The Rainwear Issue

Many people have been complaining about the long rainy summer, but not us. For us it's been an opportunity to dress for the occasion, and this year there have been plenty of great occasions to air out the rubber and the nylon.

When we came of age, everyone worshipped at the altar of natural fibers - cotton, linen, silk and wool - which is part of the reason that one iconic word in The Graduate - Plastics - was so howlingly funny then (and is probably unfathomable to anyone young enough to be our children or grandchildren now). It's difficult to break free of the natural fibers hard wiring, but for rainy weather there's nothing like good old plastics and their kissing cousins in the synthetics family.

When we were young, a raincoat was more or less guaranteed to be waterproof. It was plastic or rubber, or coated in plastic or rubber, and raindrops beaded up on those raincoats like little jewels - at least until the plastic cracked or the rubber crumbled. Now, for some reason, much that calls itself rainwear is water resistant rather than waterproof, as if responding to some call from consumers for moist skin on rainy days. As if modern consumers had expressed a yearning to have a stronger connection between their outer weather and their inner weather.

In the photo above at left is Jean in the lobby of The Donovan Hotel in Washington, DC. While appearing to be ready to dance in her fabulous flowing black ball gown, she is actually ready to engage in undercover Special Ops wearing her U.S. Army surplus SWAT Team hooded rain poncho from the Army-Navy store. The U.S. government designers made a coat that is not only waterproof, it can be snapped to another poncho to form a tent for fashionistas who disdain whipping out of buildings and into taxis, and want to prolong their communion with the elements. Jean's DKNY rainboots, unseen under her poncho, are perfect for the flash floods that often accompany East Coast rains. When clearing huge eddying puddles over storm drains is not an option, jumping into them can be a joyous occasion with the right boots.

Above right, Valerie wears black and white polka dotted rain boots and matching umbrella by ShedRain (found weeks and miles apart), black and white tee dress and matching leggings from H&M (97% cotton, and the all-important 5% Elastane), an extra large water resistant (just barely) men's white nylon jacket, black and white plastic target motif earrings from the late lamented outdoor flea market at West 26th Street, and smudgy black and gray canvas bag from H&M. By felicitous happenstance, colorful rainboots are very in just now, which means that those of us who are often compelled to wear flat shoes with wide toes (read: ugly sneakers) can find some small pleasure in patterned Wellies.

Note that both raincoats have ample room to go over our outfits without bulking us up or binding our arms, and allow for the passage of air. We're willing to suffer for our art, but looking ungainly would defeat the purpose. And looking uncomfortable - well, the whole point is to make it all look spontaneous and effortless...

A Small Scare

A Small Scare

I thought I had enough of the hospital a few weeks ago when I was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation and had received 18 shocks from my internal defibrillator (ICD). But, sitting in bed on Thursday night talking to my dad, I felt my heart beating faster than it had been lately and felt certain that I was about to receive a shock from my ICD. That never happened, but my heart continued to beat at an unusually rapid rate and so I made a decision to take a trip to the hospital emergency room and get things checked out. Instead of calling an ambulance, I relied on my dad's fast, but safe driving.

Upon arrival to the emergency room no one seemed in a particular rush as they filled out the necessary paperwork. Me, on the other hand, well, I was very anxious to see what was going on with my heart. Once I was hooked up to a heart monitor, it indicated that my heart rate was higher than it had been recently but not dangerously so. Next, the nurse put an IV into the back of my hand -- on the first try! Miraculous! Blood was taken and it showed a high white blood cell count and a higher than normal level of a particular heart enzyme that is typically elevated when your heart has suffered a trauma. Based on these findings I was admitted to the hospital, where I stayed until yesterday.

During my hospitalization there was nothing unusal about my heart and doctors were never able to explain the findings in the blood work. As my blood was retested the numbers seemed to come down and no signs of any infection were detected in me. At first there was some concern that I had already become toxic with the amiodarone that I had been taking since my last cardiac scare. Usually side effects take a while to appear, which is why it was surprising that I was starting to show some side effects. In the end, though, it was determined that my symptoms were most likely not due to the medication and I was put back on it.

By 11 am yesterday I was home again. I still think it was a good idea that I went to the hospital even though it seems that everything is fine. After my last scare I'm not taking any chances of getting shocked by my ICD, so if something doesn't feel right I'm heading to the nearest emergency room. I hope this doesn't happen for quite some time!

