Wednesday Wants.

Always a Lady Skirt - $148

How pretty is this skirt?

With the colder months right around the corner, however, I find myself shying away from skirts. Because let's face it- skirts aren't the easiest thing to wear when you're traipsing and tumbling through conditions like this:

And oh god, that is coming at me like a brick wall, readers. Snow. I have no use for it; it just mucks things up and makes me bitter and spiteful and angry when I see it.

But you know what doesn't make me angry when I see it?

This skirt:

Always a Lady Skirt - $148


Always a Lady Skirt - $148

Always a Lady Skirt - $148

Which is why I posted it three times in a row just now. I'm fairly sure that there is no being bitter or angry or spiteful in such a pretty skirt, making it an official "ITEM I NEED SO I CAN GET THROUGH WINTER WITHOUT FREAKING THE FLIPPITY FUCK OUT".

Which, by the way, really needs to be a recognizable category by Elle and Vogue and any other fashion magazine. You know, as an item all ladies need to have- much like a Little Black Dress. Most people would think that the item du jour To Get Through Winter Without Freaking The Flippity Fuck Out would be gloves or boots or earmuffs or a flask filled with a good rum coupled with a good doctor friend (who you will name your first born after, much to the horror of your friends and family and mailman) because HE UNDERSTANDS and will write you prescriptions for sedatives, but nope. You're all wrong. These aren't it.

It's a pretty little gray sweater skirt from Anthropologie. Who knew?

& Some More, Some More, Some More.

I would like to point out that my dress matched the slide on the playground. WELL PLAYED, CHLOE, WELL PLAYED.

This is me, Amanda, and Stevie. Amanda is adorable with her braces. Why are grown-ups with braces so cute? It makes me want to get braces and wear them forever and ever and ever.

Also, we all matched. NOT ON PURPOSE, but it should be noted that we are sort of awesome that way.

I married him for that face. The one on the left, if you're a new reader. Not the compassionate, doting parent to Nipples-the-Hamster.

The groomsmen, all bringing their own flavor.

The bridesmaids. The guy in the tan shirt and ACDC cap officiated. I kind of wish I were joking.

He then served us BBQ after. Again. Not joking.

If these Wichitans are one thing, it's this- all about simplicity and convenience. Considering I went to an ice cream parlor in Hawaii and ate ice cream immediately after I got married, I cannot hate. Only appreciate.

People make weddings much too complicated sometimes.

And A Wedding!

The bride and groom went to elementary school together in Wichita, Kansas. They drifted apart between years of moving around with their families but reconnected (literally, ha!) through Facebook a few years back.

So they got married on the school playground where they first met nearly 20 years ago.

Readers! Is that not the cutest thing ever?

& Some More Again.

This is Stevie with her youngest brother-in-law. Yes, I was at a wedding involving my twin sister's in-laws. It is a bit complicated, but Stevie has been with her husband Jason for so long (since we were 16!) that they're more like family friends, I guess.

I've known that kid since he was eight years old, readers. He would beg for me to play LEGO's with both him and his hamster named "Nipples."

He was trying to say "Nibbles."

(And I'm pretty sure that Thoreau mused about this very thing in his little cabin at the pond, even. It doesn't matter to what big, tough gauge you stretch your ears to as an adult; if you have a hamster named Nipples as a little kid, you can never live that down.)

(So kid, don't even try.)

& Some More.

Husband and me in the hallway of the Hotel at Old Town. Such a neat hotel!

This photo is called "Don't Worry About Me Hun, I Got It. You Just Stand There With That Card In Your Hand."

Never mind that my eyeballs look like they're going to pop outta my head.

Just Another (Manic), Um, Whatever Day It Is Today Monday.

I realized last night that I haven't posted any pictures from the wedding in Wichita we went to a few weeks ago.

Was that really only three weeks ago? It already seems like forever ago.

I am still Zombie-Zombeh-Chloe (and think I will be for awhile, truthfully readers) so this week I will try to post up some of the best pictures from a happier moment in my life. 'Cuz I have nothing else to offer right now except a blank stare while I wonder where this year went and was I really in South Dakota last week? Really? Seriously? Really? That happened?

