Have to order longs online, shirts/blazers do NOT hit at the right places. They hit at the right place for people who are like 5’5″-5’6″. Shirts can be too short. Skirts/dresses look really short on long legs. Can feel like a giant around short people (and I’m not even that tall!)

    • gazella

      I’m tall and while it’s great, it means that I can’t buy regular pants, all of my tops are 3/4 sleeve, and I can’t buy cheap, fun dresses because they’re usually cut for juniors and are shirt length on me. Plus, if you like men and you like them taller than you, your pool of them is very small. I think the perfect height would be 5’7″.

    • Orangerie

      5’7″ here… not super tall but I will say that as a lover of very high heels (4″) for weekend nights out, finding tall men is quite a challenge. My friends who are around 5’1″-5’4″ have a much, much larger potential dating pool.

        • Orangerie

          True, what I meant by that was “a man taller than me, even in my heels.” I’m pushing 6′ in some of my tallest shoes, so my pool is 6’2″ and up. My 5’3″ friend has the same requirement, but she considers her pool to be men 5’10” and up… of which there are definitely more of than 6’2″ men.

          • ANON

            I finally gave up on this, and said yes to dating a guy who is barely taller than me when we’re both barefoot. Yes, I’m taller than him with heels on. He’s taller than me with his army boots. It doesn’t seem to bother him, and it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as I though it might. I guess all things being equal, taller would be better, but it seemed silly to turning away a great catch simply for being a few inches “too short”.

        • Nonny

          …though even shorter gals sometimes end up dating shorter guys, even if we are shooting for someone taller! One of my most significant relationships has been with a guy who is pretty much my exact height without shoes…and I’m (almost) 5’4″!

      • NOLA

        Even at 5 ft. 6 in., I tower over my guy when I’m in high heels. He doesn’t care. In fact, he loves it. I think, if a guy is confident, he won’t care. He’ll just enjoy the view.

    • Miss Rumphius

      I am a hair under 5’10” with long legs (yay 36 inch inseams!) and while I generally don’t mind the height (and have come to appreciate it more over the years), there are definitely drawbacks:

      1) Airplanes. Being tall and long-legged on any length of flight is miserable, especially when the person in front of me wants to recline their seat, which was already touching my knees before they decided to recline. Leg room in general is an issue – I always feel super gangly when I try to get in the back seat of cars because my legs just don’t fit very well.

      2) Shopping for pants, skirts, shorts, dresses, shirts… Things that look cute on you look indecent on me, especially if paired with heels. My pants options are limited because the regular length pants are always at least two inches too short. It’s actually pretty comical how terrible they look when I try them on.

      I also have longer arms, so I have a really hard time finding sleeves that are long enough. And, I often end up paying tailors to let out the sleeves of my jackets to make them reach my wrists. I know there are tall sizes, but tall sometimes means that other proportions change, too, and since I have an average-length torso, tall sizes don’t always fit properly.

      3) Beds. Like others have mentioned, I am too tall for twin and full size beds, so I either need to sleep diagonally, or let my feet hang off the end of the bed.

      It’s nice to be able to reach things, and see over crowds. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of heels, so am happy to have the excuse not to wear them (and, my pants would be too short if I did – my 36 inch inseam pants are just the right length if I am in flats). When I do wear heels, though, I almost always get “I can’t believe how tall you are!” comments. I wouldn’t say it makes me feel overly self-conscious to wear heels, but I do feel more comfortable with my heel-less height.

      All that to say, there are definitely perks, but it isn’t a complete cake walk :)

    • Veronique

      I’m 5’4″, which I consider to be average (not tall, not short) and I love it. Tall enough to feel tall around my short family and many friends, short enough that I can wear heels and still be shorter than most men. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to change my height even an inch.

      • E. Parsons

        When living in the Midwest, 5 ft 4 always felt short. Now in S. Fla., I feel tall. I’ve learned to feel blessed with what I was given, tall, short, long torso, short torso. All of you Corp*rettes should love whatever you were given.

