What a Difference One Percent Makes!

We're going on vacation tomorrow—a week at the lake. The Jazzman tells me it's a very casual environment, where the women's wardrobes consist of shorts and capris and T-shirts. I'm sad to report that I've put on weight since last summer. Significant weight. My doctor prescribed beta blockers to curb my headaches and decrease heart palpitations. But the side effect, for me at least, is weight gain. Therefore, only the clothes that were [very] loose (i.e. baggy) last summer still fit me this summer.

I have several pair of Not Your Daughter's Jeans® (NYDJ), which I wear almost daily. All are size 12 and fit me fine. My favorite pair of jeans were purchased in the Costa Mesa Nordstrom during the summer of 2007, and are a dream to wear. They're 12s and still fit me, so I should be able to slip on another pair of size 12 NYDJs with no problem, right?

I ran to the Beachwood Nordstrom after rehearsal on Wednesday evening and picked a couple pair of NYDJ cropped pants off the rack. To make sure they would fit, and not exhibiting any pride at all, I grabbed a 14 along with the 12. I looked at the labels first to make sure the denim was a stretch fabric with Lycra woven in. I was wearing my favorite NYDJ jeans at the time. I slipped them off and slipped on the 12s. Nope. Not even close to buttoning. So dropped them back on the chair and slipped on the 14s. What? Buttoning but not zipping? Size 14? If this is supposed to be funny, I'm not laughing.

The sales associate and I discussed the problem and starting looking more closely at the labels on several pair of NYDJ jeans. The labels we pulled said 99% denim, 1% Lycra, and 98/2, and 97/3. The pair I was wearing, and that I love*love*love, say 96% denim, 4% Lycra.

Would you ever have guessed that one percent of Lycra in a fabric weave could make that much difference?

I finally found a little pair of soft green crops that will go with a beige Chico's T that I love. They're not the most comfortable pants I've ever bought, but with my Nordstrom Rewards certificate, they were less than $20 and will be cool in the 85-90 degree temps under blazing sun that we're supposed to get on the lake next week.

While we're discussing clothes, I'll confess that I bought a new pair of white slides. I have a pair of Ecco white slides that I've had since around 1990. They're the most comfortable casual shoes I own, but a dog EEFFH and I brought home from the pound to please his kids in about 2002 chewed into them, and they look incredibly ratty. When Jazz suggested I wear them to a party last Sunday and I cringed, I realized they needed to go in the trash.

I received a catalog from FootSmart earlier this week. When flipping through it, I noticed that the Walking Cradles' Alva slide was almost identical to the Ecco slide. And, of course, the white was on sale. There's a new Top Shoe on my most comfortable casual shoes list now. The sole is cushioned, and the shoe is just a dream to wear. I think they will be on my feet for rehearsal at Blossom this afternoon!

My final shoe note is to show you this incredible shoe, which I found while looking for a picture for today's post. What a kick! Have you ever seen anything so wild?! That's the sort of outrageous shoe that my daughter-in-law loves to wear, and looks fabulous in.

And my final note on the weight problems is that I was ready to sign the gym membership papers yesterday when my doctor called and told me my left medial meniscus is torn and will require surgery. I see the ortho on July 29th. I am not happy.

I've been chiding Jazz for not shoving me onto the grass when he saw me start to fall on the pavement. What a perfect opportunity he had to release his aggression on me. Now he has to put up with my limping and complaining for another four weeks, then wait on me hand and foot while I recuperate from surgery.

Sounds like a plan, huh?

Do What You Know How to Do

Last night it was my distinct pleasure to provide background piano music for a political fundraiser. The event was benefiting Bob Hagan's reelection bid to the Ohio State Legislature. Playing beautiful music is something I know how to do. I've been doing it for many, many years.

A run for elected office requires many tasks and much help. My time (thanks to distant job and long commute) is limited. Meeting new people presents a challenge for me with my desire to stay in the background. And I'm uncomfortable asking people for contributions. But what I can do is help create an elegant environment that might put donors in a more expansive frame of mind.

For ten years I played the piano at Nordstrom in the Washington, DC area. At that time in the Pentagon City store, the piano was located next to Salon Shoes. (If you're not a Nordstrom regular, "Salon Shoes" translates to top quality, expensive shoes with designer labels.) Many men through the years would come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed my music, and that they bought their wives a couple of extra pair of shoes just so the husbands could sit and listen.

If you translate that attitude from "Beautiful Music to Shop By" to "Beautiful Music to Support a Candidate By", then I think my donation of music from my brain and fingers is just as valuable as the time someone gives to sit at a phone bank or drive around town installing yard signs. The music is just what I know how to do.

A friend of mine came over to speak to me. She said, "I heard the music as I stepped off the elevator. I thought they had a sound system going. Then I saw you." She said how much she enjoyed having the live music in the room.

Another friend said, "It's the most elegant fundraiser I've been to around here."

I'm hopeful these donors and others like them will extend their thought process to something like, "If Rep. Hagan and his staff can plan an event like this, imagine how organized and powerful he will be in the legislature—with his staff's support—representing the residents of the Mahoning Valley." Maybe I'm being naïve, but maybe not.

There's always someone who can use your help if you can just find a way to tap your talents and skills.

I Learned My Lesson Well

My mother has gone to Tampa to spend a couple of weeks with my brother and sister-in-law. My SIL, Molly, and I spoke this morning about Mother's arrival yesterday. Molly opened Mother's very heavy suitcase to unpack and get her settled in.

Let me set the stage by saying that both my daddy and my mother always had/have had impeccable and exquisite taste in clothing. They enjoyed/enjoy dressing nicely in quality clothing. Even the thought of buying an item of clothing at Wal-Mart or K-Mart or even Penney's or Sears was anathema to them. Even in pre-med, Daddy's clothing came from Britches of Georgetown.

Mother has developed quite a belly over the past few years, and all clothing now has stretch waistbands. She shops a lot from the Draper's and Damon's catalog, which houses a lot of polyester. Still, she can buy some nice things, and she shops frequently and lavishly—or as lavishly as one can at Draper's and Damon's.

So when Molly unpacked the suitcase, she was surprised to find only two dresses, both polyester, and only one a recent purchase. The other dress, according to Molly, was the ugliest thing she had ever seen in Mother's closet. Besides the dresses, there was one pair of black velour pants, and two tops. For a two-week visit!

Oh, but there were four pair of shoes. More shoes than clothes.

That's my girl. She taught me well!

Passing the Baton (or Torch) (or Nordstrom charge card)

My daughter-in-law took the babes for new shoes on Friday. My dear granddaughter, who is six years old for another two months, now wears a women's size six shoe. I was instantly reminded of her daddy, who moved into men's size 14 shoes when he was 14 years old.

At least women's size sixes are easier to find in stores than men's size 14s.

Sounds like an introductory Nordstrom visit is in order, dontcha think?