Seriously?

My boss told me on Friday that I should strongly consider checking out "A Grief Observed" from the library.

And that he hates it when I cry.

Noted, boss.

Photos by Stevie.

I am starting with these pictures because I really need to look at a bright, happy color right now- and if the dress I'm wearing isn't bright and happy, then holy Ritz crackers I don't know what is. I am wearing the dress version of a Bobby McFerrin song in these pictures, my dears; a Bobby McFerrin song sung while holding a bundle of fuzzy baby bunnies in one hand and a vanilla cupcake covered in sprinkles in the other. That's how bright and happy this dress is.

(And these pictures are fun. We had dashed back to the hotel in between the wedding and the reception to play with the pups.)

I told Husband tonight that Petunia had told me earlier today that she reeeeally really really wants a baby-meow-kitten named "Butter Dumpling" for Christmas this year, and I was just being a good mom and passing along the message for her.

And oh gosh, honey. I don't know how she came up with that name exactly, "Butter Dumpling"- she just did. It's just like how the top of her head smelled like someone had farted on it on Monday night. We still don't know how Petunia got under someone's butt so they could fart on her- she just did.

AND READERS!

I don't think he took me seriously at all.

Center Alignment.

Over the past week we've decided ohmygosh- no more dilly dallying. Too much time has gone past, too many excuses made and promises not kept and things getting in the way. And why? For no good reason. No good reason at all.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to make things right. To realize how short life really is. And that's not always a bad thing.

My family has never really had a get-together; a proper family reunion. Can you believe that? And so we have decided that this tattoo will be the required admittance for our FIRST EVER AWESOME FAMILY REUNION SPECTAC-U-LAR happening next June. And for the AWESOME FAMILY REUNION SPECTAC-U-LAR that will take place every single June after that June.

Our wrists will look stoic and strong as we hit the beach volleyball over the yet-to-be-bought volleyball net we will erect in my parent's backyard, a reminder; they will look beautiful as we catch a glimpse of them in the flickering, warm glow of my dad's firepit, all of us sitting around while looking at the starry canvas above and catching up on life.

A reminder.

It is something we all forget to do, it seems- to catch up on life, before it catches up on us.

They will look beautiful.

Not as beautiful as my cousin, but.

A reminder.

This is my cousin's motto, the words she lived by- written in her handwriting. Live simply.

A reminder.

My wrist isn't up there. Not yet.

But it will be.

(At the age of 27, readers, I am finally ready for my first tattoo.)

A Thought.

There is nothing better than having a big, simple bowl of spaghetti + spaghetti sauce, completely covered in Parmesan cheese. The healthnut in me gets the fiberrific pasta (the Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta is tops!) but I must use at least 1/2 a canister of grated parm on top to make it worth my while. The parm provides, uhhh, calcium. Right? Right.

Oh heaven.

What is your favorite food, readers?

Outfit Of The Day (LET'S DO THIS.)

I have two variations today, readers, with jackets I've recently purchased from Forever 21. Looking back at these pictures I am desperately lacking color, so I think I would add a bright necklace or earrings or scarf (or even a ring!) if I had to do it all over again. These outfits need a bright, bold pop of fuchsia or turquoise somewhere, don't they? Noted!

But the pictures show the jackets, which is why I still posted these. I especially love the first jacket even though I had to spend the better part of an afternoon sewing all of the buttons (ALL 15 OF THEM, OMG) back on for fear they would fall off. It was totally worth it, though- this jacket is made out of a nice, sweatshirt material that is stretchy and thick. I already know that I will be wearing this jacket a lot this fall.

The second jacket I had to purchase after spying it on Justine (http://fetchingfashions.blogspot.com). And I love it! It's snuggly and perfect for fall.

And I will be previewing another F21 jacket here soon, darlings- I ordered the Chiffon Trim Tweed Jacket last night in a fit of glee since it bares a fairly delicate resemblance to the J Crew Berry Astrid Jacket that I missed out on last year. Too bad it doesn't come in that gorgeous purple color, hm?