    • Artie

      Well I’m 6’5”. Honestly I love my height – my whole family is tall, I’m not from the US but played collegiate volleyball at one of the best programs in the Pac 12.

      The one thing that I hate (HATE!) about being tall is the never ending comments and stares. Yes, you don’t see 6’5” women every day, but – this is not exaggerating – whenever I am in public I will get stares, poorly hidden whispers, people walking past saying ‘ holy shit’… It never ends! For me, it’s like those old threads about men telling women to smile. Except this version happens every. Single. Day.
      Moral to the story: I’m tall, not deaf and blind. Keep those stares and contents to yourselves. /rant

    • Artie

      My comment got lost, so I’ll reword and try again.

      I’m 6’5″ tall. And I love it. My whole family is above 6 feet (except my Mum, only 5’6″ on a good day!), and I thrived in such a height-normalising environment growing up. Despite not being from the US originally, I played collegiate volleyball at one of the best nationally-ranked programs in the country. They day-to-day stuff like counter heights and clothes don’t bother me, because I am used to it and know how to work around it where necessary.

      What I hate (HATE!) about being tall though… everyone else! I am not exaggerating, but every. Single. Time I am in a public space I get stares, comments, people saying ‘holy shit she’s tall’ to their mates right after they pass me. Every single day of my life. It’s like how we’ve talked about how invasive/ offensive/ rude/ none-of-their business it is when a man tells you to smile in the street. Except I get my version every single time I enter the public sphere.

      If I’m in a good mood it doesn’t bother me, but when I’m having a bad day it sucks. It is just a constant ‘othering’ and a reminder that I am so different/ weird/ abnormal and can make me feel like a circus freak.

      TLDR; I’m okay with being me being tall, but the rest of the world isn’t. So if you ever feel the need to say something to me in the street, even ‘I wish I was that tall,’ don’t. Please.

    • naijamodel

      I’m 6ft and 3/4 of an inch.
      I can’t wear maxi-dresses from brick and mortar stores. My inseam is a 38, so your maxi-dress is my tea-length dress = 4 inches away from my ankles.

      I can only buy jeans/pants from ONE store – jcrew online. (I’ve tried every “tall” store there is). I used to be able to buy from Gap, but now they only make talls in a size 4 and up. All the other stores make talls in a size 6. By the way, talls aren’t long enough for me anyway (38 inseam, remember). Talls are usually a 34/35 inseam.

      I love dresses. In THEORY. Practically, every dress in the stores are too short for me.

      The comments. I wish people would just shut up because nothing is original anymore…and I don’t see why my height is an invitation for strangers to speak to me.

      All that aside, I really like my body :) I know how to dress it first of all. Secondly I have small feet for my height (size 9.5) so I indulge in fancy flats and kitten heels (despite the hate for them in the larger universe lol). I have long fingers and I really enjoy doing my nails. Also, I get my height from my father – whom I adore, so I really like looking like him :)

    • ITDS

      At 5’1″ and 135 lbs, I fit perfectly into a coach airline seat. Although, honestly, I have never been hung up about being short, and would much rather be short than tall. I feel like I am at the very bottom of “normal” heights, so while I am short, I am not head-turningly short. My husband is 6’4″, so reaching things at home is not a problem.

  5. Sounds good in theory but...

    A friend of a friend took one of these on her vacation to Spain about 20 years ago. Someone came by on a motorcycle and attempted a slash-and-grab. Well, the strap didn’t break as planned and this poor woman was dragged. She is paralyzed for life.

    I’ll stick with leSportsac, thanks.

  6. anon

    I am shocked about the explosions at the Boston Marathon. Shaking shocked. Does anyone know what’s going on?

    • Miss Behaved

      Appalling. I work in Boston, but I had the day off. Thank god. It’s just horrifying.