Special thanks to Lauren for typing this entry.

Gratitude Journal

We all have heard people say "I’m destined for greatness" or "I’m destined for failure." If you’re a Pessimistic Patty or a Pessimistic Pete, wouldn’t it be nice if you could change your destiny? You can! And it’s as simple as changing your outlook on life. If you want to start attracting positive things into your life, there is one small thing you should do every day - show your gratitude, appreciation and love for the people and things around you. As more of your thoughts and words become positive, you'll start attracting more positive people and circumstances. Decide today that you are going to reduce negativity in your life by getting rid of the 'don'ts,' 'nots' and 'no's' - the negative people, the negative thoughts. Basically, shed the toxicity in your life, including toxic relationships that weigh you down. The idea is to get in the habit of appreciating things. So how do you do that? Well the best way to do that is by keeping a Gratitude Journal.

It's not a new concept and one that you've probably heard about before. For years, numerous "spiritual teachers" have been recommending and encouraging the practice. But it wasn’t until Oprah (from the Cult of Oprah) endorsed the practice that it began to really take off. For those that don’t know, a Gratitude Journal is a way to consciously call attention to the things for which we are thankful each day. By focusing on gratitude, we become aware of those things and thus create a shift in our thinking to the positive. Starting a gratitude journal helps you rediscover life’s simple pleasures, the very things we all take for granted...and by showing appreciation for these simple things, it creates a whole new outlook on life. And in today’s dreadful economy and bleak job market, who couldn’t use a fresh outlook on life?

Starting and keeping a Gratitude Journal isn't rocket science. Look for things during the day for which you are grateful, making mental notes throughout the day. No matter how small or great, anything goes - a baby's smile, a flower in bloom, or the smell of a newly cut grass. Make the list personal. Be brief in your words and increase the length as time progresses. Begin looking everyday for the positive angle in all things. View obstacles as opportunities to appreciate. Focus on the wonderful things in life to attract similar encounters in the course of the day. Use positive energy as a magnet to draw even more positive energy. Note these attractions in the gratitude journal. And lastly, personalize the gratitude journal. Expand it with clippings, photos, quotes or verses from magazines or other sources.

You can make your Gratitude Journal as private or public as you want it to be. And as formal or informal as you like. All that is really required is that you set aside just 5 minutes at the end of each day to write 5 things you are grateful for on that given day. 1 minute per item. You can do that, right? Of course you can and so can I. My future Gratitude Journal entries will be private and kept in a leather journal, but for now, here are 5 things I am grateful for today...

1. Confirmation that there is a girl out there with the ability to make me deliriously happy.
2. My four-legged BFF, Diesel. He's simply the best part of my every day. As someone with insomnia, last night I found myself falling asleep to the sound of his snore. Oddly enough, his snoring didn't keep me up, but rather calmed me and sent me off into la-la land.
3. That my Grandmother is still with me and we will be celebrating her 90th birthday next month! As someone from a small family, I very much cherish our relationship and feel blessed for each day God has given me to spend with her. Time is short, but precious. A realization I am always mindful of.
4. That I don't carry the bald gene or the fat gene. By genetics, I'm naturally tall and thin. So while most people go to the gym to lose weight, I go to the gym to gain weight - bulk up, build muscle. (I accept the fact that many people hate me because of this.)
5. That I've rediscovered my childhood love of writing. Not even words can describe how sooo, sooo grateful I am for this. It has given me the creative outlet in which I so desperately craved. And in it, the ability express the things in my everyday life that are often too difficult for me to verbalize. To me, paper and pen are better than sliced bread.

So what are you grateful for?