As a small note, I would like to apologize for not being very forthcoming with the links for the pieces in these outfits. I am sure that most of this stuff can still be found in the B&M stores, but it appears as though it's completely disappeared from the internet. But aside from the skirt and the J. Crew Lulu's, it is all stuff that I've purchased fairly recently- within the past month or so.

Enjoy!

Outfit #1
Jacket: Forever 21 (and of the aforementioned dastardly button fiasco)
Shirt: Forever 21 (similar to this, only in ivory)
Skirt: Old Navy (from last year)
Socks: J Crew
Shoes: J Crew Metallic Lulu Peep Toes
Bag: Small Chanel Flap




Outfit #2
Jacket: Canvas Textured Knit Sweater from Forever 21
Top: Forever 21 (similar to this, only in ivory)
Skirt: Old Navy (from last year)
Socks: J Crew
Shoes: Go Jane Cheapies
Belt: Kohl's (off of these pants!)
Bag: Small Chanel Flap

Feel Good Friday III.

Ummm. Readers? If laughing at this video is wrong, THEN OMG- I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT.

Feel Good Friday Part II.

Ann Taylor Loft (I know, right?) has partnered for an exclusive collection with Lisa Salazar of Lulu Frost, and it's love at first sight for me. I have been super insanely excited for the Lisa for Loft collection ever since I first caught a glimpse of it in Instyle magazine a few months back- especially this necklace. You can even see a picture of it on my style board, serving as a daily reminder that I will likely go into a seizure and develop a mild case of Tourette's AND my husband will divorce me AND my little chihuahua friends will run away if I DON'T HAVE THIS EXACT NECKLACE TO KEEP ALL OF THE OTHER NECKLACES I ALMOST NEVER WEAR COMPANY ON MY JEWELRY STAND.

Serious!

So a few necklaces from the collection are finally up online (even though I thought they were supposed to be out at the end of August, ahem what's up with that?) (but that's okay, I've been stalking the necklaces since uh, July) and aren't they pretty? Priced at under $50, they won't break the bank either. All jewelry on ATL.com is currently buy one, get one 50% off, and you can save 15% off all purchases greater than $75 with code "104002172". Enjoy and happy shopping, readers!

Feel Good Friday Part I

I am trying to get back into the swing of things, but my brain is totally dead from the events of this past week. Zombie Chloe, ZOMBEH!

So here's a little something I bookmarked a long time ago to post as a FGF aaand...never got around to actually posting. I love this video by Matt & Kim- it's darling. And if you watch Community, you might also recognize this as the song they played at the end of tonight's episode. Music always makes me feel good. Enjoy!

And. Well.

The past few days have been a complete blur. I fear for the day this actually sinks in, because it hasn't yet. It really hasn't.

I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions since last Thursday. It is cliched, readers, but so true. There are such low lows when we cry and such high highs when we try to make ourselves laugh to temporarily ease the pain of what's happened. My family deals with grief in such a silly way, they really do- my dad walked around and kept saying, "She was my favorite niece. She was my favorite niece."

Well, she was his only niece. That's the punch line. He'd always say that to my cousin. And she would always laugh her silly laugh and deliver the punch line amidst the laughter.

But...she's no longer here to deliver the punch line.

But we would still laugh when my dad said it, trying to laugh away the pain and shock of it all. There isn't enough laughter in the world.

*************************************************

The services they had for my cousin were beautiful. And she was so loved- her memorial page on Facebook now has over 700 members; I really think all 700 of those people showed up to say good-bye to her. She was that loved. Did she know that she was that loved? It doesn't matter, really- because she herself was such a loving person. Do onto others, I suppose. And she lived by that- her Facebook page still says, "The way to know life is to love many things."

And she did.

*************************************************

I wish I could put my thoughts into better words right now, but I am tired. So tired. And I have another dentist appointment first thing in the morning because another dental crown decided to fall off in the middle of me eating hot wings with my family at my aunt's house on Tuesday. Talk about awkward (I'm going toothless faster than a Canadian)(hockey player)(LOVE YOU CANADA!) but what can you do? Not a darn thing. I am sooo ready for dentures since that's what most with my condition end up with, I am not kidding here, but whatever. OMG love you, Sjogren's, high five.

