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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 252 Comments · by

Weekend Open Thread

Weekend Open Thread

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Comments

  1. Kathryn

    My NY born and bred boyfriend is coming down to Louisiana with me this weekend to meet the extended family. They are seriously Cajun, as evidenced by the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff being across the bayou from my grandma this weekend (in New Iberia).

    I am super pumped and just wanted to share. Does anyone else have a funny story about introducing your SO to your culturally very different family?

    • Ellen

      Yay! Open thread’s. I love open thread’s!!!

      As for the OP, I have a great story about Alan. When I first met Alan, I was surprised by how bold he was. Most guys are a little shy to aproach me and talk to me, b/c they think I am NOT attaineable. Alan, who is a short guy, was very bold, even tho he was kind of schlumpey. He came right up to me and asked me out. I did NOT know how to take it, so I just said OK. I said he would need to be cleared by Dad first, so I told him he would have to meet Dad at my old apartement.

      When I told Dad about him, Dad did Not like the thought of me going out with a guy who was shorter then me (not to mention schlumpey). So when he met him, I think Alan must have said something good, b/c all of a sudden, a short schlumpey guy became an eligible batchelor that Dad needed to mold in order to be my HUSBAND. I think Dad was even more disapointed then me when we discovered Alan became alchoholic and perfered the bottel over me, but let me tell you, it was NOT dificult for him to engreatiate himself with the family. He knew all the lines and said all the right thing’s. It was ONLEY b/c he was with the bottel that I finaly had to say “NO MAS” to him.

      So for the OP, just make sure that if he is tryeing to make a good impression with your Cajun releatives, that he do some reading up on stuff they like; presumably they will want to hear that he like’s spicey food and gumbo and other thing’s that y’all eat down there. You should already have tuned him into this stuff. Make sure he does NOT play up NYCity or play down Louisiana, b/c those would be deal breaker’s for the releationship.

      I wish I had a guy now that I could bring home to the family but the picking’s are not as good for me, but we will have to see with the 3 guy’s I now am considering to be MY husband. YAY!!!!!!

    • Susie

      My sisters and I joke about making our SOs watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding before meeting the family – we are the Hungarian version of that.

      • sweetknee

        When I first went to Kentucky to visit my in laws and the extended family, I talked to my husband’s aunts, who live in nearby towns. One lives in Versailles, KY, and the other in Athens, KY. I had to get a quick education to learn that there, it is pronounced “ver-sayles” and “ay-thens”. Who knew ?

        • emeralds

          One of my favorite examples of this is Buena Vista, VA…”bee-yoo-na viss-ta.”

          • mascot

            Ha, in college, we just called this town “BV” So much simpler.
            There is a Versailles outside of Pittsburgh that is “ver-sayles” as well

          • emeralds

            Always glad to see other VA sisters around! But nope, not a W&L alumna. I’m a Hoo, but I grew up in the area.

        • Seventh Sister

          I grew up near Havre de Grace, MD, pronounced Havver Dee Grayce. Also, there was a Juanita St. there, pronounced (by all locals), as Joo-nee-atta.

        • Gail the Goldfish

          In Georgia, we have Vienna pronounced VIE-enn-uh. (Speaking of how Georgians pronounce things with Vi-, Vidalia, as in Vidalia onions, should be pronounced “VIE-del-yuh”)

          • Annie

            In Michigan, the town of Eau Claire is pronounce AWH Claire. That drove me crazy as a kid when I learned the correct French pronunciation.

          • Lawyer Bird

            @Annie – really? I’ve been there quite a few times and always said oh claire. Not quite the French pronounciation, but not awh, either. The more you know!

        • zora

          It’s not only the South that does weird pronunciations! Portland, OR has a Couch St that is pronounced Cooch street. Yeah.

          • Sydney Bristow

            Couch St notwithstanding, the Pacific Northwest has a lot of places with Native American names that can be difficult to pronounce.

            My boyfriend has finally gotten the hang of Willamette after calling it Wiila-met-tea for quite awhile. When he first met my family I think he was completely overwhelmed because it is so big. There are 8 of us (with a lot more when you add significant others and kids, let alone the 5 dogs that are normally around too) and we are very very close. His family is just his parents and a sister and her husband. He wanted to put name tags on everyone and I think the amount of loud conversations happening simultaneously were overwhelming to him but so natural to us. He’s gotten used to it and loves my family now though.

          • Lawyer Bird

            Devon street in Chicago and Houston Street in NYC are similar (de-VON, house-ton).

          • ruby

            a northwest one: they call a suburb here des moines by pronouncing the s at the end. ughh.

    • Gail the Goldfish

      Not my significant other, but after the first time my best friend from college, who is from the Midwest, met my dad, who has a very Southern accent, she told me “He seems awesome, but I can’t understand anything he says!”

    • Funny

      My husband is Israeli. His father managed to get there as a teenager after having survived the camps during the war (originally from Hungary, but he was shipped all over Europe by the Germans). His mother was born in then-Palestine to parents who had moved there at the turn of the century from Poland. They met at a meeting to coordinate efforts to win independence from British occupation in the mid- to late-1940s.

      The first time I met his parents, who were then elderly, his father suggested that the four of us sit in the living room so he could “tell me the story of the family.” I am a sucker for all things family-history, so I was hooked. As soon as we all sat down and got settled, he looked at my then-BF and said, “[Husband’s name here], your mother was a terrorist” and then burst into laughter at the idea that a blonde, Polish teenaged girl could be called a terrorist, in light of how Israel (and much of the world) now conceives of the word. He then told me as much of the family history as can fit into one afternoon. Fascinating. Some of it horrid. Patriotic. And all of it is what made my husband the person he is and the person whom I love.

      His parents have both now passed away. But I remember that day as if it were yesterday.

    • Baconpancakes

      My midwestern family is gregarious, blue-collar, and some of the warmest, most generous people you’ll ever meet, and they’ll try to feed you the minute you walk in the door and send you home with at least a pie and two tupperwares of casserole. So it was a bit of an ice-bath shock to have holiday dinner with my SO’s very very northeastern family, where we ate pre-measured raddichio salads, a cup of tomato soup, and three very fancy baguette grilled cheese sandwiches per person for dinner in a freezing, dimly lit dining room where only the children seemed to be having a good time with the awesome new toys my SO had bought them. Dessert was petit fours. I wondered whether they were having financial troubles and too proud to tell anyone.