***NOTE***
You can also see this post featured on the frontpage of BrazenCareerist.com

Save The Last Dance For Me

It’s only a 60 second walk down the isle, but on Saturday when my father took my sister by the arm and led her past the stained glass windows in the church, I could barely watch. My eyes were somewhat fixated on the floor, until that traditional wedding march began to play and everyone rose, along with my eyes. What people saw that day was perhaps one of the most beautiful visions ever to be had. Now every wedding I have attended, the guests always say the same thing..."You're the most beautiful bride ever." But on my sister's wedding day, I felt this was actually true. Seriously, she put the models in Bride magazine to shame! And while I’m not one to compliment my sister very often, on this day, her little brother was left in awe. While friends and family were busy living in the moment by soaking up the exquisite and simply stunning vision before them, my mind was elsewhere. When I lifted my head and my eyes gazed to the back of the church, I didn’t expect to see the image I immediately saw. It was my sister, but she was 7 again and playing dress up. Long, brown, curly locks and those intense, blue eyes in her First Communion dress. When I saw my Dad walking with her, my mind traveled back in time where a series of childhood memories flashed before me. Instead of seeing her in the crisp, white 5-inch stilettos she was actually wearing, I saw her in a pair of my Mom's high heeled shoes, three sizes too big, stumbling down our house steps. Instead of seeing my Dad walking my sister down the isle on her wedding day, I saw him with that same 7-year-old girl standing atop his feet so she could dance with him. She would fall off his toes and giggle in delight. To cover her slip up, he would take her small hands in his and twirl her to the music. Then back on his toes she would go. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Apparently you’re never too young to learn the waltz.

My breath shallow. My chest tight. My palms clammy to the touch. I was a nervous wreck and I wasn’t even the one getting married! I can’t even imagine what I’m going to be like one day as a groom. I’m going to be an f-ing mess! Well, hopefully a beautiful mess, but a mess nevertheless. A snowflake must have fallen in my eye in August because I could feel some type of foreign liquid trying to take shape just beneath my right, lower lid. There was no way I was crying infront of all these people! So I swallowed the lump in my throat and did the tried and true method/trick of "soaking up the liquid by performing excessive eyeball movement." I looked to the left, the right, up, down, and all around - hoping that my cornea would feel overworked, become thirsty and want to drink up a salty tear or two before the laws of gravity took over, forcing it to drop and roll down my face. Oh the horror! Somehow I managed to pull myself together and I’m glad I did. The night was young and there was plenty of time for all that sentimental crap later. Afterall, I still had the best man's toast to deliver!

After failing to compose a speech with my laptop, I threw in the towel and went with a different approach. I decided to go about it the old fashion way, with pen and paper in hand. I worked diligently on my speech for 3 hours on the flight to California. Then the night before the wedding, I sat down to edit and practice it some. Anyone who’s ever had to compose a formal toast will tell you it’s not an easy task. And perhaps I took too much time collecting my thoughts and putting them down on paper, but in the end, it was worth it.

I rode around in the limo for 4 hours between the ceremony and reception. Needless to say, I was waaay over the buzz limit. So when we sat for dinner, I used my meal to help sober me up before I had to give the toast. And then...I knocked it out of the park! Ok maybe that’s a bit cocky to say, but the toast actually went much better than I expected (or anyone expected for that matter)! I had my sister and all her bridesmaids crying, as well as my Mom, Grandma and most of the women in the place. But they were happy tears so it's all good. My sister said it was the best part of her wedding day, which has left me glowing for days.

So it's official. My sister is no longer a Miss and I now have a new brother-in-law. I'm happy, but can't help feeling a bit sad too. She’s all grownup now and no longer mine to protect. But I like to think, that as her little brother, I can always be useful for something. And while my feet are still sore from dancing so much, I consider that a good thing. It means we partied hard, had fun and sent her off into the married world with a bang. Honestly, most of the weekend was a blur, but I do recall my sister's final single girl words to me..."Try not to sleep with any of my bridesmaids." Rather fitting since the object of my affection for the past decade was there! (More on that some other day.)

Before the night had ended, I had just one request for my sister - to save the last dance for me. She graciously obliged.

Stalking the Wild Bill

One woman dressed against type is an eccentric; two or more women dressed against type make a trend.

Taking advantage of our constitutional right to freedom of expression, we and our like-minded friends went out on Easter day to strut our stuff; to see and be seen. Because we are women of a certain age, we still believe in Easter bonnets. We eschew the current tendency to Halloween-ize this one remaining day of the year when a woman can still creditably wear a real hat. It's a little like Christmas when, if the secret object of your affections stands under the mistletoe, you can kiss him or her with utter disregard for the usual social constraints.

We also (confidentially) went out looking for Bill Cunningham. We found him, and he (recognizing style when he sees it) found us. See Valerie and Shiho in picture 6 of the New York Times' slide show; Jean and Tziporah in picture 10:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/18/fashion/20090418-street-feature/index.html

In the photo above, left to right: Tziporah, in a vintage white hat wound with a strip of black velvet; Elaine, in a NYC-themed straw hat she hand painted, as she does every year; Valerie, in a shibori'd pink hibiscus beret from Nafi de Luca, with green pipe cleaners added; Shiho, doing her very best Holly Golightly, and actually wearing a small lamp shade (yes, really) to which she strategically basted a swath of pink chiffon; and Jean, wearing a black bathing cap topped with a plastic champagne glass, from which spring bounding rabbits.