OH AND YOU TOO LUPUS, 'CUZ I NOW HAVE A HUGE RASH ON MAH FACE. I totally knew that was coming because of the stress of the past few days- Lupus and stress are NOT homeboys- but it couldn't be avoided. It is what it is, and I am so glad I was able to go back to South Dakota to be with my family during this difficult time. Compared to what's happened over this past week, looking like a hillbilly at my aunt's house (oh! and ripping my pencil skirt up the back as I was climbing into the car on the way to the funeral- thank god Stevie had a spare dress to throw on me or I would have been going to the funeral in denim) just isn't that major. I have to laugh at it, more laughter through the tears.

My cousin wouldn't have minded if I showed up in jeans, anyway. She always hated dresses.

*************************************************

They still aren't sure what caused the accident. All we know is that it could have been a medical condition (my cousin was heading the right way, the other girl the wrong way). Alcohol, however, has not been ruled out.

If alcohol is indeed a factor I will lay down and die, readers. That is all.

We should know next week.

*************************************************

Since I am incoherently babbling right now and my emotions are still all over the place, I would like to direct you all to a few news articles written in the local newspress about my cousin that you can peruse if you so desire:

Make It True: Act Like Liz

Plans Are Just Distractions in Disguise

USD Mourns Student Death

USD Student Killed in Car Crash Near Vermillion

The first article is especially moving. I would like to give a big, huge shout out to the person who wrote it- it's a fantastic article. And I emailed him a thank you personally, because his article struck a nerve with me in regards to how my cousin lived her life. Liz did make it true. I have done a lot of thinking over the past few days, and while I can't make sense of it all quite yet I do know one thing- it's now time for me to start making it true.

The second column just makes me cry.

And the third and fourth give more details to the accident and her life as a sorority sister.

Thank you for being such a wonderful person, sweet cousin. Lizzardbreath. RIP.

(Thanks again for all of your words and thoughts and condolences, readers; I will be back to my usual shenanigans once I catch up on some sleep!)

Because I Hate To Leave (On a Sad Note).

So my brain has been cycling through the usual stages of grief (anger, shock, anger, anger, sadness, shock, anger, sadness, using Petunia as a chihuahua hanky because Kitty won't sit still for long enough, sadness) over the past 24 hours as we're getting ready to head back for the funeral. The next few days aren't going to be easy, but these things never are.

I didn't want to leave on such a sad note. It's not appropriate. I know it is so ridiculously cliched, but that cousin of mine wouldn't want anyone to be sad. The picture they chose to run on the local news has her rocking a pair of glasses with light pink, lenses with her big, huge smile- and that's how she was. Rose colored glasses. I also think she's the only person on the face of this planet that has 800 Facebook friends and is friends with every single one of them, as evidenced by the out-pouring of commenters today. It's the most impressive thing I have ever seen, natch.

We know a few more details about the accident- my cousin was hit by a disorientated driver (suffering a medical issue) driving the wrong way on the highway. It was an accident. Just an accident. She was only 21-years old and my only female cousin. I only have (had, I should say, but I'm not to that point yet) five close cousins on that side of the family. My family isn't like the Catholics or the Mormons, we like to think that you don't need many of us to still pack a big punch. Quality over quantity, some might say while trying to keep a straight face. We win the title as having the world's smallest family.

And last night it grew even smaller.

It was an accident, just an accident. My heart absolutely goes out to the girl that caused it; she managed to escape relatively unscathed physically but I can't even imagine the damage emotionally. I am so sorry for this.

It was an accident, just an accident- but it still hurts all the same.

So! Let's not be sad; I don't do sad very well. I promised Husband I would post this story, an exchange we had in the car a few nights back before the sadness. And oh my god, it made me laugh. It still does. It went like this:

"So I got this really cute jacket from Forever 21," I was saying, gesturing in the air, "And when I was buttoning it up, a button immediately popped off! And I knew that was going to happen! So I had to sew all of the buttons back on, you know, to reinforce them so I wouldn't lose another. 14 buttons in all, god that sucked. I hate sewing buttons."

