Miscellaneous

Unconnected things I have jumbled into one post

1. Reading Syl's blog tonight reminded me of a recent name faux pas I made. I interviewed a teacher last August sometime. She has a little boy, whom I met at the interview. She taught for us for the whole year but during that time she was at a different location and I was out on leave so I only saw her maybe 3-4 times at the most. The last time I saw her, I wanted to ask about her little boy too. But I couldn't remember his name. All I could remember was that his name was the same as one of the Mpls. lakes. So once I thought I had it, I said,

   
    "Hey, How's Calhoun?" 

   
   and she got the weirdest look on her face and I knew immediately I had made a HUGE error.
   

   She said, "Calhoun?!?" 

   
   I tried to play it all cool;
   

   "Oh no, that's not right, your little boy, how do you
    pronounce his name again?" 

   
   She looked at me and said,
   

    "You mean Phalen?"

   
   ACK!
   

   "Oh, um yeah... Phalen!

   Though now that I think about it, I bet she spells it Fallon or some other way. Luckily, she has a sense of humor and thought I was funny. Again I have learned a lesson the hard way, so that you, dear friends, may not have to learn the same very hard lesson. If you are unsure of someone's name, especially someone's child, it is perfectly ok to just ask them "How is your little one/kid/baby/child?" Instead of making a complete ass of yourself. Or maybe? Just don't ask about the kid.

   
   

2. I have found a couple of new blogs, I am not sure all of them are link worthy yet, but one I stumbled across is called Slave To Target. Which is, as you might have guessed, written by a woman who is addicted to Target. I am impressed to say, she may have more of a problem with Target than I do. (Still, I'll bet she's never been to Target #1.) I learned over there that Target may be getting rid of the $1 spot. Can you believe that nonsense? I *heart* the $1 spot and I would be sad to see it go. There's more I want to say about Target related to that site, but I think that should be it's own post.

   
   

3. I made this list practicing my mad html skillz ;)

   
   

4. Yes, I changed my avatar photo, and yes, that is me. A little younger maybe, but me. I'm totally copying Amalah, but it can't be helped. She has the internet life I used to dream of. (She has an advice column and everything.) The more time I spend with the internets, the less unique I feel. Does that happen to you too?

   
   

5. Shorts. Back in the leggings post, there was some discussion in the comments about the Leader not allowing grown people to wear shorts. I've heard this before and I think this is common thinking in large cities, but not here in the comfy midwest. I think it also stems from false belief that Europeans don't wear shorts. And that goes with the whole European=sophisticated thing. But a lot of Europe just doesn't get hot enough for shorts (though certainly a lot of it does). Anyway- I say shorts are perfectly acceptable as long as you follow the rules:
   

   Rules of Short Wearing
   

   
   
   1. Shorts are not business attire. Not even business casual. Not even those long bermuda shorts. If your office allows them yahoo for you, but don't fool yourself, your workplace is the exception, not the rule.
      
   2. Overall shorts- or "shortalls" are not allowed. Ever.
      
   3. To wear shorts in public (this means past the end of your own driveway) you should have the legs for said shorts. (and by
      "have the legs" I just mean that you should feel unselfconcious in your shorts. If you are constantly going to be worrying if your legs are too fat/scrawny/pale/hairy then don't wear shorts. It defeats the purpose if you are not comfortable.)
      
   4. If you are not sure if they are too short or not- Err on the side of caution, you need longer shorts. If they are the same shorts you wore in high school- you need longer shorts.
      
   5. If you are on vacation? Wear shorts
      
   6. If the temperature is over 95 degrees? Wear shorts
      
   7. Shorts shall be made of natural materials found in nature. (cotton, linen, etc.) Synthetic shorts (nylon, spandex, what have you) are only for the privacy of your own home or the gym.
      
   8. Jorts, aka Jean shorts are not allowed. Especially for men. Need visual proof? Look here.
      
   
   

I feel like maybe there should be 10 short rules but I can only come up with 7 at the moment.