      • TBK

        Oh wow, you just decribed dinner with my New England family — right down to the 65 degree thermostat (put on a sweater!) and dim lighting. My husband’s a good ol’ boy from the south. I didn’t realize people actually hung out at gun stores, and he didn’t realize people actually talked “like that” until we ventured into each other’s worlds.

      • Kathryn

        This is almost how my boyfriend’s parents are. Just very, very formal. For a southerner this was a little hard to deal with (actually it still is, 3 years later). They don’t show their emotions, and therefore I get the impression they don’t like me (they do).

    • Brant

      My DH is a Texan; I’m a New Englander and was born and raised in the NYC suburbs. When I met my now in-laws, I felt like time slowed down. They. Spoke. So. Slowly. And I’m sure my NYC speed of speech coupled with CT/MA accents don’t help. At least DH’s parents live in a major Texas city…his grandmother, who is from “the country” was – and still is- completely impossible to understand. She sounds JUST like Boomhauer from King of the Hill.

      I also was taken to “the ranch,” where we went shooting. I went to a roller derby, the Texas state fair (where I ate deep fried everything for the first time ever), and generally felt like I was on another planet. I had a great time, though!!

    • Anonymous

      It is family lore the time one of my (now elderly) relatives met her Cajun in laws for he first time. she mistook a big pot of gumbo for dirty dishwater! This must have been 50 years ago and it’s still laughed about.

  2. Long Sweaters

    Any recommendations for cashmere sweaters that fit a long torso? I’d prefer slightly fitted for work, but any suggestions are appreciated!

      • hoola hoopa

        Would it be cover-the-bum long on a petite? I’ve been having a hard time finding sweater “tunics” that I like and started to think that long sweaters might work since I’m only 5’1″.

  3. hoola hoopa

    Two shoe-related requests:

    1) Short boots for the large of calf? Is an angled top better? Straps belted/wrapped around the ankle good or bad? Skip all together?

    2) I’m looking for an inexpensive, water-proof or -resistant flat to wear essentially when walking across my office parking lot that won’t take up much space in my bag. The rainboot of flats. Ideal candidate would have reasonably good traction. I found Crocs Mammoth, but I feel like there’s a better option – like those vinyl fold up flats that used to be everywhere.

    • NOLA

      I have mid-calf boots that are a slouchy suede that fit right under the largest part of my calf. I don’t have any angled top, but I do have others but always have to try them on. I have these from last year and they fit my legs pretty well: http://www.6pm.com/bcbgeneration-halen
      And for reference, my calves measure 16 1/2 in.

      • hoola hoopa

        Do you find that length (hitting right below the widest point) flattering?

        I tried on a couple of pairs over the weekend and just didn’t think they looked good. I’m looking at ankle boots, so I don’t seem to have a problem getting them to fit… more just unsure whether the style works for short, muscular legs.

    • LizNYC

      Not necessarily for this pair, but DSW has a link to “Wide Calf and Wide Wide” boots — it’s been my go-to for my 17-inch + calves. I personally love Bare Traps since they are wide enough for me to fit jeans into. They’re not the highest quality, but they don’t break the bank either.

      I’ve also perused Zappos, but made sure to look at what they consider “wide width” (14″ doesn’t cut it for me!).

    • anon-oh-no

      hunter makes a “rainboot of flats.” its literally a balet flat made out of the same rubber as regular hunter boots. i like mine a lot.

    • Sydney Bristow

      I just got Crocs cap toe flats. I think they’re cute but I haven’t worn then in a rainstorm yet. They e been nice in light rain so far though.

    • NYNY

      How are you planning to wear the boots? As a former dancer with the calves to prove it, I love ankle boots under pants in the fall and winter. I’ve never jumped on the skinny jeans trend, since they don’t flatter my shape at all, but I think skinny jeans look best tucked into ankle boots. If the colors are similar – dark wash jeans and black or dark brown boots, say – you get a longer line visually than if there’s more color or value contrast. Skirts and ankle boots is a look I take on a case-by-case basis. Too many variables to make rules.

  4. EB

    Any recommendations for oily, sensitive skin? My skin is out of control right now. I feel like everything I use for sensitive skin doesn’t do a great job cleaning my face.

    I’m considering buying the Clarisonic. Has anyone used it on sensitive skin, and, if so, would you recommend it? Also, any pro/cons for the Clarisonic vs. the Olay Pro X (other than a huge price difference)? Also, for people who love Clarisonic, which one do you use (Mia, Mia 2, Aria…)

    Thanks!

    • Godzilla

      Get a Clarisonic. I think I have the mia and I use it with the Sensitive brush head. I also have oily sensitive skin that literally blows up if the wrong product touches it. Any cleanser works, the simpler, the better. I use mine twice a week and that’s plenty for keeping my skin clean and pores clear. Of course, ymmv.

      • mascot

        What cleanser do you use? I am looking for some suggestions for my oily sensitive skin.

        • A Nonny Moose

          Not the OP but I love Origins Checks + Balances. It cuts my oil without drying out my skin. It’s more expensive than a drug store formula, but it lasts forever (it’s a foaming cleanser, so you only need a little bit at a time).

          • Flying Squirrel

            +1. I use it with my Clarisonic (sensitive brush).

            If your skin veers toward combination (like mine, super oily in some places, super dry in others), I also recommend the Origins A Perfect World Moisturizer. Several reviews say it’s too greasy, but I haven’t found that at all. Instead, my skin seems to be just drinking it up, and is softer than it’s ever been (I use a very tiny amount, though).

        • meghan

          I love and swear by Ole Henriksen’s line. I use the red tea cleanser with my Clarisonic!

        • Godzilla

          I’ve used cetaphil or cerave, I don’t remember. Currently, I’m using Sumadan, which is a prescription sulfur face wash to help with acne. I use it with/without the Clarisonic. It doesn’t smell great but my skin is very happy. My doctor gave me a coupon to help reduce the copay.

    • P

      I have the Original Mia (it was cheaper) and skin that sounds pretty similar to yours. My skin is so sensitive I can barely wear sunscreen, and it is definitely combo with a tendency towards very oily most of the time. I love my Mia–I use it with a different brush head than the default one, which seems to make it gentle enough that I can use it every day. It has definitely reduced the amount of oil my face produces and I enthusiastically recommend it!

      That being said, I do occasionally experience a bit of dryness and sensitivity–almost always induced by my own overzealous beauty regimens–that forces me to stop using it for a few days. For example, in an attempt to quash a recent zit, I ended up wayyy over treating with the Mia twice a day + some harsh tea tree oil products. I ended up with a serious dry spot, which was fine once I left it alone for a few days. I’m using the Mia again though, and no problems since.