Valerie wears Japanese sunglasses spray painted pink with black spots, a vintage Ungaro white wool coat with black and white wool piping (bought at Alessandro Mitrotti's Transfer, when it was still on the upper east side), white wool and lace gloves (not seen) from Strawberry, a vintage pleated pink silk dress by Patricia Lester (known for her Fortuny look-alikes), and vintage Miguel Hernandez shoes, which look great, but are no match for neuromas or bunions. (More on the trials and tribulations suffered by old feet in another entry.)

Jean is wearing Missoni sunglasses, Norma Kamali '80s leopard jacket (purchased at the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show at the Metropolitan Pavillion), Brigitte harem pants and Trippen boots (from A-Uno in Tribeca). For more photos of us (and others!) at the show, check out http://jenniferdrue.com/slideshow/mv.html. (Valerie appears in black, white and red Gaultier in the April 2009 intro, and we reappear in the 25th photo with our friend Bill.)

Back on the Horse

Back on the Horse

Nearly two weeks later, I'm still getting over my big cardiac scare. It has been difficult both physically and emotionally. But the way I figure, I'm still here and it's about time to get back to doing the things I love. Like going to Phillies games. Tickets to see the World Champions are hard to come by these days, but I was able to score a pair to today's game, featuring the debut of newly-acquired ace pitcher Cliff Lee.

The only thing hanging in the balance was the weather. But with Fox 29 chief meteorologist and my good friend John Bolaris in the house, I figured we were in good shape. And with Cliff Lee on the mound, the Phillies were in good shape, cruising to a 3-1 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies. It was the first time in five tries this season I witnessed a Phillies victory. I truly enjoyed myself and it was big step for me as I try to get back to normal.

Me? Blog Crush Worthy?

Tomorrow I will be jet-setting across the country (ok I’ll be riding coach on US Airways but jet setting sounds fancier) which has left me super busy tying up loose ends at work and just life in general. So I made a promise to myself (which you’ll see I already broke) that I wouldn’t piss away time by aimlessly surfing the web or even writing on my blog until I finished writing my toast for my sister’s wedding. A man must keep his priorities in check and on top of the David To-Do List is "write that f-ing toast!" I fear that anything else I do would be counterproductive and will suck out any remaining creativity left in my fingertips that would be better spent on speech writing. Which as you know, I need every last ounce of as I continue to experience an extreme case of writer's block! What’s funny is that while I’m putting myself and my writing down because I'm struggling to find the words for this toast, out of the blue comes a little confidence boost. To much of my surprise, I’ve been labeled as a blog crush! Me? Blog crush worthy? Really?

Over at Ophelia’s Webb, blogger Elisa Doucette has a Blog Crush Series in which every week she features a blogger she is crushes on, writing exactly why he/she is crush worthy. And apparently I’m this week’s crush! It’s sweet, cute and innocent. Sort of like a traditional school girl/boy crush, but without the butterflies and sweaty palms. Elisa describes it best...

What is a BlogCrush? Well, the urban dictionary describes it "to be attracted to someone you know only through their blog" or "the person that you're attracted to because of the things they write in their blog." With so many amazing writers out there, it's easy to develop a little crush on certain people. Now I'm not talking a drive 13 hours wearing adult diapers and carrying a black wig to abduct people stalker kinda crush, but you just want to learn more about them. You know who your BlogCrushes are. They are the folks you read immediately on your reader before getting to anyone else's. They are the posts that you ReTweet because they speak to you so much. They are the websites you comment on regularly. They are the folks you are hoping you'll see and talk to "IRL" at the next SXSW. They are the people you admire, and because of this you want to share their greatness with lots of other people.

That in essence is a blog crush.

Upon finding out, I was completely flattered! Then when I started reading what she wrote, my face began turning various shades of burgundy, darkening with each paragraph. I must thank Elisa for all her kind words about me, for making this boy’s day a bit brighter and for changing my skin hue! She may not have even realized it, but that little confidence boost is just the push I need to finally finish writing my toast! So thank you. Really, thank you!

Read Ophelia's Webb BlogCrush - David Stehle
Read her full Blog Crush Series

So who is your blog crush?