"Uh...huh," Husband said. (I know. Poor Husband.)

"So I need something...do they have to have something...something that makes it easier to sew buttons on. A machine or something. Do they have anything like that? I don't know. It'd be pretty badass if they did."

"Yeah, I have one of those," said Husband.

"No you don't. Really?" I asked incredulously. "You've been holding out on me all this time? Making me sew my own buttons on while you have a machine?"

"Yup, I have," Husband said.

"Dude, I don't believe you. YOU DON'T HAVE A MACHINE THAT SEWS BUTTONS ON." I said.

"I do too," he said, his handsome face stretching into a smirk, "It's called my mom."

Ha ha haaa.


(XOXOXO love you the most Husband...even if you have been secretly making your mom still sew your buttons back on all this time, OMG. And here I thought I had married a non-button-losing boy wonder.)

(BUT AS LONG AS I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, THAT IS OKAY.)

(And you know readers, maybe that right there is the secret to having a good marriage- making someone else sew the buttons. Why don't the geniuses at Cosmo and Marie Claire ever think of that one, huh?)

(And while we're at it, I'd also like to outsource someone to also clean the toilets. Thanks.)

Anyway. Thank you for all the wonderful emails and comments, readers. It means so much. I will be back in a few days. Sit tight until then.

PS- You are listening, darlings, to The Trapeze Swinger by Iron & Wine. My cousin had great taste in music and I remember she liked Iron and Wine. I too like Iron and Wine. This song has (understandably) been running through my head for the past few days, in all of its beauty and sadness. XO.

&

I am not sure if it's appropriate to be blogging right now. Or checking Facebook, or sending emails. It all seems so trivial, so flimsy and superficial. And yet I'm doing it anyway because, quite honestly, I don't know what the fuck else I'm supposed to do except sit here like a fucking god damn zombie.

I received a phone call last night (yes, from my mom) (and you know that's never a good phone call when the name "MOM" lights up at 2:01 AM, oh no, that's never going to be good) and she was sobbing. Have I ever told you that my mom never cries? My mom never cries. Well, except that one time when we were both side-by-side on the treadmill and she was having a hot flash. Then she cried.

My mom doesn't cry.

And you know when you pick up the phone at 2:01 AM and it's your mom and she's crying it isn't going to be good. You know that. And you almost want to set the phone down again, you want to flip it shut with a swift, firm click and set it down and walk away and pretend like you didn't hear your mom-that-never-cries crying. At 2:01 AM.

But you can't because you're frozen in fear, waiting for it.

& like a swift kick to the stomach, she tells you. It's like she's kicked you, she's knocked the air clean right out of you. You can't breathe. And you gasp.

& your heart shatters into a million pieces in that one instant. You can literally feel your heart breaking, breaking, breaking.

& she's gone. My beautiful cousin is gone, within a blink of an eye. Within a blink of a head-on collision on a lonely South Dakota road late last night.

She's gone.

No.

Phone calls from your mom at 2 in the morning are never a good thing.

Never.

Outfit Of The Day (Bronzed Ochre)

My Nanette Lepore Ladies Night Corset has been taunting me lately, sitting on the chair next to my computer in the office looking all coy, waiting for Husband to take it to the dry cleaner's. I fully blame him for this- I keep seeing it and thinking, "Oh! I should pair it with..." and off I go, wearing it and getting it all the more dirty. It's going to the dry cleaners SOON, so I have to cram it all in. Right? Right. SOON, RIGHT HUSBAND. PLEASE.

You're seeing my natural hair today, readers- I was too lazy/tired for the extensions. Having a head cold that refuses to leave will do that to you, and having thin (gaaasp!) hair is the least of my worries right now. I'm more concerned over my ample overuse of Kleenex and the ugly red, sore nose that comes with it. And the uncontrollable sneezing. And the feeling like there's a bowling ball rolling around inside my head. Lovely.