    • anon

      I use the Clarisonic, and the only face cleaner I use is Clinique’s Take The Day Off stuff in the pink pot. It’s very gentle and takes make up off without irritating my face. I have sensitive oily skin too, and the combination of those two things, plus AHA Alpha Hydroxy lotion, keep my skin (relatively) acne-free.

    • M

      I love my clarisonic (my friends and I refer to “her” as Clara). I use it with Philosophy purity, but I think you can use any cleanser as long as it’s not exfoliating. Mine is the mia two, and I use the sensitive brush. I’ve found that I can see and feel the difference in my skin after a couple weeks of use (or non use, since I can get lazy).

      I think I bought mine at either Ulta or Sephora – I used a coupon so I felt better about the cost.

    • Lawyer Bird

      I have oily, extremely sensitive skin and I love the Olay Pro X. I’ve never had any complaints about it and it has definitely cut down in clogged pores. I’ve been using it daily for about 2 years. Refill brushes are $10 for a two-pack, much less than the Clarisonic ones. I use it with a Paula’s Choice cleanser.

      • ruby

        I have clarisonic and use earth science a-d-e- cleanser. very gentle/natural.

  5. manomanon

    What do you all wear on you legs in the winter if one of them is in a cast? I don’t own any work appropriate pants because I wear skirts and dresses everyday. Is my best bet getting a few cheap pairs of tights and cutting off the bottom of one leg to get me through the winter?
    And on a related note… my toes stick out of the cast- any tips for not letting them get frostbite when my foot doesn’t even approach fitting in shoes?

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      I’m not sure about the what-to-wear-on-your-legs thing, but for avoiding frostbite, just buy heavy mens socks (because mens are bigger) and then put one over the cast.

      • LizNYC

        For heavy-duty men’s socks, try Kmart or Walmart (or some type of -mart), since they sell really heavy duty socks for men who work construction and other outdoor-type jobs (not saying women don’t — I’ve just never seen socks like that in women’s sock sections). My coworker used to buy those there for her husband who worked outside yearround.

      • manomanon

        Yes! That sounds like it might work perfectly… Though I may have to get leg warmers for the weekends if only because I wasn’t born in yet the last time they were popular!

    • Matilda

      Confession: I just want to knit you a cast-cozy. Actually, you’ve just given me an AWESOME idea for a friend of mine who broke her ankle.

      You could also take advantage of the return of the legwarmer trend — those might be a little looser and better able to pull over a cast, and you could sew one end shut. I can’t say it would be pretty, but it might work.

    • Alana

      Building on earlier advice, you could possibly use the foot warmer packets for additional warmth between the inner sock layer, and a second sock as an outer layer.

    • Lawyer Bird

      I would just wear sweatpants under your dress on the commute (Lands End starfish pants are warm and look nice enough that they can “pass” as casual pants – probably with a broken leg, you could get away with just wearing black ones to work, honestly) and then bare legs in the office.

      For the toes, a fleece hat might work although you’d have to tape it down, or cast socks, which are really big socks (men’s socks from the big and tall department might work). I also found something called a toe warmer on the internets – google cast toe warmer. You could also try slippers in an extra wide width.

  6. Lady Harriet

    A fun question for Friday: How did you come up with the name you use here? Sometimes it’s a fairly obvious reference to the poster’s profession or location, sometimes it’s more obscure. I’m always curious as to how you ladies think! As for me, my name comes from a character in Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey books, a series of mystery novels written in the 20’s and 30’s. (I highly recommend them if you like well-drawn characters and witty dialogue.) Your turn!

      • preg 3L

        Ha, +1 for obvious! I used to post under a few different names, and decided this life description was an easy/convenient consolidation.

    • Philosophia

      Except that (as those of us from the other side of the pond learn from Miss Twitterson) her married name is properly Lady Peter.

      I chose my handle because my degrees are in philosophy.

      • Lady Harriet

        Yes, you are correct on that point, but I started using it on the internet many years ago, so inertia has kept me from changing. :)

    • Lyssa

      I always wonder about that, too. Mine’s not too interesting; it’s been my all -around the internet identity for several years now. It’s nothing fancier than a creatively spelled twist on a part of my real-life (boringly common) first name.

      Excitingly, though, I did recently have a blogger where I comment a bit call me out and ask what’s the deal with that name, as she had recently stumbled across the scientific name for rabies, the “lyssavirus.” I had absolutely no idea of that; and ever since, I’ve been wondering if anyone else who sees me comment has noticed that and thinks I’m a weird-o.

    • Equity's Darling

      Because I’m a bona fide purchaser for value without notice?

      No, I was half-heartedly paying attention in trusts class the first time I posted, and I quite liked/like the phrase.

      • Boring Name

        I assumed from your name that you work in venture cap or some other form of high finance.

    • Lady Tetra

      I just picked this name after years of lurking or being “Anon” and such. My boyfriend and I have been playing through Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, and the cool lady pirate in it is Lady Tetra, so there you go.

      • Statutesq

        Me too. People always call me statuesque (usually preceded by a comment like, wow, how tall are you?) and I’m an attorney, so I lawyerfied the descriptor for my handle.

    • thatsnotmyname

      Clearly, ran out of creativity here! Posted for a while under ‘anon’ and wanted a more ‘permanent’ handle. Went through a bunch of names in my head to the the song, “they call me h*ll, they call me Stacey, they call me her, they call me Jane”

      Hence my name.

    • Batgirl

      You know, I’m not sure where my name came from. I was Ballerina Girl for a while…embarrassingly because I was initially posting about how I had bad feet and couldn’t wear heels (think ballerina flats/slippers) and i guess I kept the “girl” and went with Bat?

      Oh, also, I’m Batman’s female counterpart.

        • Batgirl

          T’was I! I didn’t really post with either for any particular purpose. It just kind of depended on my mood–and I felt like it made it harder to identify my real-life self in certain job-related contexts.

    • Godzilla

      I have *no idea* how I came up with my moniker. I think I wanted something easy to catch when I was scrolling through a thread. Regardless, the name is fitting.

      • NOLA

        Wait you mean you’re not really a monster? I thought this one was obvious! Like mine, which is obvious. Posted under different subject-related names for awhile then chose this. Could have been more interesting, I suppose.

        • Wildkitten

          Baconpancakes chose her name to torture everyone when they are hungry. Meow.

      • Sydney Bristow

        Oh my goodness I cannot believe I didn’t recognize that right away! Love it!