    • Anon today

      Wow. Just wow. This is the first I’d heard of it, I just went to CNN to see what is going on. I went to college in Boston, lived in Kenmore Square on part of the race route and had several friends who ran the marathon each year when I was there. Oh goodness. I’m shaking now too – its amazing how much more things like this get to you when you have physically been to the place where something like this happens.
      Oh goodness. Thinking of all Boston ‘e-t-t-e-s today and my friends still there and hoping few are seriously hurt in today’s mess. But I’m going to try to avoid 24 hour crazy news coverage as so many details that come out in the beginning of incidents like this are often wrong or rumors gone wild and just make things worse until everything gets sorted out.

      • Anonymous

        Agree. Even after I heard from my sister that she was safe, I cried at my desk just thinking about it. That’s my home! All my friends have volunteered on marathon day for years. I am really upset about it, and praying for everyone

      • SoCalAtty

        Just FB’d a friend of mine that has done this one in the past, but I’m not sure whether or not he is there this year. Even if he isn’t there, I’m sure some people from his running group are there. I hope they are ok!

    • KLG

      I know nothing beyond initial news reports, but am really hoping this turns out to be some construction nearby that accidentally blew up some manhole covers or something because if someone did this on purpose, I will be SO angry and also incredibly depressed wondering why humans do things to hurt others.

      • Miss Behaved

        It’s not. It looks like the bomb went off in the area where the foreign dignitaries usually sit. I’m supposed to be flying out of Logan for my Caribbean vacation tomorrow, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.

    • Boston

      Thinking of all the e-t-t-e-s in Boston and waiting anxiously to hear from a friend who had just finished around the time that this happened.

      • Monday

        Same. I have a friend who ran it and is not responding to texts. There are a lot of possible reasons… But I want to hear from her.

        • Ginjury

          It’s hard to get in touch with anyone in Boston right now. I think all the craziness is taking it’s toll on phone lines.

          • Monday

            OK, was about to contact her sister on Facebook, but instead saw that she herself posted that she is safe. I can’t believe how shaken I was just wondering. I already knew I loved my girl, but wow.

          • M-C

            Just read that the police shut down cell service around downtown because they’re afraid a cell could be used to set off another bomb remotely.. Try email, that should still be working, if you’re worried about someone :-(.

        • Veronique

          They’ve shut down all cell service (to prevent remote detonations), so don’t be alarmed if you can’t reach someone.

    • momentsofabsurdity

      This is horrific. I almost walked down there with some friends but decided to head back to my place and work at the last minute. Currently calling/texting to make sure everyone is okay. I so, so hope it was an accident or a natural gas explosion or something — not a bomb, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

      For those of you who are waiting to hear from loved ones here, the news is reporting that cell towers are overloaded and texting may be faster than calling.

      • Anonymous

        It wasn’t- it was a confirmed bomb. Police have control detonated a third unexploded device.

    • Hollis Doyle

      Came here to say I’m thinking about all you Boston ‘ettes. And I hope everyone’s friends and family are safe and sound. So unbelievable and sad.

    • Bonnie

      The bombings are really upsetting me. I run a lot of races and never thought to feel unsafe. I hate this. If you’re trying to make sure friends are ok, check if they updated their FB status.

      • Honeycrisp

        I’m trying not to cry at my desk. I run a lot of races too, and Boston is on my bucket list. Thoughts and prayers for all of the runners and spectators.

      • cbackson

        I ran Boston two years ago. I can’t help but think, over and over again, that my father was waiting for me right there at the finish line.

        I’m so used to thinking of races as safe places where I feel strong and joyful and at my best. Running Boston is one of the best memories of my running life. I feel nauseated with horror.

    • TCFKAG

      I can’t even today. I’m just…so….I don’t even know how to process right now.

      Just hoping and praying that as many people as can be saved are and think good thoughts for the friends and families of the victims.

      • momentsofabsurdity

        Small favors – there were many emergency medical personnel already on scene for finishers of the marathon. I hope that means as many people as possible can be saved and treated.

        • Anonymous

          Reports of nurses and doctors who had ran the race running over to help too.

        • Anon

          This. It doesn’t lessen the horrific nature of the acts, but having a slew of physicians and EMTs already on-scene, with ambulences standing by, is a silver lining.