So here is my outfit of the day; I did a few different versions of this outfit- taking it from day to night. Enjoy!

Top: Nanette Lepore Ladies Night Corset, J Crew Cotton-Cashmere Ruffle Cardigan in Bright Tulip
Skirt: J Crew Wool Pencil Skirt in Bronzed Ochre (bought last year!)
Purse: Hayden Harnett for Target
Pumps: Go Jane Cheapies
Belt: J Crew Serengeti patent skinny belt
Ring: Forever 21


And then I added this awesome Tulle portrait collar jacket that I scored for a song last year- I think I ended up paying $25 for it? It was a ridiculously amount like that- Tulle basically paid me to buy it from them, swearsies. Some of my more dedicated readers might also remember this jacket from right here- yup, one of my very first posts back in October of 2008. I love this jacket- I took off the belt it came with and fixed a very old bedazzled J Crew belt to it; I also added my black Chanel flap.



And then I yanked off the jacket and the cardigan, threw a pink sash around my waist, and added this beautiful necklace from Etsy (which you might remember from this post right here!)

Sing It, Sister. Brother. You.

So I thought I was feeling better as of Monday, but as of Wednesday the cold had settled right back in. I knew it would do this, mostly because a co-worker of mine that had suffered a similar affliction had warned me that it would.

"IT WILL COME BACK!" she said to me in her loud, strong voice; her face mere inches in front of mine as she jabbed her finger in the air to punctuate her points as she yell-talked, "IT WILL COME BACK. YOU WILL THINK YOU FEEL FINE AND THEN YOU WILL WAKE UP TWO DAYS FROM NOW AND AGAIN FEEL LIKE CRAP! IT WILL COME BACK, CHLOE! HA HA HA. OH. IT'S NOT OVER YET."

She said this to me on Sunday in the same tone she used at my wedding reception three years ago, the same tone she had used when she backed Husband into a corner right before she had left our lovely fête, jabbing her finger in his face as she talk-yelled, "AND IF YOU EVER HURT CHLOE, I WILL PERSONALLY COME AFTER YOU. HA HA HA. THANKS FOR THE NICE TIME. BYE."

I had known her a total of two months then and was (of course) alarmed that she was so quick to threaten my Husband. I had just met her and invited her out of kindness (you can't invite one co-worker and not invite them all). She had just met him and was threatening him with a bloody, gruesome death. But then I learned- she is from California, born and raised near L.A. That is how she talks. That is how she says she says hello, that is how she says Happy Birthday, that is how she says good-bye. Those Californians.

(And she drives like she talks, all fast and frantic and shouty-like. Until it snows. Then she breaks down, comes completely unhinged, and refuses to drive at all. If you are ever in a fight with a Californian, just wave some snow in their face and tell them that they have to drive in it. Then shriek and run away really super-duper-fast as they gasp and cower in fear. For real, ya'll, I am being very very serious.)

Those Californians, the Coloradans always say- even if the Coloradan is originally from California. California.

So my cold has settled right back in, AND I FEEL LIKE CRAP BUT AM DRINKING LOTS OF WATER AND RESTING A LOT (as Mrs. California told me to do) and I can't think of anything else to type right now, which is why I am yanking this wonderful article from Garrison Keillor. He is from Minnesota but speaks as if he is from somewhere lovely in F. Scott Fitzgerald's brain, somewhere eloquent and grand and rich on the east coast. He gives hope to all of us plain and common Midwesterners with that goofy, up-tilting lull twinging our voices; he did not receive the memo that he is supposed to be a superhero that can never be sick and/or die. He suffered a stroke last week.

Again, I do not like to get political in my posts, but this is something that hits close to home with me. It has nothing to do with if you're a Democrat or a Republican; liberal or conservative; Californian, Coloradan, Minnesotan. It has to do with humanity and basic rights. That is all.

Please read.