    • Matilda

      Roald Dahl. I always wanted to have telekinetic powers. Also, I’m a huge Tom Waits fan, and Tom Traubert’s Blues is my favorite.

    • Baconpancakes

      If anyone with a taste for the nonsensical, poignant absurdity of life and a willingness to watch cartoons has not yet watched Adventure Time, do not stop, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Watch it.

      There’s an episode involving an ear worm about Baconpancakes, and it was stuck on repeat in my head for about two weeks when I made up this moniker.

    • mascot

      It was the nickname given me by college roommate’s mom. It’s been my internet name for quite some time now.

    • zora

      Years ago I was making up an anonymous email for internets purposes, and put together my favorite author, Zora Neale-Hurston, who also had an incredible real life, and the quote, attributed to Emma Goldman and Rosa Luxemburg, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution” into my email handle: zoradances. I was doing a lot of radical activism and anti-oppression work at the time, so the combination kind of described what I was doing. Plus, I think Zora would have definitely agreed with the sentiment of the quote.

      When I started posting regularly here, I just went with zora, for quicker typing purposes. ;o)

        • zora

          OMG, srsly! You MUST read the biography, Wrapped in Rainbows by Valerie Boyd. It is not only amazing to read about her life, but it is so well written, you feel like you’re reading an incredible novel, not a biography. But it’s all real!!

          long story short: she grew up in an extremely poor, but one of the first all-black towns in Florida, basically one generation removed from slavery, and ended up going to college in the ’20s(!!), getting multiple advanced degrees in anthropology and then traveled alone (!!!) throughout the South and the Caribbean doing anthropological research. Plus a lot of other crazy stuff, but basically living a pretty amazing life for a black woman in the early twentieth century! Srsly, read the book, it is incredible.

    • backgrounder

      i lurk a lot but name relates to my job as I conduct a ridiculous amount of background investigations.

      (although, i looked up the ‘formal’ definition and it apparently the word can be used to refer to a news or media brief).

    • Divaliscious11

      I can’t remember what sparked it but its been my internet persona for about 12 years…why change now….

    • just Karen

      One of my early posts was getting advice on whether/how to change my last name when I got married…I was sick of thinking about it and wanted to be just Karen.

      • A Nonny Moose

        I really always thought you were “Just Karen” so as to avoid being confused with karen padi.

    • Samantha

      My name is not Samantha, but growing up my dad’s nickname for me was always Sam.
      So I expanded it out. :)
      Also, Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch series is one of my favorite reads and re-reads, and its lead character, Sam Vimes, is flawed and wise and my hero, so I’m happy to share his moniker.

    • Woods-comma-Elle

      When I started thinking about law school, the movie was around, and I was blonde so my friends made the obvious comparison. Now I’m not blonde, but I still love the movie (don’t judge me, it’s fun) and I think at the time I first posted, I just remembered that and the bit where in the movie she asks for her social calendar and it seemed better than just Elle Woods.

      So nothing that deep, I’m afraid!

    • Sydney Bristow

      I needed to come up with an “alias” to regularly post under and Alias is one of my favorite television shows ever so I just ran with it.

    • Ekaterin Nile

      Gaudy Night is one of my favorite books ever!

      My name comes from the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. She’s a wonderful character.

    • big dipper

      Mine is from a lyric from my favorite song from high school. I don’t know a single person anymore who remembers my love of this band/song so it’s a good way to stay anonymous on the internet! Plus it makes me happy to think of the song.

      • Aon

        I was trying to respond anonymously to something and didn’t realize till after that I left out an “n”. Then I just kept it.

    • Belle et Rebelle

      Saw it as a headline on the cover of a French magazine. I’m a bit of a Francophile, so having a French phrase as a handle appealed to me.

  7. Traditionalist

    I responded to a thread about weddings with the title “Traditionalist, I guess” to describe my views on that particular question. Then I realized that I’m pretty much a traditionalist in many ways… I aim for classic style, find good routines comforting, and try to behave like a lady. Well, most of the time. Everything in moderation, including tradition.

  8. E

    I bought a pair of Rockport Faye studded leopard print ballet flats w adidas adiprene from Ruelala a long time ago. They’ve been sitting in my closet all this time and I finally wore them today. Omg I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. The leopard ones are the most attractive imo… theyre super cute and feel heaven. I just wanted to share how excited i am about them because I’m always on the hunt for attractive, stylish yet super comfortable and supportive ballet flats.

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      I bought a pair of Rockport knee-high boots two weeks ago, and after wearing them to death for a week, I ended up buying two more pairs of Rockports. There are no words for how fabulous the Adidas adiprene is.

      • backgrounder

        Curious to know which style are your boots? I took a gander at the website and really liked their Seven to 7 boot and bootie collection.

        • Killer Kitten Heels

          I have the Seven to 7 low tall boots – they’re fantastic. I also tried and really liked the Phaedra tall boot – it has a chunkier heel than the Seven to 7s, but less elastic in the calf part. Since I have chunktacular calves, I needed the increased stretch in the Seven to 7s for the boots to look right over skinny jeans, so that’s why I ended up choosing them over the Phaedras.

          • backgrounder

            This is great, thanks! I have the same chunktacular calf problem and figured the neoprene backing would stretch really well. Now I just have to justify coughing up over $200 for them…

          • Killer Kitten Heels

            I was really skeptical about spending the money, but after my last pair of discount boots fell apart after 3/4 of a season (and gave me blisters every. single. time. I wore them) I decided it was time to “woman up” and spend the money.

            I figured that I probably spend $60-100 a year on cheap boots, so if I keep these for around 3 years, they’ve more than paid for themselves.

  9. Cb

    As it’s the weekend, how do you guys approach your hobbies? Are you committed to excelling at one thing or are you a dabbler?

    • PinkKeyboard

      Definitely a dabbler. I quilt, cook, and garden. I cook almost every night and do fancier cooking for holidays… probably my only excel type thing. Quilting and gardening I remain a rogue amateur.

        • Baconpancakes

          I like the idea of being a rogue amateur. I am a rogue amateur knitter and canner. I NEVER follow the pattern!

          • Pink

            Can we have a corp et te knitting group?! I am also rogue amateur–a pattern is like a recipe… and idea, but not set in stone!

        • Killer Kitten Heels

          I kind of want to change my handle to “Rogue Amateur” now. This is probably my favorite typo ever.

    • zora

      I’m so ADD, definitely a dabbler. ;o) This weekend is mostly for job-hunting, but I’ve been having fun baking lately, I might have to make myself a chocolatey treat. Really miss ballet class, though.

