Week 37

    I'm running pretty low on my casual, easy-to-wear dresses. Now, as I sift through my wardrobe, I realize that I've left myself mainly with froufrou, lavish or risque gowns. That's not entirely true, because I did find a red sweater dress, two hoe-down frocks, and a feather adorned BCBG dress as well. I'm moving away in less than five weeks. I have to get some of these ridiculous dresses checked off my list soon, or I'll be sweating profusely in a knit dress or looking like a lost peacock on the Hawaiian Islands. I need to figure out where I can exhibit these elegant gowns and country music costumes!
    Right now, I'm sitting on my bed and staring at my closet. I see sequins, satin, and frills looking back at me. I can even see my black Bebe bare-midriff dress that I keep postponing to wear until I replace Three Twins Salted Caramel with running shoes and Swiss chard. But I realize, ice cream aside, it's time to stop with my procrastination. How can I dress fancy all while spending frugally? I can't afford a night out at the opera or stay awake during a symphony. I don't want to charge an opulent dinner at the Slanted Door nor do I want to go into a swanky bar and just order water with a twist of lime. Instead of breakfast at Tiffany's I could do breakfast at McDonald's and just do so in a cocktail dress? But that's such an unoriginal idea, I think I lifted that concept from a Micky D's commercial from the 90s. I remember that ad; a crowd of teens gleefully show up at that fast food joint in their prom outfits.
   I've tried to think outside the box this whole time. I'm rather proud of myself for backpacking and SUPing in a dress, but I'm running out of ideas. I recall talking about dancing in a fountain in an evening dress; I think it's time to act that scene out. I'm also overdue for frolicking about at the Farmer's market in one of my ruffle get-ups while I collect bouquets of flowers and sing lyrics from Beauty and the Beast. It's either that or I'll be stuffing tulle and feathers in my suitcases.

Speaking of "thinking outside the box," I got in the tub in an attempt to mix up my dress poses. This blue dress was one of the last few remaining of my unworn casual dresses. Thanks to my friend Nat and her idea to pose in her claw foot tub after our dinner out in the city . I'm just missing some bubbles and a loofah.

What's better than riding the elevators at the San Francisco Hyatt Regency? That's a rhetorical question, because I already have the answer to that: Riding the elevators....in a dress. 

Week 36

   Don't knock it 'til you try it. I need to remind myself of that saying more often. There are a lot of things in life that seem either silly, unpleasant, or just flat out not my cup of tea. However, if I override my reluctance, I sometimes end up being pleasantly surprised. For example, I never expected to like oysters. Oysters look like slimy globs of goop shoved in a shell. I didn't try my first oyster until I was 27, and after that I was in love. They may look unappealing, but they taste like fresh, salty ocean in my mouth. 

   There was also that show South Park; I never thought I would ever enjoy that cartoon sitcom. To me, it looked like it would be filled with just stupid potty humor. I mean really, there was an animated piece of poo that talked. Yet, after watching my first episode, I was nearly peeing my pants. Then, there is red lipstick. I've always shied far away from the stuff for as long as I remember wearing makeup. However, I recently discovered that, on occasion, it's actually fun to not keep it natural and to wear rouge on my lips, who would of thunk?

   I can come up with more examples of things to not dismiss until one has tried them. In fact, I can think of quite a few...but for those, I'll let you use your imagination, I know I did. Oh get your mind out of the bedroom! I'm just thinking about things like bungy jumping, sky diving, or err...those kinds of activities! 

   Anyway, this last week I was once again faced with keeping an open mind.  I was definitely not sold on the idea of backpacking in a dress, but I was determined to wear a dress while I was off in the wilderness for a week. I imagined it would be a little awkward and uncomfortable to sport a dress while hiking with a heavy pack.Yet, as it turns out, dresses and backpacking actually mesh together quite nicely. I discovered that lace is a very breathable fabric. And when a breeze came by, oh boy was it refreshing! 

I'm not sure how I had the energy to jump up in the air with my backpack on. I conclude that wearing a dress gave me extra strength or something. Backpacking in a dress: don't knock it 'til you try it!

Week 35

   

   I didn't wear a dress while I was camping at Lake Tahoe, nor did I enjoy a candlelit dinner with Sasquatch, but I did slackline in a bear suit...that's gotta count for something, right? Lake Tahoe provided all the fixings for a fantastic immersion in nature, but it was not the destination for dates or dressing up. Mind you, I did realize that my high-diving-off-cliff days are probably behind me. After launching myself from a 35 ft. rock into the turquoise waters of the lake, I was terrified rather than exhilarated from the adrenaline rush. Yep, I'm cool off that. I'm finally learning that there are certain high risk activities that I'm done with. There just comes a time when the wisdom that comes with getting older catches up with you and sucker punches that daring youth that lingers within. No more riding on the back of speeding motorcycles for me. There will be no more participating in games that are titled the Century Club or Edward Forty Hands. I will never get back on the Gravitron or trust the squeaky bolts on the Zipper at the county fair. I won't push the limit when my gas light turns on in my car (although I never really was that risky when I was a teen). And of course, there will be no more jumping off big cliffs, just cute little ones.

   Even though I didn't save a lost lumberjack while wearing a dress, I did have a few days back home in between my outdoor adventures. Just in the nick of time I was able to accomplish two big goals for the last week of August. First, I wore a dress while wine tasting one night. Second, I asked out a dude on a date! Yay for me! I also ended up having an awesome time. That whole asking out a guy mission was surprisingly easy! Why was I so stressed? I may be done with certain dangerous activities, but inviting a man out on a date is definitely not one of them. Eating questionable leftover sushi or ice cream that's spent a year in the freezer is not going to happen again. But taking the reins in my own hands in the dating world is a risk I'm fully willing to take. 

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?

At the tail end of August I was able to sneak in another dress for the month. I went wine tasting with some friends and this time I really did have to dust off my dress. I bought this dress when I was in France at the age of 17 and I practically haven't worn it since then! I think I know why too...I pretty much looked like I was a bridesmaid about to go off to prom. Yep, I think it's time to retire that one.