Nice 67 Y.O. male has brush with mortality

It was pretty clear how lucky I was to be walking out of that hospital relatively unscathed

Sept. 16, 2009 | The doctor who saw me in the E.R. wrote in her report: "nice 67 y.o. male, flat affect, awake, alert and appropriate." I had appeared with slurred speech and a balloon in my head, had driven myself to United Hospital in St. Paul, parked in No Parking, walked in and was triaged right in to a neurologist who trundled me into the MRI Space-Time Cyclotron for 50 minutes of banging and whanging that produced a picture of the stroke in the front of my brain, so off to the Mayo Clinic I went and the St. Mary's Hospital Neurology ICU and was wired up to monitors. A large day in a nice 67 y.o. man's life.

I stayed at St. Mary's for four days of tests and when I left, a neurologist shook my hand and said: "I hope you know how lucky you are." That was pretty clear as I walked down the hall, towing my IV tower, and saw the casualties of serious strokes. Here I was sashaying along, like a survivor of Pickett's Last Charge who had suffered a sprained wrist. My mouth felt fuzzy but I was essentially unscathed, though touched by mortality. Which I have been on the run from for a long time. I never wanted to be a nice 67 y.o. man. I still have some edgy 27 y.o. man inside me.

But when the doctor talks about how you must go on a powerful blood thinner lest a stray clot turn your fine intellect into a cheese omelet, you must now accept being 67 y.o. and do as he says. You had intended to be a natural wonder, an old guy who still runs the high hurdles, but mortality has bitten you in the butt.

I like this hospital. St. Mary's is a research and teaching hospital so you get to observe troops of young residents go by, trailing close behind Doctor Numero P. Uno, and watch them try to assume the air of authority so useful in the medical trade. The nurses, of course, are fabulous. Like many nice 67 y.o. men, I am even more awake and alert around attractive young women (though I try to be appropriate). A tall, dark-haired beauty named Sarah brings me a hypodermic to coach me on self-administered shots of heparin, and without hesitation I plunge it into my belly fat. No man is a coward in the presence of women.

Nurses are smart and brisk and utterly capable. They bring some humor to the situation. ("Care for some jewelry?" she says as she puts the wristband on me.) And women have the caring gene that most men don't. Men push you down the hall in a gurney as if you're a cadaver, but whenever I was in contact with a woman, I felt that she knew me as a brother. The women who draw blood samples at Mayo do it gently with a whole litany of small talk to ease the little blip of puncture, and "here it comes" and the needle goes in, and "Sorry about that," and I feel some human tenderness there, as if she thought, "I could be the last woman to hold that dude's hand." A brief sweet moment of common humanity.

And that is a gift to the man who has been struck by a stroke: our common humanity. It's powerful in a hospital. Instead of a nice linen jacket and cool jeans and black T, you are shuffling around in a shabby cotton gown like Granma in "Grapes of Wrath," and you pee into a plastic container under the supervision of a young woman who makes sure you don't get dizzy and bang your noggin.

Two weeks ago, you were waltzing around feeling young and attractive, and now you are the object of Get Well cards and recipient of bouquets of carnations. Rich or poor, young or old, we all face the injustice of life -- it ends too soon, and statistical probability is no comfort. We are all in the same boat, you and me and ex-Gov. Palin and Rep. Joe Wilson, and wealth and social status do not prevail against disease and injury. And now we must reform our health insurance system so that it reflects our common humanity. It is not decent that people avoid seeking help for want of insurance. It is not decent that people go broke trying to get well. You know it and I know it. Time to fix it.

(Garrison Keillor is the author of "77 Love Sonnets," published by Common Good Books.)

© 2009 by Garrison Keillor. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Target Anna Sui dresses should be here today, expect pictures in the next day or two. XO.

Nanette Lepore S/S 2010

Um. Readers? Yeah. I don't think I love it. Cry.

That's my first assessment, anyway. I like pretty clothes in pretty colors- and the browny olives, bold oranges, and yellowy citrons of Nanette's runway show for Spring are a bit hard to digest. For me, anyway. Those can be really hard colors to wear! But she always translates things into other colors by the time it's ready to hit the showroom floor, and a lot of the blouses are awfully pretty (especially the backless ones) so I will still be saving my pennies. As luck would have it, I might be out in Vegas in March of next year- right as it should be hitting the boutique floor. Right? Yay.