    • Lady Harriet

      I dabble, but usually cycle through things as my main focus at a time. Right now swing dancing is what I’m most into, with some cooking on the side. I’m committed enough to dancing that I’ve started actually doing situps and (girly) pushups to build more muscles for aerials. It must be important to me, because I HATE situps and pushups. I really started cooking this summer when I was living completely by myself for the first time. Pre-made food is expensive, so I had no choice but to cook! I discovered that I rather like it, especially when I’m not pressed for time.

      I haven’t been knitting, reading, or playing the violin as much lately, but I know I’ll spend more time on them in the future, since they’ve all been consistent interests for 12+ years.

    • NOLA

      I read, cook, and knit. I am a fairly expert knitter but I knit in fits and spurts. Right now, I am determined not to start anything new until I finish the unfinished projects. Finally finished a lengthwise rib alpaca scarf recently (easy but tedious). I read constantly. On the treadmill, in bed, whatever. I cook big food on occasion or when my SO is visiting. For me, not much. And I love to bake but only what I can take in to work. I should bake a pumpkin spice bundt cake this weekend.

    • SoCalAtty

      I’ve talked about my horse riding hobby – so every Saturday/Sunday morning, I ride at 9 or 10am unless I’m out of town or have something else going.

      Our problem is that we (husband and I) have too many hobbies – cycling, backpacking, horses, gardening, canning…it is hard to fit that all in, so we tend to be seasonal about it. The weekend mornings always start at the barn, and then we may go for a bike ride, work in the garden, or go hike. We’ll use really hot summer weeks/months to do backpacking trips up in the mountains or on the coast where it is cooler.

      I haven’t had any offers on my mare, yet, so in the meantime my plan is to get to the point where I am comfortable showing here and do a few local shows. I would like to show on the grass someday though…(that’s a higher level of jumping at a fancier show…I think I have to be doing at least 3’3″ to do it, and I’m at 2’6″ now)

    • Echo

      If only there were enough time to excel in everything…

      I do folk dance, yoga and choir weekly. Sometimes there’s sleep, laundry and work in there too! I enjoy cooking and reading when I have time as well.

  10. Beth

    If only there were enough time to excel in everything…

    I do folk dance, yoga and choir weekly. Sometimes there’s sleep, laundry and work in there too! I enjoy cooking and reading when I have time as well.

    • Kathryn

      I’m having a hard time not thinking that dress would be better in spring or summer, but maybe because of the oranges it would work. Anyways, I think bronze heels/pashmina would look really good. Maybe wear your hair up to make it a bit more formal?

    • Pea

      That dress seems really summery to me. And not really black-tie option attire. I would pick a cocktail dress instead. Its really squarely in summer garden wedding territory.

    • DublinSnore

      I like that dress, but I really don’t think it looks appropriate for a Fall wedding, particularly a black-tie optional one. I don’t think you have to necessarily wear a long dress, but I would at least be looking for something that isn’t so summery in terms of color—and the white screams “spring/summer” to me, no matter what you put on top. I’ve also seen it worn over black tights and it does not look very good, to be honest.

    • Anne Shirley

      I dont think you can. The dress is just too casual for black tie optional.

  11. hoola hoopa

    Technical issue report: I can access the current post, but any other post will load and then lock up. I can’t even scroll the page. For example, I can’t open this morning’s post. I had been thinking that it was an issue with one of the scripts for an ad, but it’s been happening all week. It’s not happening with any other website, so I don’t think it’s a browser/IT-blocking issue.

    • LilyB

      same here; occasionally I’ll go to the site, try to open the comments for a thread, and it’ll crash my browser.

        • Godzilla

          This just happened to me in the Suit of the Week post. I can read and scroll through any other post. The page just locks. Also using Chrome. I can close out the tab and continue browsing on my other tabs, thankfully.

        • hoola hoopa

          On IE9 I will eventually get a ‘page no responding’ error message and an offer to retry. The retry usually locks up even faster. I’ve tried refresh, closing and reopening browser, and even restarting my computer. No dice.

          • preg 3L

            This is happening to me in Chrome but I was able to get in through Safari.

    • bridget

      Yep; this page of comments crashed by browser (chrome) repeatedly. Now I’m on Firefox, and it seems to be working okay. But it was kind of frustrating because I also had like a zillion Westlaw tabs open that hadn’t yet been saved :(

      • bridget

        *my* browser. Blerg.

        No error messages for me, Kat. Just freezing, it won’t let me close the tab until I ctrl+alt+delete the browser. Other open tabs that then experience problems said that shockwave crashed, so maybe it’s a shockwave error?

  12. Killer Kitten Heels

    Anyone have any comments on the L.L. Bean cashmere? I’m trying to upgrade my weekend wardrobe (pretty sure my husband would like me to retire the 15 year-old band hoodies that I got at Warped Tour the summer before junior year of high school), and L.L. Bean has some cute zip-up cashmere that looks like a more grown-up version of the things I already like, but I’m loathe to spend so much only to discover that I don’t like them.

    • Jules

      No experience with LL Bean cashmere but they have a great return policy, if you don’t like it send it back, no questions asked. (NPR did a feature on this not long ago.)

    • PinkKeyboard

      No experience with the cashmere but second the excellent return policy. I returned a very used pair of slippers I bought my husband 6 months later (the stitching wore out and the sole separated) and they took them back with no receipt and shipped me a new pair immediately.

    • hoola hoopa

      Dude, I also went to warped tour after my sophomore year of HS. I have no memorabilia, though :(

      Ditto excellent return policy. Also, LL Bean is usually really good quality, especially for the price. It’s definitely worth a try. Use Fall10 to save 10% until the 14th (which is a good sale for them – they very rarely have a sale, which is why the quality is so good for the regular price).

      • Susie

        I was always so jealous of people with concert shirts, I was lucky if I could afford the tickets but never got the merchandise.

        • Killer Kitten Heels

          Most of my Warped Tour gear involved making bets with the group of guys I went with and winning, so I didn’t actually pay for any of it, come to think of it.

        • SoCalAtty

          Remember when concert t-shirts were $20-$30? I was at John Mayer last weekend and the cheapest t-shirt was, I think, $40 and the hoodies were $75!!

    • Swtwc

      It’s great quality- not the thin crap you find at malls. Beautiful colors and fabric.

  13. preg 3L

    Anyone have experience with Lands End shoes? I’m looking at a couple of types of slippers / house shoes that would be acceptable for taking the baby around the block (after she arrives in February, so I’d wear these slippers outdoors in Feb/March) if necessary. The prices seem great but I haaaaate paying for shipping (either direction) and Lands End charges almost $7 in return shipping. Thanks!