        • anon

          Reports of 2 to 12 dead (NY Post is only one reporting 12 that I can find), many severe injuries, many lost limbs. Tragic and horrifying.

      • AnnonFoo

        my co-worker’s girl friend is running the boston marathon, she called him after she finished the race but we haven’t heard from her since then. My co-worker is trying to call/txt, really hoping she is safe. No one is with her in Boston as we live in the midwest.

        • big dipper

          You can check google people finder or the red cross people finder for his girlfriend. The shut cell reception down for a while so if she was near the finish it’s unlikely she was able to contact anyone. You can google both of them. You can also use the BAA website to track where she was on the marathon course to get a sense of how far she was from the finish line.

          Hope that helps you find her!

          Also, I live in Boston and if she’s hear alone I’d be happy to host her for dinner or drinks if she gets stuck here this evening (if she was planning on traveling). My email is [big dipper says] with no spaces, at gmail.

    • Leigh

      There was a third bomb/fire at JFK library apparently. I just heard it on the radio from a press release. Police commissioner said they are treating it as related, but it’s not been confirmed yet.

    • momentsofabsurdity

      For those trying to reach people, cell service has now been shut down in Boston.

    • Orangerie

      No words for how awful this is. Hoping and praying all of the Boston ‘r e t t e s and their friends/family are safe.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      I was two blocks away. Heard it and felt it. I’m okay and my friends are okay. My friend had finished already. We ended up walking to South Boston. My husband was able to pick me up, amazingly (driving in from another state when he heard the news). My friends, including the one who already ran, decided to not ride with us and ended up walking all the way back to Cambridge. Tomorrow night I’ll go back and retrieve my car from the MTBA lot I had left it at originally.

  7. saacnmama

    From RedCrossEasternMA @RedCrossEastMA

    Register here to find loved ones. Also – make sure they know you’re safe. http://www.redcross.org/find-help

    Might be a better option than using up bandwidth with messages “just” asking if someone you know is ok.

    • Silvercurls

      Thanks for the useful info. Yes, better not to crowd onto the bandwidth right now. I’m waiting until some time this evening to send “you OK?” emails to friends in the Boston area who don’t generally connect w/ the marathon or adjacent neighborhoods.
      +1,000 to all the comments re What is WITH people anyway?!

  8. Sammy

    Threadjack! I asked someone for a letter of recommendation, and he said I should write a draft and send it to him. What do I write?

    • Orangerie

      I would include:

      – Where and when this person worked with you/knows you from
      – Key attributes that set you apart from other applicants
      – Notable accomplishments/projects from your time at the previous organization
      – The reference’s contact information

      There’s a bunch of templates & samples available through a quick search on Google. I found reading a few to be a helpful starting point for general content & structure of a recommendation I wrote recently. Good luck!

    • Eleanor

      Write what you would want him to say. Do not undersell yourself just because you’re the one writing it. Talk about your good qualities that your recommender has had an opportunity to observe, and then give specific examples that he has observed.

      I had this happen before and I felt awkward writing such a glowing letter about myself, but I grew to prefer this method, because so often when you ask for a letter of recommendation you don’t know whether the recommender will be specific, persuasive, etc. This way you know it will be good.

      • Anonymous

        I had to write one once, and my recommender (is that the term?) basically said “write whatever you want, so long as you don’t say you can walk on water”.

        I think that when recommenders say “write your own”, they’re basically indicating that they have full confidence in giving you the recommendation, and that pretty much whatever you say will be fine, so long as it’s truthful/based in fact.

    • saacnmama

      I hate that!
      What helps me is to break it into two steps:
      1) gather up all the supporting docs I would normally send to someone writing for me and go through them to scoop up all the necessary info, cutting and pasting it into a new doc & type what I want the reader to get from each in very plain language.
      2) edit the doc like a letter for someone else.

    • Hel-lo

      I have also had to do this before.

      Write the best darn letter you can possibly write!

      It helps to pretend you’re just his assistant, drafting the letter for him, and not you.

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