Here are a few of my faves, brought to you by Coutorture (they had it up first!). I'm not sure if this is the complete collection- if anything else pops up on nymag.com or style.com later today, I'll update this.

The yellow thing (is it a dress? a romper?) could be super pretty but perhaps in a different color or a warmer yellow.


The dusty grayish blue of this dress is very pretty, but the calf-skimming hemline worries me. That can be a really hard length for most to pull off. Especially if you're only 5'2". I see this one actually skimming the floor on me, yuck.


MORE ORANGE. What have I been saying? Ohh yes. I don't love this dress, but I do love the combo of the orange + hot pink + turquoise on the feet.


This top could be too pretty for words, but...perhaps in a different color.


I think I want to love this, but I'm not sure. Love the backless white blouse heading the other direction, though. Come back!


Oh! There it is. Hm.


Love this.


And the silky brown hue of this dress (romper?) with the orange sandals.


This could also be pretty.


Models stomping away.

So to all of my fellow Nanette fans out there- what are your thoughts on the collection? Are you loving it, or feeling a bit lukewarm about it like me?

Wednesday Wants (A Fuzzy Peach)

Two things this week for my Wednesday Wants, readers. First something easy- the Wool Harbor Peacoat from J. Crew:

In that color. It's funny- for as much perusing as I do at J Crew, I often catch myself not really noticing things. This coat is one of those things I didn't notice the first hundred times I looked at it- but then, for whatever reason (maybe it's because I now have a freshly dyed head of auburn hair) I looked at it again yesterday and ohmygod. How could I not have noticed it before? Pennies are definitely being saved for this sucker right now. I don't have any plans to buy it anytime soon (so don't go anywhere, you darling and devious little jacket you!) but I seriously can't stop the drooling. That coat! That color! La la la love.

My second "want" this Wednesday is something not quite so easy- it's an image I carefully cut out from September's Marie Claire and thumbtacked ever-so-delicately to the inspiration board sitting in my closet (which you can now also view on the upper right hand side of this site, did ya notice?):

So. My second Wednesday Want for today is to recreate this outfit, CHLOE-STYLE. What can I say? I love a good fuzzy faux fur and I love a good challenge. We shall see what I come up with, hm?

AND PISH POSH NEVER MIND YOU, MISS RACHEL "ALREADY SOLD OUT" ZOE. I DON'T NEEEEED YOU, YOU WHOOR.

(That cute slut Brad, though, maybe. I just want to put him and his adorable blushing red cheeks in my pocket and carry him around.)

(With Nanette Lepore! And they can get married! And have baby pet bunnies for children! And live in my closet. It'll be a marriage of convenience!)

(Um.)

Oh THIS WILL BE A VERY GOOD CHALLENGE, INDEED.

Outfit Of The Day (Black + White + Red All Over)

Most of the time, my outfits just start out from whatever- a necklace, a belt, a purse, a shoe. Yesterday's outfit was no exception; I wanted to make heavy use of the cherry red found on my Chloe bag, and the outfit actually materialized quite easily once I started picking through my closet. There's red on my belt, my Lela Rose shoes, my purse (oh really, Chloe?) and even my necklace (which you can't see from the photos, it was a bit hidden- but a tiny red flower, it's there!). I was having fun with this one.

I hope I'm not the only one that watches Mad Men and then finds herself crazily craving a fancy chignon. And a cigarette. Hm.

& I am feeling much better today, readers, thank you for asking. This cold seems to be clearing up just as quickly as it set in, karate chop. ♥

Top: Nanette Lepore Ladies Night Corset
Jacket: Lulu's Alexandra the Great Jacket (a pic sans belt here)
Belt: Rose Belt from Kohl's
Necklaces: Etsy; Simply Vera Wang from Kohl's
Skirt: Banana Republic pencil skirt from eons ago
Shoes (in order of appearance): Go Jane, Lela Rose for Payless, Go Jane
Purse: My beloved.