    • Godzilla

      I’ve been happy with my Lands End shoe purchases. I got their sneakerish mary jane type shoes and their version of tom’s flats and my feet are happy. Love their WW, although I pick styles that don’t require WW to fit my feet.

    • bananagram

      You may be able to try them on at a Sears store. I’ve definitely seen shoes there.

      • hoola hoopa

        +1 I had to drive passed a couple of other Sears to get to one with a LE shop, but they had the shoes to try on.

        Also, you may be able to return shoes ordered online to a Sears (or Sears with LE shop) for free, rather than pay shipping.

        I believe Sears or LE’s websites have a ‘store finder’ where you can search for a Sears with a LE shop near you.

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      I just bought their knee-high winter boots during the Friends and Family sale, and they’re a little bit wide but otherwise true to size, if that helps at all. The quality is solid – not LL Bean, boots-I’ll-own-until-my-unborn-child-is-old-enough-to-wear-them good, but definitely get-me-through-a-few-winters good.

  14. What to wear to a fall bridal shower?

    I’m invited to a bridal shower in NYC in a few weeks and I am extremely fashion-challenged. Does anyone have suggestions for what to wear? It will be held in a family member’s apartment in Manhattan. Is it typical to wear dresses for this type of thing? I was thinking of wearing a simple black cashmere sweater with a colorful scarf, a grey skirt, tights, and boots, but my guess is it might be too casual. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

    • tesyaa

      Black is good for NYC, and I’ll bet a lot of people will be in nice jeans. It really depends on the crowd.

    • Anonymous

      In the past couple of years, I’ve been to two showers at people’s home. One was in the summer, so I wore a casual summer dress. The other was in the winter and I wore a printed skirt with black tights and black booties with a black tee shirt on top. Only one of the showers was in NYC, but what I wore was in line with what others wore for both of them.

      I think what you are describing would work for a shower in someone’s home. I think if you wanted to go a little fancier, you could wear a blouse instead of a sweater.

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      Your outfit plan sounds good – depending on the crowd, you could probably get away with nice dark-wash jeans too, but if you’re not sure, I think the skirt/tights combo is perfect. You could always fancy-it-up a little by adding nice jewelry to the mix.

    • Susie

      I personally wouldn’t wear black to a baby shower, too gloom and doom. I probably wouldn’t do grey either, but maybe with the right (bright) accessories. But I guess black is a NYC thing right?

      • Killer Kitten Heels

        It’s an NYC thing. I’ve lived in NY for most of my life, and there’s basically no circumstance where black is unacceptable – I’ve been to summer brunch weddings where a solid third of the guests were in black.

    • What to wear to a fall bridal shower?

      Good to know you guys think black could be okay – most of my clothes right now are darker (just got kind of unbalanced in my shopping there) and since this wedding is already going to be expensive to attend cross-country, I’m hoping not to have to buy any more new clothes than I have to. I dress really casually most of the time, but I think the other guests are more likely to err on the dressier side of things. Thanks ladies!

      • TCFKAG

        I think black is totally fine (its New York baby) but if you feel anxious about it, you could go to Target or something and get a couple of bright accessories – like a cobalt or burgundy (which would be seasonally appropriate) or green (so in right now…lol) necklace or belt – just something to add a pop of color. Or some cheap but cute flats – they usually have fun patterned flats for under $20.

    • NYNY

      That is exactly the level of dressed-up I would do. One thing, though, many Manhattan apartments are in old buildings heated by radiators, and they get HOT, especially when you have a lot of people over. Seriously, I’ve been at Thanksgiving dinners where we turned on the air conditioning to combat the radiator and body heat (after opening the windows didn’t cut it). Maybe wear a lighter layer under the sweater so you have temperature options?

  15. Batgirl

    I’m prepping for a move in a few weeks–does anyone have any great packing/moving tips?

    The tip I always give people is to pack your suitcases like you’re going on a one week trip–all the clothes you think you might want to wear, toiletries, etc. so that you don’t have to fully unpack before going to work on Monday. Oh, and this includes packing the stuff you’ll want in the first 24 hours–sheets, toilet paper, garbage bags, scissors (for opening boxes), etc.–in a handy box marked “Open me first!”

    Thanks for all the tips! Daunting process!

    • TBK

      Last time we moved, I made a spreadsheet that listed every box, its number (I numbered all our boxes), and its contents. I was pretty specific on the contents. So a box might be “12, Kitchen, iron skillet, immersion blender, stock pot, dish towels.” I put the same information on the box (so the box itself had a list of its contents). I put the box number on all six sides of each box. It was a bit of a pain, but so worth it. It helped me prioritize unpacking, let me unpack things in a way that made sense (e.g., I could decide to unpack and put away all my pans, then all my serving dishes, then my every day plates, etc.) and, because no one totally unpacks in one day, it helped when we were only 1/2 unpacked but needed a specific item.

      • NYNY

        Ditto on the spreadsheet. We also had a numbering system where each room of the new home had a letter, and DH put a sign on each room with its corresponding letter so the movers could put the boxes in the right room.

        Make sure that you have an emergency box with everything you need to be able to shower and sleep the first night if you can’t actually unpack anything. Shower curtain, soap, towels, toothbrush/toothpaste, sheets, pillows. Also, it’s good to know where your corkscrew and/or bottle opener is the first night.

        Good luck with the move!

      • Avery

        I would be concerned that having an itemized list is basically giving someone a shopping list during the moving process. I’ve heard too many horror stories about movers holding trucks hostage for more money so if you get stuck with one of those crews, I can’t imagine that they’d have a problem reaching in the box for your immersion blender, you know? But I’m really cynical, despite having nothing but fantastic moving experiences with efficient, careful and trustworthy crews.

        • Anon

          This +1. I wholeheartedly endorse the spreadsheet idea but do NOT itemize the contents on the box itself unless you’re moving yourself and will be in control of all boxes for the duration of the move. I recommend numbering the boxes but keeping the itemized list separately. I’ve moved across country multiple times and also don’t identify the room on the boxes. I just rely on my numbering system. I, too, am cynical and have had experience with very trustworthy crews but you can’t be too careful.

          • TBK

            We used PODS so no one had access to the contents of the PODS once we’d locked them. So I hadn’t even thought of that. Nothing very valuable went in the boxes, though. No heirlooms, jewelry, etc. All that stuff went in the car with us (and got sat on by the dog who had very little space in our back seat – oh well).

    • Anonymous

      Don’t skimp on the bubble wrap. Get the big perforated rolls from the office supply store/hardware store and just use it on everything. Rubber bands and ziploc bags are useful, as well. Closet hanging boxes and special dish boxes have been well worth the price and you’ll be able to give them away to someone at the end.

      • Vesper

        +1 on the dish boxes. Our dishes made it all the way across the country in pods without a single thing breaking. The SmoothMove Moving and Storage Bankers Boxes (bought from Amazon) were also great for books. Even the small size was too heavy if filled with books, so we filled them 2/3 full with books, then a shoe box full of misc. small, lighter things, and filled in any extra space with small items of clothing. These made up the bottom layer of the pods and held up very well. If you’re just moving in town, that’s not as critical, but I still think the hand holes make them much easier to move around, and there’s no fussing with tape or lids. You can fold them up when you’re done and use them again.

    • abogada

      Mark boxes with which room the items belong in in the new space. Then when you get there it’s easy to stack boxes in the right room, open everything and see where all your stuff is. You can unpack the priority stuff first, and rummage around in the boxes for other items as needed.

      Use towels and pajamas and t-shirts as packing material for breakable items. You don’t have to buy as much actual packing material, the cloth protects breakables well, and it cuts down on total boxes used.

      Craiglist is great for getting free moving boxes or giving away yours (you don’t even have to break them down if you don’t want to; people will still pick them up).

    • KS IT Chick

      From a friend … Buy a different color of duct tape for each room where boxes will be going to be unpacked. (The Duck Tape brand has something like 30 colors & patterns now.) Close any box going to a given room with that color. Then, before you start moving in boxes, put a 3×5 card with that color or pattern on it on the door. That lets whomever is moving boxes in for you a guide on what goes where, so that you don’t have your kitchen gear sitting in your den, while your CD’s & crystal are taking up space in your bedroom.

  17. Equity's Darling

    I’ve been invited to a last minute Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, and I’ve been instructed to bring a dessert.

    I have a few old standby recipes, but if anyone has other suggestions that have been well-received at dinner parties, that would be great!

    Also, Happy Thanksgiving to my canucks, I know it’s not until Monday, but the long weekend starts oh so soon, I can taste it.

  18. Diane Lockhart

    I just found out that I will most likely be going on a business development trip to London the week of November 10th and we will be meeting with underwriters and commercial insurance claims folks. I am a commercial litigator and will be accompanying my partner who works extensively with Lloyd’s underwriters on major complex commercial and maritime claims matters and litigation. Yay! — I have been trying to get this to happen for quite some time now!

    Does anyone here have any ideas on the dress code in this situation for women. Would conservative pants suits be acceptable? — my best suit is a dark navy Theory pantsuit. I really don’t have many skirt suits (I have a Lafayette black pencil skirt and jacket and a J Cr*w cobalt blue pencil Super 120’s skirt and jacket. I also have one dark gray Classique’s dress and jacket suit)

    What will the weather likely be in terms of needing outerwear and boots? (I live in Southern California). Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    • Woods-comma-Elle

      Yay, welcome!

      I’m in a related area of law in London and though it can be old school, it is generally relatively casual. There are fewer women in the industry so arguably less pressure on what you wear and you get all kinds of stuff. The pant suits sound absolutely fine and there is really no issue at all wearing that as opposed to a skirt suit so I wouldn’t worry.

      That said, in November, it will probably be raining and relatively cold, so the pant suits may get a bit dirty, but in a situation where you are just going to meetings and are not outside a lot, you should be fine. It feels colder in the UK generally than the temperature indicates, because it is we, so though you will probably be ok for a work trip with work shoes/ankle boots, you will want to bring a coat and gloves and an umbrella!

      • Diane Lockhart

        Thanks for the reassurance on pants. As for a coat, am I better off with a wool lined trench coat or just a wool coat? I don’t have a lined trench but could get one. My only wool coat is the JCr*w Lady Day which won’t fit well over suit jackets but is fine over dresses. I will bring boots and booties.

        • Amber

          Also in London but not law, so I’d go with Elle’s advice re suits.

          Re the weather, I’d say that in November, and given the big climate difference between SoCal and London, err on the side of bringing warm things with you. Also try and work out exactly how much time you’ll be spending outside — e.g. will you be going from your hotel to the office and back by taxi and that’s it, or are you likely to be using public transport or possibly sightseeing a bit if you have time? That might help you decide if it’s worth buying a lined trench just for the trip…

          Another alternative, depending on your scheduling flexibility/free time is to just budget a bit of spare time to shop at the beginning of the trip and get a coat and maybe a scarf/gloves/etc here as souvenirs for yourself.

    • mascot

      If you don’t get many answers this weekend, post again own a weekday morning when our ladies across the pond are more active.

  19. TCFKAG

    Okay team. I did it. I popped my maternity wear cherry. I answered a question regarding maternity wear (specifically, a mommy-to-be wanted outfit advice for her upcoming baby shower.) You should boogy on over to my blog and check it out. What I would like MORE THAN ANYTHING is advice from ACTUAL moms and pregnant women. Never having been pregnant, my knowledge of the maternity wear industry is…limited. I’ll post the link in the subsequent post but you can get to it by clicking on my name above. Thanks for your insight in advance!

  20. Emmabean

    I just made Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls, and they are ah-mazing. I am so proud of myself for making it happen, and also a little embarrassed because I ate so many of them I wasn’t hungry for dinner. Oops. But, yum!

  22. Nervous and Exhausted

    Tips on lowering anxiety? I started my first legal job recently at a large firm and can’t shake the nerves. I’ve worked on a few projects, haven’t gotten any negative feedback (or really any feedback at all beyond “thanks”), have gotten along with my coworkers, and have had plenty of work to fill my hours. But for some reason I’m constantly terrified I’m going to screw up horribly and lose the job. Its worse than just everyday worrying. It’s actually bad enough that it’s affecting my ability to sleep, and I’m losing quite a bit of weight.

    This has never been an issue for me before. It just came out of nowhere. Advice?

    • Ellen

      Hugs but you need NOT worry! You have embarked on something new and it’s DIFFERENT from what you’ve ever done before.

      You need to remember that you are young with your WHOLE LIFE A HEAD OF YOU! That is exciting! But not worth looseing sleep over.

      When I first started out I had no job and. no boyfreind and after living in DC for many years, I decided to move TO NY CITY b/c it was where there were a lot of lawyer’s. I was anxius and scared I would not make it. But I worked hard and got the Manageing partner to let me litiegate cases no one else want to.

      Also haveing a boyfreind helped me realize there was more then work. Tho Alan drank, he focussed on me and made me think of thing’s other then work (which should ONLEY be on your mind from 9-5. When I left work I focussed on fun things and lived my life, b/c that was the point! Not thinking about work. And for what it’s worth, b/c Alan cared about ME, sex with Alan did realy take the edge off for me and helped me get great sleep at night.

      So if you do think a long these lines and do like me and learn not to be so sereius, it will all get better. Eventuealley we will all find guy’s who will want to have babies so they will MARRY us and then we will never have to work again! Yay!!!!!!!!!

      • Gooey Bear

        I was with you until the last sentence. If we have a career, we don’t need men to support us. At all!

    • Amberwitch

      In a somewhat similar situation. Started new job 4 months ago, things are going ok, but I don’t know if I perform. I think I do, people have indicated that I do, but it is a new role, and a different environment. It makes me anxious, and makes my stomach knot up. Not to the point of loosing weight, though.

      I meditate every night for ten minuttes, and since I started this a few months ago I’ve had no trouble sleeping. I know this is standard advice, and kind of lame. But try it:-) I never could figure out how to follow anyone specific method, so I made up my own as a mixture of what made sense – some breathing, some visualisation, some affirmations. So I don’t think the method matters as much as it always seems like when you read about meditation.
      I use an app called meditationbuddy for sound and timekeeping. To me the worst part of meditating is becoming impatient and thinking, ‘now it must have been ten minutes’, but in reality it’s been less than two. So external timekeeping is a definite plus for me.

  23. Susie

    Did anyone catch What Not to Wear (Megumi) tonight? Wow that girl was a riot but I loved “Buying clothes you don’t like is like eating a really fattening dessert that doesn’t even taste good.”

  24. help! shopping question

    My husband, bless his heart, told me today that he doesn’t have a dress shirt to wear for a wedding we are going to on Saturday. He has a very large next (17.5) but a medium size body. We had talked about how he needs a custom Made to Measure shirt, but obviously its too late for that now. Would tailoring a regular shirt work you think? If we got one to fit on the neck, and then took the sides and arms in? Or would that be tons of money.

    Also, is a medium dark grey suit ok for black tie optional?

    • Gooey Bear

      Surely ok. I was married to a guy with a very thick neck (18″) who I had very little in common with. We divorced, and there is only 1 thing I miss, as my new boyfriend can buy his clothes in the chubby boys department.

    • Lawyer Bird

      Yeah, medium gray’s fine for black tie optional. Definitely a better choice than a black suit (not tux), which always looks funereal to me.

    • Brant

      My DH is similarly built, has a 17″ neck and broad shoulders but 33-34″ waist. He has about an extra foot of material around the middle most dress shirts!! May not help you now, but he finds that the Lands End trim fit work well for basics. Brooks brothers makes a slim fit but they are still too baggy on him unless he wears them under suits- but may work for y’all and are available from a brick-and-mortar. he is also not a fan of no-iron which they seems to be the most popular trim fit. Like you said, he gets his shirts custom made, particularly his tuxedo shirts.

  25. Senior Attorney

    Hopefully it’s not too late in the weekend to get some input here.

    It has occurred to me that I am not happy keeping my calendar in my iPhone/iPad. I feel too vulnerable to the Cloud, it takes way longer to enter an appointment in the gadgets than to write it in a book, and most of all, I love having a stack of datebooks with my life’s history reflected in the years’ appointments.

    All of which is to say I am in the market for a 2014 day planner/date book. I like the standard week-at-a-glance format in the medium size (about the size of an iPad), but I wonder whether anybody has any ideas for something more fun or more functional or both?

  26. NYC Meet Up?

    Hey ladies, I’m thinking of organizing an NYC meet up for sometime in November (probably at Grey Dog’s again). Is there any interest?

  27. Anon

    Someone (not my significant other) has been sending me flowers to my office, anonymously. It has already happened 4 times over the past two months. I have no idea who they come from. What should I do? Should I be alarmed?

    • Belle et Rebelle

      Sounds creepy to me, too. I would call the florist and ask whom you should be “thanking” for the lovely flowers and then go from there.

      • Monday

        They won’t tell, most likely. Florists are very serious about anonymity. I agree it’s weird but one other possibility is a mix-up where they’re supposed to be going to someone else.

        • OP

          Indeed. They’ve been using different companies each time, and I called up two of them, and both said they could not disclose. The only option given to me was that the company would get in touch with the anonymous sender and ask for their permission to disclose. I do not really feel comfortable with that since I do not want to show that person, whoever they are, my interest in them.
          Monday, it’s not a mix-up, because the flowers have been coming with cards with messages to me (eg “OP, have a lovely weekend”, “OP, I know you have a boyfriend but just wanted to say I admore you”) and on one occasion arrived on my birthday wishing me a happy birthday.

          • ExcelNinja

            I’m so creeped out by this. Are you comfortable telling the receptionist that you won’t accept any more flower deliveries at work?

        • OP

          I called two of the companies they’ve used (it’s been a different one each time), and they wouldn’t disclose. The only option was for the florist to call the sender and ask them if they could disclose, which I do not like since I do not want to demonstrate any interest. Monday, it’s definitely not a mix up, since one of the bouquets arrived on my birthday with a card saying “Happy birthday, OP” or smth like that. Other bouquets also came with anonymous cards using my name (eg “Dear OP, I know you have a boyfriend, but just wanted to let you know I admire you”). Also, one one occasion someone left a box of chocolates on my desk without a note, suggesting that is someone in the office.

          • preg 3L

            Woah, someone in your office is doing this? I would be so freaked out. Can you speak with HR?

  28. picture frame repair - NYC

    This may be a shot in the dark, but does anyone have experience having old frames repaired? I’ve inherited a bunch of paintings brought over from Europe and painted in the early 1900s, and their frames are beautiful but falling apart. I would love to have them fixed if possible. I am in NYC. Thanks!

  30. Sleep-Deprived University Student

    Hi all!

    My name is Aadil and I am a student undertaking a marketing course that requires me to conduct online ethnographic research. My goal is to analyze the behaviours of individuals who frequent blogs/forums such as this one in an attempt to understand the market accurately.

    I recently came across an article that claimed 53% of working females use online forums/blogs to access information in the areas of personal care, leisure, food, and hospitality. I’d like to know your thoughts on this stat, and propose another question; would having to pay to access such forums/blogs deter you from participating?

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